Christian Wedding Cake-Baking

Should there be a faith exemption from nondiscrimination laws? Should a wedding photographer be required to offer his services to gay couples the same as to straight couples? Should a baker be able to refuse to make a wedding cake for a gay couple on the grounds of her faith? I won’t speak (here) to … Continue reading »

Quick Links

No duh: a study concludes that clergy key reason worshipers switch congregations. (There’s a joke that pastors tell about this: when a person leaves a congregation, it’s the pastor’s fault. When the pastor leaves the congregation, it’s six people’s fault.) I’m flabbergasted at how controversial the mere idea of church growth is, to people who … Continue reading »

Fancy Church Buildings

I’m preaching a message on Haggai 2:1-9 inspired by the phrase “Desire of Nations” found in the advent song “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The point of the passage is that the Second Temple that Ezra was building didn’t look very impressive to anybody who could remember the first one built by Solomon four centuries … Continue reading »

Spam Countermeasures

I just implemented a bunch of spam countermeasures. Send me email if you got caught in the crossfire.

Religion News

Here, without comment, other than the names I give them, are some interesting stories in the news: Why did Westside Presbyterian Church of Englewood shut down? Why “In Christ Alone” isn’t in the new PC(USA) hymnal. A huge Presbyterian church in Dallas voted overwhelmingly to leave the PC(USA) and join the ECO. Why? Read and … Continue reading »

Kirsten Powers’ Conversion Story

Via Donald Miller, the fascinating story of Kirsten Powers’ conversion to Christianity: I sometimes hear Christians talk about how terrible life must be for atheists. But our lives were not terrible. Life actually seemed pretty wonderful, filled with opportunity and good conversation and privilege. I know now that it was not as wonderful as it … Continue reading »

Bad Caveman Diet

A low-carb diet violates God’s principles, according to Pat Robertson.

Pope Francis Interview

I’m working my way through the interview with Pope Francis appearing today in the Jesuit publication America, but I liked this bit. Important word to people in leadership positions, especially in the church. John XXIII adopted this attitude with regard to the government of the church, when he repeated the motto, ‘See everything; turn a … Continue reading »

Navigation in Accordance 10

Something jumped out at me in my last posting, where I mentioned the “QuickTip” about the Accordance 10 auto context slider. In that tip, they say, many people use the top search bar as a navigational tool. That suggests there is another way to navigate. And what might that be? I looked at their help … Continue reading »

Accordance Auto Context

As I’ve said before, I’m not a fan of the Accordance 10 “auto context” slider, but YMMV. Accordance publishes an email newsletter (not repurposed on their web site, apparently, or I’d link to it) describing the use of the context slider. In the article they explain some of the logic that is supposed to make … Continue reading »