Earlier this year I spent nearly one week at a Christian university. Earlier this year I spent nearly one week at a Christian university. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn m ...

I have a neighbor who has a little maxim he uses to explain much of what he sees on the news or reads about in the local paper. I have a neighbor who has a little maxim he uses to ...

Earlier this year, I wrote <a href="http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&amp;issue=soj0902&amp;article=we-re-in-this-together">an article in <em>Sojourners</em ...

<a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/10/01/singing-and-praying-justice-part-1/">[continued from part 1]</a></p> [continued from part 1] How can w ...

<blockquote><p><em>"He who sings prays twice." -- Saint Augustine</em></p> <p><em>"What's going on?" -- Marvin Gaye</em></p> ...

A recent Center for American Progress report, <a title="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/09/loving_thy_neighbor.html" href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/09/loving_t ...

It's always hard to narrow down Pastor Efrem's sermons to a few key minutes, and this one was no exception. Preaching from Matthew 25, he puts some extended focus on the health-care debate. ...

Tea-totaling party animals are crying the mantra of the Ghosts of Conservatives-past, "Blankety blank blank will change our American way of life!" Now all the president's men and women -- especi ...

The United States is the richest nation on earth. It has some of the best-trained physicians and best medical facilities on earth. It is a leader in medical innovation and medical education. ...

<p>To work is to pray.</p> <p>It's a Latin phrase that the Order of St. Benedict adopted as its motto.</p> <p>St. Benedict, the founder of the order, recognized the sacred va ...

I have never really trusted those who are intolerant and condemning of other people's shortcomings. It makes me suspect they are likely hiding their own. I have never really ...

<a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/09/01/a-doctor-makes-sense-of-the-health-care-reform-debate">[continued from part 1]</a></p> [continued from part ...

I recently received a reply or two on <a href="../2009/08/18/court-martialed-for-christian-conscience/">my last blog post</a>, regarding <a href="http://www.truthout.org/081209A&q ...

<a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/08/24/criteria-for-spiritual-leadership-content-of-character/">In a recent post examining the biblical qualities of a leader</a>, I considered the simil ...

I woke up this morning planning an essay for God's Politics about love and fear. It will be another essay in support of health-care reform. This issue has commandeered my pen.</p> ...

I approach the <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/08/11/an-open-letter-to-conservative-christians-in-the-us-on-health-care/">discussion about health-care reform</a> from the perspective o ...

Does it seem curious to you that when the issue of leadership in the church is discussed, gender is frequently cited as a primary element to consider? Does it seem curious to you ...

Jim Wallis and other faith leaders from across America kicked off "40 Days for Health Reform" Jim Wallis and other faith leaders from across America kicked off "40 ...

Regular readers will know that in the past year, I embarked on a genuinely life-altering journey. I emigrated to the United States, got married, and now make my home in North Carolina. ...

It's an e-mail to make your blood boil.</p> It's an e-mail to make your blood boil. A recent e-mail forward contrasts the lives and lifestyles of hypothetical ...

I am a seminary professor. Activism is not something that comes naturally to me, but I am learning! I am a seminary professor. Activism is not something that comes naturally to me ...

I'm a big fan of iTunesU, and I usually try to listen to informative podcasts on long drives, since I can't read and drive simultaneously. I'm a big fan of iTunesU, ...

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), article 25 paragraph 1 says: "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, i ...

On July 18^th many people from different parts of the world celebrated Nelson Mandela's 91^st birthday! On July 18 th many peop ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/07/13/women-leaders-in-the-early-church-2/">In last week's post</a>, I argued that because the apostle Paul commended the work of Phoebe-a ...

Recently a bunch of people e-mailed me the same <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/opinion/16kristof.html"><em>New York Times</em> column</a>, which cited a variety of ...

<p>As you may know, the question of whether women can serve as deacons has been recently debated among many evangelicals. Since scripture makes clear that Phoebe served as a deacon in the church in Cench ...

Joel C. Hunter I loved that movie with Mandy Moore about a terminally ill preacher’s daughter who tutored a rebellious peer. ...

<p>As our nation mourns the untimely death of the King of Pop, I am grieving over the death of a lesser know man: a man whom many will never know, but whose mark on the world is significant. Two weeks ag ...

<p class="title">It's daunting for me to even begin writing about Fathers' Day ... It's daunting for me to even begin writing about Fathers' Da ...

On the day my father died I was 1,200 miles away.</p> On the day my father died I was 1,200 miles away. I had gone to the hospital the morning before in San Diego to vis ...

If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. <em>If you teach his wife how to fish, you feed the whole family for a lifetime</em>. ...

For too many households around the world, living paycheck-to-paycheck is a luxury out of reach. For too many households around the world, living paycheck-to-paycheck is a luxury o ...

When Robert Greenwald, founder and president of <a title="http://bravenewfilms.org/" href="http://bravenewfilms.org/" target="_blank">Brave New Films</a> -- an organi ...

Last month, in an issue of <em>Newsweek</em>, Jon Meacham describes what he perceives to be <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/192583">"The End of Christian America."< ...

I enjoy addressing the contributions of women in history at Christian colleges or universities. I enjoy addressing the contributions of women in history at Christian colleges or u ...

<p>When I found out A Night of Hope with Joel &amp; Victoria would be playing in New York City, at the brand new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium, I knew I had to attend this concert. (Sorry, but if you ...

The South African elections have eclipsed all news in our region. These went fairly smoothly with isolated incidents. The South African elections have eclipsed all news in our reg ...

Do you find yourself reluctant to attend women's retreats because they tend to focus on things like fashion, women's emotions, crafts, and new forms of stomach exercises? ...

Ministry has its up and downs. Such is life. Ministry has its up and downs. Such is life. But one of the joys of planting and pastoring Quest Church is that it's one of t ...

<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001UXJOLM?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sojo_blog-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B001UXJOLM">&l ...

With the National Day of Prayer coming up (May 7), a lot of folks around the country are organizing prayer services in church sanctuaries and town halls. With the National Day of ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/economy-special-focus/"></a></p> <p>Scanning the headlines recently, the following caught my attention: "Walgreens giving free ...

<em><em>Bible readings from the Revised Common Lectionary:</em></em><em> Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm107; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21</em></p> ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/economy-special-focus/"></a></p> On Sunday I joined the Dean of the National Cathedral, Samuel T. ...

It is said that everyone in the world is Irish today in honor of Saint Patrick. It is said that everyone in the world is Irish today in honor of Saint Patrick. It would be a very ...

It's a new world we're living in. The troubles and hardships that were once easy to shove under our country's red, white, and blue rug now fly up in our faces on a daily basis. ...

Look at these astonishing verses from Romans 16.</p> Look at these astonishing verses from Romans 16. I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cen ...

Do you find it curious that some Christians seem entirely focused on gender differences? Have you also noticed that this is rarely the posture of scripture? Do you find it curious ...

<p><a href="http://blog.sojo.net/tag/economy-special-focus/"></a></p> <p>In a plenary session titled "The Values behind Market Capitalism" yesterday at the Wor ...