A popular argument amongst political conservatives goes like this: while they grant that Scripture requires concern and care for the poor and marginalized, that concern is one to be addressed by in ...

"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations caused by the roaring of the sea and the waves," proclaims Jesus in the gospel of Luke. ...

In his article<a href="http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/benedicts-ongoing-battle-against-secularism"> "Benedict's ongoing battle against secularism,"</a> < ...

<p>As some of you know (though I know not many of you keep up with the latest men's magazines) -- Esquire magazine's end of the year "Best and Brightest" edition named me one of the & ...

Have you ever visited your local Christian bookstore as an exercise in gender studies? Have you ever visited your local Christian bookstore as an exercise in gender studie ...

During the last few days, Psalm 109:8, a Bible verse in the form of a "prayer for Obama," has topped the Google trends chart: "May his days be few; may another take his office." Evidently ...

Driving home from Seattle, the rain was both daunting and beautiful. Driving home from Seattle, the rain was both daunting and beautiful. So was our immediate future, as our son ...

People who do diversity work run the risk of setting impossible goals for themselves: The Beloved Community. The Kingdom of God. People who do diversity work run the risk of setti ...

Don't you love it when someone tries to argue for one thing by distracting your attention to another? Don't you love it when someone tries to argue for one thing by dis ...

As an urbanite fortunate to live within walking distance of work and trendy restaurants, I rarely drive these days. As an urbanite fortunate to live within walking distance of wor ...

A story I have written about before and preached on time and time again recently took on new meaning for me. A story I have written about before and preached on time and time agai ...

In this clip, Pastor Efrem expands on the very familiar verse John 3:16. In this clip, Pastor Efrem expands on the very familiar verse John 3:16. He emphasizes that new birth thro ...

A Facebook friend sent me a link to a wonderful YouTube video. A Facebook friend sent me a link to a wonderful YouTube video. The clip, which apparently has now gone viral with ov ...

Every three years, young evangelists from around the world gather in Portland Oregon to attend a conference put on by the Next Generation Alliance, an organization dedicated to mentoring the next g ...

Last month's <em>Christianity Today</em> featured an <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/october/13.23.html?start=5" target="_blank">article </a>o ...

How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God <a title="http://www.biblestudytools.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=Mark+10%3A17-31&amp;section=0&amp;version=nrs&amp;new=1& ...

Imagine trying to figure out the earth, while living on a grain of sand on a small island in the middle of the Pacific. What could be known of snow, of plants, of wolves? Not much. ...

<p>I had invited one of our regular bloggers to comment on the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8295490.stm">"desert cross" controversy</a>--a Supreme Court ca ...

<em>These remarks were presented on October 13, 2009 at a press conference in Aurora, CO urging Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) to take a public stand in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. ...

<p>For many years now, religious leaders and diverse faith groups have <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/09/loving_thy_neighbor.html">contributed</a> much to the ...

<blockquote><p>As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinne ...

<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.blogactionday.org"></a>Today is <a href="http://www.blogactionday.org/">Blog Action Day 2009</a>, an ...

I'm trembling as I write this one. I'm trembling as I write this one. I'm already isolated within my own faith community (Pentecostalism) for my views on war and pe ...

A frequently asked question these days relates to the role of the church in civic society. A frequently asked question these days relates to the role of the church in civic societ ...

Dan Brown, the author of <em>The Da Vinci Code</em> and of <em>Angels and Demons</em>, has a new book out Dan Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code a ...

Some fun for your Friday: Stephen Colbert, "a huge fan of the Bible," offers a conservative update of Matthew 5:5,</p> Some fun for your Friday: Stephen Colbert, & ...

There's a joke that re-surfaces in Indian country every so often. There's a joke that re-surfaces in Indian country every so often. It goes like this: When NASA was prep ...

There is a conservative project to <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/10/07/the-gospel-according-to-the-conservative-bible-project/">translate the Bible to reflect a conservative ideology</a ...

Nearly five years ago my friends, Hector and Gabby and their five kids, entered the U.S. legally from Mexico in order to join the pastoral staff at my church, Willow Creek. Nearly ...

So I've been having a few interesting conversations about my book <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830836284?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=sojo_blog-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp= ...

Recently, the <a href="http://conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project">Conservative Bible Project</a> has made some headlines. Recently, the Conservat ...

A few days ago I received a mass e-mail from the ACLJ. For those who don't get their daily dose of Christian talk radio, ACLJ stands for the American Center for Law and Justice. ...

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 ...

Last week Ken Burns unleashed his new series on America's national parks, subtitled "America's Best Idea." The cinematography is incredible and Ken Burns is known as a progressive thinker. ...

This week, a friend sent me a link to a video from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas titled <a href="http://www.swbts.edu/index.cfm?pageid=1701">"Taking the Hill."< ...

<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> ...

Many people in Minnesota get really excited about fall. We welcome cooler weather, colorful trees, and a chance to share treasures from our garden. Many people in Minnesota get re ...

<p class="MsoNormal">ABC's Nightline has been running a series on the Ten Commandments in which they explore the issues and dimensions of each commandment in contemporary society.<span& ...

The gender discussion in the church today is captured succinctly by New Testament scholar Gordon Fee in <em><a title="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102710879856&amp;s=5547&amp;e=0012JIqccVLH ...

What could be more joyful than rediscovering our God-given role as caretakers, stewards, and lovers of creation? What could be more joyful than rediscovering our God-given role as ...

Have you ever noticed how every day language is used to manipulate and shape rather than describe reality? Here is one example. Have you ever noticed how every day language is use ...

Last week, <a href="http://blog.sojo.net/2009/09/02/lost-in-translation-gender-inclusive-tniv-to-be-dropped-in-favor-of-newer-niv/">Zondervan announced that it will phase out the Today's ...

<p>Last week a friend who knows my dogs sent me a link to Wendy Francisco's wildly popular new song, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY">"God and Dog" < ...

Yesterday, I heard a Christian leader say that the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 25 is not a reason for Christians to support universal health care guaranteed by their government. ...

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 ...

Recently, while traveling through Michigan, I attended Mars Hill for church one Sunday. Recently, while traveling through Michigan, I attended Mars Hill for church one Sunday. Rob ...

Let me begin by asking a simple question:<strong> </strong>What Bible translation do you use and why?</p> Let me begin by asking a simple question: What Bibl ...

Have you ever pondered the dangers of reading the Bible? Have you ever pondered the dangers of reading the Bible? Perhaps booksellers should provide consumer warning labels that r ...

Bob Smietana A theological variety show mixes humor, music, and cultural analysis. THEY DON’T SERVE Powdermilk ...