I’m probably one of the only bloggers in the Christian blogosphere who hasn’t posted something about the whole “Is Gandhi in hell?” controversy. Personally, I like his take on that issue. This is a video on a different topic, though: resurrection.

There is an article on the FTE website that offers some steps to renew the church. I have to admit, I found myself agreeing with a few of the points the author made, but the article was pretty condescending toward evangelicals. And there was one suggestion that I found quite troubling: “Remind yourself that you…

I’m glad to say that my conference is getting more serious about ministry with people with disabilities. A step in the right direction is a new website that is being developed on Autism. Eventually, this site will include resources related to ministry with people with disabilities more broadly. If you have an interest in this…

I’m delivering two lectures at Armstrong Chapel UMC on April 7 and 14, beginning at 7:00 p.m. The first will be on the historical signficance of crucifixion, what it meant in Jesus’ day and how ancient people might have heard the message about the cross. The second will be on the present theological signficance of…

Several years ago, I stood in line for quite a long time, and indeed paid good Canadian money to the Royal Ontario Museum, to see the ossuary box that had allegedly held the bones of James, the brother of Jesus. I did not go to Toronto just for this purpose, thank goodness, but was at a…

We had another great day yesterday. It was good to get insights from Leonard Sweet about what he called our “TGIF” world: Twitter, Google, iPhone, and Facebook. These were some very thought-provoking lectures. Next year the conference will be on new monasticism, and the speakers will be Jonathan Wilson Hartgrove and Elaine Heath. Should be…

We had opening worship tonight at the Fort McKinley campus of Ginghamsburg Church, and it was awesome. The music was very fine, and Bishop Violet Fisher preached a great message on the work of the Holy Spirit for the renewal of the church. The folks at Fort McKinley have done some amazing work in turning…

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. The date of 3/21 refers to the third copy of the twenty-first chromosome that causes Down Syndrome. People with Down Syndrome are often stereotyped in ways that devalue them as human beings. This is not a properly Christian approach, since from a Christian perspective a disability does not devalue or…

I don’t believe that the decline of the church is God’s will. I’m glad to say that I work for an institution that is taking seriously the need for church renewal in the U.S., Western Europe, and other places. This year on March 27th and 28th we’re launching the first in what we plan to…

Friendship Ministries is dedicated to ministry with people with intellectual disabilities. I recently reviewed a curriculum on the Psalms that they developed, and I think it is an excellent resource. It is very thorough and employs a variety of teaching methods to reach people across a spectrum of intellectual abilities and learning styles. To learn more…