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Another week, another failed magazine. But while the collapse of print media is hardly news, this demise is different.Today’s Christian Woman was founded in 1978 to reach evangelical Christian women who wanted a publication that reflected their values. They didn’t want the crass sex talk of Cosmopolitan. They didn’t want the mainstream relationship advice of Redbook. They wanted inspirational stories of faith and Bible-based help in managing their children, friendships and marriages. Anita Bryant graced the first issue’s cover.Read more of this story.
(UNDATED) Pity the poor exorcist, caught between evil spirits eager to inhabit human bodies and a skeptical society loath to believe demons exist outside of movie theaters. Even church leaders and clergy look askance at exorcists as peddlers of a practice best left in the Middle Ages. Most American exorcists, particularly those appointed by the Catholic Church, keep a low-profile, hesitating to open themselves—and their church– to ridicule and quacks. But not the Rev. Gary Thomas. Read more of this story.
Consider the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Now, think of the Christian music industry as the camel. As the economy continues to falter, might the straw be upon us even now?An extraordinary number of things have worked against the Christian music in recent years, even before the recession—starting with illegal downloads. (Yes, even Christians steal music.) There was some relief when Christian music found its way into stores like Target and Wal-Mart, but sales didn’t increase much, and Christian bookstores were hurt. Radio found a formula and a target audience, but record labels, feeling the pinch and afraid…
Dallas Willard was teaching Philosophy classes and working on his PhD when he became actively involved with InterVarsity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He described finding an organization on campus committed to seriously seeking God as a “tremendous relief.”Read more of this story. An Interview with Dallas WillardDallas WIllard’s latest book reviewed
Not unlike the large corporations retooling to deal with impending bankruptcy in the current economic depression, a small Madison media production company is retooling to confront the moral depression caused by the bankrupt values of today’s ubiquitous media culture. They’re launching this new media ministry under the umbrella of Advance K, a church/outreach located in a former laundromat at 555 W. Mifflin Street. Marv and Beth Turner returned to Madison from a trip to Africa two years ago with a hunger to walk closer to God and allow their faith in God to direct their lifestyle. The vibrant faith they…
Abortionist George Tiller was shot and killed at his church in Kansas Sunday morning. Vigil for Life condemns this act of violence and resolves to continue to follow the example set by civil rights leaders throughout history who have peacefully worked to ensure the dignity of every human being is respected. We also urge you to pray for the soul of Dr. Tiller, for his family, and for the repentance of his assailant.
During the social upheaval of the 1970s and early 1980s, American churches began putting a much higher priority on fighting homelessness. Nearly 40 years later, these food, shelter, and outreach ministries continue. Philip Mangano, a manager in the 1970s with the late Larry Norman’s Solid Rock Records, owner of Street Level Artists Agency, and a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, was among the pioneers in Christian rock and the fight against homelessness.Since 2002, Mangano has served as executive director of the federal Interagency Council on Homelessness. He has been shaking up the world of homeless outreach by saying that rapid…
Andrew Marin is a twentysomething graduate of the University of Illinois, Chicago, living in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood. A self-professed "Bible-banging homophobe" as a teenager, Marin experienced an awakening of sorts while in college when several of his closest friends told him they were gay. Determined to try to shed his prejudices, Marin embarked on a mission to get to know as many gay people as he could. He began frequenting gay bars, looking up gay clergy and asking to meet with them, exchanging emails with new gay friends he met online, and showing up at public gay events. The result…
We’ve all heard the stories about near-death experiences: the tunnel, the white light, the encounter with long-dead relatives now looking very much alive. Scientists have cast a skeptical eye on these accounts. They say that these feelings and visions are simply the result of a brain shutting down. But now some researchers are giving a closer neurological look at near-death experiences and asking: Can your mind operate when your brain has stopped? Read more of this story.
I’ve heard the quote once too often. It’s time to set the record straight—about the quote, and about the gospel. Francis of Assisi is said to have said, "Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words."This saying is carted out whenever someone wants to suggest that Christians talk about the gospel too much, and live the gospel too little. Fair enough—that can be a problem. Much of the rhetorical power of the quotation comes from the assumption that Francis not only said it but lived it.The problem is that he did not say it. Nor did he live…