By TJ Clayton

 

I was trying to gulp down the rest of my Caffeine-free Diet Coke and cram down my throat the last of what looked like a cracker but with some kind of fruit spread in it, like someone had taken a Fig Newton and squished it, when I heard, “Come Bless the Lord, Come Bless the Lord…”  Because of the Times (BOTT) in Singapore (July 27-29, 2006) was beginning.  I wiped my face, made sure my tie was straight, and I rushed to my front row seat. (It is amazing what you get when you work for someone who knows someone whose cousin was once someone’s secretary.) 

By Billy Foster
April 17, 2000

"For the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1:18)

(I Corinthians 1:18)

The cross is indeed an unappealing picture to our world. Picture Jesus, alone on the cross, mostly naked, his arms outstretched on a crossed wooden beam, two nails placed through each outstretched hand, feet overlapped and one single nail placed through the arches of his feet. Blood trickles down his face from the pointed crown of thorns placed roughly upon his head and spills into the dusty ground below. Blood now flows profusely from the wounds in his beaten back. The apathetic Roman soldiers callously gamble for his garment at the foot of this dying man. His eyes are filled with pain and rejection. Once he stood upon the hillside and taught thousands of followers, now he is alone on the cross, with the exception of a few faithful people, his closest disciple, John the beloved, a few women and his mother. It is no wonder the cross is not a popular topic of discussion among many religions today.

By Dana Fee
April 17, 2000

Last year my husband and I were ministering in the Ukraine around Easter time. We happened to be in Kiev, the capital, on Palm Sunday. Following custom, the people took pussy willow branches to the Orthodox Church to be blessed by the priests in a special service. Though familiar decorations were displayed in the stores such as bunnies, chicks, and eggs, we felt that Easter had a more religious tone there than in America.

By Julie Long
April 17, 2000

The ceiling fan thumped softly, providing background noise in the stifling predawn heat. The mosquito's close proximity to my ear was wreaking havoc with my subconscious. A quick swat at the offending insect and a peek at the alarm clock on my rattan nightstand confirmed my suspicion that the day was about to begin. Moments later the crackling loudspeaker from the mosque across the street echoed off the Margalla’s¾ foothills of the majestic Himalayan mountain range. And then as every other day unfolds in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, "Allah-u-Akbar," the muezzin’s call to prayer, rings out across the "land of the pure."

By Wendy Rachel Reiling
April 10, 2000

I recently found myself in something of a conundrum when I reflected on my relationship with God. I asked myself whether or not I could be closer to Him. My immediate and instinctive reaction was to wonder how I could possibly think I'm not close enough to God. I am one of the most church-involved people I know! I strive to do as much as possible in serving God. I am the lead teacher for our local assembly’s Kindergarten class. On Wednesday evenings I work with the 6-12 year-olds in our wonderful Children's Church. Not to mention my involvement in our music ministry with the Adult Choir, Youth Choir, and oftentimes ensembles and chorales as well. On top of all that, I consistently give sacrificially, in addition to faithfully paying my tithes. So as you can see, I am close enough to God!

By Kent d Curry
April 3, 2000

Growing up in the church isn’t always an advantage. While it is a great benefit for any child to feast on meals of regular scripture, the familiarity of these truths can often create a disconnect between mind and heart when adulthood arrives. It becomes easy to dissect every sermon without listening to its inner pulses. It’s easier to grumble at what doesn’t work than to applaud how the Lord moves. When that occurs, it isn’t long before the nexus of history and the very reason for our worship¾ the voluntary death of Jesus Christ¾ becomes impaired internally. That I found myself in this abyss wasn’t nearly as surprising as my means of escape.

By Nita K Curry
March 27, 2000

It was just a small gesture. She kissed her hand then extended it to the brass coat-of-arms and rubbed for at least a minute. Once done, she walked to her left, made a donation, picked up a candle, lit it, placed it into a holder, and sat down. I didn’t quite know what she was doing or why¾ and I still don’t¾ but it will be forever etched into my mind. Why do people feel as if inanimate objects offer some sort of solace? I can’t really answer this question, but I know that it has been occurring for thousands of years.

 

By David Kuhtenia
March 6, 2000

(Editor’s Note: Our November 19, 1999 cover story, The Amazing Potential of Campus Ministry, discussed the possibilities anyone might have if they started a campus ministry at their local college. One reader wrote an impassioned open letter of disagreement to its author, David Kuhtenia. Below is the letter and the reply.)

By Kent d Curry and Glenda Moehlenpah
February 28, 2000

Money! Money! Money! America’s new economy seems to be saturating everyone with a career and an Internet connection in greenbacks! Workers today have more freedom and opportunities to make money than the previous generation could even dream. It’s not just the regular paycheck, but it’s a 401(k) plan with matching monies from the employer. It’s not just mutual funds, but individual stocks and day trading. It’s not just taking a job, but finding one where stock options are de rigueur.

February 28, 2000

Tithing on Paychecks

• Tithing on your gross income is recommended. It’s nice, clean numbers and, as the preacher says, "Do you want to be blessed by the gross or by the net? The choice is yours."

Stocks/Mutual Funds