Dear Thoughtful Pastor: In this season of giving, which is really an all year affair, it is OK to love and help people, even to save their physical lives, without urging them to… read more

When Jesus ascends to heaven, he gives clear instructions: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” What the… read more

Encountering John The Synoptic Gospels call John “the baptizer,” or “messenger,” and “prophet.” The Fourth Gospel calls John a witness. John is … read more

Encountering John If he were not Jesus we might think that our main character has some identity issues. In seemingly every chapter in John, Jesus claims a new identity. We know… read more

Encountering Matthew In some ways John is like the Season of Advent in the church — an annoying, unpleasant, yet persistent speed bump on the road to celebrating the birth… read more

What does it say about evangelicalism in America that James Dobson, one of our leading voices for the last three decades, can claim that Donald Trump has accepted Jesus Christ as… read more