I got this question a few weeks ago from a member of our congregation who wrote me at my office email account. I have edited her question down to the basic bits. It is, perhaps, one of the more important questions of our time. I was watching the news about the 3 Muslims that were [...]
Make sure you read the last blog and comments before coming here. That way, I don’t have to repeat myself. (and, sadly, when I repeat myself, I often find myself in violent disagreement with myself…) I was asked by those in the comment section if I thought a single person could serve as a deacon. [...]
Since we dipped our toes into this earlier this week, this question couldn’t be more timely. I am really wrestling with the question “Can women be deacons?”. My religious tradition has declared an emphatic “NO”. While I see other traditions have embraced this concept wholeheartedly. Further study has left me more confused and conflicted than [...]
We’ve covered this very early on — and again midway — in this series, but it remains the most common question-type that shows up at tentpegsquestion@yahoo.com. I liked your stuff in the God at War series. But, it did make me question some things. I guess to boil it down I would ask “If God [...]
Few questions are coming into tentpegsquestion@yahoo.com but when they do, I’ll try to get to them here. I will take some breaks — as I did recently — when I need to address other things. This one came into a different email account a couple of weeks ago. I have heard you are a wonderful [...]
As promised, here are my reflections upon visiting the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. I was spending four days with the church in Senatobia, MS just a half hour south of Memphis. I had a great time with that wonderful church — a church that is ready to move into great and wonderful [...]
Here is a quick one. I was unable to enter the museum of Civil Rights today because it is closed on Tuesdays! I’ll try to go back in the morning. When a church borrows money or takes out a mortgage on a building is that like telling God that what he has provided is not [...]
I have been way too busy recently. With recent staff changes at Rochester, I have a lot more to do and no more time in which to do it. This week, I am in Senatobia, Mississippi to speak and, during the days, I am walking around Memphis. As those of you who follow me on [...]
Apologies to many of my readers: this question will either amuse or bore those outside of my religious tribe, but it is important enough to spend a column on. I’ve been trying to get my leadership to get rid of the whole “Church of Christ” label. We’re not the old traditional CoC anymore and that [...]
Here is a follow up question that came into tentpegsquestions@yahoo.com. I was wondering if you can explain to me about 1 Cor. 11:27-29. Before we have the Lord’s supper we have a member speak about communion. Usually, out of nervousness, they read 1 Cor. 11-23-26. I have no problem with that because I’m always nervous [...]