Albert Schweitzer was a genius. He was a profound theologian, a talented organist, a brilliant scientist, and a deeply empathetic physician. He wrote a book which changed the whole direction of biblical studies and theology (The Quest of the Historical Jesus). He was a gifted musician who wrote the definitive… Continue reading
Too many people in our world live all their lives guided by assumptions that are false, demeaning, and destructive. One of the most crippling assumptions we can have is that we must be perfect in who we are and in what we do. It’s very difficult (if not impossible) to… Continue reading
Now, we can’t change the words of Jesus, but we can ignore them, and ignore them we have. And we preachers have perhaps been most guilty at this point. Soft pedaling Jesus’ message, demands, and example is one way to attract crowds, increase membership, and multiply financial assets. Continue reading
The observance of Ash Wednesday in many churches includes the placing of ashes on the foreheads of worshipers in the form of a cross. As this is done, the priest or minster says the following words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” These words come… Continue reading
I remember a professor in one of my psychology classes distributing baby and childhood photos of Adolph Hitler and Albert Schweitzer. The teacher asked whether we could see in the photos of Hitler anything sinister, cruel, paranoid, and psychotic. He then asked if we could see in the photos of… Continue reading
I love my country, but I love people more. I love my country, but I love the world more. I love my country, but I love the God revealed in Jesus Christ more. I have never understood how those professing a faith in Jesus constrict their love to national borders… Continue reading
[Today is Palm Sunday. This is also Passion Sunday–a time for the church to consider the Gospel accounts of the death of Jesus. From the hoopla of Palm Sunday to the pomp of Easter, it is possible for Christians to go from one celebration to another without ever confronting the… Continue reading
Our dear friend Susie Beamer is once again at Koinonia Farm in Georgia. President Carter’s family visited Koinonia while she was there, and Susie and others at Koinonia had lunch with the Carter family. She sent her friends a photo of her arm around Rosalynn Carter. President Carter had planned… Continue reading
Whenever I hear this passage, I think of that song I was taught as a child and with which many of you are familiar: “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” But there is a major problem with that song-especially if it has this passage in… Continue reading
[This article begins with Clarence Jordan’s “Cotton Patch” Translation of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11) and the closing verses of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:12-27). You may want to read them first in the New Revised Standard Version (or any other version), and then ponder Jordan’s translation. Jordan tried… Continue reading
