Worship is a War Song: 7 Ways it Is Powerful

August 21, 2023

I wonder if we truly understand what worship is. There are people oblivious to the battle going on around us. The battle is for our peace, love, joy and worship. Everything in creation was made to glorify God. We were created to love, adore, worship and devote our lives to God.

Psalms 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

Psalms 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…

Worship isn’t simply singing songs. It’s a lifestyle devoted to loving God and putting Him first in all things. When we put God first in all things, we are living out our identity as children of God. We were made by Him and for Him. He is the reason we all exist. Worship is not an obligation it is a response to His great love, mercy and grace. Key notes about worship.

7 Reasons Why Worship Is Powerful

1. Worship is for Him.

It’s not about us. Sometimes we make worship about us. Is it my favorite song? Or I will devote myself to God so He will give me something. Worship helps us die to self. It puts God on the throne of our hearts where He belongs. Love is not selfish. Worship trains us to be selfless.

2. Worship realigns our focus.

If God is at the center of our thoughts and our lives, then other things are not. We sometimes worship our problems. We worship money. We worship people who can not help or save us. We worship ourselves, and we no ability to do anything without Him. We worship pleasure and created things. Anything we worship other than God is idolatry. Idolatry enslaves us. It’s offensive to God.

6 Misconceptions About God & Knowing His Will

Ruthie Dean

August 21, 2023

misconceptions about God — Lightstock #373565

Where is God calling you? What is God’s will for your life? I believe God has a unique assignment for each one of us—some way He wants us to bring His healing and His peace to those on earth. Knowing God’s will can be confusing, can’t it? But this is one of the biggest misconceptions about God.

You want to follow God, but there are all kinds of voices, especially Christian voices, telling you which path to take. I’m growing tired of Christians making a ministry job the sign of a certain holiness that the practicing doctor hasn’t obtained.

I’m tired of the question “Where is God calling you?” because I believe we already have the answer to this question.

Sometimes the word “calling” feels like an excuse to float through life. Other times, I’ve heard it used by people who, in some way, feel like they need to defend their high-paying job to Christian peers.

I really struggled with these questions when I moved home from China. I didn’t have a clue what God was “calling me” to and I prayed and begged for nearly two years—a prayer that quickly turned into, “What do you want me to do?? I’ll do whatever you tell me—just tell me something!”

Have you ever felt that way about knowing God’s will?

Misconceptions About God & Knowing His Will

Here are six common misconceptions about God and about choosing a career path that I wish I knew long before last year:

1. Knowing God’s will is a labyrinth.

You need to make sure you don’t mess up and make the wrong decision.

I’ve received messages from college students paralyzed with fear over their career path because of misconceptions about God. As one girl said, “I just don’t want to choose the wrong path!” Here’s the truth: If your heart desires to follow God and you are seeking His will, you can’t go wrong. He gives wisdom and direction generously (James 1:5).

Remember, He is a good Dad not a cruel taskmaster waiting for you to make the wrong decision.

2. There is only one right path/decision/career.

If you need to make a decision, sometimes God doesn’t speak clearly and we are left frustrated. Confused.

Michael faced this when deciding to move home from Germany. He prayed without ceasing, but after several months still didn’t know what God wanted for his next step.

In these situations, God gives us wisdom to choose. Choose something! Don’t live in fear of making the wrong decision, because it’s not always that clear cut.

Oftentimes, God’s will is allowing us to choose.

4 Discipleship Moments for Family Movie Night

Christina Embree

August 20, 2023

family movie night — Adobestock #179975714

In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Moses addresses the congregation of Israel and explains how they are to pass their faith on to the next generation. He mentions four specific moments to talk about faith: When we sit at home, when we walk along the road, when we lie down and when we rise.

These four moments are universal—every single person to ever exist has done these things. Everyone has sat in a place they call home, they’ve left and gone out on the road, they’ve slept and they’ve woken up. These simple, everyday moments are when God shows up, if we are looking for Him.

It’s helpful to get really practical about those moments when we think about discipleship happening at home; to really consider what is going on during those moments. For our family, one of the most memorable times that we would “sit at home” was for a Family Movie Night. We’d pick a movie, pop the popcorn, grab our blankets and pillows and settle in for a fun evening together.

Movies are great because they tell a story, much like Scripture and the parables that Jesus uses to each his disciples. Often in movies, we can find rich plots, interesting characters, and complex moral dilemmas and in those things, we can often find just the right opportunity to share with our kids how we can live out our faith or how God can meet our deepest needs.

Here’s four faith-forming movie moments we can capture for our Family Movie Night discipleship times.

The BIG Story

Every movie has an overall plot and many times the plot has something to do with good vs. evil. Of course, we always want good to win and just when it looks like evil has taken the lead, good comes from behind for the BIG win. Does this sound anything like another story you’ve heard in your life or read in the pages of the Bible? The original good vs. evil story took place in the narrative of Scripture and is repeated in all of the small stories we read over and over again, not the least of which was the resurrection of Christ that we celebrate on Easter.

Some examples of questions you could ask your kids:

Where does the idea of good and evil come from?
Who was the good guy in the movie? Who is the ultimate good guy?
Can you give an example of the Bible where good beat evil, like in the movie?

The BIG Lesson

Most movies have a “lesson” or moral they are trying to get across to their audience. It may not be a deep lesson (Dumb and Dumber, anyone?) and it may not be a healthy one (50 Shades of Let’s Not Go There) but there is some lesson behind the story. Before you watch the movie with your kids, be aware of what the messages are and ask your kids if they can find it or figure it out. I’ve been amazed by some of the insights my girls have come up with about the messages in movies.

Here are a few questions to help you get started.

What is the main message this movie is telling you about life? love? relationships? friendship?
Do you think the message is true or false?
Do you think that is a the same message Jesus would give you?

The BIG Picture

Movies try to paint a certain reality, whether it is set in a high school or outer space, the movie tries to pull you into their alternate universe and have you believe it’s real. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on the movie, the fact is that reality is not real. Sometimes kids especially have a hard time discerning that as their minds are still developing the skills necessary to tell the difference between fantasy and reality.

Here are a few thoughts you might want to share with your kids before and after the movie.

Before the movie: Look for things in the movie that are different from your reality.
After the movie: What did you think was unrealistic? Why? How has that been different from your experience? As a Christian, what would you have done in that situation?

To the Parent of a Prodigal

Andrew Linder

August 20, 2023

Most of us are familiar with the story of ‘the prodigal son’ in Luke chapter 15. However, for many parents, it can be a story that’s all too familiar in a more painful and personal way.

They relate to his story because it is one very similar to their own. They have a son or daughter who is “far from home.”

And while being a parent of a prodigal carries with it a weight that only such a parent can know, there are some key principles in this biblical story that can be a help and encouragement to any parent.

And we see these principles exemplified through the father in the story. Here are a few of them:

1. The father didn’t rescue the prodigal from his foolishness.

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country. (Luke 15:12-13a)

While our tendency is to want to save our children from any pain or heartache that we can see in their future, that is not always what is best.

Regardless of their age, don’t be too quick to rescue your kids. Sometimes there are lessons that can only be learned from “the school of hard knocks.”

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your kids is:

Allow them to make mistakes
Allow them to learn from those mistakes
Because sometimes experience is the best teacher

I can remember as a boy hearing my dad say these words, “Experience is the best teacher, you just can’t always afford the tuition.” Some lessons in life have to be learned the hard way because unfortunately, not all of us are willing to just simply learn from the mistakes of others.

2. The father didn’t revert to fear when the prodigal went astray.

But while he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion. (Luke 15:20)

When one of your children goes astray, don’t fear. We don’t see a father in this story who is daily wringing his hands in fear of what might happen to his son. We instead see a father who with great anticipation daily awaits and prays with hope for his son’s return.

Sometimes parents are guilty of taking their prodigals’ actions personally, even blaming themselves for them going astray. But may I remind you that even the disciples of Jesus who would soon “turn the world upside down” actually failed and abandoned Him in His darkest hour. Yet they returned to be even stronger than before to fulfill and carry out his mission of changing the world.

Leadership Direction Begins With Trust

Phil Cooke

August 20, 2023

Pastor Craig Groeschel has a great quote on leadership: “People would rather follow a leader that is real than one that is always right.” He’s on target because providing leadership direction is about trust. If people don’t trust you, they won’t follow you – no matter how “right” your decisions.

Leadership Direction Begins With Trust

The problem is, most leaders feel like they’ll lose the confidence of their team, employees, or followers if they change their mind about an issue. Their insecurities force them to stay on course no matter how wrong that course may be.

We saw that played out here in the United States with our national leaders during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though new information was coming in, data was being updated, and early estimates were proven wrong, medical and political leadership stayed the course. While our economy was being crippled, mental health plummeting, children falling behind in school (and much more), I can’t recall anyone at the national level actually admitting they were wrong, and adjusting their policies based on the new information.

So it’s not surprising that during that time, polls indicated that the American people’s trust in those leaders plummeted as well.

People trust a leader who is open to new information, willing to be challenged, and knows the world is changing by the minute. Not someone who is wishy-washy or is constantly swayed by the latest fad, but one who sees the world as it is, and is willing to respond.

Egotistical leaders find that kind of honesty and openness a challenge. But confident leaders know that when it comes to leadership direction reality is more important than their assumptions.

It’s worth repeating: “People would rather follow a leader that is real than one that is always right.”

This article about leadership direction originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

3 Distinct Choices the Most Successful Leaders Make When Required To

Brian Dodd

August 19, 2023

Life and leadership are a series of choices. First, you make your choices. Then, your choices make you.

Though you want both options in each case, the following are three distinct choices the most successful leaders make when required to:

1. Character Over Competence

The number one thing successful leaders should value more than anything else is character. This sustains your leadership as your competence, skills, talents, and abilities continue to grow.

2. Devotion Over Loyalty

The second choice successful leaders make is valuing devotion over loyalty.

Loyalty alone does not make you a leader but disloyalty disqualifies you from leadership. Many leaders confuse loyalty with devotion and actually prefer loyalty. This is a mistake.

Loyalty is about allegiance to the leader. It is constant support. Loyalty is characterized by continual praise and adulation along. It is often telling the leader what he or she wants to hear. This behavior often crosses the lines of “blind loyalty” and self-preservation. Loyalty often foregoes hard conversations in exchange for peace.

What leaders should prefer is devotion. Devotion is about allegiance to the leader AND the organization. A devoted person says, “I care about you so much I don’t want you or the organization to look bad or fail and we’re about to make a mistake.” They care about the person enough to tell them the truth, even if it causes temporary pain for either party.

Devoted people put the mission above all else. Devoted employees often do the finest work on your team because they refuse to allow the leader or organization to look bad.

Loyalty is nice but devotion is much, much better.

3. Quality Over Quantity

On July 21, 2023, legendary performer Tony Bennett died at age 96 after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. In this NBCNews.com article, his widow Susan Benedetto told the story of the two of them watching YouTube videos of Bennet’s career along with a health care worker.

Susan said, “And Tony was alert enough that he’s like watching. And he said, ‘Was I always popular?’ And I said, ‘Yes, sweetheart.’ I said, ‘You’ve been popular for over 70 years.’ And he said, ‘That’s because I stayed with quality.’”

The 6 Laws of Technology

James Emery White

August 19, 2023

There is a fascinating article in the Wall Street Journal titled “The Six Laws of Technology Everyone Should Know.” It is based on the writings of Melvin Kranzberg, a professor of the history of technology at Georgia Institute of Technology.

He wrote about these laws 30 years ago, based on examples taken from the Cold War.

But they have become legendary among technologists, serving as something of a Hippocratic oath for all people who build things. It’s a fascinating list and worth thinking about deeply:

1. “Technology Is Neither Good nor Bad; Nor Is It Neutral.”

This was Kranzberg’s first law and considered his most important. He understood that the impact of a technology would be determined by its geographic and cultural context. This means it can often be good and bad at the same time. Think Facebook groups that serve as a support for parents with children of rare diseases and Facebook groups that radicalize political extremists.

Lesson? Tech companies should “try to anticipate the potential impact of anything they produce.”

Reality? Too often, they don’t even try.

2. “Invention Is the Mother of Necessity.”

No, you didn’t read that wrong. The tried and true phrase is “Necessity is the mother of invention.” But the point, Kranzberg wrote, is that “every technical innovation seems to require additional technical advances in order to make it fully effective.”

Consider the smart phone—its creation demanded “countless other technologies, from phone cases to 5G wireless.”

3. “Technology Comes in Packages, Big and Small.”

This is all about interdependence and interaction. Consider how “steel, oil and rail were the package of technologies that dominated the 19th and early 20th centuries.” Today? The package would be “the internet, mobile phones and wireless connectivity.” The sand casting process is so popular that it has been used in lots of different industries.

4. “Although Technology Might Be a Prime Element in Many Public Issues, Nontechnical Factors Take Precedence in Technology-Policy Decisions.”

This is something very much worth thinking about. Technology, in and of itself, does not have intrinsic power. As historian Robert C. Post, who was Kranzberg’s friend and colleague, says: “It has to be motivated by political power or cultural power or something else.”

Consider how Congress has declared their intention to force Google, Facebook and others to disclose who pays for political ads on their platforms. This is already the norm for TV, radio and print.

5. “All History Is Relevant, but the History of Technology Is the Most Relevant.”

The motivating force behind this “law” was how the Cold War “led to the buildup of nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them anywhere on Earth. That led to the development of a war-proof communication system: the internet.”

How to Help Students Learn To Be Wise

Greg Stier

August 19, 2023

Our students live in an age where information comes at them like a firehose.

Every day, Google’s search engine is tapped 6 billion times. Facebook messages are posted 4.3 billion times. Four million hours of content are uploaded to YouTube. Each day.

If your teenagers can ask Siri anything…why do they need you, their fearless youth leader, to help them navigate the information landscape?

Because information isn’t wisdom.

Perhaps now more than ever, teenagers need help developing their critical thinking skills so they can wisely discern truth from lies out there in the massive marketplace of ideas (Philippians 1:9-11). They’ll drown if they don’t learn how to evaluate and synthesize information from a Christian worldview. And these critical thinking skills pretty much always involve encouraging them to ask questions—tough questions.

What’s the best way to learn these critical skills and find answers to the tough questions? In the context of a caring relationship with a wise adult they trust—an adult they know they can ask any question they have about God and faith and life and Truth.

Sounds a lot like the definition of discipleship, doesn’t it?

Yet shockingly, dictionary.com’s definition of “disciple” includes the following notations:

verb?(used?with?object),?discipled,?discipling
5. Archaic.?to?convert?into?a?disciple.
6. Obsolete.?to?teach;?train.

Did you notice that the verb forms of the word “disciple” are marked as Archaic and Obsolete? Sadly, it’s a blatant commentary on the church age we live. But it doesn’t need to be! Seeing students discipled is NOT a thing of the past…in fact, it’s at the very core the Gospel Advancing Ministry Movement.

Building a Discipleship Strategy

Which is why Value #4 of a Gospel Advancing Ministry is “A disciple multiplication strategy guides it.” A solid discipleship strategy lies at the core of seeing the message of the gospel advance both in and through your teenagers. So where do you start?

An effective discipleship strategy is built on four pillars:

A caring Christian relationship. You’ll want to recruit mature, caring Christians to help you disciple your students, so you can get every student plugged into a small group. Discipleship happens best life-on-life, so strive to keep your leader-to-student ratios low.
A safe environment where questions are welcome. You want your students to bring their questions about faith and life to you or other leaders in your group. If youth group/small group isn’t a safe space to raise their questions, they’ll look for answers elsewhere.
A core curriculum that dives deep into the basic tenets of the Christian faith. If students aren’t encouraged to explore both the “what” and the “why” behind the core truths of Christianity, their faith is likely to shrivel up and blow away when they encounter alternate worldviews that challenge the truth of Christianity.
A foundational commitment to making disciples who make disciples. The driving mission Jesus gives His followers is to take His message to others. If we leave this call out of the discipleship process, then we’re robbing our students of the calling of Christ. They’ve been saved not just from something, but to something bigger than themselves—to play an active part in Jesus’ redemptive plan for the world.

Sunday School Games for Youth That Lead to Laughter & Learning

Building Faith

August 18, 2023

Sunday school games for youth don’t need to be complicated or even sophisticated. Bring out the inner child in teenagers by playing these games with your youth group. These Sunday school games for youth are easy and quick yet high-impact and memorable!

8 Sunday School Games for Youth

The following ministry games are designed for children. But with some adaptation, several could be a lot of fun with youth! All the games are excerpted from Wiggle Tamers (Group, 1995) and Fidget Busters (Group, 1992) by Jolene Roehlkepartain. As she explains, when a class takes a break for a structured, movement-filled game, kids get their wiggles out. Plus, then they have more focus and attention on the lesson.

8 Games for Sunday School or Youth Group

Enjoy playing these Sunday school games for youth!

1. Balloon Grab

You’ll need 17 balloons: four yellow, four green, four blue, one orange, and four red.

Inflate the balloons. Place all the balloons — except for the orange one — in the middle of the room or field. Keep the orange balloon near you.
Say: I’m going to name a color. If you see a balloon that color on the ground, grab it and run all around with it. If you can’t grab one, follow someone who has that color balloon. Then when I name another color, everyone is to drop their balloons and grab the color balloon I named. Again, if you can’t grab one, follow someone who has that color balloon.
Start by naming yellow. Then after a minute or so name a different color. Repeat the activity five or six times. End by naming all the colors.
Then say: Orange! Grab your orange balloon and hold it high. Say: Now follow me as we go back to our lesson!

2. Broken Dishes

You’ll need a paper plate for each child.

Give each child a paper plate, then have the children skip around the room while holding onto their plates. Whenever you say, “Broken dishes,” have the children drop their plates and shout “uh-oh!” Then have children pretend to clean up the mess. After they pick up their plates, let them continue to skip until you call out “Broken dishes” again.
Repeat the activity three or four times. Then say: Let’s set the table back at our lesson to find out what’s cooking.
Have children take their plates back to your lesson area to place neatly on the floor or table before you continue with the lesson.

3. Jelly Bean Roll

You’ll need a bag of jelly beans.

On one side of the room, have the children kneel side  by side in a line. Place a jelly bean in front of each child.
Say: When I say “go,” roll your jelly bean across the room using only your nose. Remember, you can’t touch the jelly bean with your hands. Ready? Go!
Allow kids several minutes to roll their jelly beans.
Then say: Let’s roll our jelly beans back to our lesson where I’ll trade a clean, yummy jelly bean for your dirty one.

4. Peanut Butter

Say: It’s time for the Peanut Butter Game! When I say “go,” hop around the room. Whenever I say, “peanut butter,” stick to the people closest to you no matter how many there are. Then, when I say “jelly,” unstick yourselves and hop around the room again. Ready? Go!
Play four or five rounds.
Then say: Let’s sit down now so we can stick to our lesson.

Trevor Hislop: Getting Real in Marriage and Ministry

Jason Daye

August 18, 2023

If you’re married and in ministry, how can a better understanding of emotional safety improve both your marriage and your ministry? In this week’s conversation on FrontStage BackStage, host Jason Daye is joined by Dr. Trevor Hislop, counselor, marriage and family therapist, and ministry coach at Pastor Serve. Trevor brings a unique perspective because not only is he a certified Marriage and Family Therapist but he’s also served in pastoral ministry in the local church for 20 years. Together, Trevor and Jason explore how some of the tendencies we have around vulnerability and risk in ministry settings can unknowingly transfer into the relationship we have with our spouses. Trevor helps us identify and address some of these challenges so that we can have healthier marriages and healthier ministries.

FrontStage BackStage Podcast With Trevor Hislop

View the entire podcast here.

Keep Learning

Looking to dig more deeply into this topic and conversation? Every week we go the extra mile and create a free toolkit so you and your ministry team can dive deeper into the topic that is discussed. Find your Weekly Toolkit here… Love well, Live well, Lead well!

Podcast Links

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UPDATE: Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy To End Conservatorship for ‘Blind Side’ Subject Michael Oher

Stephanie Martin

August 18, 2023

UPDATED Aug. 18, 2023: Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy will end their conservatorship for Michael Oher, the Tuohys lawyers announced Wednesday in a press conference. In a statement issued Tuesday, the Tuohys called Oher’s allegations against them “hurtful and absurd” and said they were experiencing a “shakedown.”

Attorneys for the couple say that Oher had attempted to blackmail the Tuohys with a negative story in the media unless they gave him $15 million.

ChurchLeaders original article written on Aug. 15, 2023, below:

Michael Oher, the subject of the 2009 hit movie “The Blind Side,” has alleged that Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy tricked him into a conservatorship rather than adopting him. On Aug. 14, Oher, a former pro athlete, filed a petition in a Tennessee probate court to end the conservatorship and to seek damages.

Oher, a Black man who faced numerous challenges during childhood, befriended the Tuohys, a wealthy white couple, as a teenager. According to Oher’s petition, the Tuohys were drawn to him because of his athletic potential, invited him to live with them, and indicated they would adopt him. But instead of adoption papers, Oher said, he was tricked into signing conservatorship documents that took away his legal rights.

Only in February 2023, Oher claimed, did he realize he had signed away rights to his name, likeness, and life story. The 37-year-old former athlete, who started 110 games during his eight-year NFL career, said he received no money for “The Blind Side” while the Tuohys cashed in.

Michael Oher and the Tuohys Are Now at Odds

According to his attorney, Michael Oher was deeply wounded to discover that the Tuohys never officially adopted him. Oher, who had lived in foster homes and been homeless as a child, alleged that the couple saw him as “a gullible young man whose athletic talent could be exploited for their own benefit.”

In response, Sean Tuohy said their family was “devastated” to learn of Oher’s accusations. The conservatorship, he said, was necessary so Oher could play football at the University of Mississippi. “We contacted lawyers who had told us that we couldn’t adopt over the age of 18,” said Touhy. “The only thing we could do was to have a conservatorship. We were so concerned it was on the up-and-up that we made sure [Oher’s] biological mother came to court.”

Sean Tuohy also denied the charge that his family became rich off “The Blind Side,” which grossed more than $300 million. “Everybody in the family got an equal share, including Michael,” Tuohy said. “It was about $14,000, each.”

The Tuohys son, Sean Tuohy Jr., said in an interview that Oher has been threatening to “go public with things” for several years unless the family gave him more money. “I get it, why he’s mad,” Tuohy Jr. said of Oher. “It stinks that it’ll play out on a very public stage…You will never hear me say anything bad about Michael Oher in any capacity other than I’m upset that he feels the way that he does.”

Leigh Anne Tuohy, who’s been open about her family’s Christian faith, said it “absolutely” played a role in their decision to take in Oher (who attended the same Christian school as her children). She and Sean are founding members of Grace Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee.

In 2010, when Oher was asked about his remarkable journey, he said, “It’ll always be unbelievable. I’ll always be a hard worker. I know that’s all God. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. It’s impossible.”

Michael Oher Now Works on Giving Back

Some critics said “The Blind Side” relied on a white-savior trope and stereotyped Oher as unintelligent and incapable. As a child, Oher attended 11 schools in nine years, and his mother, who had 11 other children, faced drug addiction. But he excelled in several sports and studied up on football, leading to impressive college scholarship offers.

Since his 2016 retirement from the NFL, Oher has focused on giving back and helping youth. He launched a Good Deeds app that helps donors give material items directly to people in need. The goal, he said, is to “bridge the gap between the people that are in need and people who are really wanting to give.”

Should an Ancient Christian Mosaic Found in Israel Be Uprooted? Authorities Consider Loan to Bible Museum

Jessica Mouser

August 18, 2023

An ancient Christian mosaic discovered in Tel Megiddo, Israel, in 2005 has become the subject of controversy, in part because authorities are considering uprooting the mosaic from its location. Another reason is that Israeli officials are considering loaning the mosaic to the Museum of the Bible (MOTB) in Washington, D.C.

Museum of the Bible “of course would welcome the opportunity to educate our thousands of visitors on important pieces of history such as this mosaic,” Jeffrey Kloha, Museum of the Bible’s chief curatorial officer, told the Associated Press (AP). But the decision regarding whether the loan will occur is entirely in the hands of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which has yet to make a decision on the matter.

Museum of the Bible Might Receive Megiddo Mosaic

The Megiddo Mosaic was discovered on the grounds of Megiddo Prison. Authorities planned to expand the facility, which houses detained Palestinian security inmates, and were concerned that the additions would harm any artifacts in the area. During rescue excavations, IAA discovered the mosaic. The artifact refers to Jesus as God and is located in what is believed to be the earliest Christian prayer hall in the world.

It is thought that Tel Megiddo is the source of the word “Armageddon,” a term that appears in Revelation 16 as the site of a battle between God and the kings of the earth.

The IAA is considering moving the mosaic in order to protect it from construction at Megiddo Prison. In 2022, The Times of Israel reported that authorities were actually considering moving the prison.

Some scholars are inherently opposed to moving the mosaic at all. “Once you take any artifact outside of its archaeological context,” said Candida Moss, a theology professor at University of Birmingham, “it loses something, it loses a sense of the space and the environment in which it was first excavated.”

Others oppose the artifact going to Museum of the Bible. Cavan Concannon, a religion professor at the University of Southern California, told AP that the institution promotes Christian nationalism.

The museum’s founders are Steve and Jackie Green. Steve Green is chairman of the board of the museum and the president of Hobby Lobby.

Since opening in 2017, MOTB has been at the center of several controversies because of artifacts it possessed that were found to be stolen or forgeries. In 2017, Hobby Lobby was fined $3 million for purchasing artifacts stolen from Iran. In 2018, it came to light that MOTB was in possession of a stolen medieval New Testament manuscript, which the museum thereupon returned to the University of Athens.

‘Rich Men’ Singer Oliver Anthony: ‘We Have Lost Our Way From God’

Stephanie Martin

August 18, 2023

Oliver Anthony, whose blue-collar country ballad “Rich Men North of Richmond” skyrocketed to the top of the country music charts, formally introduced himself to listeners on Facebook on Aug. 17 [Editor’s note: This post and the following link contain language some may find offensive.]. In a lengthy post, the red-bearded singer-songwriter from Virginia admitted he’s in “a weird place” right now, dealing with the overnight success.

“People in the music industry give me blank stares when I brush off 8 million dollar offers,” wrote Anthony, whose real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford. His stage name honors his grandfather, who was born during the Great Depression in Appalachia.

Anthony insisted he doesn’t want to be “in the spotlight,” writing, “There’s nothing special about me. I’m not a good musician. I’m not a very good person.” Yet he reportedly received more than 50,000 messages in one week, and “Rich Men North of Richmond” already has more than 20 million views on YouTube.

Who Is Country Musician Oliver Anthony?

In his post, Oliver Anthony described himself as “just some idiot and his guitar.” He earned a GED after dropping out of high school and then worked in manufacturing plants, calling it “a living hell.” He suffered a serious work injury, now lives in a camper, and has spent the past five years “struggling with mental health and using alcohol to drown it.”

Anthony said he started writing songs in 2021 and “found an outlet in this music.” His lyrics frequently contain foul language and refer to smoking marijuana.

The singer, who opened a recent performance by reading from Psalm 37, wrote, “Just like those once wandering in the desert, we have lost our way from God and have let false idols distract us and divide us.” He expressed sadness and hopelessness at the current state of the world, with “everyone fighting with each other” and with the internet acting as a divisive “parasite.”

Anthony continued, “When are we going to fight for what is right again? MILLIONS have died protecting the liberties we have. Freedom of speech is such a precious gift. Never in world history has the world had the freedom it currently does. Don’t let them take it away from you.”

In his working-class anthem, Anthony rails against obese welfare recipients and makes an apparent reference to alleged human trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. “These songs have connected with millions of people on such a deep level because they’re being sung by someone feeling the words in the very moment they were being sung,” said Anthony.

The Message of Oliver Anthony’s Music

About his political leanings, Anthony said he sits “pretty dead center down the aisle.” Both the left and right “serve the same master,” he added, “and that master is not someone of any good to the people of this country.”

Many conservatives have praised “Rich Men North of Richmond” for highlighting the struggle of hardworking Americans while wealthy politicians fight for power in D.C. Far-right leaders such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert have endorsed Anthony’s message, with Greene saying the song “represents my district and the people of America I know and love.”

Others are skeptical about Anthony’s swift rise, even wondering if the upstart is an “industry plant.” Variety reporter Chris Willman wrote, “It almost seems as if, if Oliver Anthony hadn’t come along, someone would have had to invent him.”

‘Don’t Vote for Me,’ Lecrae Tells Dove Award Voters. ‘Vote for My Friends’

Jesse T. Jackson

August 18, 2023

Award-winning artist Lecrae posted a message to Gospel Music Association (GMA) voters this week asking them to vote for other Reach Records artists instead of him.

Lecrae, who has won 11 Dove Awards and two Grammy Awards over the course of his career, has been nominated this year for four Dove Awards, including Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for his “Church Clothes 4” mixtape.

“Listen, today’s that day that the Dove Award voting starts, and you probably saw that Reach Records artists have a lot of nominations,” Lecrae said in a video.

“You got Hulvey, you got WHATUPRG, you got Limoblaze, you got a 1KPhew, and of course myself,” he continued. “I just wanted to hop on here and say thank you to the GMA and the Dove Awards for constantly showing love and support.”

Lecrae then asked Dove Award voters not to vote for him this year. “I need to say this: If you’re voting, don’t vote for me this time. Vote for my friends, who I’ve seen put in a lot of work, a lot of care, and a lot of time into their projects.”

“I have won before and I’m extremely grateful,” he added, “but, man, everybody deserves it and I love to see these younger artists get an opportunity.”

Lecrae co-founded Reach Records in 2004 alongside Ben Washer and serves as president of the Christian hip hop label.

Reach Records artist Hulvey has been nominated for New Artist of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year alongside Forrest Frank for their song “no longer bound.” WHATUPRG is nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year for his album “New Hollywood.” 1KPhew has been nominated for Recorded Music Packaging of the Year for his album “As I Am.”

Limoblaze, Reach Records’ newest artist, his hoping to take home two Dove Awards after being nominated for both Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year.

Lecrae’s request to the GMA voters comes after EA Sports announced that Lecrae’s and Andy Mineo’s song “Good Lord” will be featured on the soundtrack for their Madden ’24 video game.

PSA to all GMA voting members!!!!@1kphew | @Limoblaze | @hulveyofficial | @WHATUPRG 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/3UjE9QoRNn

— Lecrae (@lecrae) August 17, 2023

Jonathan Howe Replaces Willie McLaurin as Interim Head of SBC Executive Committee

Dale Chamberlain

August 18, 2023

Jonathan Howe has been named the new interim president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Executive Committee (EC).

The role was abruptly vacated on Thursday (Aug. 17) when the previous interim president and CEO, Willie McLaurin, resigned after admitting he falsified his résumé to include degrees he never earned from schools he never attended.

McLaurin was being considered to assume leadership of the EC on a permanent basis, which would have made him the first Black leader to head an SBC entity.

In a statement to ChurchLeaders, the EC said that Howe will serve as interim president and CEO “in partnership with the officers until our next trustee meeting on September 18-19. At that trustee meeting the full board of trustees will elect, without restrictions, a continuing interim president/CEO.”

EC chairman Dr. Philip Robertson expressed that he is “committed to working alongside the 85 professional and gifted women and men, who represent Southern Baptists across our convention, to carry out the work with which we have been tasked, with purpose, transparency, and reliability for such a time as this.”

“I am grateful for our partnership as Southern Baptists toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission,” Robertson added.

Howe is a longtime Southern Baptist leader, having served as the EC’s vice president of communications since 2019. Prior to his tenure at the EC, he served as director of strategic initiatives at Lifeway Christian Resources, another SBC entity. Howe had been on staff at Lifeway since 2011.

The Search for a Permanent Leader Continues

The road to finding a permanent president and CEO for the EC has been somewhat rocky.

McLaurin assumed the role as the interim president and CEO of the EC in February 2022 following the resignation of Ronnie Floyd. Floyd had stepped down in protest of the EC’s vote to waive attorney-client privilege during Guidepost Solutions’ investigation into whether the EC had mishandled sexual abuse allegations.

McLaurin had been serving as the EC’s vice president for Great Commission relations and mobilization when Floyd resigned. SBC EC bylaws mandate the interim president and CEO be chosen by the EC officers from the current EC vice presidents, and McLaurin was selected.

How Pope Francis Runs His Diocese in Rome Says a Lot About His Approach to Reform

Claire Giangrave

August 18, 2023

Pope Francis, flanked by Bishop Angelo De Donatis, delivers his speech during a meeting with the Roman Diocese, at the Vatican Basilica of St. John Lateran, in Rome, May 14, 2018. De Donatis was elevated to cardinal in June 2018. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Tensions have been bubbling recently in the Catholic Diocese of Rome, as Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the vicar who supervises the see’s day-to-day operations, has clashed with Rome’s bishop — Catholicism’s worldwide leader, Pope Francis.

Francis and De Donatis have differed over the past few years on how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic and the management, or mismanagement, of the diocese’s finances, as well as the vicar’s loyalty to the Rev. Marko Rupnick, a Jesuit priest found guilty of sexually and psychologically abusing at least nine women.

As the rift between the two prelates has become increasingly embarrassing for the Vatican, Francis has characteristically made repeated appeals for unity, but he hasn’t shied from using an iron fist to impose his vision and isolate his opponents, just as he has done to quell growing division throughout the church. Vatican insiders have begun to study the way Francis is handling the disagreements in his own backyard for insight into how the pontiff addresses reform worldwide.

Francis’ most recent plea for harmony with the Roman clergy came in a letter issued Aug. 5 as he returned from his papal trip to Portugal, where he attended the Catholic World Youth Day festival.

As he knelt in the church of St. Mary Maggiore to offer his customary thanks to the Virgin Mary for a safe journey, Francis wrote, he prayed “that our mother Church of Rome, called to preside in charity, may nurture the precious gift of communion, first and foremost within itself, so that it may blossom in the different realities and sensitivities that it encompasses.”

But the letter also pointed to an insidious danger that he has often condemned in churches everywhere, and that the pope believes has taken root in his diocese: clericalism.

“As an old man at heart, I feel that I can tell you about my concern when we fall back into forms of clericalism,” Francis wrote, “when, perhaps without noticing, we let people believe that we are superior, privileged, ‘on top’ and therefore separate from the rest of the holy People of God.”

The pontiff urged his diocesan priests “not to be sucked in by the air of anger and malcontent that is currently circulating” and noted how “the devil sneaks in by feeding complaints, negativity and chronic dissatisfaction with everything that doesn’t work.”

Popes have taken different approaches in handling the Diocese of Rome. St. John Paul II famously made the effort to visit every parish in the Eternal City but left daily management to his vicar. Francis immediately showed a keen interest in his diocese and made an effort to visit the many churches of Rome, starting from the peripheries. In his first public speeches, Francis would refer to himself simply as bishop of Rome, in line with his general distaste for pomp and titles.

But as Francis’ physical health deteriorated, and the concerns of the global church became more pressing, the pope’s visits to local parishes fell off. In 2017 he appointed De Donatis vicar and in 2018 made him a cardinal.

The first public signs of tensions appeared early in 2020 when De Donatis issued a decree closing all churches in Rome to avoid the spread of COVID-19. The next day, Francis criticized “drastic measures” in addressing the pandemic, forcing his vicar to issue a retraction.

Serious divisions cropped up again toward the end of 2022 after De Donatis dismissed reports that Rupnik, rector of a church in Rome and founder of an art school and theological institute called the Aletti Center, had sexually abused women, including nuns.

Women at the First March on Washington: A Secretary, a Future Bishop and a Marshal

Adelle M Banks

August 18, 2023

first March on Washington — People demonstrate for racial justice on Aug. 28, 1963, in the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C. Photo by Warren K. Leffler/LOC/Creative Commons

(RNS) — In front of the crowds and the cameras, the speeches of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other men loomed large 60 years ago at the March on Washington.

But the women, including those of faith, who played roles in its organization, its music and its news coverage were mostly left off the official program.

“They did not accept their exclusion quietly,” stated the National Museum of African American History and Culture, in a description posted on its website ahead of the anniversary. “Individuals like Anna Arnold Hedgeman of the National Council of Churches strategized with others and convinced (organizer Roy) Wilkins to include a female speaker. Only one woman spoke: Daisy Bates, NAACP chapter president and an advisor to the Little Rock Nine.”

The Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner, who came to Washington as the first female executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus a decade after the march, recalls prominent Black women leaders of that era sharing with her their “anger and angst” of having to sit silently that day.

The co-convener of the National African American Clergy Network said that, although they may not have had much of a voice that day, she is certain of the influence of women, famous and unfamiliar, on the march’s success from behind the scenes.

“If anything got organized, the women were putting in extra time,” she said, “even though they faced the unfairness of not being able to speak.”

As the nation marks the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, Religion News Service talked to three women — a secretary in King’s office, a schoolgirl who became a bishop and a high school grad who helped escort Malcolm X, about their memories and roles in that historic moment.

The interviews were edited for length and clarity.

Willie Pearl Mackey King

Willie Pearl Mackey King at her desk at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference office in Atlanta in 1963. Photo courtesy of Willie Pearl Mackey King

Willie Pearl Mackey King was the personal secretary and administrative assistant to the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr. (no relation), who was a co-founder of the SCLC, as well as with Walker and others who organized the march. She arrived in D.C. weeks before the gathering and left in time to watch it on TV in Atlanta with SCLC staffers. King, 82, is a member and former trustee of a Baptist church in Silver Spring, Maryland.

What was your role in the plans for the March on Washington?

I came to Washington, probably the first time six weeks before the march because Wyatt Tee Walker was the lead person on Dr. King’s staff planning the march with a lot of help. His immediate staff from Atlanta were very much involved looking at logistics, thinking about crowd control, how many people we’re expecting and, certainly, they did not expect, from everything I heard, the number of people that turned out. They didn’t expect 250,000 people. No. No. No. They were thinking of a much smaller group from what I could hear, what I saw discussed.

Meet the South Austin Parish Leaving ACNA for the Episcopal Church

Kathryn Post

August 18, 2023

(RNS) — When the Anglican Church in North America broke off from the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada in 2009 over their acceptance of LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage, the split was not exactly amicable.

Years of infighting and slow, grinding property lawsuits that followed the split have kept tensions between the two groups alive. So when an ACNA church plant in Austin, Texas, announced in July that 80% of the congregation supported joining the Episcopal Church, it raised eyebrows.

Founded years after the schism, Resurrection Anglican Church in South Austin is one of three parishes that have departed ACNA’s Dioceses of Churches for the Sake of Others in the past two years. Two of those parishes, Resurrection and The Table in Indianapolis, have pursued affiliation with the Episcopal Church, with the third, St. Mary of Bethany in Nashville, Tennessee, remaining unaffiliated.

If you ask the Rev. Shawn McCain Tirres, rector of Resurrection Anglican Church, the real story of the church’s departure isn’t about denominational politics. It’s about a local parish that faced difficult questions head-on, and came out the other side.

“It feels like we did the impossible,” McCain Tirres told Religion News Service in a recent interview. “We really fought for this, we stuck this out and we trusted God and each other. We had a lot of hard conversations. And here we are. We’re still together. Look what God has done.”

The Rev. Shawn McCain Tirres. Photo courtesy RezAustin.com

The Rev. Shawn McCain Tirres. Photo courtesy of RezAustin.com

RNS spoke to McCain Tirres about his parish: how it formed, the ways it has changed and what ultimately led it to the disaffiliation. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How was Resurrection founded?

I have a large Latino Catholic family and family in West Texas. While I was at a family reunion out here, I had this moment where I felt the invitation of the Holy Spirit to come here and get to work.

In 2015, my family and I moved to Austin from Santa Cruz, California, sent from the church that we had planted there with another family. It was word-of-mouth, a lot of prayer and in-home gatherings. We gathered a critical mass of people and started a launch team, then finally launched Easter of 2015.

What makes Resurrection distinct?

We throw a lot of parties in the neighborhood at pubs and parks. Our culture of evangelism isn’t pushy. We have what I would call a very “fiesta” culture, which is making a ton of food, throwing a huge party and inviting everyone in earshot.

Another distinction is that we are very high church. We have a lot of incense, smells and bells, robes, a strong sense of reverence. People have called us a “low-key high church.” We’re going to have a good time, but we’re standing in the presence of God.

Building a Culture of Adoption Is the Heart of the Church

Rick Morton

August 18, 2023

culture of adoption — Adobestock #545582629

What happens after the sermon on adoption ends?

Even if families are moved to consider adopting a child, they face countless questions and likely doubts—even fears. I know we did. And that’s why building a culture of adoption can—and should—be central to the church after Roe.

Of course, being pro-life through adoption is easy to say but hard to do. To many, it’s not obvious how to make it happen. But creating an adoption-positive and adoption-friendly environment in your church is the beginning and can start with practical steps, ones within the reach of any church community or member.

Take one of the most obvious hurdles any adoptive family must overcome as an example: namely, the cost. It seems high because most of the expenses of an adoption cover the employment of the men and women who work tirelessly to ensure the safety of the children in need of adoption, at every stage of the process.

But, cost should never stop anyone from adopting. There are countless ways to defray that cost: tax credits at the state and federal levels, grants, community resource-sharing programs and private low- or no-interest loans. Lifeline Children’s Services, where I work, provides all of its hopeful adoptive parents with an ebook outlining these resources so they don’t feel overwhelmed.

In short, the cost is only intimidating because would-be adoptive parents have nobody guiding them to the people and resources they need to help them overcome it. This is a perfect place for churches to develop ministry.

The other most obvious hurdle adoptive parents face is all of the unknowns. The church should be the first place people go to get their questions answered.

In the church, would-be adoptive parents will be held by a community full of people who seek God’s will and will help them follow Him. Fellow church members can walk alongside them through the entire process, from beginning to end—but these companions must be equipped properly and encouraged in their work.

So, educate leaders in your church. Encourage curiosity about adoption in anyone who might have questions. Develop safe spaces for church members to ask the difficult questions they’ll face before, during, and long after adoption. Develop a network of friends, allies, and mentors for adoptive families and their children. Get men and women who aren’t interested in adoption involved in the countless ministry opportunities to support those families who are.

An adoption culture involves your whole church, not just a few members. It’s more than a sermon, more than an annual event or a cloistered project driven by a family or two. It is our inheritance as Christians: First and foremost, we have been adopted into the family of God.

If we succeed in building a culture of adoption, we all will flourish: our churches, our families, our children, their children, their friends and all we might encounter along the path we walk as we follow Christ.

He has done the work to provide for us to be adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God, and our mission is to extend His love to all who we are given the chance to serve. Adoption culture is at the heart of our Christian faith, and could be the center of every church. Let’s make it so.

What Non-Christians Really Think About Christians

Thom Rainer

August 18, 2023

One of my greatest joys in research is talking to and listening to those who clearly identify themselves as non Christians. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not celebrating their absence of faith in Christ. My joy comes from listening to those who don’t believe as I do, so I might be better equipped to witness to them.

Learning from Non Christians

Over the past several years, my research teams and I have interviewed thousands of unchurched non Christians. Among the more interesting insights I gleaned were those where the interviewees shared with me their perspectives of Christians.

In this article, I group the seven most common types of comments in order of frequency. I then follow that representative statement with a direct quote from a non Christian.

Read these comments and see if you learn some of the lessons I learned.

7 Things Non Christians Think About Christians

1. Christians are against more things than they are for.

“It just seems to me Christians are mad at the world and mad at each other. They are so negative, they seem unhappy. I have no desire to be like them and stay upset all the time.”

2. I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.

“I’m really interested in what they believe and how they carry out their beliefs. I wish I could find a Christian who would be willing to spend some time with me.”

3. I would like to learn about the Bible from a Christian.

“The Bible really fascinates me, but I don’t want to go to a stuffy and legalistic church to learn about it. I would be nice if a Christian invited me to study the Bible in his home or at a place like Starbucks.”

4. I don’t see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.

“I really can’t tell what a Christian believes because he doesn’t seem much different than other people I know. The only exception would be Mormons. They really seem to take their beliefs seriously.”

5. I wish I could learn to be a better husband/wife/dad/mom, etc., from a Christian.

“My wife is threatening to divorce me, and I think she means it this time. My neighbor is a Christian, and he seems to have it together. I am swallowing my pride and asking him to help me.”

6. Some Christians try to act like they have no problems.

“Harriett works in my department. She is one of those Christians who seems to have a mask on. I would respect her more if she didn’t put on such an act. I know better.”

7. I wish a Christian would take me to his or her church.

“I really would like to visit a church, but I’m not particularly comfortable going by myself. What is weird is that I am 32 years old, and I’ve never had a Christian invite me to church in my entire life.”

Do you see the pattern? Non Christians want to interact with Christians. They want to see Christians’ actions match their beliefs. They want Christians to be real.

In one study we conducted, we found only 5 percent of non Christians are antagonistic toward Christians. It’s time to stop believing the lies we have been told. Jesus said it clearly: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Luke10:2, HCSB).

Satan is the author of excuses. There is no reason to wait to reach those who don’t know Jesus Christ. We must go now. The harvest is waiting. And the Lord of the harvest has prepared the way.

This article originally appeared here.

7 Reasons Why Worship Is Powerful

1. Worship is for Him.

2. Worship realigns our focus.

Misconceptions About God & Knowing His Will

1. Knowing God’s will is a labyrinth.

2. There is only one right path/decision/career.

The BIG Story

The BIG Lesson

The BIG Picture

1. The father didn’t rescue the prodigal from his foolishness.

2. The father didn’t revert to fear when the prodigal went astray.

Leadership Direction Begins With Trust

1. Character Over Competence

2. Devotion Over Loyalty

3. Quality Over Quantity

1. “Technology Is Neither Good nor Bad; Nor Is It Neutral.”

2. “Invention Is the Mother of Necessity.”

3. “Technology Comes in Packages, Big and Small.”

4. “Although Technology Might Be a Prime Element in Many Public Issues, Nontechnical Factors Take Precedence in Technology-Policy Decisions.”

5. “All History Is Relevant, but the History of Technology Is the Most Relevant.”

8 Sunday School Games for Youth

8 Games for Sunday School or Youth Group

1. Balloon Grab

2. Broken Dishes

3. Jelly Bean Roll

4. Peanut Butter

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The Message of Oliver Anthony’s Music

The Search for a Permanent Leader Continues

Willie Pearl Mackey King

What was your role in the plans for the March on Washington?

How was Resurrection founded?

What makes Resurrection distinct?

Learning from Non Christians

7 Things Non Christians Think About Christians

1. Christians are against more things than they are for.

2. I would like to develop a friendship with a Christian.

3. I would like to learn about the Bible from a Christian.

4. I don’t see much difference in the way Christians live compared to others.

5. I wish I could learn to be a better husband/wife/dad/mom, etc., from a Christian.

6. Some Christians try to act like they have no problems.

7. I wish a Christian would take me to his or her church.

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