Classic City Rev

Authors note:  Many of the thoughts expressed in this week's blog are based on a similar column I wrote that was published in The Monticello News in May of 2011 upon the death of Osama Bin Laden. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed last weekend in raid led by U.S. soldiers.  Bakr al-Baghdadi was the leader of ISIS which is an Islamic inspired terrorist group that controlled a substantial swath of territory in Syria and Iraq and one.  Bakr al-Baghdadi was no doubt a murderous soul and a sinister individual. It is certainly appropriate that we commend those brave members of our armed forces who carried out this raid.  The young men and women of our armed forced can never be thanked enough. Though there are certainly domestic political considerations in play in this scenario this is not the place to address those issues.   There is within me, as I would hope that there is all Christians, a tension when I receive news such as this.  On the one hand there is a sense of triumph

This week noted conservative evangelical leader John MacArthur, was asked about the ministry of the Southern Baptist Bible Teacher Beth Moore.  He replied that women had no role in the proclamation of the Gospel and that they needed to "Go home."   On the one hand MacArthur's statement could be described in one word---dumb.  On the other hand the statement was borderline misogynistic.  As United Methodists we have settled the question about the role of women in ministry for over six decades so for me there is no need to argue the issue.  I know what  my experience has taught me. Let me say unequivocally that I am grateful that my female colleagues in ministry have not gone home.  I have seen the fruit that they have brought forth.   I have been mentored by some in my formative years in ministry and served alongside others as I have become an "older" pastor.  What I know is this--there are people today that have a relationship with Jesus Christ because 

We like to be comfortable even in serving and worshiping God. In thirty two years of pastoring I have heard countless excuses, some would say reasons, for not attending worship.  I have heard countless complaints about sanctuary temperatures, the hardness of church pews or the brightness of the lights in the sanctuary.  Further there are some that would prefer the preaching in a church not to challenge their pre-conceived ideas and notions.  Many want to hear nothing disturbing. Many feel that the church should not make us  uncomfortable.  I thought a lot about some of those excuses and complaints when I heard the story of what happened to ninety-five year old President Jimmy Carter this weekend.  I don't intend this space to be an indictment or endorsement of his presidency but just the story of one Christian who set out to serve his Lord. The former President fell at his home last week end.  The result of his fall was that his face required 14 stitches.  The former P