Category Archives: Uncategorized

Paul and the Faithfulness of God: Re-imagining the Symbols of the Jewish Worldview (Family)

Posted on November 30, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We are considering N. T. Wright’s newly released Paul and the Faithfulness of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God) — a massive and masterful consideration of Paul’s theology. We been considering Wright’s review of the various symbols at the … Continue reading →

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Auburn vs. Alabama — and a lesson in humility

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Jay F Guin

And a hearty “Amen” to the theme of Sunday’s sermon. Introduction to the lesson to be administered beginning 2:30 PM on Saturday. [Thanks to Randy Lucas for the photo.]

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Paul and the Faithfulness of God: Re-imagining the Symbols of the Jewish Worldview (Prayer; Land)

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We are considering N. T. Wright’s newly released Paul and the Faithfulness of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God) — a massive and masterful consideration of Paul’s theology. We been considering Wright’s review of the various symbols at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Paul and the Faithfulness of God, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Paul and the Faithfulness of God: Re-imagining the Symbols of the Jewish Worldview (Torah)

Posted on November 28, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We are considering N. T. Wright’s newly released Paul and the Faithfulness of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God) — a massive and masterful consideration of Paul’s theology. We been considering Wright’s review of the various symbols at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Paul and the Faithfulness of God, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Paul and the Faithfulness of God: Re-imagining the Symbols of the Jewish Worldview (Introduction; the Temple)

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Jay F Guin

We are considering N. T. Wright’s newly released Paul and the Faithfulness of God (Christian Origins and the Question of God) — a massive and masterful consideration of Paul’s theology. I’m skipping lots and lots of pages ahead. Wright takes quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Paul and the Faithfulness of God, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Thought Question: Is the Church Dying in America?

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Lately, there’s been quite a lot press coverage concluding that the church in America is dying. Much of this coverage comes from the Christian publishing industry, eager to sell books on how to reverse this trend. (Forgive the cynicism, but … Continue reading →

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“Hell and Mr. Fudge”

Posted on November 25, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Regular readers know that I consider Edward Fudge something of a spiritual hero. He’s an elder of the Churches of Christ, he’s an author, he posts daily spiritual thoughts on the Internet, and … he’s a lawyer. What’s not to … Continue reading →

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Housing Allowance Held Unconstitutional

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Jay F Guin

As most ministers are aware, the Internal Revenue Code grants a “housing allowance” that excludes ministerial income from federal income taxation (not the self-employment tax) to the extent used to pay certain housing costs. This benefit has been a huge … Continue reading →

Posted in Taxes, Uncategorized | 49 Comments

Thought Question: How to Deal With Criticism

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Jay F Guin

I’m a big Thom Rainer fan. Thom has written numerous books on church leadership as well as regularly posting thoughtful articles at his blog. Several days ago, he posted a list of five ways to respond to criticism — Overall … Continue reading →

Posted in Thought Questions, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Thought Question: Can My Church Grow As This One Has?

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Jay F Guin

Here’s a fascinating article about a Methodist congregation in a town of 23,000 that has made some changes and, as a result, experienced dramatic growth. Their worship attendance has doubled from 300 to over 600. Here’s what they credit their … Continue reading →

Posted in Thought Questions, Uncategorized | 25 Comments