If you’re like me, you probably don’t think about diversity very often. We’re more often content to “live and let live.” That’s the very assumption that Scott Williams wants to challenge in his new bookChurch Diversity: Sunday the Most Segregated Day of the Week. Williams bases the premise for his book on a quotation by Martin Luther King Jr. that is as startlingly true now as it was fifty years ago–
“We must face the sad fact that at the eleven o’clock hour on Sunday morning when we stand to sing, we stand in the most segregated hour in America.”
You may be thinking, “But, what’s the big deal? Why is diversity so important? If Whites, Blacks, Latinos, and Asians each have their own church, why does it matter? We’re all worshiping Jesus.”
Well, part of it has to do with the Great Commission Jesus gave us in Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples of all nations,” and challenging ourselves to move beyond “what is” to “what will be.” There will come a day when every tribe, tongue and nation will gather to worship the Lamb. So, when we worship as a diverse body of Christ, we reflect the kingdom of God on earth as it will be in heaven.
I interviewed Scott Williams a few weeks ago, and was intrigued to learn more about this topic. I hope you’ll listen to the interview and start thinking about what the body of Christ can look like.
Over 20 years ago Doug Sherman wrote Your Work Matters to God, which has become a classic on meaningful vocation for Christians in the workplace. This summer Sherman’s newest book More Than Ordinary hit the shelves. In it, he explores what it means to live a live filled with meaning and purpose, and to have a spiritual walk that is both intimate and exciting.
I recently interviewed Doug Sherman about More Than Ordinary. Go ahead and take a listen, or check out the video below where Doug introduces the book himself.
Britt is a surfer. When I say he’s a surfer I mean it in two ways. He’s both a man who rides the killer waves of Southern California beaches, and a soul surfer on an intense journey riding the unpredictable waves of life with a lot of moxie.
When Britt started writing Big God he knew that the book would be about faith and exploring the Biblical heroes from Hebrews Chapter 11. What he didn’t know was that he’d be called to the most difficult challenge of his life at the same time. His 5-year-old daughter Daisy, was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer, a Wilms’ tumor, that was about the size of a football in her abdomen. The tumor was removed shortly after discovery, but the Merrick’s still had to face several months of chemotherapy treatments and an uncertain outcome.
So when Britt started talking about faith in our interview, I had to listen. Here is a guy who has clung to Jesus with everything he has in him. I hope you’ll take a listen too. If you do, I think you’ll agree that our God is a Big God, and with His help we can have faith big enough to make it through the ups and downs of life’s storms.
Last Friday I had the opportunity to talk with author Frank Viola about he and Leonard Sweet’s newest book, Jesus Manifesto.
Jesus Manifesto is a passionate exploration and declaration of Jesus Christ. Viola and Sweet feel that many Christians and churches have lost sight of the majesty and supremacy of Jesus. Our lives are filled with activity and spiritual things—spiritual gifts, social justice, ministry, etc, but what is our motivation? They call Christians and the church to renew their first love and come back to simply adoring our Lord and Master.
Click here to listen to the interview with Frank Viola.
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) recently announced the 2010 Christian Book Award winners. Richard Stearn’s The Hole in Our Gospel won both the Christian Life Category Award and 2010 Christian Book of the Year.
Below you’ll find an interview with Richard Stearns and Bill Hybels at Willowcreek Community Church. Hear the story behind this life-changing book.
Prayer is hard. At least for me it is. It’s especially difficult when you don’t get an answer for months, sometimes years. It’s much easier to give up, rather than persist when you don’t see an answer right away.
Fortunately, I’m not alone. A few weeks ago I interviewed Eric Ludy, co-author of Wrestling Prayer. In Wrestling Prayer he and his wife Leslie share how through a difficult time God lead them into a deeper and more fulfilling prayer life.
I was encouraged by Eric’s insights and think you will be too.
