Category Archives: +Fellowship

Being Church: Ministry, Sharing, Ecumenism

On the Observance of Christmas

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

The Church does not superstitiously observe days, merely as days, but as memorials of important facts. Christmas might be kept as well upon one day of the year as another; but there should be a stated day for commemorating the … Continue reading →

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The Sermon that Might Have Been

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Touching (and heartbreaking) story from Chaplain Mike: At the very beginning of the pastor’s message, these thoughts came to me. If what I just described had been the sermon, in my view it would have faithfully represented a plain and … Continue reading →

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Random Thought

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Jesus’ enemies denounced him as a friend of sinners. He never denied the charge. In fact he augmented it: “I’ve come for people who are sick, not those who are healthy.” It seems to me we do a disservice to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Life as Prayer, Ministry, Theology | 2 Comments

November Biblical Studies Carnival

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Tom Verenna has the hosting duties for this month, and his November Carnival (featuring posts from October) is scarily good. Share this: Digg this postRecommend on FacebookTweet about itSubscribe to the comments on this postTell a friend

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Columbus Day Reading: The People and the Black Book

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Whatever else you do this Columbus Day, please read this column by Mark Buchanan. Please. “It must be hard for you,” I said to the First Nations people, “to believe that salvation has come to my house when I refuse … Continue reading →

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A Christian Pastor in Iran Is Facing a Death Sentence

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Now that Amanda Knox is on her way to Seattle (and I wish her well), can the media share a little love with Youcef Nadarkhani? From Associated Baptist Press: FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) – An international Baptist leader called on … Continue reading →

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September Biblioblog Carnival

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

The biblio-eschatological banquet is coming, but the hors d’oeuvres are already being served at Scotteriology. Share this: Digg this postRecommend on FacebookTweet about itSubscribe to the comments on this postTell a friend

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A Sociology of Sunday School

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Bill Leonard provides a wonderful brief history of and apologia for Sunday School and its influence on Protestant American Christianity. In American Grace, Robert Putnam and David Campbell report that in one 2006 survey 36 percent of Americans claimed participation … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Ministry | 2 Comments

Thought for the Day (if not the Millennium)

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I want a church that includes fussy kids, old liturgy, bad sound, weird congregants  and—brace yourself—painfully amateur “special music” now and then. Why? Well, for one thing, when the Gospel story is accompanied by a fog machine and light show, … Continue reading →

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The Order of Christian Worship

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Thanks to Chaplain Mike for laying it out so simply. Even a seminarian could understand it! As “liturgical” as my current church thinks it is, it still doesn’t often move past the threefold revivalistic pattern Chaplain Mike describes. I would … Continue reading →

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