What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

I grew up as a climate change denier. Now I understand we must care for God's creation and people alike.I grew up believing that Earth Day was a liberal holiday. Climate change was a lie, a ploy by leftist political activists to dismantle US economic superiority by undermining domestic energy production and crippling our industries. Humans had a God-given right to have “dominion” (Gen. 1:26) over the earth, I was taught. The natural world was ours to “steward” (Gen. 2:15), which to us meant it could be used as desired to improve the lives of industrious, hard-working families like ours.Everywhere I turned, I saw this definition of stewardship in action. It was well-intended but, I now think, ill-considered. My home then was the Texas Panhandle, atop the Ogallala Aquifer. The Ogallala is the largest aquifer in the nation, but after decades of High Plains farmers tapping it with abandon, it’s drying up.These days, I live five hours south of my hometown atop another major geological formation: the Permian Basin, the nation’s most productive oil field and the heart of the US oil and gas industry. Thirteen years ago, I cried when we moved to Midland, Texas, for my husband’s new job with a natural gas company, not wanting my family to be part of an industry I’d come to believe was destroying the earth. Needless to say, by then, I no longer believed climate change was a lie.I’d spent nearly four years in a small village outside of Beijing where the drainage creek bubbled with dangerously toxic sludge; we’d go days without seeing the sun through the industrial haze; and blowing my nose in the winter would leave me with a tissue blackened with coal dust. I didn’t have to be a climate scientist to conclude that there would be consequences for ...Continue reading...

In the beginning, God created male and female. As such, God saw his creation as good, so both the masculine and feminine are meant to be a blessing with a redemptive purpose.? After the Fall, human nature was corrupted, and sin entered the world. Much of what God meant for good was also twisted, and this corruption colored our perspective of what was once good. For this discussion, the human understanding of males and females has been affected, too.? The Bible is the written expression of God's word to us, all for reconciliation back to the Father and the restoration of what God desires. While we may struggle with the idea of masculinity and easily point to toxic versions of it, God has a redemptive plan and design for manliness. The Scripture can then be a standard of calling and inspiration for men.? Here are ten ways the Bible defines true manliness.? Photo Credit:©Unsplash/Gift Habeshaw?

It's not an exaggeration to say the evangelical church saved me in every way a person can be saved. They introduced me to Jesus. They became the family my childhood family could not be. They loved and affirmed me. They...The post The Toxic Evangelical Variant appeared first on Baptist News Global.

Motivation is hard. And comfort food feels so good. But it's more important now than ever to stay healthy.Lately, it’s hard to remember what day it is.Without the usual markers, one blends into the other in a confusing emotional haze.My sleep is off, too. And with my sleep goes my ability to think and lead clearly.You too? Yes, me too.So how can we stay stable and sane in the middle of such uncertainty? Here are a few ideas that are especially helpful for pastors and other leaders:(This is a companion piece to an earlier article, When You’re Trying To Lead Others, But You’re Barely Holding On.)1. Talk to yourself the way you’d talk to othersIf a friend or church member told you they were mad at themselves for not being able to function at peak performance during this crisis, what would you tell them?To get over it? To work harder? To stop whining because people are depending on them?I sure hope not.I expect you’d go easy on them and help relieve their feelings of guilt. You’d sympathize. You’d emphasize their need to rest, emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.That’s good advice. We need to talk to ourselves the same way.2. Be vulnerableThere’s nothing wrong with letting the people you lead know what you’re feeling. You’ll notice I started this article that way.“But won’t they have less respect for me if they see my weakness?” Not unless you’re in a completely toxic environment.Chances are, your cracks are already being seen by the people who know you best – even over a video chat. Being honest about your challenges instead of working so hard to hide them might provide a great deal of relief for them, too.It’s hard to believe we’re in this together when the leader seems invincible – or, even worse, when ...Continue reading...

An apparently intoxicated suspect chatted with a burglary victim long enough for officers to arrive and arrest him, authorities said.