Posts Tagged: not quite right

Not Quite Right

Don’t let the church become fake news Proclaiming good news in a divided culture By Joshua Bower   Our culture is in the grip of a “fake news” epidemic. Christians are falling prey to it, and, if we’re not careful, the church’s witness could be deeply harmed. Before I go any further, I need to… Read more »

Not Quite Right

Judging our neighbors Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson and the aftermath of a storm By Joshua Bower It’s hard to see with a log in your eye. At least that’s what Jesus taught: With the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you… Read more »

Not quite right

Drains, toilets, and the truth about Christmas How can we make Christmas good news to all people? by Joshua Bower I feel the presence of Jesus in a lot of different places: hiking in the woods, walking on the beach, singing “Silent Night” on Christmas Eve. But I never expected to meet Jesus under a… Read more »

Not quite right

Speaking with Jesus’ accent When you speak, who do people hear? By Joshua Bower The other day my 6-year-old daughter came into my bedroom…in tears. To give you a little context: it had been a rough day. She wasn’t listening to what we were telling her to do, she had been in time out more… Read more »

Not quite right

Don’t act like my cat You can’t love a world you’re afraid of By Joshua Bower A lot of Christians share a certain behavior with my family’s cat. But if the church is going to love our world with the love of Jesus, this has to change. I’ve never wanted a cat. However, my 6-year-old… Read more »

Not Quite Right

One slightly unhinged pastor’s attempt to love (and laugh with) a slightly unhinged church, from the inside out. Why (and how) to kill a church programWant a healthier church in 2016? Prune the tree! by Joshua Bower Here’s a typical week for my family, on top of school and work: Monday is my daughter’s gymnastics… Read more »

Not Quite Right

One slightly unhinged pastor’s attempt to love (and laugh with) a slightly unhinged church, from the inside out.   We assume too much . . . and not enough Can we tell a better story about those different from us? by Joshua Bower Pardon the not-exactly-church-appropriate language, but here’s a saying I love: “When you… Read more »

Not Quite Right

One slightly unhinged pastor’s attempt to love (and laugh with) a slightly unhinged church, from the inside out.   Our fear is muzzling our childrenChoosing love over fear for the good of all Jesus’ disciples by Joshua Bower Do we actually want children in the church? Sometimes I wonder. I was about seven years old… Read more »

Not Quite Right

One slightly unhinged pastor’s attempt to love (and laugh with) a slightly unhinged church, from the inside out.   Why would I join a church where that happens?It’s time to stop giving people reasons to doubt our Christian faith. by Joshua Bower I’ve been a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 10 years. I… Read more »