By David Moore Running The Burner as I have for the past five years, I’ve been keeping up with trends in politics, society, and the church world from my ivory tower. I’ve encountered a lot of hand-wringing, bemoaning, and Chicken Little-isms in the process. However, I’ve come to a surprising conclusion. I’ve come to the realization that the world is getting better—albeit slowly, and not for everyone. Yet. The past 12 months are a tough proof against my point. One... Read more
By Dr. Mark Labberton Of all the questions circling around vocation, perhaps this one is most important: “Does my Christian faith change the way I approach my work?” Of course, this issue is far too complicated for a simple “yes” or “no.” I don’t think many folks will be surprised, however, to hear me assert an unapologetically evangelical answer: “Your faith in Christ should affect everything!” For those of us who accept Jesus as lord and savior, it should follow... Read more
By Rachel Paprocki I have one of those familiar-looking faces that often fools people into thinking that they know me. This happens, I think, because I’m an ethnically ambiguous young woman living in the greater Los Angeles area. Am I your cousin’s Armenian roommate? Your half-Filipina high school lab partner? I can’t blame you for thinking so. Whether or not I actually do turn out to be the person someone thought I was from across the street, I seem to... Read more
By Dr. Cameron Lee It’s Easter afternoon. Two of Jesus’ disciples are talking as they walk along the road to Emmaus. They are utterly confused, trying to make sense of the news swirling in their minds. Suddenly their resurrected Master comes alongside to join the conversation. But they are prevented from recognizing him, and treat him as if he were completely clueless about current events. They give him the short version of the story: “Are you the only person in Jerusalem... Read more
By Michael Wright When we think of New Year’s Day, we want a day of new beginnings, a hinge where we try to swing from our old selves and into the new. The problem is there’s not much difference between eating a bag of potato chips on New Year’s Eve and, one resolution later, standing in front of the pantry the next day tempted. Our lives rarely change in one twenty-four hour period, and whatever new intentions we might establish,... Read more
By Dale Ryan This is a story and brief prayer of gratitude for Bill (not his real name), who chose a door knob as his Higher Power and got a 30 day chip at the first A.A. meeting I attended in the winter of 1983 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I went to my first twelve step meeting to meet the requirements for a class in seminary. It was not a group with many Betty Ford graduates. It was mostly late-stage street drunks.... Read more
By Dr. Kurt Fredrickson DJ was my best friend in high school. No one forced us to be friends. We chose to be friends. We went to church together; we did mission trips together. We had fun together; we got in trouble together. We went on double dates; we grieved together when our hearts were broken. Friends are with you through good times and hard times. Good friends are honest and loyal, no matter what. He was a good friend.... Read more
I had a conversation three weeks ago with a remarkable man. His name is Antoine Rutayisire, and his words have been haunting me ever since we spoke. I sincerely doubt they will ever leave me alone. Antoine is an Anglican priest and a survivor of the racially-motivated Rwandan Genocide, and I was tasked to interview him for the new FULLER magazine.[1] I have to admit: I knew of the genocide, but I did not know about the genocide. I literally had... Read more
There’s an old joke, one that originated in ancient Palestine. Maybe you’ve heard it. It goes something like this: Three guys walk into a campsite. A 99-year-old man is sitting in front of his tent; his 90-year-old wife is still inside. It’s a hot day. The old man sees the three visitors and treats them like dignitaries, as if he expects something to happen. He sets out a rather nice spread so they can refresh themselves. Then one of the... Read more
“The right word at the right time can save a person’s life the same way a cruel or a careless word can open a trapdoor that sends a person right down…When God was speaking us into existence creating us in God’s own image, God planted the Word inside of us. The whole universe of God’s life-giving speech is embedded in us as surely as our bones and our breath.” -Barbara Brown Taylor, Duke University Chapel, 9/2/12 A few years ago... Read more
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