Source: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — What happened after a waiter served up an act of kindness is proof that not all good deeds go unnoticed. Joe Thomas received national attention after a photo of him at work at an IHOP in Springfield, Illinois, was posted on the company’s Facebook page. Thomas was pictured as he helped a disabled woman eat her meal. Springfield resident Keshia Dotson posted the picture hoping that the company would recognize his kindness. “I have worked in... Read more

At the Christ and Creation conference last Friday morning Dennis Venema and Scot McKnight gave back to back talks based on their new book Adam and the Genome. The major points in 25 minutes each. Both excellent talks followed by a joint (but brief) Q&A time. Both talks were excellent and inspired many in attendance to buy the book. (Baker ran out of the supply on hand well before the afternoon sessions were over.) I am slowly working through the... Read more

Behind the Lutheran Church is a man named Martin Luther who said, “”First, to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn.” I recommend putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands of young, strong Jews and Jewesses and letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow.” These are from Luther’s disgusting On the Jews and Their Lies. In Paul... Read more

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Northern Seminary Announces Expansion Plan To Transform Theological Education Learn more at www.seminary.edu New Learning/Teaching Centers Designed to Meet the Needs of Seminary Students for Decades to Come LOMBARD, Ill. (April 5, 2017) — Building on its 100-year history, Northern Seminary today announced an ambitious expansion plan to set a new standard in theological education with the opening of two learning centers, the creation of new academic programs and enhancements to its Northern Live program that connects leading biblical scholars... Read more

By Kelly Edmiston, @kellyedmiston Student minister at First Colony Church of Christ. “I am not sure this was such a good idea,” I told my friend through tear-blurred eyes and hysterical sniffles. You know, the kind of hysterical sobs where you can’t get enough breath in to relax and stop crying. I was referring to my current life situation of parenting a barely two-year old and a newborn baby at the same time. These words came shortly after I found... Read more

When A Parent Is “Left Behind”, by Michelle Van Loon www.MomentsAndDays.com www.MichelleVanLoon.com There has been much written about the exodus of Millennials from the Church. But I haven’t seen much discussion about the effect of that exodus on those they’ve left behind; specifically, the parents who sought to pass on their faith to their children both at home and via involvement with their local church. This was highlighted for me when I was in what I thought was a casual... Read more

Sheri Berman: An analogy is haunting the United States—the analogy of fascism. It is virtually impossible (outside certain parts of the Right-wing itself) to try to understand the resurgent Right without hearing it described as—or compared with—20th-century interwar fascism. Like fascism, the resurgent Right is irrational, close-minded, violent, and racist. So goes the analogy, and there’s truth to it. But fascism did not become powerful simply by appealing to citizens’ darkest instincts. Fascism also, crucially, spoke to the social and... Read more