That is where we are with organized religion. It is systemically broken. There’s a big problem and everybody in the room knows that it’s broken. We try to ignore it. We blame ourselves and we blame others, but every time we try to talk about it, we get defensive. This is a discussion we need to have. That is why Laura and I wrote “Out into the Desert.”. We need to have this discussion about organized religion in the 21st... Read more
Have you ever been in a room or a group of people, and realize there was some tension in the air, that something was wrong. In those situations more than anything, what needs to happen is a discussion. But we avoid talking to the other people involved. We assume we can work out the problem that involves other people by just changing our part of the equation. Trying harder, not letting it get to us, and sometimes. just ignoring it.... Read more
(This is an excerpt from our book, Out into the Desert) I don’t remember the name of the movie, but I remember that it motivated me to action. I wanted the best for my daughters, and I was confused through most of their time in middle school and high school days. This show was about promise rings and partnering with your child to keep them “pure.” It was beautifully motivated, even if it was a little misguided. I devised a... Read more
In 20 years of ministry, I have never had anyone refuse to take communion from me. But this guy quietly told me he was not going to accept what we called The Lord’s Supper. I said, “okay” suspiciously, to which he replied, “I’ll talk to you later about it.” Sure enough, we had supper later that week and he told me he didn’t like the fact that Laura and I did yoga. It did not matter that he failed to... Read more
(An excerpt from our book, Out into the Desert) When we decided not to go to church anymore, we didn’t really know whether it was a permanent decision or just what we would be doing for a time. It probably depends upon which one of us you talk to and what day it is. One thing is for sure, we need some time to heal up from being in church consistently for about 25 years. The pain is real; it... Read more
(An excerpt from our book, Out into the Desert) by Karl and Laura Forehand I have repeatedly stated that I admire those that would preserve the local church, but progress requires honesty. We should not only discover where we are going (goal setting, vision, mission), but we should also accurately articulate where we have fallen short in the past. We need to talk openly about what we have not done well. We need to admit our failures if we’re going... Read more
Photo by juv: https://www.pexels.com/photo/city-portrait-2106452/ What does a church receive in offerings? Depending on the type of church, annual giving seems to be somewhere between $800 and $1,400 a year per person.[1] Most of the church members don’t tithe or give anything, but that is the average. For simplicity, let’s just say that is $1000 per year per person. So, if you took one of the Facebook groups I am involved with (around 1,100 people) and formed a church, the income... Read more
(excerpt from our book, Out into the Desert Imagine you are in the 1930’s, or maybe even the 1950’s. During those decades there were a lot of smaller towns and more small-town churches where people came together as a community. There was usually a guy that had some religious training who came and addressed the congregation. At that time, it was probably much needed instruction and encouragement. As they say, “things change.” Jesus told us as much when he told... Read more
This is an excerpt from our book, Out into the Desert, concerning “evangelism” and the status of Western Christianity. I suppose it could apply to any organization. Enjoy! “Most of the staff in a typical church is postured toward the potential church members. Generally, there are specific people to greet new members. Many churches have follow-up plans to reach out to those that filled out a visitor card. Let me be clear, I don’t think there is anything wrong with... Read more
I know the metaphor doesn’t make much sense, but I wanted to get your attention and ask for your help. Last night, our new book, Out Into the Desert surged back up to number 1 in new releases for Ecclesiology. Help us ride the wave by sharing this amazing news with people you know. Description of the book: Sometimes when we begin to question our faith or have doubts about our tradition, it can feel like we are wandering out into the... Read more
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