By Alan Ahlgrim Everyone suffers; sometimes we even bring it on ourselves. When we eat or drink too much or live for too long on fast-forward, we usually pay a price. There is an undeniable link between sin and suffering. However, sometimes our sickness isn’t rooted in our personal sin, or even in our […]
The Lesson and Life — April 22, 2012
By Alan Ahlgrim Jesus shocked a Samaritan woman by speaking directly to her. This was a remarkable, even unthinkable, departure from the social rules of the culture. No honorable man, much less a respected rabbi, would ever risk his reputation by doing such a thing. Relationships Trump Rules Clearly, for Jesus relationships trump […]
The Lesson and Life–April 15, 2012
By Alan Ahlgrim Toleration is the trademark of our time. Teachers are expected to tolerate the disrespect of their students. Parents are even expected to tolerate the disobedience of their children. Everyone is supposed to tolerate the immorality of the popular culture. Culture Contradicting Jesus contradicted his culture with an open expression of […]
The Lesson and Life–April 8, 2012
By Jennifer Taylor Occasionally I attend services at an Episcopal church in downtown Nashville. Although I love my “every week” church, I also enjoy the rhythms of the liturgical year and the thoughtful worship this congregation creates around it. One of my favorite parts of the liturgy is the offering of peace. After the […]
The Lesson and Life — April 1, 2012
By Jennifer Taylor It’s common for businesses to display mission statements in their buildings and on their websites. However, some of these statements are so full of corporate clichés it’s hard to decipher what the company actually exists to do. Scott Adams, creator of the “Dilbert” comic strip, even added a Mission Statement Generator […]
