by Mark Johnson | Apr 9, 2009 | Opinion
I am excited about the future of the church. While it seems to go against the grain of many national trends and predictions, I am noticing an emerging directional shift. In just one short week of normal pastoral ministry, these real-life examples offer a hint of...
by Mark Johnson | Mar 31, 2009 | Opinion
On March 9, a wake-up call was issued to the church in America. That’s the day the new American Religious Identification Study was released. It revealed that the number of Americans who identified themselves as Christians had dropped 10 percent (from 86 percent...
by Mark Johnson | Mar 12, 2009 | Opinion
The Bible begins and ends in a garden. While these images may have surprisingly originated from Persia (Iran)—given no pre-exilic prophet speaks of them—their powerful influence throughout scripture and upon Western civilization cannot be overstated. Isaiah 51:3...
by Mark Johnson | Mar 6, 2009 | Opinion
Of all ministerial duties, there is none as sacred or as vital as the care and comfort necessary for those facing death, separation and bereavement. Over the years, a constant word of comfort has proved helpful from the lengthy dialogue offered by Jesus in the upper...
by Mark Johnson | Feb 27, 2009 | Opinion
Confession might be good for the soul, but it has also been observed to be lousy on the reputation or, as Abe Lincoln is credited as saying, “better to be thought a fool and be silent, than open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” But in the season of Lent, we honor...
