- Mark Galli wonders why Christians are so facinated with leadership. Jesus knew that his followers would be tempted by this lie, so right at the beginning he told them, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you” (Mark 10:42-43). And we reply, “Yeah, yeah, but what about all that leadership potential I’ve been told I had?” And off we go to another seminar to learn about another six steps to effective leadership. Servant leadership, of course.
- After a bit of research Amy Sullivan has some church suggestions for the Obamas when they arrive in Washington D.C. As you know, there are a lot of factors to consider when choosing a church. Finding a comfortable theological fit is key. Good music is important, as are activities for the kids. You don’t want to be stuck at a church with mediocre potluck fare. The old adage that 11 o’clock on Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America is still largely true, but I’m guessing you’ll want to find a congregation that has at least some racial diversity.
- The New York Times has an article about the use of Facebook and podcasts by churches to attract younger people. Mr. Messenger says that using language and tools that young people are familiar with makes church relevant and is an attractive way for them to connect to the sacred. “Media is both retaining and reaching out,” he said. “It’s both about using it to speak to people who are already there, in powerful ways that maybe they haven’t thought of before, and also speaking in ways that others who have not been part of the church can say, ‘Oh, this does speak to me after all.’”
- E. J. Dionne has some thoughts about Obama’s promises to pro-life folks. Once he assumes office, Obama might be tempted to forget that moment, issue the pro-choice executive orders that the abortion rights movement expects and move back to the sagging economy. But doing this would be both politically foolish and a breach of faith with the pro-life progressives who came to Obama’s defense during the campaign. They argued that Obama truly was committed to reducing the number of abortions. He shouldn’t turn them into liars.
David W. Swanson
Pastor and Author
David W. Swanson 
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