Focus on community, not just content
“I think we need to refocus on the community aspect of classes, not just the content. If our pitch is just, ‘We have great content,’…
Opinion
How a Sunday Bible hour became a masterclass in suffering and grit
OKLAHOMA CITY — “Hi, my name is Tyler, and I’m an alcoholic.” That’s not what I expected to hear in Sunday morning Bible class. …
Busy families can find time for meaningful devotionals
We all have heard the disturbing statistics, and we know the people affected. Young adults are walking away from the faith in droves as parents…
A tragic end to a remarkable life
On March 31, 2019, Nipsey Hussle passed away from gunshot wounds, bringing a tragic end to a remarkable life. Sadly, he was shot in the…
Editorial: Laws have changed, but have our hearts?
A year has passed since the shock of seeing a man die under the knee of another man on national television. For a year we…
As daughter graduates, just one request
MALIBU, Calif. — My 21-year-old daughter, Kendall, and I are driving through a dark tunnel on a twisty canyon road when a perfect dad joke…
Religion scholar’s life was a study in respectful disagreement
If we fear our neighbors, perhaps we should get to know them better. That’s one of the many lessons taught to me by Ed Harrell…
Shank calls church to its ‘central mission’ — children
‘Down the street from where you live are houses filled with broken people. People bent, bruised and broken by life walk the streets of every…
A journey from a food truck to an Air Force cargo plane and back again
ALTUS, Okla. — Whenever we come to this southwestern Oklahoma town to see my wife’s folks, we hit all the high points — Roberts Drive Inn, Luigi’s…
What it means to ‘value others above yourselves’
Having a 2½-year-old grandson means hearing the word “why” quite often. In fact, nearly every sentence is phrased “Jeopardy!” style — in the form of…
