National
At 87, ‘disaster deacon’ opens his heart — and church — to flooding victims
TULSA, Okla. — Oh, Kenneth Hearrell has stories to tell. About how he rode a horse five miles to his two-room schoolhouse from first through…
July 2019
View as PDF• The disaster deacon • When the terrorists came for us • ‘More than a song’ • Dear readers, please share your story ideas • New Dallas mayor puts faith in God • Church gunman gets life term for murder • ‘The whole thing is overwhelming’ • Disaster strikes ‘in our own backyard’ • Church member known for notes of encouragement dies in floods • ‘I’d gladly sacrifice more buildings if that would save but one more soul’ • Diverse church reports growth in Australia • ‘God is bringing water today’ • Reaching and running for the stars • As believers go on to their reward, ‘Who’s gonna fill their shoes?’ • Editorial: Cancer stinks, but heaven awaits • What a brain tumor taught me about change and the church • Questions of women’s roles, as with all questions, requires race, humility • ‘Elite?’ examines how an unhealthy focus on youth sports can jeopardize our faith • Psychologist’s final advice echoes Christ’s teaching • Nichols’ boundless drive to share Jesus shines through in ‘The Sage of Jasper’ • ‘A journalism of hope’
In this issue:
International
When the terrorists came for us
DONO-MANGA, Chad — In this rural African village, a young Muslim mother unfurls her prayer mat, sending wisps of dust into the air. Facing east,…
Insight
‘A journalism of hope’
LUBBOCK, Texas — I don’t like “Christian journalism.” I don’t think it even should exist. Putting the word “Christian” in front of things — “Christian music,” “Christian…
Inside Story
Dear readers, please share your story ideas
Hey there! I’m not exactly the new guy. After all, my musings, ramblings and occasional insights filled the Inside Story space for seven years (2005…
National
New mayor of Dallas puts faith in ‘good Lord above’ and voters
On the morning after his election as the next mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson returned to his roots — the Dallas West Church of Christ.…
National
Church gunman gets life term for murder
A masked gunman who opened fire nearly two years ago at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tenn., will spend the rest of…
National
Church member known for notes of encouragement dies in Oklahoma floods
An Oklahoman known for sending hundreds of cards to encourage his church family and community died during record-breaking floods in the Sooner state. Larry Larimore,…
International
‘I’d gladly sacrifice more buildings if that would save but one more soul’
MARSEILLE, France — In recent months, French believers and non-believers alike have focused their attention on a church building. The devastating fire at Paris’ Notre…
National
‘The whole thing is overwhelming’
SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — The rains came down, and Christians are stepping up. In this flood-ravaged Tulsa suburb, members of Churches of Christ are cleaning…
National
‘Our house starts a popping and a cracking and the doors blowing’
Late on Memorial Day, Walter Tolley and his wife, Marie, members of the Northridge Church of Christ in Dayton, Ohio, took cover in their home.…
International
Diverse church reports growth in Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia — In three years, a Church of Christ in this city of 5 million souls has grown from six members to about 30,…
International
‘God is bringing water today’
DONO-MANGA, Chad — “Water, please.” That’s the most common phrase heard around the table as a team of American Christians gathers under an open-air pavilion…
Views
Questions of women’s roles, as with all questions, requires grace, humility
Of questions in the text of Scripture there is no end. • What does the double narrative of Genesis mean, and was there full equality…
Reviews
Review: The Sage of Jasper
I launch this review with a major question. Is Gus Nichols worthy of the ten year effort exerted by Scott Harp, the author of the…
Milestones
Milestones, July 2019
Anniversary Durward and Mary Webb 70 years Durward and Mary Webb will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on July 8, 2019. Durward served as an…
Milestones
Newsmakers, July 2019
HONORED Murray Evans, assistant athletic director for media relations at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City, with three first-place writing awards from the College Sports…
Partners
Partners, July 2019
50th anniversary Diana Singing in Tennessee again draws thousands of Christians (photo above) About 5,000 members of Churches of Christ lift their voices to God…
International
Around the World, July 2019
New life for a growing church on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula (featured photo above) On the beach of the Gulf of Mexico, six youths prepare to…
Reviews
Review: A Way of Being
I love reading authors’ first and last books. First books are inspired. We see what makes writers so passionate that they have to write. Last…
National
‘More than a song’
BALTIMORE — “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound ...” The chorus stood, transfixed on the hands of its leader, Dorothy Carpenter Wells. As she raised…
In the Word
‘Who’s gonna fill their shoes?’
I love song lyrics that tell a story or make a meaningful point about something that impacts our lives. A great example of this is…
Dialogue
Reaching and running for the stars
Jaci Smith is aiming for a career beyond the surly bonds of earth. That’s 2nd Lt. Jaci Smith, actually. The 22-year-old member of the New…
Reviews
‘Elite?’ examines how an unhealthy focus on youth sports can jeopardize our faith
Adam D. Metz had my immediate attention with two early items in his treatise “Elite? A Christian Manifesto for Youth Sports in the United States.” …
Views
God’s ‘rocks of truth’ remain
Before surgery, my neurologist was rather grim. “There’s a chance you won’t make it off the table, Nancy. We’re going to do our best. If…