News

Odds and Endings

Odds refers to odds-making, which we don’t do at CTI. But we do have an annual fantasy football league, a tradition on our hallways since 1989. As one of the founders, I had the best record in season play the inaugural year, only to get trounced in the first round of the playoffs. Over the years, I’ve participated on and off—mostly off lately. These days, managing a fantasy football team takes an intelligence and dedication that is not for the fainthearted.

Maybe that’s why I play golf instead, which takes a paradoxical combination of rhythm, focus, and calm, all in the midst of searing pressure (something like being a managing editor at deadline). Which brings me to another CTi sports classic: the annual golf tournament, which occurs every August. My team has yet to win it all, but I did sink an impressive 30-foot putt on the 18th hole two years ago, with everyone watching. (Old athletes don’t die, they just keep rehearsing moments of glory.)

So we’re not sports nuts around here, but we do enjoy our games. And being Christian journalists, a compulsively thoughtful bunch, we cannot let it rest at that. We’re continually trying to justify our joys by finding theological meaning in them. Thankfully, Eric Miller, the author of this issue’s cover story (“Why We Love Football,” p. 26), is one of us in this respect.

Of all the CT editors, though, only one has any sports journalism experience: Mark Moring, the author of the second article in the cover package (“Fumbling Religion?” p. 32), was once a real-life sports reporter.

We come by our passion honestly, if, for most of us, vicariously.

•••

And then there are endings: We say goodbye this month to our 2007 fantasy football league champion, Collin Hansen. We’re glad he’s leaving the trophy behind, but we wish he were leaving himself behind, too. Collin was our news editor and has written many splendid pieces (see his latest triumph on page 44, “Pastor Provocateur,” a profile of Seattle pastor Mark Driscoll). We wish him well as he begins Master of Divinity studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Yes, he wants to be transformed from a journalist into a pastor. With God, all things are possible.

Collin’s departure will mean some shifts in responsibilities, with Madison Trammel moving over to news. Some titles are changing as well. “Senior” has been added to mine—someone must have heard I turned 55 last month (which allows me to get discounts at my local golf course). Ted Olsen is now managing editor of news and online journalism. He and I will play tag-team over CT’s print and online versions, and David Neff—now editor in chief—if he has any sense, will keep a close eye on us.

•••

One thing that will help us produce even better journalism is your opinions. You can share those—especially on current events, issues, and trends—at www.NationalChristianPoll.com. It’s an online Christian research community whose purpose is to provide reliable, unbiased Christian perspective to media and church leaders. Joining is simple, and surveys are easy to take. Plus, each completed survey earns points redeemable for Christian products.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Why We Love Football

The Good Life

Go and Plant Churches of All Peoples

News

Our Teachable Moment

Latter-Day Politics

Bookmarks

A New Kind of Dying

News

I Was a Stranger

News

Pastor Provocateur

My Top 5 Books on Apologetics

News

The Bible in Brush & Stroke

Whatever Happened to Samson?

Review

Going Home

God's Writing Life

'Sculpting in Time'

News

Second Chances at Life

News

A Kinder, Gentler Coach

News

Fumbling Religion?

Blessed Are Those Who Hunger

Q&A: Paul Marshall

News

What It Means to Love Israel

Editorial

All That's Good in Sports

Powering Down

News

Quotation Marks

News

Bush's 'Theological Perspective'

Weeping for the Jordan

News

Accountability for Growth

News

Trusted Guides

News

Passages

News

Go Figure

News

Retooling Seminary

News

Giving Spirit

News

News Briefs: September 07, 2007

News

Costly Commitment

News

Crop of Concerns

News

Passports Postponed

View issue

Our Latest

News

Supreme Court Considers State Bans of Transgender Procedures for Minors

The justices seemed skeptical of arguments that bans preventing transition represent sex discrimination.

News

The World Evangelical Alliance’s Controversial Korea Announcement

Local conservative evangelicals challenge the global body’s decision to hold its 2025 General Assembly in Seoul.

Hail ‘Mary,’ Full of Violence

Director D.J. Caruso calls his dramatic new film a celebration of the mother of God.

Public Theology Project

Russell Moore’s Favorite Books of 2024

The top 10 picks of CT’s editor in chief range from dystopian fiction to philosophy, with a dose of Sabbath poems, Inklings, and country music.

My Book Sales Stink. But I’m Glad I Took the Publishing Plunge.

Even though the experience bruised my ego, God redeemed it in surprising ways.

Latino Christians Deserve a Straight Answer on Immigration

The Russell Moore Show

A Conversation with Peggy Noonan

The Pulitzer Prize winner ponders who we are and what we may become.

A Better Trans Conversation

As the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on youth gender medicine, Christians must prepare to speak with love while holding fast to biblical truth.

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