This week we celebrate the ellipsis, its utility as connective device, and its overuse. In other words, many of this week's links were related.
- In the wake of Robin Williams' death, enumerating various suicide-related issues that clergy will face.
- Essay of the Week: Honestly, I wondered when someone would do a comparison between Mars Hill Grand Rapids and Mars Hill Seattle…
- … Another I'd like to read would be a comparison of two men who were upfront about their faith while selling fried chicken, KFC's Colonel Harland Sanders and Truett Cathy. The latter, founder of Chick-fil-A passed away on Monday at age 93.
- Persecution: It took a New York Times columnist to say this.
- Perspective: Your weekend worship environment may not be a physical building in Ethiopia; it might involve having a service under a tree…
- … But perhaps many of us put too much emphasis on having a church building.
- I'm surprised we don't hear more about this August story about 1,400 children being raped and trafficked.
- Just as I have to pick and choose what gets in this list, a popular Christian news site defends their story choices.
- Preaching: "There has been a natural disaster of extraordinary proportions in a nation whose sinfulness is well known. Do you stand up Sunday morning and declare that God has divinely judged that nation?"
- Youth Ministry: Five ways to make sure they hear your message…
- … which was written by a recently displaced Mars Hill pastor whose work visa is now voided, which means leaving the country…
- … while at GoFundMe, people are donating to three other displaced MH staffers.
- Time Travel (1): A 1,500 year-old document that was holed up in a university library references the Last Supper and manna from heaven…
- Time Travel (2): Imagine attending a Puritan worship service. "… the shuffling of the congregation as they settle down to listen comfortably to a lengthy sermon, while the minister adjusted the hour-glass."
- Sabbath on Steroids: Every seven weeks this Prince Edward Island church basically shuts down all programming…
- … Meanwhile, on Canada's opposite coast, a church's annual report includes a page at the end for you to write your own story. (Opens a 40-page .pdf file)
- Two high-profile U.S. missionaries survived Ebola, but the disease has taken four national pastors in the Assemblies of God denomination alone.
- Ann Voskamp tells the kids why they should wait: "Your naked body deserves the honor of being shared only with someone who is covenanted to never stop loving your naked soul." …
- … On the other hand, when the wedding date is set, should a Christian sign a prenup? Sample: "… a prenup is a bad indicator that not everything is being relinquished for the sake of this marriage." …
- … Or a girl's father could just start early on in the relationship asking the guy these twelve questions.
- Tomorrow (9/11) night, Trinity Broadcasting Network unveils its new Chicago studio with an open house …
- … Also in the windy city, a local church's use of social media has caught some mainstream media attention.
- Last week's Happy Rant Podcast got our family talking about chewing tobacco to the glory of God.
- A Lutheran mobile ministry is half church, half food truck.
- Sadly, there's no such thing as "a good divorce."
- A second Essay of the Week: Save those church bulletins. They might end up in a museum somewhere as artifacts of 20th Century church culture.
- Worship Leaders' Corner: Five tips for those times you're working without the band.
- Victoria Osteen stands by her words. Well, sort of. Sample: “Every Lakewood member knows what I was talking about …" Membership has its privileges …
- … to which the Rev. Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr. replies, "America deserves the Osteens …"
- … Meanwhile, hubby Joel announces Joel Osteen Radio, broadcasting 24/7 on SiriusXM.
- Gladys Knight (sans Pips) released a gospel album yesterday. (Be sure to click through to hear the song.)
- Jamie the Very Worst Email Responder recently deleted her inbox, and thinks you should, too.
- A well known Jewish charity is nominating Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper for a Nobel Peace Prize for his support of Israel.
- A video link for the tweens and teens at your house.
- Finally, across the pond, a man who volunteers his services to umpire an interdenominational cricket match is disqualified because he is not "theologically neutral."
Each week we scour the web for stories of interest to Leadership Journal readers, however several of our "usual suspects" have put up pay-walls or added pop-ups that can only be described as obnoxious. The goal is to deliver news and opinion pieces with a minimum of interruption and solicitation. Suggestions are always welcomed, you can contact me on Twitter, or at Thinking Out Loud before 6 PM EST Mondays.
Paul Wilkinson is considered Canada's foremost authority on writing a Wednesday Link List, and he doesn't just say that because he writes his own footer for this weekly piece.
