News

Passages

Focus on the Family eliminates jobs, American Bible Society president chosen, and other transitions.

Elected • Paul J. Maurer, as the 11th president of Sterling College in Kansas. Maurer previously served as senior vice president of institutional advancement at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.

Died • The Rev. Louis H. Evans Jr., organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, at age 82. Evans also pastored National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

Hired • Mark Bright, as president and CEO of Word Entertainment, based in Nashville. Bright is a veteran record producer for platinum-selling country and CCM artists, and previously served as vice president of EMI Music Publishing.

Eliminated • 202 jobs at Focus on the Family. Citing a weak economy and cash-strapped donors, the Colorado Springs-based nonprofit announced 149 layoffs and cut 53 vacant positions in its 1,150-member local workforce this November. Donations set a record high in fiscal 2008, but Focus anticipated a bleak holiday giving season.

Promoted • R. Lamar Vest, as president of the American Bible Society. Vest, currently executive vice president of ABS’s Global Scripture Ministries, replaces Paul Irwin, who was placed on leave after The New York Times revealed Irwin had paid $5 million to a website consultant with ties to pornography and gambling.

Appointed • Doug Lockhart, as president and CEO of Christian publishing giant IBS-STL North America; and Scott Bolinder, as president of IBS-STL Global Publishing. Both were formerly top executives with Christian publisher Zondervan.

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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

Jesus Is Not a Brand

Tyler Wigg-Stevenson

Review

'The Blue Parakeet' Faces Inconvenient Verses

Philip Tallon

PhotographyWatch

Gary Gnidovic

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Memphis's Other Graceland

Tim Stafford

Pivoting Toward the Faraway Neighbor

Lord, Teach Us to Pray

Compiled by Richard A. Kauffman

What Is a Spiritual Director?

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What Is Spiritual Direction?

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Spiritual Formation Agenda

Richard Foster

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Managing Your Money

Rusty Leonard, CEO of Stewardship Partners Investment Counsel

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A Surefire Investment

Groans Too Deep for Words

Joel Hartse

Faith-based Super Bowl Parties

The Evolution of Darwin

There Goes the Neighborhood

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Books Uncommon and Offbeat

John Wilson, editor of 'Books and Culture'

News

The Greatest Social Need

A Christianity Today Editorial

Review

Jacaranda

Andy Whitman

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Evolve or Die

Annie Frisbie

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Popcorn in the Pews

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Bush's Envoy's Advice: 'Raise Cain'

Interview by Timothy C. Morgan

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Building a Peace Beyond Understanding

Isaac Phiri with additional reporting from Jonathan Fitzgerald

Review

Everyday Lord

Mary M. Veeneman

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Better Than a Bailout

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Battle Fatigue

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Editorial

Don't Let Them Die Alone

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How to Help Orphans

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Our Priorities for 2009

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Go Figure

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Black Flight

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra

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Second Thoughts

Compass Direct News

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Emergent's Divergence

Brandon O'Brien

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Microfinance, Now More Micro

Ken Walker

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News Briefs: January 01, 2009

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Quotation Marks

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Up for Debate

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Americans’ growing frustrations with Israel, Kash Patel sues The Atlantic for $250 million, and the popularity of John Mark Comer.

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Interview by Emmanuel Nwachukwu

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The Atlantic’s McKay Coppins told me about problems that feel eerily similar to what I see in the church.

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