Barnabas File

What are signs of hope in congregational life today?     Eddie Hammett, president of Transforming Solutions, LLC , was asked this question in an interview in the March/April issue of Nurturing Faith Journal.    Always looking for positive comments about the future, I found Hammett’s responses to be informative. First, “the perseverance of the few leaders who are open to the Spirit’s leading, innovative thinking and risk-taking leadership strategies.”  My only disagreement with Hammett is that I think there are more than a few congregational and denominational leaders who realize that the old approaches no longer work. Some have realized this too late, I am afraid, but others have caught the wind of the Spirit and are ready to engage in something new. Second, Hammett cites Christian coaching that offers hope to “individuals, teams, churches, and denominations that face steep learning curves” and “overwhelming challenges” but seek something that is...

Like most Baptists of my age who grew up in the South, Advent as part of the liturgical year (or the liturgical year, for that matter) was not part of my tradition.   The idea of expectancy and preparing for the coming of the Christ Child was still part of our celebration and our worship, however. As a child, I experienced not only the anticipation of Christmas morning gifts from generous parents and grandparents, but the wonderful carols and sacred music of the season as well as the shared worship experiences in a close church family.    As a college student, I looked forward to the time back home, but there were other aspects of the season that gave it meaning.   One of the first real dates I had with my future spouse was attending a Christmas performance of Handel’s Messiah.   I remember that every time I hear the work performed. As we became engaged, I looked forward to taking my finance home to spend holiday time with family and friends and f...

Babies change our lives.   No matter how much we plan, we are never really ready for what a new child brings into our lives.   They turn our lives upside down. In Isaiah 7, 8, and 9, the writer tells about three births.   Commentators make clear that Isaiah expected each of these births to take place within his lifetime or the near future. They were words of warning to King Ahaz of Judah and words of hope for God’s people.   The following text provided the hope of a just and righteous king who would rule his people with wisdom: For to us a child is born,      to us a son is given,      and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called      Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,      Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6, NIV) The text above probably was meant to be applied to Ahaz’s successor, Hezekiah, a hope for redemption.   Hezeki...