America Has a Trust Problem

“Trust is to capitalism what alcohol is to wedding receptions,” suggests Jerry Useem in an article in The Atlantic last November, “a social lubricant… ‘If trust is sufficiently low,’” he continues, quoting economists Paul Zak and Stephen Knack, “‘economic growth is unachievable.’” Public trust, specifically of the federal government, began to erode in the 1960s… READ MORE > … More America Has a Trust Problem

Faithfully Different

“Christians” are called to have a “Biblical World View”, this article points out some of the issues face in such a task today. It should go without saying that, in 21st century America, most of the assumptions at work in contemporary culture are not Christian assumptions. And whatever new “normal” is, it’s constantly changing, it’s anything but worldview neutral. As my … More Faithfully Different

Opinion | Why Churches Should Drop Their Online Services

(SEE POLL) One might ask, why not have both? Why not meet in person (with Covid precautions in place) but also continue to offer the option of a live-streamed service? Because offering church online implicitly makes embodiment elective. It presents in-person gatherings as something we can opt in or out of with little consequence. It … More Opinion | Why Churches Should Drop Their Online Services

“Battle Hymn of the Republic” & efforts to Abolish the Slave Trade

American Minute with Bill Federer Five dollars was all she was paid by the Atlantic Monthly Magazine for her poem, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” published FEBRUARY 1, 1862. It became Lincoln’s favorite song and the Union’s theme song. Her name was Julia Ward Howe, the daughter of a Wall Street banker and the wife of Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, director of … More “Battle Hymn of the Republic” & efforts to Abolish the Slave Trade