Dear Subscribers:
Be blessed with the online version of our new issue on SPIRITUALITY. The downloadable PDF version of our spring issue is being delayed. We will post it online as soon as it is available. …

by Neal Presa

The Confession of 1967 is an auspicious occasion in world and church history and is passionately documented with relevance in this piece. As divisions are bridged and progress is sought, the church is urgently encouraged to move onward with Christ’s mission.

by Nancy Fields

For a while, I struggled to find grace in the words, “They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother.” However, as I listen to the politics of the day, I am convinced of the wisdom of those words. My challenge has been to put the words of rhetoric, debate, and argument in their rightful places!

by Harold Dean Trulear

In a real sense, if we answer the question “How do we preach to them,” we run the risk of developing a formulaic response itself devoid of the Divine Breath. The answer lies not in a formula, but in an encounter with that Breath itself. Our encounter with that Breath as preachers gives freer passageway for the Breath to enter the places in congregants’ souls deprived of spiritual oxygen.

by Mark C. Johnson

The notion of sacred places generally makes for good religion but poor theology. Great stories such as the one of the burning bush, Peniel, and the Mount of Olives, offer wonderful and metaphors, but what do they draw us toward? What makes a conference center hosted library for example, or a sanctuary, a dwelling place, sacred spaces?

by Aiou C. Niang

Starting about 1649, French colonialists in Africa attempted to infuse French culture to the native inhabitants of Dakar, Goree, Rufisque, and Saint Louis in order to assimilate French language and culture—to “Frenchify” them. This notion was meant to imitate the experiences of ancient Greece where citizenship was conferred on those born in Greece and therefore superior to non-citizens in recognition and rights. France’s goal was to spread its culture and Christianity, much as St Paul had done with the building of Christian churches and communities.

by Campbell B. Singleton

This idea-filled article is based on a seven week, interfaith ecumenical community study held earlier this year designed to focus on issues of race, justice, and liberation led by Christian clergy, an Imam and a Rabbi. They each examined their own sacred texts to exegete each to discern and confront the erroneous belief that any one group has racial superiority and/or entitlement over another group. The participants learned some of the history and origins of racial discrimination. This article will serve any group wishing to expose the roots of discrimination to the harsh light of truth.

Reviewed by Samuel Cruz

This publication offers a wealth of information of Latino Pentecostalism within the Assemblies of God denomination, and of the denomination in general. One major contribution of the book is Espinosa’s emphasis and his providing documentation of the important and often-neglected fact of the instrumental roles played by Latinas in the origins and formation of the Pentecostal movement.

by Bill Simpson

Here are thoughts on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, AL, a day that shocked the nation and galvanized a process that transformed America.

By Douglas S. Stivison

This is a touching remembrance of one of the founders of the Living Pulpit, who died at age 85. Bob was a true visionary and a consummate businessperson with a razor sharp mind, a true understanding of human nature, a gift for organization, and the ability to peer beyond the horizon to recognize trends and opportunities before others saw them. Bob did not do things by halves and so when he was building support for an innovative ecumenical preaching journal his enthusiasm was contagious and his personal commitment to the success of the project at hand was incontrovertible.

By Dale T. Irvin

By the end of 2012 we expect to see The Living Pulpit back up and running with four issues a year as an online journal that is both in a web format and in .pdf for download and printing. We have a new web team in place and plan to offer new resources online such as a lectionary section with fresh and relevant biblical exegesis and a place for comments from readers.