Thoughts from Lausanne: Evangelism is all about the Who

Lausanne is a place where Billy Graham and others gathered 50 years ago to seek to answer the questions of global evangelization. That time and place event became a movement. Today, more than 5000 Christian leaders from more than 200 nations are gathered in Seoul, South Korea for the Fourth Lausanne Congress to continue that…

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The flags we fly

Have you noticed how  Americans love their flags? Yes, we love our Flag, but we also seem to love flying flags of all types to show our allegiance or communicate a message. Every June, we see Pride flags pop up. Then every fall of every even year— and often long before— yards are littered with…

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The lifelong journey of discipleship

Discipleship is not a “once and done” decision but a lifelong journey, by one degree of glory to another, as we become more and more fully conformed to the character and ways of Christ. You can think of it as a lifelong process of transformation, a journey from the person you were (dead in your…

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Mornings with Carmen Playlist: Media Diet

From social media, to nightly cable news, to the breaking news emails in our inboxes— your media diet is shaping you, forming you and even discipling you. But to what end? This summer, evaluate how what you read, watch and listen to is influencing you, for good or ill. This Mornings with Carmen playlist will…

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Morbid Curiosity (and Speaking of Eternity)

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered-how fleeting my life is.”  – Psalm 39:4  Morbid curiosity: who is going to bury you? Who is going to care for your body, tell your story, and rise up to call you blessed? Who is going to…

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Carmen’s Commencement Address

Dear graduates, faculty, family, and friends,  As we gather today to celebrate your remarkable journey to this point along life’s path, you feel as if you have arrived and yet, in reality you are just now beginning! You will hear it described as beginning a new chapter or standing at a threshold or even that…

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On the TIME 100 List: Who is influencing you?

A look at TIME’s list of the most influential people of 2024 and how we understand influence TIME recently published its list of most influential people of 2024. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, I do not recognize most of the names on their list. But the sobering reality is these individuals are having an influence right now—…

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Let nothing eclipse the True Light

It happened! And I saw it! On April 8, 2024 the moon passed before the sun, the temperature dropped, the wind shifted. We protected our eyes and we stood amazed with millions of our neighbors— all eyes looking at one specific spot in the sky. Darkness arrived at mid day and so did the goose-bumps! …

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