March 15, 2013 9:33 AM
The ministry world is evolving rapidly, and the folks at Merriam-Webster can’t seem to keep up. Crack open the latest edition of your dictionary and you’ll see what we mean. Concepts essential to Christian leadership are conspicuously absent from its...
February 14, 2013 2:51 PM
Face it, folks: the beard is back in a big way. Along with celebrities, bike messengers, and your local barista, pastors are no exception to the glories of facial hair. The ministry beard has a long and glorious history among...
October 3, 2011 12:00 AM
The Catalyst Conference is later this week in Atlanta, and we'll have some reporting from the event here on Ur. But first a quick lesson in how to be a Christian hipster...a species commonly found roaming the arena at Catalyst....
May 31, 2011 12:00 AM
Earlier this month Billy Graham was admitted to the hospital. The 92 year old evangelist was later discharged, but the incident has sparked a number of reflections about the scope and impact of Graham's ministry. Lisa Miller wrote an article...
December 6, 2010 12:00 AM
Consider this the Ur version of TMZ. Last week Shane Claiborne attended a meeting at the White House with other Christian leaders to discuss the administration's fatherhood initiatives. The urban monastic leader is usually seen in a t-shirt and baggy...
July 9, 2010 12:00 AM
The Portuguese issue of Playboy showing Jesus Christ among topless models. “We did not see or approve the cover and pictorial in the July issue of Playboy Portugal…. It is a shocking breach of our standards.” -Theresa Hennessy, Vice President...
June 11, 2010 12:00 AM
Earlier this week, Collin Hansen warned about the growing popularity and risks of using humor in the pulpit. I thought an illustration was called for. Mark Driscoll uses humor frequently, among other communication tactics, to convey his messages. Here is...
June 9, 2010 12:00 AM
I love to laugh. And when I laugh, you’ll hear me if you’re in the same zip code. I have a few all-time favorite comedy TV shows that I can watch over and over again. And I enjoy funny...
December 11, 2009 12:00 AM
‘Tis the season to think about traditions. Every family has its own non-negotiable holiday rituals. If your family’s like mine, you may have competing visions of the perfect holiday under one roof (or tent, or banyan tree—or whatever your family...
November 12, 2009 12:00 AM
A few days ago, Drew Dyck (managing editor of BuildingChurchLeaders.com) sent an email to Skye Jethani (managing editor of Leadership Journal) asking to borrow a book by Dave Ferguson. Drew parenthetically commented that Ferguson looked like Edward Norton the actor....
October 13, 2009 12:00 AM
Do you ever feel like church activities, which are intended to promote God's mission, are actually keeping you from promoting God's mission? We're eager to see your captions for this cartoon by Roger Judd. Winners will be published in the...
October 5, 2009 12:00 AM
If he hadn’t died from a tainted smallpox vaccination in 1758, Jonathan Edwards would be celebrating his 306th birthday today--Monday, October 5. When Edwards died, at the relatively young age of 55, he was one of the best known pastor-theologians...
August 19, 2009 12:00 AM
A poll conducted by Time has revealed that The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart is the most trusted news anchor in America. He beat Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson, and Katie Couric. Walter Cronkite, having just entered his grave, must already be...
February 19, 2009 12:00 AM
What is your caption for this cartoon by Jonny Hawkins? Winning entries will be published in the Spring 2009 edition of Leadership. Please include your name, your church’s name, city, and state....
February 17, 2009 12:00 AM
For those of you concerned that Url Scaramanga is anti-megachurch, stay tuned. You'll find that Url is an equal opportunity offender....
January 1, 2009 12:00 AM
I've been giving a lot of thought to the state of the church as we enter a new year. In these uncertain times we naturally look to reliable and wise voices to guide us through the fog. And who is...
December 1, 2008 12:00 AM
This image reminds me of something James Twitchell writes in Shopping for God: "Megachurches concentrate on what makes the brand powerful: growth. What you sell is the perception that whatever it is that you are selling is in demand."...
November 10, 2008 12:00 AM
What is your caption for this cartoon by Rob Portlock? Winning entries will be published in the Winter 2009 edition of Leadership. Please include your name, your church’s name, city, and state....
August 4, 2008 8:00 AM
What are your captions for this cartoon by Tim Walburg? Winning entries will be published in the Fall 2008 edition of Leadership. Please include your name, your church’s name, city, and state....
July 1, 2008 12:00 AM
Regular readers of Out of Ur know that new words and phrases are often coined and disseminated on this blog. ("Church pirate" may be the most recent example thanks to Ed Young Jr.) We'd like to assemble an Out...
May 1, 2008 12:00 AM
What are your captions for this cartoon by Tim Walburg? Winning entries will be published in the Summer 2008 edition of Leadership. Please include your name, your church’s name, city, and state....
February 21, 2008 12:00 AM
And now for something completely different... Neil Young, who pastors Erindale United Church in Mississauga, Ontario, sent us this inventory of sermon styles in the Great White North. The Maple Syrup: Boils source material down to about 1/50th its starting...
February 7, 2008 12:00 AM
What are your captions for this cartoon by Dennis Fletcher? Winning entries will be published in the Spring 2008 edition of Leadership. Please include your name, your church’s name, city, and state....
July 31, 2007 12:00 AM
What are your captions for this cartoon by Rob Portlock? We know Out of Ur and Leadership readers will have some great ones on this theme. Winning entries will be published in the Fall 2007 edition of Leadership. Please include...
May 3, 2007 12:00 AM
What are your captions for this cartoon by Dik LaPine? We know Out of Ur and Leadership readers will have some great ones on this theme. Winning entries will be published in the Summer 2007 edition of Leadership. Please include...
January 30, 2007 12:00 AM
When we ask subscribers what they love most about Leadership, we often hear the same answer: "the cartoons." That's why we are pleased to bring this lighter side of ministry to Out of Ur. Here is your chance to share...
