By: Katy Drage Lines on May 29, 2018
Click here: PLDP Habits and Practices for Refreshing & Sustained Leadership
By: Kyle Chalko on May 27, 2018
Upon reading Chasing the Dragon, I said the same thought that I had when reading The Cross and The Switchbalde. “What am I even doing with my life?” Jackie’s testimony is proof of what God can do through sheer obedience of a human heart. Her stories of simply going out and doing the…
By: Christal Jenkins Tanks on May 26, 2018
The other day I was doing work around the house and watching Hulu. I stumbled upon an episode of the new Rosanne show. Now I am aware of the controversial nature of her individual political beliefs and support our current president. That aside, the show is being used as a vehicle to shed light on…
By: Kristin Hamilton on May 25, 2018
In his book, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, Jonathan Haidt recounts his seemingly sudden rush of patriotism that overcame him directly after 9/11. According to Haidt, a self-described liberal professor at UVA, this was incredibly foreign to him, and felt like a bit of a betrayal to his…
By: Trisha Welstad on May 25, 2018
Jackie Pullinger is a missionary to Hong Kong and you could relate her to a Mother Theresa figure. She works tirelessly and has a vision she and the community of St. Stephen’s are persistent to enact: “Preach the Good News, reach the poor and see people set free through faith in Jesus.”[1] Her book, Chasing…
By: Chip Stapleton on May 25, 2018
I was the kind of strange kid that, while I was never a fan of homework, particularly concerned with grades or a ‘teacher’s pet’, I might actually pay attention when my 9th grade English teacher talked in serious tones about how important Ayn Rand is and how essential Atlas Shrugged and especially The Fountainhead were to understanding, not…
By: Katy Drage Lines on May 24, 2018
While some of my friends are packing their favorite YA novel into a beach bag, I spent this week being sucked into Jonathan Haidt’s The Righteous Mind, and devouring the entire book. Not necessarily the best idea, if one wants to reflect critically and comparatively. But entering this book, I realized I didn’t want to…
By: Lynda Gittens on May 24, 2018
Author Haidt’s statement, ” We’re born to be righteous, but we have to learn what, exactly, people like us should be righteous about” (13) took me to the Christian view on ‘Righteous’. David said in Psalms 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” The Book of…
By: Jay Forseth on May 24, 2018
In our “Tribe” called the Western Conference of the Evangelical Church (30 Churches, 2 Camps and a Bible College in a four state region–North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana) we have an average of 8700 worshippers on a week-end, and 107 “Pastors” of various callings–Lead Pastor, Worship Leader, Associate Pastor, Youth or Children’s Pastor, Missionary,…
By: Stu Cocanougher on May 24, 2018
CHALLENGE: Read through each item on this list. After each statement, decide if Jimmy’s action is morally wrong: Jimmy Burned an American Flag. Jimmy is a vegan and ate bacon today. Jimmy has two wives. Jimmy worships the sun god, Ra. Jimmy is a Muslim. Jimmy is a Jew. Jimmy killed a rat. Jimmy…
By: Shawn Hart on May 24, 2018
While reading the book, “Chasing the Dragon”, by Jackie Pullinger, I found myself confronted by a myriad of mixed opinions. The reality of this book is that it will challenge how you believe in the power of God on one level, and yet have you celebrating the power of God on the other. Aside from…
By: Chris Pritchett on May 24, 2018
This post is much less an academic review as it is a reflection of what I found most inspiring about Jackie’s story, and in particular, her character. This approach seems to best honor the author’s work. I’ve heard it said that the greatest threat to Christianity in the West is not Atheism, but superficiality. When…
By: Dave Watermulder on May 24, 2018
It happened again this week. While sitting in a Session meeting (our church board), one of the leaders started comparing our church with another larger congregation in the next town over. Why weren’t we doing the kinds of ministries they were involved with? Where was our public witness? Why weren’t we having the kind of impact they…
By: Jason Turbeville on May 24, 2018
I will admit, when I picked up Chasing The Dragon: One Woman’s Struggle Against The Darkness Of Hong Kong’s Drug Dens by Jackie Pullinger I had no idea what to expect. I knew it was a book meant to get us ready for our time in Hong Kong but that was it. As I read reviews…
By: Jim Sabella on May 24, 2018
Haidt asks THE question of our time. Why are good people divided by politics and religion? Here are some of my thoughts. I have many European friends who say politics and religion have the same purpose, they both want to control the individual. From their perspective, they want nothing to do with either. They want…
By: Mary Walker on May 24, 2018
We’re born to be righteous, but we have to learn what, exactly, people like us should be righteous about. Jonathan Haidt To be “righteous” means our minds, our wills, and our behaviors will be conformed to God’s will. It means holiness, goodness, love, justice, and good works. …
By: Jean Ollis on May 24, 2018
Jackie Pullinger’s life story, Chasing the Dragons, is inspiring and convicting. Her grit and perseverance liken the sacrifice of Mother Teresa and the tenacity of Rosa Parks. When the only criticism of her work (literary and contribution to the community) can be found on websites which question the validity of the Christian faith, it’s evident…
By: Jennifer Williamson on May 24, 2018
“What you are doing really has nothing to do with us. You’ll go home anyhow, sooner or later.’ This kind of conversation took place many times; it was an indictment of those evangelists who flew into Hong Kong, sang sweet songs about Jesus on stage and on Hong Kong television, and then jumped back into…
By: Jake Dean-Hill on May 23, 2018
I was absolutely mesmerized and inspired by Jackie Pullinger and her book, Chasing the Dragon: One Woman’s Struggle Against the Darkness of Hong Kong’s Drug Dens. The amount of faith involved with her missionary journey was far bigger than the mustard seed of my own. Her display of the gifts of the Spirit was powerful…
By: Jennifer Dean-Hill on May 23, 2018
In reading the Righteous Mind, there were several quotes that spoke about the impact of developing a balanced mind, that would contribute to living a peaceful life. “Empathy is an antidote to righteousness, although it’s very difficult to empathize across a moral divide.”[1]The big divide we are experiencing in the church today is the division…
