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Church Business Education Social Sector Arts + Entertainment Science + Tech Government Media Cities Gospel Restorers

Q believes that exposure to old and new ideas is the best way to stimulate imagination for ways the Gospel can be expressed within our cultural context.

586 Results Listed
Social Sector

Confessions of a Funeral Director

by Caleb Wilde

I take 40 mg of antidepressants each day. I’ve done so since my last dangerous bout with burnout some five years ago... May is mental health month and it should come as no surprise that caregivers—those who are often on the frontlines of serving those suffering from mental illness, depression, grief and sickness—often find themselves in the midst of their own emotional battles.

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Business

Organic Entrepreneurship

by Hans Hess

As we continue to weather what many have labeled “the Great Recession,” many entrepreneurs are finding success just beyond their reach. Yet, innovators like Hans Hess have found a way to thrive amid it all. Named one of “40 under 40” by Washington Business Journal, Hess shares why he believes the marketplace is ripe for entrepreneurs who are willing to combine sound business with solutions to our world’s problems.

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Social Sector

What Your Wife Really Wants for Mother's Day (That has Nothing to do with Being a Mom)

by Gabe Lyons

The date is imminent. Mother’s Day Sunday is just around the corner. If you are like me, your mind races and stomach turns to try and plan a great day. Where should we eat the ideal lunch? Do we sit outside or in? Celebrate with just our family or others? Can I find the perfect gift? Yet over the past few years—even with my best laid plans—it hasn’t been enough. What she really wanted last Mother’s Day was a new kind of year ...

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Church

6 Ways Churches Should Be More Like Libraries

by Amy Simpson

Public libraries in urban areas have often become de facto homeless shelters—and many have risen to the occasion, offering services to those who seek refuge there. These libraries are not only addressing a poverty crisis, they’re also addressing a serious mental-health crisis. Like libraries, churches are common points of contact for people in need, including those with mental illness—homeless or not. So what can churches learn from these pioneering libraries?

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Gospel

When Christians Have Power

by Andy Crouch

The word “power” often brings to mind the image of a mighty dictator or rolling tank, marble floors and wealthy exuberance. Power in our world is synonymous with force, violence, and poorly wielded influence. But could power mean something different? Something more redeeming? Andy Crouch asks what it would mean, as Christians, to wield power well ...

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Government

Prayer as Politics?

by Jonathan Merritt

Since 1952, the first Thursday of every May has been set aside as “The National Day of Prayer.” It’s the one day that everyone from politicians to pastors bow their heads to seek God on behalf of our nation. Thousands will pause today to reflect on the importance of prayer—both in their own lives and in the great social arenas of our world today. Prayer is powerful and it has always characterized the "political" and social engagement of Christians ...

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Church

The Christian and Muslim Divide

by Imam Feisal and Gabe Lyons

In a study released by Barna Group last week, the majority of American Evangelicals said they have an unfavorable perception of Islam—with more than half of Evangelicals saying they believe Islam is essentially a violent religion. How can the world’s two largest religions co-exist and even cooperate in such a contentious time? In this Q interview, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf of the Cordoba Initiative and Gabe Lyons discuss the future for faith relations in the West.

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Restorers

A Common Good for the 21st Century

by Gabe Lyons

If Christians are called to seek a common good, how do we even understand what that is in today's culture? In 21st century America, the stakes are high. Incivility and intolerance are winning the day as each looks out for himself. But is there an opportunity for Christans to embody something different? Q founder Gabe Lyons shares the implications and the opportunity for common good thinking in our time.

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Social Sector

Day Two of Q 2013, Los Angeles

by Q Ideas

Day two of Q LA may not have had the clear thread that yesterday did and yet there was an underlying feeling connecting one talk to another … a sense of now. That right now is the time—there is an urgency and a significance to our days. Here's a wrap-up from day two of 2013 Q Ideas in Los Angeles.

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Restorers

Q LA Photo Stream

by Q Ideas

Hundreds of leaders from a variety of sectors gathered last week in Los Angeles to talk about story, freedom in limits, the relationship between movements and their founders, sexual economics, mental illness and more. If you weren't able to attend, watch a stream from the opening sessions here.

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Arts + Entertainment

Day One of Q 2013, Los Angeles

by Q Ideas

If there was a theme that emerged from opening day of Q LA, it was the idea of "constraint." What does it mean to be bound? How do limits, in fact, offer more freedom? Whether they intended to or not, each of the presenters spoke into this idea in their own way—offering a perspective on the creativity available within constraint. A round-up of Day One here at the 2013 Q Ideas conference in Los Angeles ...

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Arts + Entertainment

Watch The Opening Sessions of QLA LIVE

by Q Ideas

Over the next few days, hundreds of remarkable leaders will meet in Los Angeles to collaborate around the biggest questions facing the church today and explore answers on how to advance the common good in an increasingly secular society. If you are unable to attend this year, watch a free LIVE stream of Q's opening sessions. Join us Monday, April 15 from 12:00pm - 2:45pm EDT. And be sure to follow along with the conference on Twitter: #QLA.

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Church

Cooperating for the Common Good

by Jay Richards

When the Christian church unifies, it can be a powerful influence for positive cultural change. Unfortunately, Protestants and Catholics have often let theological differences keep them from partnering. Jay Richards, author of The New York Times bestseller, Indivisible: Restoring Faith, Family, and Freedom Before It’s Too Late, offers practical insights on how these historically disconnected groups can work together in the coming years on some of the most important social and economic issues facing Americans.

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Restorers

Between Two Seasons

by Jamie Tworkowski

On Friday, two men died. One was Matthew Warren, the 27 year-old son of Pastor Rick Warren. Matthew died by suicide after years of struggling with severe depression. The other was David Kuo, 44, a gifted writer and a good friend who battled brain cancer for 10 years. I spend a good amount of my life telling people their best days are yet to come. But what happens when the best days are no longer coming? When death inserts its final word on a life?

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Business

Bravery vs. Ambition: Leaning Out, Not In

by Rebekah Lyons

Virginia Woolf once wrote, “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” Lucky for us, Woolf’s words no longer ring true. Women are now showing up everywhere—from the marketplace to the church to the culture at large. They are finding their voice, evolving into a gender that resembles something more like a lion, and perhaps a bit less like a lamb.

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Church

The Role of Christian in a Postmodern Culture

by Dr. Anthony Bradley

Throughout history, Christians have held a variety of views on how to engage culture—from establishing governmental theocracy to functioning in segregated spaces. Anthony Bradley revisits the writings of Abraham Kuyper, 19th century Dutch theologian and Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Drawing on this rich canon, he attempts to formulate a helpful model for the role of Christians in postmodern culture.

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Gospel

When There's Rescue and There's Not

by Rebekah Lyons

“Hope and sorrow in it all, there’s rescue and there’s not.” The first time I heard these words, I couldn’t shake them. They followed me around the forlorn streets during a New York winter that never seemed to end. The thought that I may never find rescue pelted me like the falling icicles. Caught in the midst of my own freefall since arriving to the city eight months prior, these words appeared a cruel joke ...

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Business

The Four Signs of a Toxic Leader

by Wesley D. Balda and Janis Bragan Balda

“Why do we tolerate and follow toxic leaders?” For most of us, that's a complicated question—but also a personal and pertinent one. All of us have either worked for a toxic leader, or are, perhaps, toxic leaders ourselves. Here are four signs of toxic leadership to help you discern its effects on your workplace and those who work there.

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Business

The Moral Case for Capitalism

by Arthur Brooks

The second decade of the third millennium is off to a tumultuous start—especially when it comes to the economy. A new generation is being forced to wrestle with the practical and ethical dilemma of free enterprise. Can this economic paradigm be applied in a way that is consistent with the way of Jesus? AEI President Arthur Brooks makes what he believes is the moral case for capitalism.

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Social Sector

Chronic or Crisis? Learning to Tell the Difference.

by Bob Lupton

The point isn't to to judge people who are suffering from a chronic problem; it isn't to be cruel and deny them help because they "are stuck" and just need to "get a job." The point is that, in offering food or money, you are not doing enough. It's as ineffective as offering a Band-Aid to someone who is suffering from massive internal bleeding. The key to effective service is accurately matching the need with the appropriate intervention.

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Cities

Public Faith in a Pluralistic Society

by Miroslav Volf

Many Christians argue America (or Europe) needs to return to its Christian roots. Others will contend a secular society is the only truly free one. In this Q talk, Miroslav Volf argues that neither really works—because both stem from misunderstandings about human flourishing, abundant living and co-existing alongside others. He explains how pursuing the common good in a pluralistic context doesn’t mean compromising our deeply held convictions.

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Church

Pope Francis: A Symbol of Hope

by Phileena Heuertz

Why it matters that the Catholic Church chose an Argentinian Jesuit priest who would take the name of Francis. And why it's a cause for hope ...

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Media

Want to Talk to Non-Christians? Six Tips from an Atheist

by Chris Stedman

While Christianity remains a majority, the West is becoming more pluralistic. As the religious dynamic of the country shifts, Christians must learn to have better interactions with people of other beliefs. Atheist and interfaith activist Chris Stedman offers these six outsider tips for how Christians can engage in constructive dialogue.

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Gospel

Can You Lead Without Losing Yourself?

by Thomas Hinson

Leadership can be lethal. For every public figure who falls from grace, there are countless others who, while outwardly excelling, are inwardly wasting away. Why is this so? Is it simply the price of leadership? Or, is it possible to lead the way without losing ourselves along the way?

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Social Sector

Mission: The Work of the Artist and the Dreamer

by R. York Moore

Shards of gray poured like snow from the mound of clay. My dad always sculpted with a squinty eye and a cigarette dangling from the left of his lips. In his sculptures, he brought forth life and purpose. My dad’s creations always seemed to be born out of a mixture of passionate determination, a longing for beauty and a secret inner violence. His sculpting tools were more than artist’s instruments; they were weapons of warfare, tools that willed his creations into being ...

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Church

The Future of Discipleship

by Ed Stetzer

The very last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew are summed up in The Great Commission, a call for the Church to make disciples. Yet the Church has approached this process in different ways throughout history. How are today’s Christians carrying out the Great Commission, and what are the unique challenges to disciple-making in the 21st Century? Ed Stetzer presents new research on this topic as he paints a portrait of the future of discipleship.

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Social Sector

5 Practical Ways to Eat "Well" During Lent

by Christine Gutleben

For many Christians, Lent is a season of restraint—particularly when it comes to food. As we begin this third week of Lent, consider not only what you are (or aren't) eating but also where it came from. Our food choices can be an opportunity to practice discipline, intentionality and mindfulness. During the final half of Lent, be aware of what you eat and ask yourself regularly: Is this food choice sustainable? Is it merciful? Does it contribute to suffering or to flourishing?

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Business

Fashion: Shallow Vanity or Artistic Cultural Good?

by Chidi Achara

On the heels of New York City Fashion Week and on the day after the Oscar's—when "best dressed" is more talked about than "best picture"—Q asks: Could this seemingly superficial aspect of society reveal something deeper about us? Chidi Achara, renowned in the design and fashion worlds, shares surprising insights about this often-misunderstood industry.

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Arts + Entertainment

Truth is Elusive and Memory Fickle, but Love Wins: A Look at the 2012 Oscar Films

by Brett McCracken

It was a year for the history books. Literally. The films of 2012—more than most years—were concerned with the telling of real-life historical episodes. But "historical" doesn't always mean true and much of this year's best films often dealt with the elusiveness of truth in storytelling and the difficulty in "getting it right." Here's a look at this year's Oscar nominees (and a few that didn't make the list, but should have) …

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Restorers

What Is the Q Conference?

by Gabe Lyons

People always ask me, “What is the Q Conference?” And I never quite know how best to answer. It changes every year. It changes with who comes and who doesn’t. What we talk about and what is shaping us right now. But I can tell you what we’ll be doing together, some of the topics we’ll be engaging, the experiences we’ll be having and who will be guiding us. Because, in the end, Q is about the “who” and not the “what.” This year, I hope you'll be a part of the who. Find out more ...

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Church

Act Like a Business, Expect Customers

by Amy Simpson

Learning from the best practices of others is wise … to a point. But observing is not copying and what works well in the research field won't always be effective in a creative ad agency. What's best in the arts isn't necessarily what's best in medicine. And the best practices of a business are not going to be the best practices for a church. So why do we keep insisting that they must be?

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Government

The State of Our Union Is ...

by Darrell Dow

Tonight, in his 2013 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama outlined his plans for a safer country, fulfilled dreams, and a thriving economy. In short, what every President has promised and every parent hopes for their children and grandchildren. But as agreeable as these dreams might be, what is the state of our union really? Are we strong? Are we determined? With all our many differences are we really prepared to face the future as a truly united United States?

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Gospel

Embrace Restraint: Preparing for Lent

by Nancy Sleeth

With the Lenten season only days away, Christians are making decisions about what to give up or to fast from. A 40-day season of sacrifice stands in stark contrast to the 24-7 always-on culture we live in today. As you prepare for this intentional time of contemplation and restraint, watch this unique presentation with Nancy Sleeth, challenging all of us to make family and faith a focal point while reclaiming the art of simple living.

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Social Sector

Letter to a Short-Term Missionary

by Bob Lupton

Short-term missions have come under fire in recent years. Are they helpful or hurtful? Are they a waste of money? Do they simply encourage an attitude of Western superiority? Do they perpetuate an enablement mindset? Such questions are worth asking. But a long-time community developer, Bob Lupton, still says they are worth it—if you keep these three things in mind.

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Arts + Entertainment

The Christian's Responsibility For Art

by Roberta Ahmanson

The Church today often struggles to engage in and support the arts, but such has not always been the case. Historically, the Christian church appreciated the arts and took seriously the role they could play in displaying truth and beauty in culture. As a philanthropist and patron of fine art, Ahmanson helps cast a vision for how the church can reclaim its civic duty of arts patronage.

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Social Sector

A Better Response to Abortion Begins with a Better Question

by Angie Weszely

January brought us the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and with it, an opportunity to reflect and ask God what he thinks about the current Christian response to abortion. And when we start reflecting, I think we may realize we've been asking the wrong questions all along ...

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Restorers

Find Your Calling

by Q Ideas

Today, in New York City, Pete Richardson is leading a two-day Q session to help people find their calling. Watch this video for a glimpse into Pete's teachings on uniting your passion, purpose and vocation. Never been to a Q event? Find out what makes Q sessions unique and consider joining us in Los Angeles in April for our annual Q conference. Register before February 5 for early bird prices.

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Business

When Women Stop Competing and Share

by Amy Simpson

Economists tell us a fundamental principle of their discipline lies in the relationship between scarcity and competition. When a resource is scarce (or perceived as such), people feel an increased need to compete for that resource. In general, the more severe the limitation, the more desirable that resource appears and the fiercer the competition ...

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Cities

Embracing Vocation in the City

by Amy Sherman

We spend most of our week outside of church—at our jobs, in our neighborhoods, with our families. How do we connect our faith with our vocations—with the work that we do in the world? Too often the church fails to deploy people's unique vocational power strategically, creatively, and effectively. Amy Sherman challenges Christians to embrace a new vision for an everyday, integrated faith that will ultimately change workplaces, cities, industries.

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Government

5 Things That Will Matter During the Next Administration

by Richard Stearns

We are never going to build the kingdom of God at the ballot box. However, election results should provoke us toward a reevaluation of our priorities and especially our strategies for making disciples of Christ and building the kingdom of God. As he looks at the next four years, World Vision U.S. president Rich Stearns, says five issues rise to particular importance ...

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Gospel

Follow Up: OK, So I Need to Be in Counseling ... Now What?

by Johnny LaLonde

After running an article on the necessity of therapy last week, we received a number of requests for a follow-up. If it's so important to see a counselor, how do you go about finding a good one? What kind of counselor should you look for? What about the cost? Here, are answers to five frequently asked questions about therapy ...

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Science + Tech

What Is Environmental Health?

by Mitch Hescox and Lyndsay Moseley

Many in our communities suffer from the rising air- and water-borne toxin levels in our local environments. From Asthma to Autism, one of the most hotly contested debates in the medical world today is, “How much does our polluted environment contribute to our diseases and sicknesses?” In this important Q panel, we’ll hear from two activists on the front lines of the conversations who help us understand our roles as creation stewards.

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Business

The Emotionally Intelligent Leader

by Jason Young

We usually define good leadership with words like effective, productive, charismatic, competent, motivating but we would rarely use the word emotional. Yet emotional intelligence—an ability to recognize emotions in yourself and others—is a critical component of good leadership. But how do you cultivate emotional intelligence in yourself and your leaders? Here are some first steps...

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Government

Bullied on the President’s Stage

by Gabe Lyons

January 21, 2013 may go down in history, as the day Americans lost their most important freedom—their freedom of conscience. I’m no fear monger and realize in the middle of the current gun restriction debate, Americans can hardly stand another story on lost liberties. But pay attention, lest you become distracted by deliberations over the Second Amendment, and lose sight of the First ...

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Gospel

Why Everyone Should Be in Therapy (Including You)

by Chuck DeGroat and Johnny LaLonde

Counseling. Therapy. Psychology. Words that often have a negative stigma within the church. Why is that? Why are Christians so afraid of clinical counseling? While not all therapy is created equal, biblical counseling is one important conduit of spiritual and emotional maturity and can be a very significant—even necessary—part of a every person’s growth process (whether you think you "need" it or not).

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Church

Can Christian's Approach to Marriage Really Work Anymore?

by Mark Regnerus

While Christians often bemoan the state of marriage in America and groan about shifting sexual norms, there are structural reasons—some that have nothing inherently to do with sex or marriage—that have accelerated such changes. It’s actually become socially more difficult—not just personally more challenging—to withhold sex before marriage. Recognizing the economics and market dynamics of modern romantic relationships can make all the difference. Hear how you can save marriage before it starts.

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Gospel

The Single Biggest Change You Can Make in 2013

by Matthew Sleeth

I’m a big believer in the positive potential of New Year’s resolutions—over the years, they've helped me quit smoking, lose 50 pounds and stop drinking soda. Yet all of those resolutions put together do not equal the impact of the change I made a decade ago and have kept ever since. It's the single best thing I have ever done for my relationships with family, friends, and God. And it’s the only resolution that has been fun to keep from day one.

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Media

2012 in Review: Editors' Picks

by Q Ideas

At Q ideas, we are seeking to equip Christians leaders of all kinds—from innovators to scientists, to entrepreneurs, to entertainers and artists—to renew and restore culture wherever they are. In 2012, this meant exploring ideas from mental illness to gay rights to modern motherhood to rediscovering the value of whimsy in business. Here are our editors’ picks for the top 10 Q Ideas articles and talks from 2012.

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Church

For 2013: A New Way to Read the Bible

by Q Panel

It's almost time to make resolutions for 2013 and, for many Christians, "Read the Bible more" will be on that list. Nearly 90 percent of Americans view the Bible as sacred and inspired, but only 20 percent say they read it regularly. So how do we make Bible reading an important and regular part of life—especially modern life? This Q panel explores how Christians can revive the importance of scripture in our fast-paced, often-isolated digital age.

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Gospel

10 Reasons We Really Need Christmas This Year

by Joy Wickholm Bennett

With the tragedy in Connecticut, the government’s impending financial crisis and extended high levels of unemployment, Christmas' tinsel and perky music seem particularly dissonant right now. Yet Christmas can speak into mess and pain and unhappy endings, possibly better than it speaks to good times. Jesus was born on a day just as dark as today, if not worse. We need Christmas because it hurts.

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Arts + Entertainment

Artist Spotlight: Young Oceans on Advent

by Q Ideas

When Young Oceans, the self-described "neo-alternative worship project" out of Trinity Grace Church in New York City, made the decision to create an Advent album, they had no idea just how much they'd be asked to live in the tension of those songs. Read more about their album and download a free song.

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Church

Mental Illness: What is the Church's Role?

by Amy Simpson

In the wake of the horrifying Sandy Hook elementary school shootings, many are talking about mental illnesses. How can they be addressed? Why is our current system broken? Is there anything that can be done to treat them sooner—before a tragedy? These are all good questions ... and there's another good question: Where is the Church in all this? What role should the Church play in treating and supporting those with severe mental illness?

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Gospel

A Connecticut Winter: Why our Hearts Break

by Rebekah Lyons

Friday will be a day forever embedded in the hearts of parents around America. We’ll look back years from now and remember where we were when we heard the news: twenty children shot dead in a charming Connecticut elementary school. My typical attention deficit self stopped and checked twitter in the midst of a Q editorial meeting and I cried out in knee-jerk reaction—loud and desperate, unable to contain my horror ...

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Government

Protecting Counselors Amid "Conversion Therapy" Debate

by Gabe Lyons

Can gay people become straight? Is human sexuality modifiable? Are we really still discussing this? Why the "conversion therapy" debate strikes at both civil rights and civil liberties and whether both can exist.

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Church

Moving Beyond Legalism and Libertinism

by Frank Viola

It might be an age-old debate, but the conversation about legalism and grace is still going and it's still an important one.

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Gospel

A Monday - Friday Advent

by Ryan EC Hamm

Yesterday marked the beginning of Advent: a time to anticipate the birth of the Messiah as well as his second coming. But does Advent matter in our daily lives—in our Monday through Friday busyness, in our work and play and family? Why Advent connects our lives—both the exciting and the mundane parts—to a bigger story.

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Restorers

Christians Still Have to Care About Adoption

by Michael Wear

As National Adoption Month comes to a close, Christians need to keep the conversation alive. Adoption has always been central to Christianity and now, as much as ever, the Church must find a way to promote the cause of the orphan and encourage adoption.

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Government

Courageous Petraeus

by Gabe Lyons

No, this headline is not meant to be ironic. Nor is it meant to call you back to a different moment in time when this four-star general was leading two wars for America. This headline is present tense. What General Petraeus' resignation teaches us about leadership even amidst personal failure.

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Church

Women, Media and the Church of England: A Reaction to Last Week's Ruling

by Tracey Bianchi

Last Tuesday, after years of debate, the Church of England’s General Synod narrowly rejected a proposal that would have allowed women to serve as bishops. The media frenzy predictably ensued and the debate of women in church leadership continues. Here, a woman (and a pastor) reacts to the ruling.

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Gospel

On Black Friday, Don't Forget Thanksgiving

by Christianne Squires

What does it say about our culture (and our hearts) that our biggest shopping day of the year comes directly on the heels of a day when we purport to be thankful for what we have? To counter consumerism with one day a year of intentional thanksgiving is certainly not enough. It's a lifestyle of thanksgiving that we need—and it can start with a simple (and ancient) daily practice.

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Media

Media with a Mission: Bittersweet Zine

by Kate Schmidgall

Work that honors God is not exclusive to or owned by Christians. The creators of the magazine Bittersweet Zine use their platform to to bring awareness to their city’s needs and to those who are meeting those needs—Christian or not. In doing so, they hope to inspire unity as well as to challenge Christians to go and do likewise.

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Restorers

Simplify—It's Not Just a Nice Idea

by Nancy Sleeth

"Less is more." "Simplify your life." "De-clutter." These are not just trendy self-help phrases, these are Gospel ideas and are key to living a sustainable, abundant life. Here are six very practical, everyday ways to live a more ... Amish life.

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Arts + Entertainment

Is Hollywood Worth Saving?

by Erik Lokkesmoe

American film is one of the greatest cultural achievements in world history, and when done well, is rightly heralded for its marvels and its magic. Yet no one in Hollywood can answer the question: what are we about? Here are nine keys for Hollywood to find itself again.

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Church

Beyond Fair Trade: Seeking a Holistic Christian Food Ethic

by Thomas Turner

Picture this: A woman pours herself some fair trade coffee before the church service begins. She then stirs in sugar (harvested by slaves), some cream (fraught with hormones) and grabs a packaged donut (filled with preservatives). A truly holistic Christian food ethic has to go beyond isolated issues like fair trade and embrace every aspect of how and what we eat.

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Government

Now for Some Political Soul Searching

by Matthew Lee Anderson

"We look for Democrats and Republicans to put the people before the politics," said Mitt Romney in his concession speech. Presidential election seasons are peculiarly divisive times in American politics. The gaps between left and right on many issues are significant, but so are the challenges before us. There is real work that needs to be done in the next four years, and divisiveness will not get it done.

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Government

Principled Pluralism

by Gideon Strauss

From debates about the hiring practices of churches to rumors of community adherence to Sharia law, Americans have long been facing questions regarding the role of various religions in public life. As our nation grows increasingly diverse, can we coexist without compromising those principles we hold dear? Gideon Strauss says the answer lies in “principled pluralism,” a paradigm that allocates enough freedom of conscience, worship, and practice that all faiths can flourish rather than compete.

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Government

A Free People's Suicide

An Excerpt from Chapter 2

by Os Guinness

It is not enough for freedom to be won. It must also be sustained. In this excerpt from cultural observer Os Guinness's new book, A Free People's Suicide, he argues that the American experiment in freedom is at risk. Summoning historical evidence on how democracies evolve, Guinness calls us to reconsider the audacity of sustainable freedom and what it would take to restore it.

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Government

Faith of Our Own

by Jonathan Merritt

Take a moment to look back on how Christians have engaged the public square in the last 50 years and trace the trajectory of where the movement is headed. Is the Religious Right’s influence waning as so many have argued, or is it only making a comeback after a short sabbatical? Does the Religious Left represent a new generation of Christians, or is there something different? Jonathan Merritt describes what he believes is the new posture of Christian political engagement.

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Church

Our Unreached People Group

by Tyler Staton

Much of America’s severe poverty is found in its biggest and most affluent cities—and affect the youth as much (or more) than anyone else. These youth are accustomed to going hungry, they rarely attend school, and value protection above all else. The future offered these children is an unjust one ... unless someone is there to help.

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Arts + Entertainment

Changing The Conversation About Video Games

by Greg Veltman

In 1939, as the television was becoming a more common household device, a New York Times reporter predicted that “TV will never be a serious competitor for radio because people must sit and keep their eyes glued on a screen; the average American family hasn't time for it.” This turned out to be misguided, and in 1950, Daniel Marsh concluded that, “if the television craze continues with the present level of programs, we are destined to have a nation of morons.” . . .

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Church

Gay Rights and Religious Liberties

by Skye Jethani

When I was a freshman in college, the GLBA–Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance– organized an annual Gay Awareness week. What I remember most was “Jean Day.” The student leaders of the GLBA posted signs all over campus announcing that students could express their support for gay rights by wearing jeans on Thursday. Of course denim is a second skin for most college students, and it was obvious the GLBA was seeking to inflate their perception of support...

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Government

Live Free or Die?

by Os Guinness

Will we will rise to the challenge of America's unfulfilled potential for freedom, or will we suffer our foundational freedoms to be destroyed by "termites in the floor," as Os Guinness suggests? In this author interview, Guinness shares his motivations for writing A Free People's Suicide and its application in the coming election.

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Education

The Real Crisis in Higher Education

by Joseph Loconte

A recent Pew Research Center poll found that 75 per cent of adults think higher education has become unaffordable — and most believe it's not worth the money. Liberals see a "student loan crisis" and denounce cuts in government spending on education. Conservatives, for their part, criticize the expansion of federal loan programs for encouraging inflated tuition rates and student indebtedness. Missing from the discussion, however, is meaningful talk about the fundamental purposes of higher education and how best to achieve them.

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Restorers

For All People

by Amy Julia Becker

When given a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, parents choose termination 92% of the time. Society’s pursuit of comfort, convenience, and so-called perfection contributes to what has been maligned as a “culture of death.” But what if the Christian community embodied a different perspective, reshaping the way many parents view these children? Becker imagines a better future where life is not valued only for its productivity and all children are seen as a divine gift.

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Government

Politics and Prose

by Byron Borger

Abraham Lincoln said, "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." Nothing is more daring in the American experiment than the founders' belief that the American republic could remain free forever. But how was this to be done, and are Americans doing it today?

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Government

Thinking as Christians in an Election Year

by Steve Monsma and Stephanie Summers

Christian citizens in the 21st century’s major superpower need to focus anew on Paul’s calls to cultivate the life of the mind. This is most true in the realm of governments, election campaigns and the laws government enacts. Great are the dangers of dishonoring our Lord and being used by political operatives more worldly wise and cynical than we are. Instead, we must practice slow politics: renewing our minds and making every thought obedient to Christ by careful study and deliberate thinking about our aims before we act....

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Social Sector

A Single Prejudice

by Abbie Smith

Throughout history, cultures have deemed single people sexless, barren, cursed and unable to secure their eternal placement. Jesus shattered this paradigm, or at least shifted it dramatically for Christians. Jesus never mentions earthly marriage as a prerequisite for anything in the next. “The nuclear family,” he said in so many words, is secondary to the ever-enduring Kingdom family, Body of Christ, or Church. Why do we forget this so easily?

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Church

Government is Not the Enemy

by Joel Hunter

The narratives that play out across our nation suggest that the Church and State have a tenuous and strained relationship. But others, like Joel Hunter, paint a more positive picture. He believes that the Church can have a healthy and vibrant role in our communities when we partner with government without being swept up in divisiveness and partisanship. In this talk, he explains how Christians can faithfully engage the public square by realizing that government is not the enemy.

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Social Sector

Q Is Going Local

by Q Ideas

On September 27th, Q will host our inaugural Q Cities event in Denver, Colorado. Over the past year, the Q team worked with a team of local leaders to imagine and carefully plan what a completely localized, one-day Q gathering might look like. We couldn’t be more excited to see it all come together next week...

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Restorers

Gabe Lyons and Jim Daly Dialogue Our Way Forward

by Q Ideas

Most of us — wherever we are along the spectrum of liberal or conservative — feel alienated and unrepresented by the hyper-partisan deadlock that distorts and strangles our common deliberation of the truly pressing issues before us. Ironically, in a season in which we are electing a leader to guide us, it becomes even more impossible to have the real discussions we need to have. Jim Daly and Gabe Lyons sit down as part of The Civil Conversations Project to discuss our way forward.

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Social Sector

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

Almost Amish Tips for Putting “Communion” Back into Your “Community”

by Nancy Sleeth

For five years, my family lived in Wilmore, Kentucky. Two blocks from the center of town, I could walk everywhere—to work, the post office, the gym, the hair cutter, the bank, and Fitch’s IGA. The Fitch family has run the town grocery for 55 years. My husband and I have often witnessed the owner giving food to people in the checkout line who could not afford to pay, something that just does not happen in the typical chain grocery store...

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Gospel

Empathy at the Olympics

by Zach Terrell

A month after the Olympics, I can’t remember every gold medalist who heard their anthem ring. But, I also can’t get Felix Sánchez’s off my mind. In Beijing 2008, the morning of his preliminary heat in the 400-meter hurdles, Sánchez of the Dominican Republic woke up to news that his grandmother, who raised him as a child, had died. Sánchez, the defending gold-medalist of the same event four years prior, ended up placing 22nd overall...

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Government

A Call to Transform Politics

by Lisa Sharon Harper

Someone asked me recently what I thought of something “as a member of the Christian Left.” My insides tightened and screeched into a ball. It was as if Freddy Krueger had run his sharpened fingernails across the black board in history class. Christian Left? Left of what? When did I sign that membership card?

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Church

Abrahamic Faiths in Society

by Daniel Langberg

The community of Abrahamic faiths must focus less on easily-identifiable differences and more on the deeply-rooted purpose and shared principles that guide their lives and bind them together while here on earth. An emphasis on common elements need not detract from the distinctiveness of each religion, but, nevertheless, should form the foundation on which Christians, Jews, and Muslims seek to build better inter-faith relationships, stronger societies, and a more cohesive global community.

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Social Sector

43,000 People

by Laura Herrod

Two weeks ago, the New York Times reported an increase in the number of homeless people living in New York City. 25,475 adults and 18,256 children are sleeping on the streets or struggling to find room in a shelter. This 18% increase is largely due to the phasing out of a city program that paid the rent of those who are now displaced. Is attending a fundraising dinner enough?

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Gospel

The Cure for Christendom

by Kyle Roberts

Next year (May 5, 2013, to be precise) will mark the bicentennial of Søren Kierkegaard’s birth. There will be scads of written tributes, conferences, and public lectures devoted to remembrance of this Danish thinker. I’d like to get out in front of it all and suggest that Kierkegaard’s most incisive relevance today may be as a prophetic voice for the Christian church in America...

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Science + Tech

Do You Need a Technology Fast?

by Nancy Sleeth

Something is wrong, terribly wrong, about our time. We feel it, like a splinter in our hearts. There’s no room for margin: we Twitter while we drive, talk while we text, and surf until we fall asleep—but even while in bed, we stay plugged in, available 24/7. People tell me they could not live without their cell phones or the Internet or e-mail—and they mean it...

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Government

The Future of Freedom

by Os Guinness

Throughout history, Americans have attempted to spread democracy around the world. Yet some believe that many of our freedoms—particularly religious liberties—now hang in the balance. Just look at the Chick-fil-A boycotts spurred by same-sex marriage advocates. In this talk, historian Os Guinness reminds us that religious liberty is a fundamental part of the American ethos and must be guarded.

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Restorers

Q Sessions | New York City Series

by Q Ideas

Having access to information is rarely a problem in this internet age. The challenge, however, is deciding what information you should spend your time learning.Q Sessions: New York City Series are boutique events that provide private access to world-renowned, respected and experienced authorities on subjects of critical importance. Participants gain firsthand learning, interaction, and collaboration with...

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Church

Empowering Women in a Missional Movement

by Jo Saxton

In the State of the Church 2011 study, Barna noted that in the US the past 20 years have seen a 20%  decrease in women attending church, a 29% decrease  in women attending Sunday school classes, 31% drop in female volunteers. It’s heartbreaking, because these statistics aren’t merely numbers; they’re our sisters.

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Science + Tech

Science and the Spirit

by James K.A. Smith and Amos Yong

Pentecostal spirituality is a powerful cultural phenomenon quickly becoming a unique form of “globalization.”  But given that it is such a “fantastic” form of Christianity—a kind of spirituality that hearkens back to what will seem a pre-modern view of the world—globalized pentecostalism runs up against another powerful cultural force: the expansion of modern science and technology, and a creeping “scientism” that is experiencing its own globalization.

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Church

Evangelical Credibility and Religious Pluralism

by John W. Morehead

Evangelicals are having a serious credibility problem in regard to religious pluralism in the public square. Evangelicals are also ill prepared for America’s increasing religious pluralism. If Christians are to overcome this credibility problem, they will have to address the reality of life and faith in the midst of religious diversity.

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Arts + Entertainment

Thomas Kinkade, Holbein, and Icons

by Dan Siedell

In another essay, I suggested that Thomas Kinkade's quaint and nostalgic images are dangerous, offering a comfortable world that silences the two words with which God speaks to us (law and gospel). These images seem to say, the world isn't so bad, faith isn't so hard, grace therefore not so desperately sought. Following Michael Horton, Kinkade's desire to depict a world before the fall is Christ-less Christianity in paint.

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Social Sector

Almost Amish

10 Principles for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable Life

by Nancy Sleeth

“What are you, Amish or something?” a large man with a booming voice asked from the back of the room. I was not surprised by the question, but the tone rattled me a bit. Open your eyes! I wanted to reply. Am I wearing a bonnet? We arrived in a Prius, not on a pony. It was not the first time my family had been compared to the Amish, nor would it be the last. So why did this question stay with me, long after the workshop ended?

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Church

Is the Bully Epidemic in our Churches?

by Karen Yates

I didn’t take today’s “bully epidemic” too seriously and I’m ashamed to admit it out loud. Yhe truth is, I dismissed some of it (not all of it) to over-reactive, over-litigious parents and hyper-sensitive children. Things changed, however, when one of my own children was forced to deal with unwanted, repeated bullying behavior. That's when I started realizing bullying was serious, and bullying behavior was happening in our Christian churches (and schools), among both children and adults.  

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Gospel

The End Of Suffering

by Chris Heuertz

Be challenged as Chris Heuertz describes the sources of poverty in our world and how believers can embrace their role to become the beginning to the end of suffering.

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Government

The Constitution and Obamacare

The Supreme Court Translated into Plain English

by Julia K. Stronks

Watching the Supreme Court hand down decisions is exciting, but it can be frustrating for people like me—a Constitutional Law professor—because so many journalists, pundits and activists misunderstand the decisions. If Christians believe that God is sovereign over all of life, including government, then it is important for us to pay attention. We are going to be talking a lot about healthcare over the next several years, and we need to begin by understanding what actually happened in last week's Obamacare decision. 

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Government

Settling Jerusalem

by Daniel Seidemann

Jerusalem is seen as a holy city by Muslims, Jews, and Christians around the world—and the tensions in the city fuel much of the conflict between those groups. With the recent Israeli-Palestinian violence, it's time to look again at the role of this divisive city. Israeli attorney Daniel Seidemann says Americans and Christians need a holistic perspective on the state of the holy city.

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Social Sector

Refuse to be Enemies

by Sami Awad

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has saturated recent global headlines as violence in Gaza and in the Israeli border cities has flared up again. The only thing certain about the turmoil is that neither party is innocent. It's also true that there are voices on both sides working toward peace. Today, we'll hear from Sami Awad, a Palestinian Christian working toward non-violent solutions in Palestinian communities. Tomorrow, look for a holistic perspective on Jerusalem from a leading Israeli geo-political expert.

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Social Sector

Constraint and Consent, Career and Motherhood

by Kate Harris

In her recent article in The Atlantic, “Women Still Can’t Have it All,” Anne-Marie Slaughter handles the Motherhood vs. Career topic better than most, with a winsomeness that comes with honest and humble confessions about best-but-not-quite-perfect efforts. Still, the conclusions she suggests only perpetuate a discussion of women in terms of “work-life balance” and frankly, I am tired of that being the only framework offered to women...

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Social Sector

Reducing Abortion

by Q Panel

Christians throughout history have sought to support the flourishing and protection of life. Centuries before Roe v. Wade, the early church battled infanticide in the Roman Empire. Christians, however, aren’t the only ones who care about reducing abortions. The number of abortions performed in America has decreased over the past decade while public opinion for pro-life policies has risen. This Q Panel considers creative and practical solutions to protect the most vulnerable.

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Church

Biblical Literacy Begins with Reading

by Ben Irwin

3.9 billion. That’s how many copies of the Bible we’ve bought over the last 50 years, according to one estimate. But we all know there’s a difference between “bestselling” and “most read.” When J.K. Rowling sold 400 million copies of Harry Potter (#3 on the bestselling list), there’s a good chance most of those copies were actually read. Can we say the same for the nearly four billion Bibles in circulation?

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Church

For Once, Some Environmental Good News?

by Peter Harris

The modern environmental movement in western countries is a bit like a performance I saw as a child of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, but in reverse. The environmental stage began empty with romantic ideas of wilderness and unspoiled nature. Then, a first movement of alarm started with haunting and impressive solos–depending on who you ask these days, they were maybe played by Gerard Manley Hopkins, Theodore Roosevelt or Rachel Carson..

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Social Sector

A Call to Action and 5th Birthdays

by Stephan Bauman

7.6 million Children will die this year by preventable diseases before they reach the age of 5. One….two…three…four. Four seconds. One more child is dead. Bono calls this stupid poverty. Why? Because we know how to fix it. It simply should not happen...

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Business

Compete or Collaborate?

An Entrepreneurs Guide to Success in the Social Marketplace

by Trey Bowles

Traditional entrepreneurial thought revolves around the idea of competition, capitalism, and self-exaltation. We are taught to look out for ourselves and always put the interest of our mission first. It is with this attitude, we are told, that we will truly become icons in the world of entrepreneurship. Is this Darwinian approach to competition the only rational solution by which entrepreneurs can be successful and transformational change can occur?

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Church

Our Inconsolable Secret

by Joseph Loconte

It seems that in human societies everywhere, lodged deep in our DNA, is a force that reaches anxiously for a world outside of our actual experience. Even a glance at the record of humanity’s struggles—the wars, revolutions, assassinations, constitutions, conspiracies—reveals our restless ambition for a society defined by justice and virtue...

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Arts + Entertainment

An Art Museum for the Common Good

by Dan Siedell

A work of art is not a passive object. It is the aesthetic embodiment of a particular experience that exists in the world to initiate a particular experience in another.  It makes the first move, and we respond. I have spent my professional life working in or with art museums as an art historian. These wonderfully complex institutions exist because their founders believed that art is a common good: that the work done in the privacy of an artist’s studio...

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Social Sector

The Red Thread

by Jennifer Grant

A Chinese proverb says that invisible, red threads connect newborn babies to all the people who will be important in their lives. The threads shorten as these people, bound from birth, come together. The belief that God guides our paths is found in many religions, but it sometimes leaves the faithful troubled. How do we reconcile the idea that God has a divine plan with the reality that about half of the world’s children are born into poverty?

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Social Sector

Humility in the Time of "Me"

by David Brooks

Over the past half century, America has moved from a culture of self-effacement to a culture of self-expression: think Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. This week's TIME magazine cover calls out the "Me, Me, Me Generation" and the ways today's culture and technologies feed a present narcissism. But even with this apparent rise of self-love, there's also an institutional bent in Millennials that wasn't there in Gen X. So is it "me" or "we"? No matter the answer, it's time to rediscover the power of humility.

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Church

Praying for Pentecost

by Ronald Rolheiser

Every generation needs to experience Pentecost for itself. It needs God's spirit and it needs it in its own particular way. Indeed scripture assures us that the holy spirit is not a generic force but a person, a relationship, a spirit that has "particular manifestations" and gives itself to each of us uniquely so that the understanding and strength that we receive are geared to help us in our own particular struggles. If this is true, Where in life today do we most need the holy spirit to transform us? What are our peculiar spiritual disabilities?

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Gospel

Cultural Elites | The Next Unreached People Group

by Eric Metaxas

Take a moment to reflect on and learn from the community approach of William Wilberforce and the Clapham Circle. Their story not only inspires us to work for change, but gives us a model of how to leverage cultural influence to bring solutions to the greatest needs of society.

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Government

Democracy in the Gulf

by Daniel Langberg

As the Arab Spring ushers in a new era of political transformation throughout the Middle East and North Africa, there has been little acknowledgement that democratic principles have long been a part of tribal governance. Although Western-style democracy has its roots in civilizations such as Athens, Sparta, and Rome, the fundamental principles that underlie the concept were not invented by any single group of people, nor are their origins confined to any one part of the world...

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Science + Tech

Where Angels Cannot Tread: Science in a Fallen World

by Jason E. Summers

Christians should  listen to what wise men say and proceed thoughtfully and with prudence where angels cannot tread. In our efforts to study and learn from the creation and in our critiques of others' efforts to do the same, we should seek to reflect and embody a right understanding of the theology of science, the nature of  scientific practice in a pluralistic society, and the role and authority of institutions of science within that society...

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Social Sector

On Motherhood

by Q Ideas

In celebration of Mother's Day, here is a roundup of the discussions on motherhood.

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Social Sector

Out of the Mouth of Babes

by Rebekah Lyons

Somewhere in the clouds over Colorado, the natives were getting restless. The 5-hour flight from New York City to Park City, Utah required musical chairs. It was Pierce’s turn to sit with me, so we decided it was time for “The Life of the Lyons’ Kids” slide show on my laptop. Hundreds of images began to roll across the screen in poetic fashion. In and out, one after another...

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Social Sector

On Marriage

by Q Ideas

Same-sex marriage is once again filling headlines across the nation. President Obama announced his personal support for same-sex marriage the day after North Carolina voters amended their constitution to limit marriage to one man and one woman. We want to help inform your discussions by giving you access to several of the conversations we've been having around this issue and other issues of marriage and sexuality.

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Cities

The Church and The City

by Q Panel

There’s a lot of talk about the Church’s role in advancing the common good, but it often remains theoretical. In Portland, this isn’t just an idea; it’s a case study. Kevin Palau sits down with Portland Mayor Sam Adams, Commissioner Diane McKeel, and Imago Dei Community Pastor Ken Weigal to discuss their partnership. Witness the impact of a church committed to the common good of its city.

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Church

Overcoming the Merely Therapeutic

by Rev. Gregory Jensen

In Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers (2005), researchers Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton argue that for many young adults in America, the spiritual life is understood in moralistic terms. But where orthodox (and Orthodox) Christianity focus on the necessity of "repentance from sin, of keeping the Sabbath, of living as a servant of a sovereign divine, of steadfastly saying one's prayers …" -- many teenagers don’t see it that way...

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Church

Napa Valley on Leadership

by Margaret Feinberg

Wine. It's a theme woven throughout Scripture. Indeed, vines and vineyards provide a backdrop to some of the Bible's most memorable stories. So, what happens when a curious author actually visits world famous vineyards and talks with expert vintners? A new vision for leadership emerges.

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Church

Art in Theology

by Dan Siedell

“There exists the icon of the Trinity by St. Andrei Rublev; therefore God exists.” This statement by Fr. Pavel Florensky is not the apologetic strategy that Christians in the West are used to. To say that our tastes run toward the intellectual is an understatement. Florensky's argument sounds woolly, mystical, or patently irrational. This is so, not simply because we have inherited a very different tradition of apologetics, but because we also have inherited a very different tradition of art.

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Gospel

Cultural Commission

by Charles Colson

In our continued tribute to Chuck Colson and his influence on Q, we are sharing his Q Talk for the first time since Q New York. In this exclusive 18-minute presentation, he argues that everybody has a worldview. Everyone has a grand story that forms what one believes about oneself, life, the world, and reality. He then challenges us to embrace a worldview that addresses not only individuals, but also God’s redemption of entire systems and cultures.

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Restorers

Chuck Colson's Legacy In His Own Words

by Charles Colson and Gabe Lyons

With sadness, we reflect on the loss and legacy of Chuck Colson by offering a telling interview I conducted with him in 2007. You will hear a few of his prolific thoughts that influenced me and shaped Q from the very beginning. Near the conclusion of the interview, Chuck describes, in his own words, the legacy he hopes to leave behind. Listen now.

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Church

How to Save the Bible

by Glenn Paauw

The Bible is a rich collection of songs and letters, stories and prophecies—all forged in the crucible where people’s lives meet God’s Spirit. At its core, Scripture is a great drama, highlighting God’s battle to win back his rebellious children, overcome evil, and restore life and wholeness to our world. The invitation to us is to find our place in its ongoing narrative. So why do most of us treat the Bible not as a world-transforming drama, but as a holy reference book?

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Restorers

Conversations on the Common Good | Q Washington DC Round-up

by Q Ideas

Where do you hear discussions on Humility, Power, and crack-houses-turned-coffee-shop-churches in gilded halls of grandeur? At the 5th anniversary of the Q gathering at Q Washington, D.C.. Watch the free live stream here. Day Two was full of provocative presentations on racial justice in our legal system, trauma as a place of service, the role of tradition in the the church, and others.

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Restorers

Free Live Stream to Celebrate 5 Years of Q

by Q Ideas

To commemorate Q’s Five Year Anniversary, we are providing a free LIVE stream of Q’s opening day. Join us April 10th from 9am – 10:30am EST, and again that evening from 7pm – 8:45pm. Invite your friends and click here to RSVP to join us virtually at the Mellon Auditorium on the Washington D.C. mall.

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Gospel

The Cross in Culture

by Jon Tyson

The cross is one of our most robust, timeless, cultural symbols. No matter how dark our culture may grow, it just won’t go away. Artists mock the cross, Christians boast in it, others ignore it. But after 2000 years, it continues to define our faith. Is it a sign of offense, grace, or a window into a whole new order of things? Jon Tyson, author of Rumors of God and Pastor of Trinity Grace Church NYC, helps us see the counter-cultural message of the cross in a new way.

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Social Sector

Poetry and the Common Good

by Zach Terrell

American poet Aaron Belz once wrote: “In our country, it has become a rare notion that poetry might change a civilization’s direction, but the authorities in China and Saudi Arabia are right to assume that every 72-word or 140-character text stands a chance to affect political realities.” If oppressive governments silence their poets, what are we missing by not listening to ours?

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Education

Vocation is Integral

by Steven Garber

Many people today see their job as nothing more than a paycheck. But is one’s calling more than that? Steven Garber says yes. He says there is an intimate connection between one’s faith, vocation, and culture. “Vocation is integral,” he says, “not incidental to the missio Dei.” Steven explains how most of what God is doing in the world happens in and through the vocations of his people.

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Science + Tech

Are We Poisoning our Children?

by Mitch Hescox

Approximately 1 in every 6  babies in the U.S. are born with harmful mercury levels in their blood. Many Christians are unaware of this important threat to the unborn child that must be addressed: mercury pollution and poisoning. Just as we successfully dealt with lead and other toxins in gasoline as a society, so must we now deal with mercury. Gabe Lyons sits down with Mitch Hescox, President/CEO of The Evangelical Environmental Network, to discuss this life-threatening yet unknown poison.

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Church

Live the Gospel, Restore the World

by Q Ideas

If you’ve ever wondered why Q is what it is, this might help. We believe that God wants shalom to permeate our world and that He chooses to show up through people. Imagine that: God being stuck with us to show the world His vision for how things should be. But some Christians are confused; unsure of their role in our world, unclear about how the Gospel relates to the “real” world. We see it differently.

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Government

The Sanctity of Human Life

by David P. Gushee

Most Christians at least give lip service to the idea that human life is sacred. Indeed, after a generation of fighting over issues such as abortion, stem cells, and euthanasia, the sanctity of life has become a slogan wielded by many Christians as justification for their positions. Yet, the concept is much more complex in its origins and its implications than is commonly understood. And it won’t be sufficient for Christians to continue mouthing a slogan without thinking through what it means and how it really affects our worldview...

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Government

Contraception and the Devolution of Human Rights

by Joseph Loconte

Thomas Paine once observed that a political crisis could be a clarifying moment that “sifts out the hidden thoughts of man.” The argument over the availability of contraception and the religious sensibilities of the Catholic Church falls into the crisis category. Over the last several weeks, the “hidden thoughts of man” have been sifted and reveal an intellectual corruption of “human rights” so deep that it threatens the entire social fabric. If that sounds like fiery, fund-raising flapdoodle, keep reading.

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Arts + Entertainment

Fashion and Its Statements

by Cherie Harder

After a generation’s worth of conversation about cultural engagement, little is being said about fashion and its role in the pursuit of the common good. This silence is a mistake. Fashion trends shape and define what society in general, and youth culture in particular, regard as attractive, socially acceptable, and worthy of emulation.  If the fashion industry is a potent cultural force, and fashion trends speak to our national character, how should those seeking to more thoughtfully engage our culture respond?

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Social Sector

Sex Trafficking is Closer Than You Think

by Caitie Sangalis and Ted Sangalis

A common misbelief about sex trafficking is that the United States is only a destination country, that all of the victims of sex slavery within the U.S. have been carried across international borders. The truth is that literally untold numbers of U.S. citizens are trafficked within our own borders and in our neighborhoods every year.

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Church

The Restorer-Minded Church

by Rick McKinley

What would it look like for a church to not only release its people into the world to fulfill their mission but to come beside them to enable their dreams? In Portland, one of the most progressive and unchurched cities in America, Imago Dei has learned how to empower their people to do more than show up on Sunday mornings. They train them to become restorers. Learn from Pastor Rick McKinley the principles that have made his community a beacon of light in the midst of a fog of disbelief.

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Social Sector

Why are the Women Fading?

by Rebekah Lyons

It's 3:45 a.m. and you have been lying awake for almost an hour, plagued by self-doubt and anxiety. It begins with your son’s dropping grades at school, and how he is losing his confidence. This rabbit trails to your daughter’s heart, and the defiance that leaves you exhausted. You blame yourself and how you are failing to reach her. The clock keeps ticking and you move on to other stressors: you don't call your parents enough, your siblings are far away, you have an inbox that never empties...

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Restorers

Unleashing Restorers in Your Church

by Gabe Lyons

The new edition of The Next Christians: Seven Ways You Can Live the Gospel and Restore the World released today in paperback with a new chapter, subtitle and cover design. Watch Gabe and several church leaders share how churches can unleash restorers through out their entire community.

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Gospel

Reading and Being Led

by Adele Konyndyk

Adele Konyndyk has often heard the famous C.S. Lewis line: “We read to know we are not alone.” Here, she offers three authors that were instrumental in guiding her and helping her gain perspective during a rough time of transition: Jean Vanier, Ronald Rolheiser, and Henri Nouwen.

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Church

Are Christians Too Sheltered?

by Margaret Feinberg and Q Ideas

Christians are supposed to represent Christ to the world; but according to what David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons found in researching their book UnChristian, something has gone terribly wrong. Here, Gabe Lyons interviews author Margaret Feinberg on the perception that American Christians are too sheltered.

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Media

Truth Can’t be Oppressed

by Euna Lee

How far would you go to tell the world the truth? That was the question Euna Lee had to ask herself when she and a fellow journalist, Laura Ling, were detained in North Korea after they crossed the border without a visa while researching a controversial story. They remained in captivity until August of 2009 when they received a pardon from the North Korean government. Hear the story of her incredible journey as she reflects on what it means to be a truth-teller in a broken world.

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Science + Tech

The Subjects of Our Study and Our Witness

A Sermon by John Stott

by John Stott

I think it was Sir Francis Bacon, the seventeenth-century essayist, who was the first to say that “God has, in fact, written two books, not just one. Of course, we are all familiar with the first book he wrote, namely Scripture. But he has written a second book called creation.” That is to say, God has revealed himself both in the created order and in Christ and the biblical witness to Christ...

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Church

Watch Eugene Peterson Q | Session Practices Videos Now

Practicing Sabbath and Immersed in Scripture

by Q Ideas

Click HERE to watch both of the free, one-hour live streams of Eugene Peterson and Gabe Lyons on Practicing Sabbath and Immersed in Scripture.

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Church

Q Session Videos of Eugene Peterson Are Now Available

Q Sessions | Practices

by Q Ideas

Click HERE to watch both of the free, one-hour live streams of Eugene Peterson and Gabe Lyons on Practicing Sabbath and Immersed in Scripture .More than a hundred of us woke up before our normal alarms and skipped our normal routes to work. We came early and stayed for two days to hear the wisdom of his 80 gathered years, most of which were spent pursuing A Long Obedience In The Same Direction...

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Education

Ancient Future Education

by Davies Owens

Most people don’t know that current educational practice is less than a century old. Paradoxically, the harder we try to produce great thinkers similar to those of the past, the further we move from the style of education that produced them. Some now advocate a return to “classical education,” a system which teaches kids to use reason, logic, and rhetoric rather than modern techniques relying on technology and random sequences. Davies Owens of Heritage Preparatory School explains why newer isn’t always better.

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Social Sector

Is It Stealing To Occupy Vacant Homes?

by Stephen Hale

Sabrina Morey hasn’t been able to find steady work for 12 years, and what work she has found has been in the fast-food industry. She told Chicago's NPR outlet she often has to choose between paying rent and buying food for her four children. Recently, with the help of Communities United Against Foreclosure and Eviction, she moved her family into a vacant home that had been foreclosed upon. Some might consider this action theft, even as it's now part of a growing Occupy Our Homes movement...

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Church

Diversity in the Church

by Dave Gibbons

Dave Gibbons is the founding pastor of New Song Church, a mutli site, international church with campuses in inner city L.A., North Orange County, Irvine, Bangkok, among others. In an interview with Gabe Lyons, Dave shares his incredible perspective on real cultural, ethnic, and economic diversity in the church and what we miss in homogeneity.

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Church

Discipling Urban Youth

by Tyler Staton

While smugly sitting through Bible college, I couldn’t have envisioned my first ministry job in New York City going the way it has. I was confident that my experience in youth group had been far too based on hype and "cool" events; now that I was a youth pastor I was going to somehow figure out high school ministry the “right way.”I was quickly humbled.

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Science + Tech

The Future of Health Care

by Dr. Isaac Jones

Deadly, preventable diseases and disorders are at an all time high. As we debate who is responsible for providing and purchasing healthcare, Dr. Isaac Jones argues that we need a new understanding of what caring for our health entails.The future of healthcare, he says, is not in treating symptoms but in treating systems.

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Church

Take It and Tweet It

by Matthew Nickoloff

It wasn’t quite St. Augustine’s famous “take it and read it” conversion moment in his "Confessions." But hearing Rev. Keith Anderson discuss social media and pastoral practice was a kind of repentance for me. Because now, I’m officially a believer in the gospel of “digital ministry.” I’ve long been a skeptic of the salvation promised by the story social media tells. Looking around...

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Science + Tech

Stewardship or Blight on God's Creation?

by Adele Konyndyk

Before my family and I pulled into our cottage in the Huron country town of Goderich, Ontario, we passed a large field of wind-powered electrical generators – a wind farm. I didn’t know the exact function of these massive, almost alien-like machines then, but I knew the words forming in my mind to describe their appearance: obtrusive, unnatural, abnormal ... ugly.

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Church

Christianity Is Not a Boys' Club (or is it?)

by Karen Yates

Recently, I was chatting with a girlfriend when she mentioned John Piper’s statement that “Christianity has a masculine feel.” We talked at length about the ramifications such a statement can have on a woman’s perception of the Church and those of us that call ourselves Christ-followers. Is Christianity a boys' club? And if I ask that question, does it make me a feminist?

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Cities

Finding Redemption at Penn State

by Dan Nold

The news trucks have not left our streets since November, since the Penn State child sex abuse scandal broke open and revealed the junk in Happy Valley. For those outside of State College, PA, it’s been a sensational news story. For those in our community, it’s been a gut-wrenching season. The question now before me, a pastor, is the question of redemption. How do we partner with God to live as agents of redemption in our very broken city?

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Social Sector

To Cade and the Eight Percent

by Gabe Lyons

My son Cade is a survivor. Eleven years ago this week, Rebekah and I celebrated the birth of our first-born. Despite his Down syndrome diagnosis, we were overjoyed to welcome this new life into our family.But not everyone welcomes children like Cade. It’s no secret. People with Down syndrome have been targeted for extinction...

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Social Sector

Curbing Environmental Corruption

by Gary Bergel

Romans 8:22 says, "For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now." In light of this revelation, what does stewardship look like for followers of Jesus in the midst of global climate shifts and natural disasters?

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Church

Humility: The Starting Point

by John Koon

Sitting in a meeting in our hotel’s conference room outside of Kathmandu, Nepal, I found myself distracted and disengaged. A wave of anxiety, the afterbirth of the release of that odious phrase “dominant culture,” had crept up and smothered me. These two words, uttered just moments before, were reverberating like an obstinate pinball through the alleyways of my mind. And though the air continued to buzz with discussion and thought on the role of North Americans in the mission of Word Made Flesh, I remained silent, held prisoner by my worry...

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Gospel

The Appetite of North America

by Kyle Luck

The Bible depicts the early church as a flourishing community: a body of individuals devoted to Christ and committed to each other. Believers were of one heart and one mind, sharing everything that they had–even going as far as selling their land and houses in order to redistribute wealth to those who were in need. Imagine that. Imagine your world today: your house, your car, your laptop, and your cell phone shipped to a stranger, becoming homeless so someone else can be housed...

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Government

He Said, She Said on Health Care

by D. C. Innes and Lisa Sharon Harper

Engaging ideas that you don't agree with is a crucial aspect of intellectual maturity and demonstrates the posture of being provoked and not offended. In Left, Right & Christ, Lisa Sharon Harper and D.C. Innes explore how the Christian faith speaks directly to American politics but often leads to different applications. In this chapter excerpt, Ms. Harper (from the Left) and Dr. Innes (from the Right) explore the topic of Health Care in the United States. Please make sure you read both of their excerpts before adding your voice to the conversation.

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Church

Local Church Transforms City

Andy Crouch interviews Chris Seay

by Chris Seay

Chris Seay is among the most creative and surprising pastors in America. His church, Ecclesia, is in Houston's Montrose District, but it is really much more than a church. It's a multifaceted and creative community that is part of the fabric of their neighborhood. Here, Andy Crouch interviews Chris about what happens when a Church is more than a Sunday commitment.

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Gospel

A Serious Theology of Play

by David Naugle

Social critic H. L. Mencken once quipped that “puritans,” referring to serious-minded Christians, are “people who have a deep, foreboding fear that somebody, somewhere, might be having a good time.” Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once observed that Christians “have no joy.” He also said, should he ever come to believe in God, he would only believe in a “God who danced” (40). Sadly, he was never able to locate such a God...

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Government

NYC Churches forced to Vacate Neighborhoods

by Stanley Carlson-Thies

It’s a sad irony, really. December 8th was the thirtieth anniversary of the US Supreme Court decision, Widmar v. Vincent. In Widmar, the Court firmly set out the constitutional principle that government may not exclude religious groups from public spaces and other benefits on account of their religious speech or activities. And yet, only a few days before, on Monday, December 5th, the very same Court declined to review the Bronx Household of Faith case...

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Science + Tech

Q Review | Science and Origins

The Soul of Science: Christian Faith and Natural Philosophy and The Language of Science and Faith: Straight Answers to Genuine Questions

by Byron Borger

For anyone following the conversations about faith and science, it is obvious that one of the major trends—and a matter of great contentiousness—is how some scientists are doing deep research to dismantle the Darwinian notion that changes evolving in God’s creation happen randomly, by utter chance. Networks of scientists and philosophers of science, such as those loosely affiliated with what has come to be called the Intelligent Design movement, are increasingly respected, known for rigorous research...

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Social Sector

Preemptive Love

Remaking the World through Heart Surgery

by Jeremy Courtney

What does it take to save the lives of 30,000 children waiting in line for lifesaving heart surgery? Or to pursue peace between at-odds groups in a country at war? Jeremy Courtney draws from his last five years as a Christ-follower in Iraq’s most dangerous cities to establish “preemptive love” as the way to unmake violence, establish an enduring peace, and remake the world around us to the good of humanity and the glory of God.

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Science + Tech

What Technology Wants

by Kevin Kelly

We live in an age of innovation, and a debate is raging about whether technology is improving our lives or making them worse. But Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired Magazine, says we’re not asking the right questions. He believes we need to find out what technology is really after. Can technology be a force for the greater good, and if so, how do we thoughtfully engage new inventions? Kevin will attempt to construct a radically fresh answer to one of culture’s nagging questions.

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Arts + Entertainment

Do Our Favorite Movies Tell the Truth?

by Greg Veltman

Films serve a number of purposes in our society. Mostly, they tell stories, entertain audiences, and help us imagine the world in new and creative ways. The creators and distributors of films also contribute to our economy. But an often-overlooked purpose of film is that it should serve the common good. As a form of mass communication...

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Gospel

Spiritual Conversations: Understanding the Cultural Language

by Ron Martoia

Finding spiritual conversations in American culture is not hard, but conversations about the Christian God can be a different story. Consider the Gospel as a 4-part story and be introduced to a new language that can bring Christianity back into the spiritual conversations of our day.

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Business

How to Cope with a Toxic Boss

by Glenn Young

I’ve counted 24 bosses over the course of my career. The longest I ever worked for one boss was four years. The shortest was for a few months. I’ve had good bosses and bad. I’ve had capable, competent bosses, and bosses who weren’t. I’ve had bosses I liked, and ones I didn’t. I’ve had bosses who were scrupulously fair, and ones who played favorites. Of all the varieties of bosses and boss experiences, there were two – fortunately, only two – that I would call toxic...

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Social Sector

How Can You Forgive a Killer?

Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Rwanda

by Laura Waters Hinson

If it's hard to forgive the guy who cuts you off in rush hour traffic, how much more difficult is it to forgive those who kill your loved ones? What can we learn from the forgiveness that is happening in Rwanda? How can the church get involved in advancing reconciliation? Filmmaker, Laura Waters Hinson talks with Gabe Lyons about her film, As We Forgive, developing the craft of storytelling, and the latest projects she’s been working on.

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Social Sector

Americans, Immigration and the Call to "Welcome the Stranger"

by Jenny Hwang-Yang

The Bible is clear the people of God should extend love to the stranger, the foreigner, and the immigrant. But what are the implications of this teaching for the public square? As the Church attempts to apply sacred scripture to the current immigration debate, Jenny Hwang-Yang offers a new perspective that combines justice with compassion.

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Business

Rediscovering Whimsy

by Bob Goff

With so many global problems at which to aim our collective passions and resources, the work of restoration can become nothing more than a job. As time goes on, even good work can steal our imaginations. How can we rediscover a compulsion for finding creative, audacious ways to discover our dreams? Bob Goff, Founder of Restore International, will help us recover our sense of imagination and know how to unleash it in those around us.

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Church

What Do We Mean by "Prophetic"?

by Chris Heuertz and Sarah Kim

Go to most Western Christian bookstores, and you will encounter countless titles claiming to have a prophetic message or a handle on explaining prophecy. Competing extremes claim that the prophetic is qualified by the supernatural and miraculous, or that the prophetic is very grave and ominous with a harsh message and merciless tone.There is a crisis in our contemporary understanding of the prophetic...

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Media

What Should You Read in 2012?

by Alissa Wilkinson

For years, I’ve spent some time at the beginning of the new year thinking about the books I’d like to read in the months ahead. Book lists help me order my reading. They let me dream about what I’ll do in the next year. And even when I end up copy-and-pasting half of last year’s list into this year’s, they help me remember who I want to be in the next twelve months...

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Gospel

Top 11 Q Ideas of 2011

by Q Ideas

At Q, we believe that followers of Jesus have the responsibility to create culture and contribute to the common good of our society. In a mix of videos and essays, here is a brief look at the top culture-shaping ideas that Q has helped to cultivate and spread over the course of 2011.

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Gospel

Announcing Q Sessions | Practices with Eugene Peterson

in New York City

by Q Ideas

It’s no secret that our lives are too busy. If we don’t become more efficient, produce more, get ahead and stay ahead then it seems our culture will leave us behind. But as our outer lives continue to expand and upgrade, our inner lives are lost and neglected. On February 28-29th, 2012, Q hosts its next limited event in New York City, Q SESSIONS | PRACTICES, featuring Eugene Peterson.

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Restorers

Top Ten Culture Shaping Moments of 2011

by Q Ideas

Is culture really getting any better? Where’s the proof that all the dialogue and collaboration Q is committed to is having any impact? We’ve heard it all and we get it. Many think the work of “cultural renewal” is elusive, and understandably so. It’s not easy to show concretely how culture is changing over time. But in the following Top 10 List, we attempt to put on display that in mainstream culture, a movement is afoot.

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Church

The Reality of Christ's Birthplace, Then and Now

by Andrew Haas

Sleepy. Bethlehem was and is a drowsy town to this day, but not by choice. Jesus’ birthplace has been forced into a “deep and dreamless sleep,” the kind that descends upon a man or woman with a dwindling future, little livelihood and vacant hope. That’s not to say there is not an abundance of life. The streets of Bethlehem are an LED-lit extravaganza during this advent season. Muslims and Christians alike...

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Gospel

The Return to Sexual Holiness

An Excerpt from The End of Sexual Identity

by Jenell Williams Paris

Sexual identity has become an idol in both the culture at large and in the Christian subculture. And yet concepts like "gay" or "straight" are relatively recent developments in human history. We let ourselves be defined by socially constructed notions of sexual identity and sexual orientation--even though these may not be the only or best ways to think about sexuality. Anthropologist Jenell Williams Paris offers a Christian framework for sexual holiness that accounts for complex postmodern realities.

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Government

John Witherspoon, The American Founding and the First American Family Bible

by Jimmy Lin

To promote true religion is the best and most effectual way of making a virtuous and regular people. Love to God and love to man is the substance of religion. Founding Father John Witherspoon was a man who lived out his beliefs and who prayerfully made the most of every opportunity.

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Church

Nuclear Duck and Cover

Being Prepared for the Worst

by Tyler Wigg-Stevenson

Earlier this year, the Two Futures Project launched the Know Shelter initiative. They've spent four years engaging Christians to advance policies that will help prevent nuclear weapons from wreaking their awful havoc and the mass killing of innocents. But with Know Shelter, they're adding preparedness to the mix, to help churches equip their cities with the two critical steps that can save lives in the event of nuclear terrorism.

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Arts + Entertainment

Q Reviews | Young Adult Fiction

by Byron Borger

Young Adult Fiction has changed dramatically over the last ten years with the releases of several blockbuster fantasy series. Where are the novels that maturely and naturally weave entertaining stories with important, biblical truths? Byron Borger reviews two authors who write young adult and children’s literature that plumbs the depths of human experience while still crafting engaging stories.

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Social Sector

What's Your Secret?

by Rebekah Lyons

Secrets. We all have them, don't we?Tucking my son in at bedtime has become quite the confessional. It all started when he remembered taking a pen a year earlier from his teacher’s desk in hopes of surprising his sister later on the bus. Then, as if the dam had broken, a few nights later he remembered, “picking up" a box of crayons and putting them in his backpack. I wondered if my usually buttoned up son was on his way to a life of kleptomania...

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Cities

Announcing Q 2012 | Washington, D.C.

by Gabe Lyons

In a presidential election year, we felt there was no better place for Q to host 700 cultural leaders than our nation’s capital. Q is no ordinary gathering—it is a calling to all Christian leaders to be thoughtful and faithful as we engage a rapidly changing culture. As a part of this community, I hope you’ll seriously consider joining us...

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Business

Unions and the Common Good

by Brian Dijkema

2.8%: That is the difference between the rate of union membership and the rate of unemployment in the US. Union membership in the US is so low that many Americans aren’t even familiar with unions. What are they? What do they actually do? Unions are institutions in which workers organize together...

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Science + Tech

Science and Religion: Mixed Results

by Rusty Pritchard

Science and religion are at war. Or, at least that’s the impression you might get from bloggers who watch the spectacle of Republican primary candidate debates. Columnists at the New York Times and the Washington Post are up-in-arms at the hostility toward, and ignorance of, science on the part of the candidates, who seem to be vying to outdo each other in their anti-intellectualism...

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Gospel

Contemplative Activism as a Model for Mission

by Phileena Heuertz

The signs of the time can be troubling. Poverty, exploitation, war, global warming and over-consumption plague our planet. It seems like domination and exploitation are commonplace almost everywhere we turn. Christians, too, are often implicated in the violence. How can we offer a different kind of presence in the world and really make a redemptive impact? Contemplative activism must root us in offering the good...

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Gospel

Losing our Language

Reflections on Giving Thanks

by Ann Voskamp

If Thanksgiving is only for a day, we lose our selves–and our souls. New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp reflects on what we lose in the brevity of Thanksgiving celebrations.

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Gospel

Embracing Suffering

Healing through Acknowledging Loss

by Silas West

Catherine Piwang is no stranger to suffering; she saw an entire generation, including nine of her siblings, go missing in Uganda because of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Catherine has since devoted her life to helping thousands find healing from the loss of this middle generation. On a recent visit to northern Uganda, which has been devastated by years of civil war, she found another lost middle generation...

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Government

Innovation, Intellectual Property, and the Constitution

by Jason E. Summers

Innovation within markets relies on defined and enforced patent rights, which enable innovators to recoup development costs through the exercise of temporary monopoly. The Constitution grants Congress the power “to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing...inventors the exclusive right to their...discoveries.” Current debate over these protections centers around the question of whether...

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Science + Tech

The Beginning of the End of AIDS

by Mark Brinkmoeller

Today is World AIDS Day. After 30 years and 30 million funerals, the end of the global AIDS epidemic is suddenly, unexpectedly, within sight. It would be a final victory for this clever killer if Americans were too preoccupied...

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Arts + Entertainment

PBS 'Prohibition' and the Complexity of Sin

by Bethany Keeley-Jonker

The new Ken Burns series “Prohibition” aired recently on PBS. I had done some reading on the history of the 1920s but before my research, I thought that prohibition was a total failure. It didn’t prevent people from drinking and it fed organized crime. But what I did not know is that Prohibition, along with the temperance movement that led to its institution, did change the culture of alcohol...

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Education

Where are the Christians in Academia?

A Talk between Gabe Lyons and Duane Grobman

by Q Ideas

The Academy is unique in a lot of ways, both as a place of opportunity and also complexity and challenge for people of faith. Here, Gabe Lyons interviews Duane Grobman, Executive Director of the Mustard Seed Foundation and Director of the Harvey Fellows Program, a fellowship that sponsors Christians in diverse academic fields.

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Restorers

Consumerism

by Chris Seay

There is a counterfeit story that culture is telling us: when we get what we want, we will be happy. How can we get beyond faux happiness and realize authentic joy in pursuing a Kingdom oriented way of life? Consider how a deeper understanding of the Gospel could reshape your decision-making in a consumer-driven society.

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Social Sector

Feminine Identity and Sexuality

by Caitie Sangalis

Our great-great-grandmothers dreamed of seeing their daughters and granddaughters stand side by side with men: equal in dignity, respect and achievement. Our culture tells us that the Women's Rights Movement, the Feminist Movement and the Sexual Revolution unlocked our cages and set us free to be man’s equal. But have we really achieved equality?

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Business

Your Company Will Save the World!

by Bradley J. Moore

I reached down from my sunny lounge chair on the deck and pulled a random issue of Harvard Business Review from my briefcase stash, turned to the cover story and started reading. The first few lines were like a smack up the side of my sunburned head. The essay was called, "How to Fix Capitalism," by famous Harvard Business School Professor and strategy guru, Michael Porter, and he opens with this bleak assessment: Business is increasingly viewed as a major cause of social, environmental and economic problems. Ouch...

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Restorers

Cycle of Hope

by Tom Ritchey

Tom Ritchey is one-of-a-kind. From building bicycle frames as a teen to leading Ritchey Designs thirty-five years later, Tom is credited with pioneering the mountain bike movement that has since swept the globe. But, he always knew there was more work to be done. While pedaling 10,000 miles each year, he discovered the next place that could use his ingenuity—the heart of Africa. In this Q Portland talk, see first hand what one man’s calling looked like when his greatest talents confronted the burdens of a culture.

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Arts + Entertainment

What is a Picture Worth?

by Cara Davis

My mother has no fewer than 40 photographs of my daughter—her only grandchild—on display in her home. When you walk into her three-bedroom, ranch-style home, there is little question who her heart orbits around.It's often said a picture is worth a thousand words, but to her, one word is worth a thousand pictures: Madilyn. I cannot imagine what it must be like for many people who never have pictures taken–formally or informally. But for most, it's a luxury ill afforded when you're struggling to put food on the table or maintain a roof over your head...

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Government

President of "This Nation, Under God"

Abraham Lincoln

by Jimmy Lin

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for that day.” These are not words coming from some helpless beggar or an uneducated man. These are the words of the sixteenth President of the United States. Abraham Lincoln is considered the greatest President of the greatest nation in the world, yet he reveals that all his security, intelligence, and strength rest on...

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Cities

Postmodern Wells: Creating A Third Place

by Mark Batterson

The church is no longer the center of community life. Rather than admit defeat, Mark Batterson believes the church has an obligation to create new ways to engage our communities. Hear the story of one church that has created new places for their community to connect both with each other, and also with God.

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Government

Social Mobility and Power

Interview with Michael Linsday, Sociologist and President of Gordon College

by Andy Crouch and Michael Lindsay

Recently named the 8th president of Gordon College, Michael Lindsay has been a leading expert on religion and public life over the last several years. As a sociologist and professor at Rice University, Lindsay has interviewed hundreds of Christ followers who are in positions of cultural power. In this interview, he and Andy Crouch explore the relationship between Christians, social mobility, and power.

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Arts + Entertainment

Margin Call and the Banality of Evil

by Josh Larsen

The new Wall Street drama Margin Call is only slightly less boring than a quarterly report. And that’s exactly what makes it so frightening. Set at an imploding investment firm on the eve of the 2008 financial collapse, Margin Call means to capture the panic of that moment and raise our moral hackles over the dubious decisions surrounding it.

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Media

Fiction for the Common Good

The Calling of Christian Writers

by Richard Doster

Ask your neighbors for an off-the-cuff reaction to the words “Christian literature” and you’re likely to hear them stumble through a list of belittling adjectives. Despite the swelling ranks of able Christian writers, the reaction demonstrates that we are now viewed as an inconsequential presence in the world of literature. We have banished ourselves to the “inspiration” section at the back of Barnes & Noble. And by doing so, we may have left literature in the hands of writers who’d leave them hopeless...

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Media

Q Reviews | Memoirs

Book Reviews of The Seven Story Mountain and Lit: A Memoir

by Byron Borger

In listing an old and a new book in a common genre, the idea of writing about memoirs thrilled me.  I've got many recent favorites. If I were to pick one memoir from decades ago, however, it is this remarkably popular story of a restless Columbia University literature student who, famously, left it all to become a Trappist monk...

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Government

Crisis in the Horn of Africa

Famine, War, and Drought

by Chris LaTondresse

One of the worst humanitarian crises in more than six decades has struck more than 13.3 million people in the Horn of Africa. Some experts estimate that over 30,000 kids have died in the past four months alone. In fact, by the time you finish reading this post, another child will be dead. Lack of rainfall, soaring food prices and a violent extremist movement in Somalia have combined forces...

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Arts + Entertainment

Unsettled Questions

by Dave Bazan and David Dark

In a wide-ranging conversation interspersed with song, author of The Sacredness of Questioning Everything David Dark and musician Dave Bazan (formerly, of Pedro the Lion) will discuss the struggles of a questioning faith. They’ll wrestle with the joys and tensions of attempting to sustain a creative and neighborly livelihood without lying or going crazy. Their back-and-forth will include their appreciation of the witnessing work on offer by contemporary truth tellers, David Simon, Cormac McCarthy, Leonard Cohen, and the Brothers Coen.

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Social Sector

Christians Should Put Up or Shut Up

On Adoption

by Jason Locy

When the Arkansas Supreme court struck down a voter-approved initiative that banned co-habitating straight and gay couples from adopting orphaned children, the Christian community predictably erupted. Byron Babione of the Alliance Defense Fund, attributed the April ruling to a “political movement afoot to undermine and destroy marriage.” On one hand, these comments aren’t surprising. Conservative evangelicals have decried “the anti-family gay agenda” for decades.

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Arts + Entertainment

Making Giving Easier

by Steven Paletta

What happens when a 43-year-old real estate developer from Bedford, NY wins a million dollars? Does he spend it on himself or give it away? This was the question facing Stephen Paletta, winner of “Oprah’s Big Give,” in 2008. Today, as founder of The Give Back Foundation, he helps fund charitable causes around the world through a groundbreaking giving structure focused on average, every day Americans. Listen as Paletta shares how the biggest corporations in the world will give to your foundation so you can fund your vision.

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Gospel

Upending Einstein

by Caryn Rivadeneira

I don’t normally catch up on the world of physics before I start my day. And yet, the other morning this headline got my very first click: “Speed of light maybe not fastest after all." Perhaps it was because I had just been talking to my youngest son about why we see lightning before we hear thunder. Perhaps because I correctly sensed this was, actually, big news...

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Arts + Entertainment

A Song of Hallelujah

Purpose in George Frideric Handel's Music

by Jimmy Lin

The Hallelujah Chorus, within the oratorio called Messiah, is an easily recognizable piece of music and is often played throughout the Christmas season. Its creator was George Frideric Handel, a famous classical music composer and recognized as one of the most famous of the Baroque period in the 1700’s, whose other popular works include Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks. His earthly father called him to the study of law, but his heavenly Father called him to make a greater impact...

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Social Sector

Animals: Should We Care?

by Wayne Pacelle

When we speak of our “humanity,” it’s grounded in our capacity as humans to exhibit empathy for others. It’s our innate empathy that prompts us to care not only for members of our families or our friends and neighbors, but also for those we’ve never met, especially the needy. This altruistic instinct motivates so many good works in society, and there are millions who help by sheltering the poor, feeding the hungry, or curing the ill...

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Social Sector

An Apologetic of Justice

A talk between Gabe Lyons, Andy Crouch and Gary Haugen

by Q Ideas

Matthew Arnold says that culture is "the best which has been thought and said in the world." Gary Haugen, founder, President and CEO of International Justice Mission and a former member of the State Department, disagrees. Here, Gabe Lyons sits down with Haugen to discuss the role of believers in culture.

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Government

The Shape of the State

Q reviews God and the Constitution: Christianity and American Politics and Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit

by Byron Borger

Election season often feels like a constant storm instead of a cyclical cornerstone of our government. As we pull on our political galoshes, we should seek to remember what our best faith traditions suggest about the role of the State. Byron Borger reviews two timeless books that do just that.

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Business

The Single Most Important Element in Business

by William P. Robinson

Occupy Wall Street is now spilling out onto other streets across our nation. What one thing can business leaders do to maintain the integrity and elasticity of their operations amid our economic and social instability? William Robinson, president emeritus of Whitworth College, looks to Rembrandt's artwork and discovers the most important element in business.

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Government

Middle East Uprising

by Todd Deatherage

As Libyan revolutionaries rejoice in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi's brutal reign, Egyptian and Tunisian protesters continue to rebuild their countries. Revolution came to the Arab Spring from within, and it continues to brew throughout the Middle East. How can we cut through the noise to understand the role the U.S. plays in this unstable region? Todd Deatherage of the Telos Group sifts through the chaos to explore these events through the lens of our common humanity and God’s kingdom.

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Church

The Rise of Exiles

by David Kinnaman

How do you train up a child in the way he should go when his cultural paths are constantly shifting? After spending 5 years researching the generation just coming of age, David Kinnaman has discovered three patterns of how young people are relating to faith as they make their own way in the world. One group in particular—the exiles—demands our special attention because they will define the faith for years to come.

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Government

Founding Father

Benjamin Rush

by Jimmy Lin

Only a few of our Founding Fathers focused their lives exclusively on politics. Many contributed to the common good in a variety of other ways. On top of being known as a Founding Father of the US, Dr. Benjamin Rush is known as the Father of Public Schools, the Father of American Medicine, and the Father of American Psychiatry. Jimmy Lin explores Rush's diverse and lasting contributions.

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Social Sector

Narcissism

Integrating Faith and Psychiatry

by Allan Josephson, M.D.

Narcissists' inflated view of themselves frequently masks a hidden sense of emptiness and inferiority. Allan Josephson, M.D., says that those who are in relationship with a narcissist “by definition become depleted or depressed, because life always has to reflect the grandeur, the beauty, the intelligence of the narcissist.” Here, Josephson explores what spiritual health looks like in a culture that celebrates narcissism.

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Science + Tech

Our Nomadic Existence: How Electronic Culture Shapes Community

by Shane Hipps

New technologies are transforming our world every day. In our search to find genuine community, we've become wandering nomads. How did we get here and what should we do about it? In this original Q Essay, Shane Hipps, pastor and author of Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith, makes the case for understanding and using technology instead of avoiding it.

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Arts + Entertainment

Why Fashion Matters to You

by Cherie Harder

Fashion is at once the most visible and overlooked industry. More than giving us what we wear, the runway reflects our history, projects our future, and brands our deeply held beliefs about who we are and who we strive to be. Cherie Harder, President of the Trinity Forum, explains why we must engage this influential and philosophy-laden industry.

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Government

Faith in Public

A review of The Naked Public Square and A Public Faith

by Byron Borger

As we begin to descend into the whirlwind of political campaigns, it can be easy to get lost in all the heated debates and catchy slogans as we pursue a principled public square. Byron Borger provides two excellent and foundational must-reads on how faith does—and must—shape public life. He reviews Richard John Neuhas's The Naked Public Square and Miroslov Volf's new book, A Public Faith.

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Science + Tech

Christianity and Science in Historical Perspective

by Ted Davis

The relationship between Science and Christianity is one marked with controversy, fear and misunderstanding; but, is that the whole story? Ted David recounts the colorful and intriguing relationship between Christianity and Science, and then explores the implications of this relationship for modern science and theology.

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Church

Prodigals, Nomads, and Exiles

by David Kinnaman

No previous generation has experienced such dramatic, compounded cultural change. As a result, millions are cutting their connection to church and their faith during their young adult years. Kinnaman describes the three types of spiritual journeys that young people take, how their anti-institutional mindset is different than that of young adults in the past and how organizations and churches could respond effectively to today’s prodigals, nomads and exiles.

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Science + Tech

The Soul of Apple

by Kevin Kelly

This week something unusual happened. At the very same time that thousands of ordinary citizens were camping out to protest corporate greed, a similar number of ordinary citizens were depositing flowers and spiritual offerings at the corporate stores of the wealthiest company in the world in memory of one of the richest people in the world, the late Steve Jobs. Why would a billionaire elicit such affection and love during this moment of fierce dissatisfaction with global capitalism?

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Media

The Psychology of Trials

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

by Jimmy Lin

Within the bindings of a story, great literature explores what words alone fail to express. In The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and Punishment, among others, Fyodor Dostoevsky subtlety explores the depths of the struggles that he experienced in his own life through his complex and unforgettable characters. Here, Jimmy Lin discusses the connection between Dostoevsky's life, work and faith.

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Education

Fatherhood as Vocation

by Graham Scharf

Graham Scharf, a former NYC Teaching Fellow, is now a stay-at-home dad while his wife works full-time as a pediatrician. In this excerpt from Keith Zafren’s forthcoming book on fatherhood, Graham grapples with the value of fatherhood as a full-time vocation.

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Church

Unique Challenges Facing Urban Church Planters

by J. Allen Thompson

Cities offer innumerable opportunities for evangelism and church planting. With these opportunities, however, also come challenges that otherwise might be overlooked. Allen Thompson awakens our awareness of urban realities that affect ministry, offers solutions to both the church-planting coach and the planter, and provides grist for the mill of church-planter conversations.

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Church

Animal Welfare and The Church

by Christine Gutleben

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love and serve the poor and needy among us. But, what if the poor and needy are animals? Do Christians care about animal welfare? Christine Gutleben, Senior Director of the Faith Outreach program at The Human Society of the United States, presents overwhelming evidence that Christians do care about animals.

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Gospel

The Good in Graffiti

by Stephen Hale

Graffiti is clearly vandalism, but is it more than that? Stephen Hale peels back the layers of the often beautiful yet disfiguring paint to reveal some of the movements behind graffiti and why Christians shouldn't necessarily be opposed to it.

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Church

Local Manifestations

A Review of Life Together and Deep Church: A Third Way Between Emerging and Traditional

by Byron Borger

When it comes to the topic of Community, there are simply too many books to read. How do you choose? Byron Borger reviews two books on community that present multi-dimensional approaches to understanding the essence of Christian community: Bonhoeffer's Life Together and Jim Belcher's Deep Church: A Third Way Between Emerging and Traditional.

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Government

Military Research and the Common Good

by Jason E. Summers

This October marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. As we confront the burgeoning costs of U.S. military operations in the face of our current debt crisis, Dr. Jason E. Summers argues that followers of Jesus must not only engage in the conversations about the extent of foreign military engagement, but also about the size and scope of the Department of Defense.

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Business

Do You Feel Broken and Fragmented?

by Ann Voskamp

We often see work as a 40-hour necessity where our value is quantified in paychecks. We try to leave work at work, and keep our personal life separate. But what if this understanding of work is wrong? Ann Voskamp, NY Times best-selling author, explores avodah, the ancient Hebrew understanding of work, and how it can reshape our lives.

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Social Sector

A Thousand Wells

by Jena Lee Nardella

The Law of the Few says that social change is primarily dependent on a few influencers. This law, Jena Lee Nardella argues, is false. In our world, social change is dependent on everyday individuals doing their small part.

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Science + Tech

Spreading the Good News

Johannes Gutenberg

by Jimmy Lin

We are drowning in words; from news outlets, blog posts, and twitter feeds, to the signs that direct traffic and label our food. What would our world be like without the printed word? Jimmy Lin explores how Johannes Gutenberg used his ordinary profession to create the first printing press so he could spread the Gospel and how, in the process, Gutenberg fundamentally changed our world. 

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Business

Brand Loyalty vs. Brand Idolatry

by Blake Howard and Craig Johnson

Our age is so saturated with marketed brands that our children dream in shades of Disney. Branding is a form of marketing that clearly defines what makes a company, product, or experience distinct and memorable from others. Naturally, companies who strive to serve customers faithfully ask for brand loyalty over their competitors. Is that so bad? Blake Howard and Craig Johnson explore the biblical implications of branding.

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Government

Uncommon Contributor to the Common Good

The Legacy of Mark Hatfield, 1922-2011

by Stanley Carlson-Thies

Mark Hatfield is a name many ought to know and emulate. After serving two-terms as Oregon's governor and spending 30 years in the U.S. Senate, it is clear that Hatfield was a man of strong faith with a very unique and much needed approach to politics. Stanley Carlson-Theis remembers this stalwart defender of religious freedom.

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Social Sector

The 2012 Praxis Fellows

by Dave Blanchard and Josh Kwan

The Praxis Accelerator Program was created in collaboration with Q to support the growing global movement of restoration-minded social entrepreneurs.  Founder Dave Blanchard and Board Chair Josh Kwan announce the 2012 class of Praxis Fellows. Join us to congratulate, encourage, and learn more about these impressive teams as they embark on a year of intense growth and mentorship.

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Gospel

The Servant Nature of God

by David Chronic

Between demands on our time and our inclination toward what is convenient, it can be difficult to find the margin to temper our privileged lives with humble service. David Chronic explores the complex relationship between wealth, the poor, and the type of service that Jesus calls us to.

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Business

Work: Crucible of Faith

by Katherine Leary Alsdorf

What is so bad about being identified by the work you do? Katherine Leary Alsdorf, director of the Center for Faith and Work, challenges us to think deeper about the Gospel’s implications for our lives at work.

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Cities

A Vision for Our Cities

by Al Barth

By 2050, five cities are projected to reach mega-giant status with 40 million people each: Lagos, Karachi, Bombay, Dhaka, and Calcutta. Four of these cities will very likely to be hostile to Christianity. Allan Barth lays the biblical foundation for reaching cities and shaping culture.

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Arts + Entertainment

Truthful Beauty and Fashion Culture

A review of Rainbows for a Fallen World and Fashion: Philosophy for Everyone: Thinking With Style

by Byron Borger

 When stilettos strut the catwalk, they echo in your life. Do you hear them? Byron Borger reviews two seminal books on how lofty ideas of aesthetics and high fashion trends do—and absolutely should—affect the daily lives of Christians.

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Gospel

Ground Zero and the American Dream

by Makoto Fujimura

Makoto Fujimura lived with his wife and young children blocks from the World Trade Centers on September 11th, 2001. Here he explores how Ground Zero has re-framed the way we understand and pursue the American Dream.

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Social Sector

Ten Years from Normal

Lessons Learned from 9/11

by Jonathan Merritt

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we remain unable to explain why God allowed this suffering. But, as we stare through the corridor of time, we can ask another question: What, if anything, have we learned? Jonathan Merritt grapples with suffering and shares a few of the lessons that he's observed in this decade of uncertainty.

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Gospel

Empathy in an Age of Terrorism

by Johnnie Moore

It's natural to be angry, especially when acts of wrath took nearly 3,000 innocent lives. But followers of Jesus are called to move beyond their anger. We are called to the difficult task of loving our enemies. Johnnie Moore shares his thoughts on empathy in an age of terrorism.

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Media

Digital Stories

by Jonathan Collins

Effective storytelling is critical in a world super-saturated with advertisements. How can you craft a simple and compelling narrative to break through the noise and capture imaginations? Jonathan Collins, owner and operator of Epipheo Studios, has spent his career answering that question. Listen as he shares the storytelling secrets he’s learned from working with companies like Google, Proctor & Gamble, Microsoft and Amazon.

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Church

The Gospel and Sex

by Tim Keller

If we can demonstrate healthy sexuality as a Church, what unlimited redemption is possible for our starving, sex-crazed culture? Tim Keller outlines a compelling and orthodox sexual ethic, and the proper role of singleness and marriage within the Church.

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Education

The Faith of a Teacher

by Hugh Atkinson

In classrooms overflowing with children, teaching requires more than reciting lessons and reading books. Teachers must show that faith, hope, and love still remain in a world full of hopelessness and despair.  Hugh Atkinson reflects on the harsh realities and the hidden joys of teaching.

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Government

Immigration Matters

by M. Daniel Carroll R.

Each year, Hispanics from Mexico, Central America, and South America cross the border into the United States. As a result, emotions run high about the perceived threats (and benefits) these immigrants pose to our culture and economy. Daniel Carroll poses the paramount question the church must ask: what does the Bible say about immigration?

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Gospel

Wisdom and Sabbath Rest

by Tim Keller

Rest, ironically, is an activity that must be prepared for and then pursued. The purpose of Sabbath, however, is not simply to rejuvenate yourself so you can produce more during the rest of the week. Nor, is Sabbath the simple pursuit of sleep and pleasure. Tim Keller explains what a biblical Sabbath looks like in our busy world.

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Social Sector

Motherhood as Vocation

by Kate Harris

Few would argue that mothering is a lot of work. But, do we think of "Motherhood" as work in the same way we think of other careers and vocations? Kate Harris skillfully argues that stay-at-home work is both a meaningful part of God's design and also a meaningful part of society as a whole, and that mothers can hold their own next to any other "culture shaper."

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Church

The Lasting Legacy of Lesslie Newbigin

A Missionary Encounter with Western Culture

by Michael Goheen

Lesslie Newbigin spent 40 years as a missionary in India. Upon his return to England, he spent 25 years as a missionary to the Western church. Michael Goheen reminds us of Newbigin's message and suggests that the life of the Western church may depend on our ability to act upon Newbigin's legacy.

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Gospel

Inoculating a Generation

by Skye Jethani

Church practitioners have been sent scrambling by the growing awareness that an entire generation is leaving the church. Many have attempted to answer why they are leaving, but few are offering solutions to stop the hemorrhaging. Author Skye Jethani says the answer might be changing the way we’re relating to God. Instead of life over, under, or even for God, he says this generation should pursue life with God.

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Gospel

Yoga as Christian Spiritual Formation?

by Phileena Heuertz

A recent survey of global, Evangelical Protestant leaders revealed that 92% of the 2,196 surveyed believe that "engaging in yoga as a spiritual practice...[is] not compatible with evangelicalism." After growing up in this tradition, Phileena Heurtz has come to practice yoga as an essential part of her Christian spirituality. She explains why yoga isn't antithetical to Christianity and how it enriches her faith.

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Science + Tech

Blaise Pascal

Finding God in Revealing Fundamental Truths of Life

by Jimmy Lin

Blaise Pascal revolutionized mathematics by developing probability theory, wrote one of the first masterpieces of French prose, made important contributions to the science of hydrostatics, and authored one of the most influential theological works in Christian philosophy. All before age 40. Jimmy Lin explores the life and work of Blaise Pascal.

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Science + Tech

The Bible In a Technological Age

by Bobby Gruenewald

This year marks the 400th birthday of the most widely distributed and most widely read translation of the Bible ever. Begun in 1604, the King James version was completed, approved and sent to the royal printer in 1611. Such a hallmark in history undoubtedly warrants attention. How has the Bible changed throughout history? How will it go forward in a technological age that’s moving beyond the printed word? Gruenewald, Innovation Leader for the YouVersion online Bible, explores the possible futures for our sacred text.

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Social Sector

Redefining Hate

Gay Activists Should Reconsider Rhetoric

by Jonathan Merritt and Tim Willard

Are organizations that oppose same sex marriage, and people who associate with them, hate-mongers? Jonathan Merritt and Tim Willard reveal the irony in public discourse over hate, same-sex marriage and Christians.

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Gospel

The Problem Of Good

by Scott Kauffmann

Why can artists, filmmakers and musicians who seem personally unredeemable create paintings, films, music and books that are so unmistakably transcendent? Why are so many unbelievers more honest, more sacrificial, more joyful, more committed to other people than many believers are? Scott Kauffmann,  Executive Director of Labs for Redeemer City to City, explores God’s second greatest gift: common grace.

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Cities

Design Intervention

by Mel McGowan

Model cities like Portland have been touted for an intentional design that naturally intersects citizens with commerce, recreation and informal run-ins—it’s all part of what makes a community thrive. God uses place to shape our relational context with Him and others. Mel McGowan, founder of Visioneering Studios, explains how urban “Design Intervention” has renewed Portland and is embedding the seed of the Kingdom into communities around the world.

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Education

Learning for the Common Good

A review of Education for Human Flourishing: A Christian Perspective and The End of Education; Redefining the Value of School

by Byron Borger

If you want to shape the future, begin engaging the conversation about how our future's generation should be educated. Byron Borger reviews two essential books that explore why education must be the foundation of a good society and how our faith interacts with the nature of education.

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Business

When is Healthy Competition Unhealthy?

by Susan DiMickele

Integrating your work and faith is honorable, but a daunting goal. Can the world of cutthroat business, teetering markets and frantic deadlines operate within the framework of the Kingdom of God? Susan DiMickele, a seasoned lawyer, discusses how competition in her workplace challenges her faith.

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Media

Toxic Culture

by Micah White

Can we fight back against the incessant flow of logos, brands, slogans and jingles that submerge our streets, invade our homes and flicker on our screens? Micah White, senior editor at Adbusters, argues that we must first recognize that we suffer from mental pollution before we can even begin to reclaim our imaginations and our mind space.

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Arts + Entertainment

Q Interview: Joshua LaRock, Classical Painter

by Joshua LaRock

Josh LaRock is a young and quickly emerging artist who is passionate about the renewal of the classical painting tradition. He sat down with Gabe Lyons to discuss his work, the thought behind his art, and how faith plays into what he creates.

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Gospel

Becoming Weaker

by Chris Heuertz

How do we celebrate vulnerabilities? How do we receive limitations as gifts? Watch this Q exclusive video of Jean Vanier, founder and visionary of L’Arche, who inspires us all to live faithful lives in the ordinary and undramatic vocations of love.

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Science + Tech

George Washington Carver

God-glorifying Agricultural Innovator

by Jimmy Lin

George Washington Carver discovered 300 uses of the peanut. Few can name more than 2 or 3 of these discoveries, and fewer still know anything about this man beyond his discoveries. Jimmy Lin explores the humble and diligent faith of a man who pursued God's creative inspiration while reconciling the divide between faith and science.

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Gospel

End Veneer

by Jason Locy and Tim Willard

We all feel it, sense it and see it. Everything in popular culture - from entertainment to advertisements - pushes us to be something we aren’t. This creates an unspoken tension for followers of Jesus who are called to presence, honesty and authenticity. How can Christians promote depth and character in a society that thrives on hype? Jason Locy and Tim Willard, coauthors of Veneer: Living Deeply in a Surface Society, challenge us to strive for a more meaningful existence.

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Media

The Book Industry is Fine

by Josh Reinders

Borders bookstore is closing all of its doors—does that mean that we are closing all of our books? Josh Reinders reexamines the industry's numbers and finds that the e-book apocalypse may be false prophesying the print world's doomsday.

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Social Sector

Help the Poor, Help the World

A review of The Hole In Our Gospel and Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger

by Byron Borger

Is our faith more than going to church, feeling God's love, and telling others about the forgiveness offered by Jesus? Here are two books that emphatically say, "Yes." Byron Borger reviews The Hole in Our Gospel and Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger.

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Gospel

Community in the Time of Culture Wars

by Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Disagreements continue to fracture the Church's relationships. How do we balance diverse opinions without breaking with biblical orthodoxy and without causing disunity? Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma suggests that we humbly "pursue the love that is the beginning and end of all things" and live out our allegiance to Christ as the head of the Church.

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Restorers

The Legacy of John Stott

On Listening to the Word and the World at the Very Same Time

by Steven Garber

The late Reverend Dr. John Stott will be remembered as one of the most influential religious leaders of the 20th century. From evangelical think tanks to third world activists to the world's leading newspapers, there have been many who celebrated his intellectual prowess, his tender kindness, and his insistence that faith must be both theologically orthodox and socially engaged for the common good. Steven Garber reflects on a few of his personal memories and the legacy this great man has left.

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Science + Tech

Pseudo Salvation: When Science Can't Save Us

by Matthew T. Dickerson

Our advances in science and technology have overcome many of the challenges that our forebears were unable to meet. Our lives are paved with unthinkable convenience, and we expect our engineers to continue providing solutions for the world's problems. Matthew T. Dickerson, however, says that we must be careful where we place our hopes of redemption.

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Arts + Entertainment

Introducing Q Sessions

Boutique events with access to some of the world's most experienced authorities

by Q Ideas

This fall, Q will introduce a new type of event called Q Sessions to support and educate leaders on topics that are both timely and critical to cultural renewal. These boutique events are much smaller than our Gatherings and will offer private access to some of the world's most respected and experienced authorities on subjects of paramount importance.

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Gospel

What Do We Mean by "Evangelism"?

by David Chronic

We often avoid using the word "evangelism." Could this be because we have re-defined evangelism to suit our own convenient lifestyles? David Chronic explores the limits of our traditional conceptions and finds them fragmented.

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Arts + Entertainment

The Arc of Storytelling

by Bobette Buster

In our culture, he who tells the best story wins. Creating great narratives that produce epiphanies involves a particular talent that applies far beyond film and changes the way you write books, marketing copy, funding proposals, research reports, sermons, and so much more. Bobette Buster has built and sustained a long, respected career in the film industry by being the best at finding and developing epiphanies in some of the greatest movies we've all enjoyed.

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Gospel

Thirsting for God in Daily Work

by Ann Voskamp

Compared to most of the world, life in the West is luxurious. Yet, this fact doesn't make living with humility any easier for us. Ann Voskamp, a New York Times best-selling author, wonders at the difficulty and mystery of drinking the cup of salvation amid our mundane tasks and experiences.

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Social Sector

Could Same-Sex Marriage Benefit Traditional Marriage?

by Gabe Lyons

For the LGBT community and many Christian leaders alike, New York’s recognition of same-sex marriage is a symbolic milestone in a more than three-decade old culture war. Gabe Lyons considers the benefit of moving on to more important societal conversations about healthy marriage and sexuality.

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Social Sector

Entrepreneurship in Action

by Jason Byassee

The psalmist tells us that God knit each of us together in the womb; knitting requires great attention to detail. What details are uniquely woven into you that invite you to create a unique cultural good? Here are two stories of women from Redeemer Presbyterian Church's Entrepreneurship Initiative Forum whose faith led them to the discovery of their own personal cultural goods.

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Social Sector

Capitalizing with the Poor

by Jeff Keenan and John Terrill and Kenman Wong

Is it wrong to pursue a profit while helping the poor and oppressed? This question is frequently aired and dissected in intricate moralizing, but why not ask the companies pursuing multiple bottom lines how their profit motivation is working? Kenman Wong, John Terrill, and Jeff Keenan introduce three companies pursuing both profit and the welfare of the poor.

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Cities

Identifying the Idols of the City

by Leonardo de Chirico

The aesthetics and intrigue of a city’s skyline personify that city. These dazzling towers of concrete and steel, however, aren’t the only skylines we should see in our cities. Leornardo de Chirico, a church planter in Rome, urges us to identify the idols found in our city’s “theological skyline”.

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Business

Do You Bring Meaning to your Work?

by Mark Russell

Most Americans spend 2,400 hours each year at work, but only 70-80 hours each year at religious events. How do you make your endless hours at work a constant act of worship? Mark Russell explores the nature of finding meaning in the everyday journey of going to work.

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Gospel

Think Bigger

by Fred Sanders

We are dependent on receiving information in a form that can keep pace with our marathon lifestyles; but, this sound bite obsession creates problems when we approach Scripture that way. Fred Sanders, theologian, explains why this limits our reading of the Bible and narrows our understanding of the Trinity.

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Media

Drowning in Over Stimulation

A Review of Prophetically Incorrect: A Christian Introduction to Media Criticism and Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture

by Byron Borger

How do we navigate the tempestuous ocean of enticing information known as 'Media' without drowning in over stimulation and bad culture? Byron Borger reviews two helpful guide books, Prophetically Incorrect: A Christian Introduction to Media Criticism by Robert Woods and Paul Patton and Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture by William D. Romanowski.

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Church

What Do We Mean by 'The Church?' 

by David Chronic

We talk a lot about the Church, but we rarely define what we mean. David Chronic, Word Made Flesh's Romanian Field Director, takes an in-depth look at what Scripture says about the church, how the church engages the world, and how Christians of different denominations engage one another.

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Social Sector

Will The Poor Always Be With Us?

by Scott Todd

We have all heard our parents say, “You can do it if you put your mind to it.” But is ending extreme poverty something we can achieve? Scott Todd of Compassion International says that the question shouldn’t be a "Can we?" but a "When can we?"

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Education

The Dot Connector

by Jana Riess

Competition for funding is fierce among non-profits who are working in the same niche. But for these outcome-oriented companies, is competing against each other the most effective strategy? Strive Partnerships demonstrates another approach by fostering collaborative relationships that leverage the diverse assets of the non-profits serving Cincinnati’s education system.

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Government

Is America the New Greece?

by Skye Jethani

The Greek austerity riots make many in the United States uneasy; is this the new American horizon? Economic analysis seems to show that the two economies are far too different for the turmoil to be replicated in the United States. Skye Jethani exposes a deeper and more dangerous congruity between the two nations: flagrant political immaturity.

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Gospel

Enjoying America for What It Is

by Gideon Strauss

As a Christian, is it appropriate to celebrate Independence Day? Gideon Strauss, a South African Canadian applying for permanent residency, shares his unique insights about loving America rightly and reordering the holiday calendar.

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Business

Entrepreneurship for the Common Good

by Dave Blanchard

The global movement of restoration-minded social entrepreneurs is growing quickly. Q wants to support these men and women in their tireless efforts. To this end, we’ve created Praxis, an accelerator program that provides world-class mentorship, peer community, and $100,000 in cash awards.

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Church

Consumerism and the Church: An Interview with Carl Trueman

by Q Ideas

Consumerism has become an acceptable earmark of American society. Americans disproportionately consume meat, energy, paper and other goods. As the Christian church struggles to survive in such a moment, one has to wonder how consumerism has affected the body of Christ. Dr. Carl Trueman, a British theologian and professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, offers his thoughts.

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Arts + Entertainment

"Super 8" and the Value of Spiritual Wonder

by Josh Larsen

Super 8 has all the makings of the summer blockbuster from your childhood. Slated to gross well over $100 million, it boasts an action-packed but family-friendly storyline that's hard to shake. But what's best about this film, according to critic Josh Larsen, is it's ability to create a genuine sense of wonder. He says Super 8 captures a rush of amazement that leaves viewers wide-eyed and humbled.

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Science + Tech

The Human Body and the Limits of Technology

by Matthew Lee Anderson

We've become adept at measuring every nook and cranny of life, from the number of steps we take while jogging to the pitching speed of a baseball player. But a new movement seeks to take this a step further, by mapped human emotions and behaviors. Is the human body merely a machine to be monitored? Author Matthew Lee Anderson says a Biblical understanding of the body suggests it's far more.

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Arts + Entertainment

Hello, May I Interest You in a Dissenting View of "The Book of Mormon?"

Mockingbird editor discusses the Tony-winning musical

by David Zahl

The Book of Mormon cleaned up at the Tony Awards, including taking home several coveted medallions including the award for Best Musical. It's been hailed as a daring production, full of laughs with a remarkable score. But writer David Zahl says the show ultimately disappoints. He believes the way it carelessly attacks religion will preach only to the choir.

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Government

Immigration and the Gospel

by Russell Moore

The immigration debate continues to rage within American borders, but as Russell Moore argues, the Christian response to immigrant communities in the United States cannot be “You kids get off of my lawn” in Spanish. While Christians might disagree on the political specifics of achieving a just and compassionate immigration policy, he says our rhetoric must be informed by more than politics. It must be filtered through the lenses of both the Christian gospel and the Christian mission.

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Church

Loving the Large Church (and Worrying About It)

by Jason Byassee

Megachurches continue to spring up all across America, even as writers like Wendell Berry and Eugene Peterson warn against their spiritual disadvantages. Author Jason Byassee says we need to hear these critics carping in our ears, while at the same time remember that large churches don't have to follow the norm. They can be communities of prayer, worship, study and service on par with smaller congregations.

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Social Sector

Three Ways with Families

by Tim Keller

Recently, some scholars and cultural observers have decried the so-called "decline of the family." In parts of Asia and Europe, for example, the birth-rate has fallen below replacement levels. Many blame secular society's penchant for individualism and call for a return to the so-called "traditional" view of the family. But pastor Tim Keller says the gospel-based community practices a view of family that is contrary to both secular and traditional societies.

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Arts + Entertainment

Malick's Microcosm: A Review of "Tree of Life"

by Alissa Wilkinson

Many critics who have struggled to describe Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life have called it a prayer. But perhaps it is more than that. Writer Alissa Wilkinson suggests a better word to describe this film than prayer might be lament.  And not just a lament for a lost loved one, but for that lost Paradise - both the first Eden, as well as the one buried deep within our memories.

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Social Sector

Responding to Natural Disasters

by Q Ideas

Last year was the deadliest in over a generation. Earthquakes, landslides, floods and blizzards claimed more than a quarter million lives worldwide. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any rest for the weary in 2011. Pulling from the ideas of Medair vice-president Roger Sandberg, Q Ideas explores how Christians can best participate in the long-term recovery of devastated areas.

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Church

The Veneer of Church

by Andrew Palau

To say the 21st century Christian Church struggles with veneer is to state the obvious. But evangelist Andrew Palau says some of these facades aren't as obvious as others. In this essay, Palau explores what he believes comprises the "veneer of church" and shares his ideas for a better way forward.

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Business

Social Networking or Notworking?

by Susan DiMickele

Over half of all employees access their Facebook profiles at work, losing, on average, 15-minutes of productivity per day. But wait. You might be surprised to hear that employees who use social media (also known as "Tworkers") also tend to be the most productive. Writer Susan DiMickele explores the impact and ethics of social media in the workplace.

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Media

Walker Percy Interviews Walker Percy

The deceased Southern writer answers all the questions he was never asked

by Q Ideas

An agnostic-turned-Catholic and existentialist, Walker Percy (1916-1990) was one of the most notable Southern writers of his lifetime who was able to speak about faith without actually speaking about faith. In this piece, we glimpse the author through a little known essay he penned entitled, "Questions They Never Asked Me."

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Arts + Entertainment

A Film About Us: Review of Meek's Cutoff

by Brett McCracken

Minimalist indie director Kelly Reichardt's latest film, Meek's Cutoff, is ponderous and gorgeously shot. But what makes this film so moving is that it is about more than one heroine's point of view; it's about our point of view. Film critic and author Brett McCracken offers his take on this frustratingly ambiguous film.

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Church

Old Practices for the Human Condition

by Phileena Heuertz

The human condition clings to the broad path of power, esteem, and security; but, the Bible calls us down the narrow way that leads to abundant life. Do our current spiritual practices guide us down the right path? Phileena Heuertz, co-director of Word Made Flesh, says that the secret to more abundant life with God is found in contemplative prayer. This very old practice is an internal posture of surrender and is exactly what the human condition calls for.

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Science + Tech

Exploring the Galaxies

by Louie Giglio and Jennifer Wiseman

For centuries, the Psalmist David, and astronomers alike, have suggested that the natural world is a portal to the transcendent (Ps. 19:1). But it has always been difficult for the average earth dweller to grasp the breadth of such assertions—that is, until world-class telescopes like the Hubble Space Telescope started showing us a universe we never dreamed of! Astronomer Jennifer Wiseman will share the latest astronomical images and discoveries and have a conversation with Louie Giglio about how galaxies, stars, and planets form, what they can teach us about God, and how good science strengthens our faith.

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Government

The New Activism

by Adam Taylor

As we look back over the history of Western civilization, the power of social movements is readily apparent. What is often less apparent is that many influential social movements were driven by faith. With all the ills facing our world, one might wonder if the next generation of Christians might create another social movement that would shift the balance of history. Adam Taylor asserts that if rising Christians are able to connect their faith to a more just society, they are uniquely poised to become the change agents our world needs.

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Cities

The Value of Failure

An interview with Henry Petroski

by Henry Petroski

Leaders in all channels of culture wrestle with the fear of failure. But author and engineering professor Henry Petroski says failure is important because of the information is reveals and because it combats the human tendency to grow overconfident. He looks at failure through the lens of urban development and the history of engineering.

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Arts + Entertainment

The Art of Video Gaming

by Jamin Brophy-Warren

Video games are an enormous and engaging part of our culture; but who is engaging the institution of video games? Jamin Brophy-Warren is the founder of Kill Screen, an organization that asks "What does it mean to play games?” Warren says that video games don't offer pseudo-experiences, they offer real experiences through detailed narratives. From inside the video game industry, he discusses how we need to view video games as art and build a culture of thought around the video game experience.

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Social Sector

Animal Welfare

by Christine Gutleben and Wayne Pacelle

Animal welfare is one of the worst problems that many Christians know nothing about. Each year, eight million animals enter shelters and as many as four million sheltered animals are killed. Additionally, more than 25 million animals will be used in laboratory experiments this year. When the testing concludes, almost of all of them will be killed. Wayne Pacelle and Christine Gutleben of the Humane Society of The United States, say Christians should care. Hear their surprising insights from scripture and Christian history as they ask us to consider our non-human neighbors.

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Government

Our Forgotten Honor: A Memorial Day Reflection

by Tim Willard

Can Christians mourn those soldiers who've died in combat defending our freedom without becoming overly nationalistic? Writer Tim Willar says "yes." He reminds us that celebrating on Memorial Day does not imply support for every American initiative. It simply honors the men and women who have given their lives serving their fellow citizens.

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Business

How Can You Profit from the Poor?

by Greg Spencer

We expect our non-profits "to solve complex global issues on shoestring budgets and low overheads." Is this the best way to advance the common good? Greg Spencer, co-founder of The Paradigm Project, shares how it is possible to make a profit while serving the poor.

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Gospel

The Gospel and Humor

by Tim Keller

Christians believe the gospel should inform all we do, but have you ever considered how it might shape your sense of humor? Pastor Tim Keller says self-righteousness leads to mocking others or humorlessness. The gospel, however, creates a gentle sense of irony.

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Media

The Veneer of Media

How hungry authors are manipulating the publishing industry

by Chris Ferebee

Many authors enter publishing out of a ravenous hunger for notoriety and success. Their starting place is, “How do I reach the New York Times Bestseller's List?” and an entire industry has emerged to help these individuals reach this goal. Literary agent Chris Ferebee pulls back the curtain to show how a world of media-generated or self-generated celebrity can't deliver what we really need.

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Church

Looks Like We've Been Left Behind ... Again

Lessons from the Camping rapture scare

by Gabe Lyons and Jonathan Merritt

Most Americans dread Monday mornings, but it’s safe to say that no one is languishing more this morning than Harold Camping. The 89-year-old Christian radio broadcaster told the San Francisco Chronicle yesterday that he had “a really tough weekend.” Camping created a media firestorm with his prediction Jesus would return and the world would end last Saturday. Gabe Lyons and Jonathan Merritt consider what, if anything, we can learn from this.

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Restorers

Restoration in the Land of Make-Believe

The Legacy of Fred Rogers

by Jonathan Merritt

It's been 10 years since Fred Rogers filmed the final episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Many are familiar with his ability to communicate to children as a television host, but few know about the way he saw his role as a social change agent. Q editor Jonathan Merritt says Fred Rogers was more than an affable neighbor. He may be one of the greatest American restorers of the 20th century.

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Government

The Veneer of Government

Confronting the veneer of "politifaux"

by Gideon Strauss

Politics is filled with "truthiness," a term coined by Stephen Colbert that describes “the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true.” Gideon Strauss wonders what American politics would be like without the veneer of truthiness and challenges us to imagine a world without it.

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Science + Tech

The Veneer of Science

Scientific conspiracy theories, a veneer for irrational beliefs

by Rusty Pritchard

Science is an amazing and unfamiliar world for many of us. Because most of our scientific experiences don't reach far beyond sophomore biology class, it is also a field of study where we can be easily misled. Dr. Rusty Pritchard says veneer in science often comes in the form of skepticism or flat out denialism of well-proven scientific findings.

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Education

The Veneer of Education

by Sajan George

How many superheroes will it take to fix our nation’s public education system? If you believe Waiting for Superman's David Guggenheim, the answer is 3,500,000. This is roughly the number of teachers we need to educate the 50M children in K-12 public education. Sajan George of Matchbook Learning says this isn't true or scalable. We can do better.

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Government

A Post-bin Laden Reflection on Violence

by Chris Heuertz

This past weekend Osama bin Laden was assassinated, shot in the head, in what no doubt was an awful, bloody mess. But as Chris Heuertz started sifting through the Tweets and Facebook status updates from his friends, many of them self-proclaimed Christians, he wasn’t sure what to make of the celebration. He wonders where to find the peacemakers whom Jesus called "blessed."

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Arts + Entertainment

The Veneer of Arts + Entertainment

The world of "indie" film and music

by Brett McCracken

There’s a reason why, in the worlds of movies and music, “indie” is the new mainstream. It’s because “indie” sells. Or, rather, it’s because the marketing of something as indie tends to work. Many of these “mainstream indie” brands are legitimately good but some aren't. Writer Brett McCracken warns that our flimsy, fickle, “what can a product do for my image?” consumer sensibilities are often easily duped.

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