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Oct 16, 2024 | 
rlo.acton.org | Stephen Presley
The Conductor by Caleb Franz conveys the fascinating story of the Reverend John Rankin of Ripley, Ohio, a highly influential figure in the abolitionist cause of the 19th century. Rankin’s story is largely unknown, overshadowed by the more celebrated figures of the antebellum period and the Civil War. But Franz hopes to reframe the story of abolition.
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Sep 11, 2024 | 
thegospelcoalition.org | Stephen Presley
We’re all theologians, even the most irreligious of us. Everyone wrestles with questions of the divine, but only some do it well. A good theologian, Williams argues, “realizes what a total idiot he or she is about the deepest things of God, yet seeks to mitigate his or her idiocy as much as possible by bringing it often to the Sacred Scriptures” (xvi). Good theologians are also fanatical about God’s glory, nerdy about knowing him, violent in their fight against sin, and enthralled by the Creator.
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Jun 26, 2024 | 
newsbreak.com | Stephen Presley
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
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Jun 26, 2024 | 
religionunplugged.com | Stephen Presley
(ANALYSIS) In our post-pandemic, technologically-infused culture, burnout is on the rise across all sectors of the economy. People are struggling with the frenetic pace of the modern workplace. The church is no exception. In fact, I frequently hear from pastors and clergy who find it difficult to keep up with the evolving demands of church life in a digital age.
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Jun 17, 2024 | 
theaquilareport.com | Stephen Presley
Christians such as Polycarp, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons weren’t part of the cultural elite but, following the apostles’ footsteps, worked from below and slowly and steadily guided the church through a pagan world. They didn’t sit in the prominent seats of the senate nor hobnob among the intellectuals populating the philosophical schools.
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Jun 12, 2024 | 
religionunplugged.com | Stephen Presley
(ANALYSIS) According to a recent Pew study, the vast molarity of U.S. adults agree that religion’s influence is shrinking, yet they continue to hold a positive view of it. This disparity highlights the challenge facing the church today: How can people of faith navigate a world that is increasingly losing faith? With the looming election cycle ahead of us and the opportunity for a little summer reading, now is an ideal time to consider a few insightful books on the church’s role in society.
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Jun 6, 2024 | 
thegospelcoalition.org | Stephen Presley |Tim Keller |Edmund P. Clowney |Garrett Kell
“I call myself a cultural Christian, but I’m not a believer,” stated the famed atheist Richard Dawkins in a recent interview with Rachel Johnson of LBC News. “I love hymns and Christmas carols, and I sort of feel at home in the Christian ethos,” he continued. He wants the cathedrals and parish churches that speckle England’s landscape, just without the faith nonsense that informs them. This interview is yet another signal that culture is changing.
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May 24, 2024 | 
religionunplugged.com | Stephen Presley
(ANALYSIS) “As an agnostic, I have spent most of my life thinking about the decline of faith in America in mostly positive terms,” writes Derek Thompson, a staff writer at the Atlantic, in a recent article. Now he — and many others — are starting to consider what we have lost. There is no question that Christianity is waning, but now, as Thompson observes, there are no viable alternatives for nurturing the sense of belonging and togetherness that the church offers.
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May 14, 2024 | 
theaquilareport.com | Stephen Presley
Zwingli the Pastor shows that pastors are as important today as they were in Zwingli’s time. The pastor has an essential role in times of crisis. As Eccher tells us, Zwingli preached powerful sermons to rally people to theological reform for the sake of gospel renewal. Some were so persuasive that his audience ascribed to him a near-prophetic quality. Pastors are the ones God calls to faithfully shepherd his people with virtuous persuasion. But Zwingli wasn’t a perfect pastor, and that’s the point.
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May 1, 2024 | 
religionunplugged.com | Stephen Presley
(ANALYSIS) How many people today are engaging the Bible in any meaningful way? Apparently, fewer than you might think. In April 2024, the American Bible Society (ABS) published their annual “State of the Bible” report, a study that examines the bible reading habits of Americans. Their previous studies have noticed a shocking decline in Bible reading in recent years, and according to this latest study things are not getting any better.
