Articles by Ronnie McBrayer
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Keeping the Faith: In the arms of love
While in Central America earlier this year, I visited the Mayan ruins at Tazumal, El Salvador. Tazumal is one of the best-preserved ruins in that country, and I learned from my guide that it was ... READ MORE
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KEEPING THE FAITH: Get Out!!!
Churches are peculiar places. I’ve had the opportunity to serve a few of them. Some of my pastoral experiences have been overwhelmingly rewarding: Baptisms, weddings, the transformation of ... READ MORE
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KEEPING THE FAITH: It’s time
Imagine that tomorrow morning I deposit into your bank account $86,400. This money is all yours to do with as you please, no strings attached. Now, not only am I going to deposit this amount into... READ MORE
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Keeping the Faith: Minding our business
In these days when it seems everything has become angry polarization, it’s not uncommon to hear someone in the heat of an argument invoke the familiar words of Jesus: “Judge not, so that you are ... READ MORE
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Keeping the Faith: Answering the call
When my friend Scott was young, he began to experience a stirring deep in his heart that some Christians refer to as “a divine calling.” How could Scott ignore such a thing, conditioned as he had... READ MORE
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KEEPING THE FAITH: More than we can stand
In the previous generation there were at least three great Southern-born prophets: Martin Luther King, Jr., Clarence Jordan, and Will Campbell. Campbell is the only one still living. He is ... READ MORE
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KEEPING THE FAITH: Some last, some first, all equal
There’s an old joke about a man who arrives at the gates of Heaven. St. Peter asks, “What is your denomination?” The man says, “Methodist.” St. Peter says, “OK, go to Room 24, but be very quiet ... READ MORE
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Keeping the Faith: Putting the pieces together
English scholar N.T. Wright uses a powerful example of how our lives fit into the big picture of what God is doing in the world: It is that of a stonemason working on a great cathedral. When ... READ MORE
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KEEPING THE FAITH: Hard grace transforms and remakes
It was extremely important for the church of my youth to prove that every single miracle in the Bible be proven as an historical and scientific fact. A literal seven day creation, the plagues on ... READ MORE
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KEEPING THE FAITH: God said it … and that unsettles it
“God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” This slogan is one of today’s all too common bumper sticker defenses of the Bible. The phrase is sometimes amended to read “God said it … and ... READ MORE
