February (Web-only) 2014

The Quick Take for February 28, 2014
Oscar predictions, 'The Americans,' the next Star Wars villain, and more in the Quick Take.

Matchmaker for Missionaries Tackles a Top Reason They Quit
As singles on the field double, a new site seeks to help them find spouses (and friends).

Advice to Women: Marry an Evangelist
Has scriptural instruction become merely optional in our marriages?

Son of God
TV’s most recent depiction of Jesus gets a theatrical release—and that's key to thinking about this version.

What God Teaches Us About Broken Marriage Vows
May the church offer divorcees grace, not guilt-trips.
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TV Politics and Proximate Justice
Shows like 'Scandal,' 'The Americans,' and 'House of Cards' give us one picture of politics. Are there any others?

The Case for Big Change at Calvary Chapel
Being ‘culturally conservative’ hurts movement’s relevance, says Chuck Smith’s successor, Brian Brodersen.

Fracking Isn't a Four-Letter Word
Why Christians should reconsider the oft-misunderstood drilling practice.

Creation Care Starts with Our Bodies
Or, what I learned from my bikini-clad mother-in-law about the goodness of creation.

Casting the Devil Out of the Jesus Story
Why the 'Son of God' film excludes Satan from the Christ story—and what’s at stake.

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Spiritual Adventurer
The author of 'Uncle Tom’s Cabin' wasn't always the stodgy conservative of popular imagination.

Saying Hola to Our Multilingual Reality
God calls us to celebrate our country’s beautiful diversity.

The Inconceivable Start of African-American Christianity
Why slaves adopted their oppressor's religion—and transformed it.

Changing Depictions, Changing Perceptions
Bridging the gap between female stereotypes and real women starts in our heads, not stock photography.

The Quick Take for February 21, 2014
Some great streaming picks, the critics weigh in on Jimmy Fallon and this weeks' films, and more in the Quick Take.

Study: 2 Million U.S. Scientists Identify As Evangelical
A new NAE-backed initiative wants to see if they can help scientists and evangelicals better understand each other.

Into the Academic Lion's Den
Do Christian scholars belong in the hostile world of higher ed?

Candace Cameron Bure: On Her Christian Faith and Her Own ‘Full House’
After years of growing her family and her faith, the former child star is balancing it all.

The Toracle: Oxen Law
What to do with an ox, according to the Bible, in a handy flowchart.

A Fragile Faith of Devotion and Cynicism
Addie Zierman was a high-school prayer warrior who drifted away from the church. Her memoir describes an uncertain return.

Redeeming the 'Do What You Love' Mantra
The good news for Christians: When work is worship, we get to love it all.

The Crucible of Marriage
Holy matrimony is an endless opportunity to lay down our lives in love

Show Us the Relief Money!
The post-Haiyan Philippine recovery: Amid anger about corruption, gratefulness for a ‘miracle-like event.’

Why We Don't Just Need Community, We Need Church
In our own sacred spaces and circles of friends, we can’t recreate the body of Christ.

Fall Off the Bible-in-a-Year Wagon?
That’s okay, experts say. Biblical comprehension is more important than completing prescribed reading plans.

Not Another Celebrity Takedown, Please
When stars make headlines, even Christians are quick to throw stones.

Are Evangelicals Bad for Marriage?
A new study says Protestants are more likely than non-religious Americans to divorce, but some disagree.

The Quick Take for February 14, 2014
Remembering Shirley Temple Black, movies and new TV pilots to stream at home, an interview with Mark Burnett & Roma Downey, and more.

Is Valentine's Day a Lose-Lose Holiday?
The single and dating come together to try to redeem the commercialized extravaganza.

The Latest Challenge to the Bible's Accuracy: Abraham's Anachronistic Camels?
Despite the latest study of bones, evidence indicates the iconic desert animals do belong in Genesis.

Winter's Tale
Instructions in order to enjoy this fairy tale: you'd better treat it like that—a fairy tale.

Not Just a New Testament God
The cranky, severe, Old Testament God isn’t an opening act.

The Poor Shall Inherit the Boards
Calling for more economic diversity in church leadership.

If a Brand-New Christian Women's Conference Goes Viral, Then What?
The story behind the success of the IF: Gathering.

It's OK to Have a Boring Valentine's Day
Happy couples keep the romance alive year-round.

The Quick Take for February 7, 2014
Hating on 'Labor Day,' remembering Philip Seymour Hoffman, streaming picks, and more.

For God and Country: Christian Athletes to Watch in Sochi
The Olympics isn't just about competition. It's also about stories. Here are some who know their Author.

The Lego Movie
The rare (and wonderful) kids' movie that rewards those who come to it like children.

In Defense of the Christian Private School Bubble
Giving parents grace in a complex educational landscape.

How White Missionaries Helped Birth Modern-Day India
An Indian missionary tells fellow Christians to stop complaining and follow their forefathers' example.

Toxic Leaders in Our Ranks
New Army research could inform how the church fosters healthier, godlier leadership.

Rethinking the Origins Debate
Most Americans—and most Christians—do not fall neatly into creationist or evolutionist camps.

We Can't All Be Beautiful
Why does our obsession with self-acceptance focus so much on appearance?

Birthmothers, the Unsung Heroes of the Adoption Movement
A new ministry is trying to change bad stereotypes.

Cursed by Natural Childbirth
They say labor makes women feel empowered. So why do I feel so broken and weak?