The historical, faithful man behind the legends, parades and green beer.

The pastor who coined the word “glocal” to describe his church’s approach to missions has led his Texas congregation to visit new territories: the synagogue and mosque down the street. In January, NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas, worshiped with Temple Shalom of Dallas and the Islamic Center of Irving in three services that highlighted the differences and similarities among the religions.

A Christian legal group filed an appeal this week to fight a ban against a church meeting in homes. With only seven members, Oasis of Truth Church was ordered to stop holding all activities, including Bible studies, leadership meetings and fellowship activities, in Pastor Joe Sutherland's home in Gilbert, Ariz. Alliance Defense Fund attorneys contend in the appeal that was filed Wednesday that banning religious meetings of any size or frequency in a home is unprecedented and unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court was right to take this case. It should rule in favor of the Snyder family and put a stop to Fred Phelps and his spiritually corrupt family. They are by no decent standard serving God. In fact, quite a good case could be made that they are in service to God’s adversary.

Apparently Northland Church, which calls itself "a Church Distributed" has launched a Facebook application with the hopes of being one of the first Facebook churches. The senior pastor at Northland is Dr. Joel Hunter.

More of the same is not going to fix the Church's problem. If the Church wants to reclaim her ability to transform society and evangelize the world, it is going to take more than that.

I have been leading a rebellion, and chances are, you’ve been part of it. Sure, you’re not participating in my particular branch of this rebellion, but each week, hundreds of thousands gather together under this banner of mutiny. And they do so to worship God. I have been leading a 20s/young adult/college ministry—whatever it is you want to call these ministries that are launched with a separate worship service, under the blessing of their church. But I’ve realized that at their core, these services are birthed out of rebellion.

Evangelism has been a big part of church history. Why then is it on the decline? Here are five suggestions...

The founding pastor of Providence Church in Frisco, Texas, passed away Friday after being admitted into the Intensive Care Unit with liver and kidney damage. A funeral for Barry Keldie has been scheduled for Tuesday at The Village Church in Highland Village, Texas, from where he was dispatched to plant Providence Church five years ago.

Controversy over the church’s stance towards Israel may now reignite. A special PCUSA study committee is proposing that the denomination’s 2010 General Assembly take a strident anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian stance. The committee's report points to the Israeli presence on the West Bank as the great evil in the Middle East. It urges the United States to “employ the strategic use of influence and the withholding of financial and military aid to enforce Israel’s compliance” with demands for withdrawal."