Gospel.com Blog

Every youth group seems to have a few students who just don’t fit in with everyone else. Whether they come and get connected or just leave depends a lot on the adults that fringe students interact with at the church. Veteran youth worker Beth Hill offers practical strategies for developing a redemptive relationship with students who are outside the norms of the rest of the group.

This week’s film roundup from Past the Popcorn:

As the Blockbuster Hit Parade continues into July, the major studios remain reluctant to release smaller films to compete against the behemoths. And one of this week’s major releases, The Rise of the Silver Surfer, didn’t have advance screenings for the press.

Nancy Drew, however, is being released today to take advantage of an audience that’s been kind of missed by the kid- and adult-friendly blockbusters. It’s kind of a throwback to the tween-oriented films of yesteryear, and updates Nancy’s persona only slightly for the times. It may not be a great film, says Kathy Bledsoe, but “if the fans are happy, who am I to judge? I predict that we will see more of Nancy.”

Bledsoe also enthuses over the documentary Crazy Love, out in limited release. The film tells the bizarre story of a stalking that culminated in violent assault and a prison term — and, later, to obsession- and revenge-driven marriage. It’s by no means for the kids, and is dark and puzzling, but Bledsoe says the PG-13 film “elicits a full range of emotions from hilarity to scorn to complete disbelief, and the pace never drags or bores.”

Also this week, to fill the lull of new releases, Greg Wright has a long talk with AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson, the stars of Bridge to Terabithia, who are out on the promo circuit to promote the film’s DVD release next week. The young actors talk about their approach to their work, upcoming projects, and how faith plays into the story of Terabithia.

The book of Romans in the New Testament talks a lot about the law. What do spiritual laws and rules have to do with the Gospel–are there strict rules we have to follow to stay on good terms with God? If Christianity is based on grace, what’s the place of the law in our spiritual lives?

The most recent edition of Uplook Magazine (PDF download) is all about the law. What the law is, why it’s in the Bible, and whether or not it has any hold over us today–they’re all tough theological questions, but many different writers take a crack at explaining it all in this latest issue. If these are things you’ve wondered about, download a free copy and give it a read!

Christians talk a lot about the hundreds of Biblical prophecies that have been fulfilled throughout history. But is this a realistic claim? Have Christians exaggerated the number of fulfilled prophecies to be found in the Bible?

Those are the questions Mart De Haan tackles in his latest Been Thinking About column. It’s an excellent read, walking through the basics of Biblical prophecy and explaining how Biblical prophecy fits into the history of Israel. If you’ve ever wondered if the Bible could really contain so many different prophecies, it’s well worth reading.

Are Christians (in particular, Christian men) too “wimpy”? Have men in the church been softened by culture? Do they need to get back in touch with their gruffer, tougher side?

Recent movements in American Christianity have preached the need for men to rediscover a tougher, more “manly” faith. In the most recent Online Pulpit column, Lee Cook looks at the theology behind those words–and finds that while this desire to integrate faith with everyday life has its good points, it’s not a very Biblical picture of Christian masculinity. Read the full column, where Banks discusses Jesus’ life as a powerful example of service and submission, not rough-n-tough masculinity.

This week’s film roundup from Past the Popcorn:

Two of this week’s major releases are on a theme — sort of. The much awaited sequel Ocean’s 13 reunites George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and company in yet another feel-good heist movie. Reviewer Jeff Walls finds this third entry a lot closer in feel to the first in the series, and thankfully dissimilar to the disastrous Ocean’s Twelve. “What makes Ocean’s Thirteen fun to watch,” says Walls, “is not the plot, but just the fun of watching movie stars be movie stars. … That’s why we go to films like this. We go to have fun, to be entertained.”

Families, though, will be likelier to line up for the other new release on the dock, Surf’s Up. It’s an animated version of The Karate Kid, sort of, with penguins. On surf boards, dude. Says Walls, “Surf’s Up is nothing terrific, and a similar plotline was done much better in last year’s Cars. But it’s good enough to entertain the kids, and has enough adult humor to keep their parents interested as well.” Just watch those occasional really adult jokes.

Finally Greg Wright interviews Elias McConnell, a Portland, Oregon actor featured in Gus Van Sant’s segment of Paris, je t’aime.

This week’s ministry website tour is Peggie’s Place, the personal ministry of Peggie Bohanon. Peggie’s site may not have the flash and bleeding-edge design of other ministries, but she’s been doing effective online ministry since the earliest years of the web. Watch the video below to find out what makes Peggie’s Place unique!

Is your marriage relationship more of a competition than a partnership? A new article at the Winning at Home ministry describes an all-too-common situation in marriages:

…he makes a certain amount of money at work, so she does everything he can do to earn a paycheck that’s bigger. Or she devotes only three hours per week to household chores, so he proclaims that she won’t spend more than three hours on it himself.

Back and forth we go – battling for equal shares, for just as much fun, for the more significant contribution, and for identical time spent scrubbing the toilet. In some marriages, this competition is constant; twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week, the relationship is a rivalry.

It’s common for marriages to fall into this trap–but sometimes a simple change of focus can radically improve your relationship with your spouse. If your marriage is being ground down by continual small-scale rivalries like this, the article offers some good ideas for breaking out of the habit of competition.

What’s it like to grow up overweight? What specific needs and fears do overweight students face? In a candid article at the Youth Ministry Exchange, Amy Sondova bravely shares her experiences of growing up overweight at school, home, and youth group. She shares her fears and disappointments and provides great advice to youth workers for helping overweight students develop a healthy self-image.

Have you ever wanted to learn the Bible better? With so many different stories, characters, and histories, what teachings and events in the Bible state most clearly the basics of the Christian faith?

Whether you’re a lifelong Christian or just curious about the teachings of Christianity, FaithFacts can help you with a new “Christian cram course” that goes quickly but thoroughly through each of the major elements of the Christian faith. What does the Bible teach about Jesus, Heaven and Hell, sin and salvation? Take a walk through their study guide (with plenty of Scripture references, should you wish to explore any of the topics more thoroughly) and get to know the Bible better!