COVER STORY
“Compassion: The Way of Holiness,” by Dwight Swanson
From the Early Church, where believers held all
things in common, to the inception of the Church of the Nazarene,
when Bresee called Christians to a unique ministry to the poor,
Holiness people have always been concerned for the disadvantaged
and outcast. It is a call based on Christ himself: “The
Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has
anointed me to preach good news to the poor.”
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FEATURES
- “No Justice, No Peace,
No Holiness?” by David M. Best. Jesus not only addressed
the immediate needs of people but also constantly challenged societal
structures that kept people in need. We are called to follow His divine
example, reclaiming authentically scriptural holiness and seeking
restorative justice.
- “‘Dis’understanding
Compassion,” by Fletcher L. Tink. Compassion is far
more than random acts of kindness. It is risk–taking, lifelong,
and self–sacrificing. For those who truly understand, it is
lifestyle, not leisure.
- “Earthquake-Proof Hope,”
by Debbie Salter Goodwin. When an earthquake rocked El Salvador
last January, a 1,500-foot landslide buried more than 400 homes and
killed nearly 600 people near the Santa Tecla Church of the Nazarene.
Their story of hope begins with compassion.
- “God’s Math Class,”
by Sherry Pinson. Like the boy with the loaves and fish, citizens
of Nilopolis have learned to give their small lunches to Jesus. And
He’s multiplying them in a remarkable way.
COLUMNS
- Essay:“Picture-Perfect,”
by Jeff Crosno. When God sends us a Christmas gift, it rarely appears
picture-perfect on first inspection.
- Heartbeat:“People–Focused,
Purpose–Driven,” by W. Talmadge Johnson. The oldest, longest-running
religious organization in the history of Protestantism is the Sunday
School.
- Editor's Forum:This month’s
forum explains the Church of the Nazarene’s official position
regarding speaking in tongues.
- Portraits:“Solomon
Chetti: Ministry that Can’t–and Won’t–Wait,”
by Dean Nelson. “I tried to help, but I waited too long. It
taught me a lesson. If we can help, why not help right now?”
- The Deeper Way:“Practices
Make Perfect,” by T. Scott Daniels. We must decide to be holy,
but it is practice–or practices–that make us perfect.
- Touching:“Compassion
in a Kettle,” by Dick Stellway. In the face of crushing need,
some people are immobilized by the question, “What can just
one person do?” But the students at Woods Cross Elementary School
responded with a resounding proclamation: “See how much just
one school can do.”
- Interconnected:“God’s
Complete Provision,” by Judith A. Schwanz. God used our physical
needs to bring about spiritual rebirth and emotional healing.
- Family Tree:“Pouring
on the Passion,” by Dan and Kay Croy. The Scriptures are clear.
True compassion motivates us to action. It moves our hands and feet.
- Commission:“Come
See My New Home!’ !” by Jerry D. Porter. She was deeply
grateful to God, the Church of the Nazarene, and especially to Bill,
who was the incarnation of God’s compassion and the church’s
love.
- Footprints:“Francis
Asbury and the Reorientation of the Wesleyan Mission,’ by Stan
Ingersol. Despite the differing contexts in which British and American
Methodism functioned, their common, unchanging intention “to
spread scriptural Holiness” united them.
- Holiness:“Holiness:
Experience or Relationship?” by H. Ray Dunning. When we recognize
that the “moment of experience” is only the beginning
point for a life of continuous development, the religious life takes
on an increased aura of romance, challenge, and excitement.
- Metro: "A New Vision,"
by Fletcher L. Tink. From Cambridge to Jerusalem to Bethlehem, I learned
of vision not confined to eyes.
NEXT MONTH – New Footprints:
Transferring The Holiness Message
- “Holiness Defined for a
New Generation,” by Frank Moore. The time has arrived
for us to translate the biblical message of holiness for a new generation.
How can we state timeless truth in the fresh language of the new day
while remaining true to the biblical text and the heritage of our
faith? The best approach challenges contemporary minds with the claims
of the gospel set in everyday, common words that people understand.
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