Inside Out (September - December, 2009)
Randy Cope Shares Testimony at The Branch
Randy Cope
09/30/2009 - Randy Cope, brother to editor emeritus Mike Cope, shared this powerful life story about his family following the death of son Jantsen at The Branch in Farmer's Branch, Texas in September. (A YouTube video)


Book Review: Outliers: The Story of Success
Von Mitchell
09/25/2009 - Did you ever wonder who the best hockey players in Canada are? If you’re like me, you’ve never even thought about it, and therein lies some of Gladwell’s magic. He draws you into thinking and caring about topics that you may have previously been uninformed or indifferent about. The best hockey players in Canada are born in the first three months of the year. That’s right. They’re born in January, February, and March, and before you start to wonder whether Gladwell’s on some astrological trip, he unwinds the facts with clear, focused logic.



Movie (P)Review: Lord, Save Us From Your Followers
Larry Bridgesmith
09/23/2009 - Walking through cities and towns across America, Merchant wore a silly suit plastered with bumper stickers and icons, slogans of faith and anti-faith. He simply asked people to choose their favorite slogan or icon while the camera rolled. Some like the fish, some liked the Darwin inside the fish. Some liked the fish eating the Darwin in a fish. Most couldn’t figure what Merchant wanted, was selling or stood for. But a significant amount of conversation was stimulated. The dialogue that has been captured is riveting, convicting and shameful. The shame is that as Christians it is frightening to hear what unbelievers, former believers and yet to be believers think of Christians. Not Jesus, but Christians. Jesus comes off wonderfully well in the movie. His followers don’t.


Alphabet Psalm
by Neita Dudman
09/15/2009 - An acrostic poem inspired by Psalm 119:
Almighty, awesome, Adonai, You are my God, my Savior and King.
Above all else, I praise Your name As I meditate on Your word.
Adoration belongs to You, for You are worthy. Holy is Your Name.


Making Peace With Hannah
Amanda Sanders
09/10/2009 - Dear Hannah,

While we have never met, Someone we both love led me to you. I suppose I should begin with an apology. You see, I read over your story many times before I had children. However, I’ve only looked at it a few times since becoming a mother. To be honest I felt great anxiety when I read about you giving your little boy away. . . .