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Last week I read the blog of a friend Lynn Anderson, a friend of mine. Lynn has preached in Churches of Christ for decades. He is the author of several books. Now in the final chapters of his ministry he serves as a mentor and consultant to ministers, elders, churches and other organizations. Lynn has preached at Highland and has served as a consultant for our staff and elders. I have never sat and talked with Lynn when he didn’t go out of his way to pray with me or encourage me spiritually. He is in my Christian-Hall-of-Fame. In my short Christian life Lynn Anderson has been a fixture. His preaching and writing are among my earliest Christian memories. And there’s a part of me that has always assumed that Lynn will always be around. But last week he announced on his blog that he needs spinal surgery and that there are very significant complicating factors.

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For many, these are difficult times.  Most of us have been touched by the economic struggles in some way.  Some of you have lost jobs.  Some of you have had pay cuts.  Most of us know people who are struggling.  A couple of weeks ago my family took our first hit.  Kendra’s supervisor sat her down and told Kendra that her hours were being cut.  Her salary would be reduced by 20%.  Of course, we thankful she still has a job.  Nonetheless, it was a significant cut.

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Steve Prothero is a Boston University professor and author of the book Religious Literacy.[1]  When Prothero began teaching twenty years ago he found that few students could name the authors of the Christian Gospels.  Fewer could name a single Hindu Scripture.  Almost none could name the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.  This concerned Prothero.  He believes that many political conflicts in world history have had religious roots.  Thus he feels it imperative for students to know something about the religions of the world.  Most of his Boston University students, however, knew nothing.  Thus, this non-Christian professor proposes in his book that students should be required take a course in Bible and World Religions before graduating from high school.

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