Alan Rudnick's Blog

To God, though we have lost our way in life, we are never forgotten. God has a way of nudging back on life’s pathway. God utilizes people, providential situations, and circumstances to get our attention. There can always be a “welcome home” party for us in God’s eyes.

Author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, J.R.R. Tolkien, once wrote, 

Read the rest at the Syracuse Post-Standard website.

We often look at our negative circumstances in life and believe certain events are the final. Illness, loss of employment, a bad review, or a broken relationship can make us view life as bleak. However, what if God is at work in the seemingly unfortunate events in life?

Long ago, there once was a farmer who depended on a horse to work the land. Unfortunately, a lightning storm frightened the horse, and it ran away. The farmer searched for the horse for weeks but could not find it. His fri...

As churches emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, I often hear congregational leaders and pastors ask one another, “What’s next?  What do we need to do?” Typical responses often center on the church becoming more digitally available to people. Indeed, churches have made essential investments in livestreaming worship, Zoom facilitation of small groups, technology, and making ministry programs more accessible. This is a pipeline approach: finding the direct vehicle to deliver religious and spirit...

Of all the United States Presidents, only Jimmy Carter was a Sunday School teacher AND President at the same time. On Sundays, Jimmy Carter would travel nine blocks to the First Baptist Church of Washington D.C to gather attendees to study scripture. Often not publicized, Carter would teach about 30 attendees lessons from the Bible and also offer counsel to anyone who requested. Decades later, Carter still teaches Sunday School for up to 450 people at his church in Plains, GA...

Transitional times, liminal times, like we are experiencing during the Coronavirus pandemic and crisis, are never marked with clear delineations. Transitions and crises are often bumpy, fraught with mistakes, and require high amounts of energy.

It is during times of national crisis, coronavirus, or personal crisis times we discover that we don’t know what’s next?

This is called “Liminal space” The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word limens, which means, “threshold.” 

Rev. Alan R. Rudnick: John 20:19-31

Lord, in this time of anxiety, fear, and isolation, we come to you for support, encouragement, and direction. We lay our worried minds and troubled souls before you and in your care in prayer during the coronavirus. We are mindful of the words of the psalmist, When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). Today, we ask for your Spirit to be close to those who...

Although not as common as it was for generations in Baptist life, one can still hear church members refer to one another as sister or brother, such as “Sister Smith” or “Brother Jones.” These titles, indicators of respect, esteem and mutuality, also reflect our identity as members of the household of God.

A public conflict between a “brother” and “sister” in the Christian community recently garnered headlines in national religious media. I was not shocked when I heard that popular conservative p...

Recently my Facebook feed was full of expressions of grief, support, and lament over two very public deaths. Both people were active in bringing a focus on mental health issues in communities. One was a professor of counseling, and the other was a well-known West Coast pastor, Jarrid Wilson. Both deaths were suicides. These two people join the list of very public suicides in recent years, including fashion designer Kate Spade, chef Anthony Bourdain, and comedian Robin Williams.

The above nam...

I share my perspective on rapper Lecrae’s baptism with Jeff Brumley of Baptist News Global:

An American hip-hop artist’s rebaptism in the Jordan River last month sparked conversations ranging in nature from mean-spirited to theologically reflective.

“Can’t be baptized in the Jordan river and make the same old music. This new album is gonna be special,” rapper Lecrae said in a Sept. 19 tweet in which he also shared a video of the experience.

Some responded with praise. But others said rebaptism...