Flotsam and jetsam (7/21)

• It seems like everyone’s doing a study these days to determine the keys to church health. Now the United Methodists have released their study of 32,000 Methodist congregations in North America, identifying four key areas: “small groups and programs; worship services that mix traditional and contemporary styles with an emphasis on relevant sermons; pastors who work hard on mentorship and cultivation of the laity; and an emphasis on effective lay leadership.”
• Matt Dabbs has a brief reflection on whether Jesus broke the Sabbath, with a link to a longer article on the subject.
• Near Emmaus has been discussing Which of Jesus’ Sayings is Hardest to Accept.
• Larry Hurtado links to another article, “Remembrance and Revelation:  The Historic and Glorified Jesus in the Gospel of John“
• The Reformed Reader posts some excerpts from Bavinck arguing that the seven days of creation should be understood as historical but “extraordinary” days. That is, each day refers to a period of creative activity rather than our modern, clock-driven understanding of days as 24 hour periods. (HT Heidelblog)
• And apparently it’s illegal in Russia to force a donkey to parasail over the ocean. Who knew?