Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Our Exchange Team Is Amazing: The People Behind the Exchange

When I write something on The Exchange, someone else has almost always helped.

I read a tweet recently from Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, commenting on our new data, but also on my work output. He wrote: "Side note I am starting to believe @edstetzer is the name of a collective rather than an individual because I frankly don’t understand how a single person could sustain this level of output.”

It bothered me, not because it was unkind, but because I want people to know that we are, indeed, a team here. Sometimes, we assume that people know that, but it is important that everyone know about our great team and their great work—which is why I so frequently tweet or comment about our team!

(The picture is of our whole Billy Graham Center team, but it makes the point that working as a team really makes a difference.)

When I write something, you will sometimes see a shared byline at the front or a “contributed to” at the end of the article. However, it is important to note that almost every time I publish something here, my team has helped. They may help research, edit, or assist in the writing.

So, I want you to meet them.

Also, going forward—even when they are not co-authors or contributors—I am going to add a link to the bottom of each article in which they worked that says, “The Exchange Team assisted with this article.” They always do at some level. Sometimes, they contribute their own articles, sometimes they edit or help with mine, etc.

I just don’t want anyone to think that I am doing all this alone. It would not be possible. And, to be honest, the articles would be pretty weak without the input and suggestions of colleagues. (I should add that, if it were not for our main editor Laurie Nichols, you would hear more things that would get me in trouble, ...

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Respect and Humility: A Close Encounter with Those of Another Faith

People are drawn to Jesus with our actions—that is, when we are not condescending and arrogant.

A few weeks ago, I was outside doing yard work. Seemingly out of nowhere, two ladies appeared in front of my garage. One of them quickly said, “We were going to knock at your door, but here you are. Do you have a few minutes?”

I was a bit annoyed and replied, “As you can see, I am very busy so please don’t bother me. I am very busy.”

The other lady was persistent, “If you find time after your work, please read this.” I saw the magazine cover and the featured article: “The End of the World is Near.” Yet more irritated, I told them, “Please leave me alone. I don’t believe in your propaganda. Please take it next door.”

So they quietly left.

My son and daughter-in-law were there and heard everything I had said to my uninvited visitors. I asked them, “I was very rude, eh? They did not deserve that kind of treatment. I don’t think I was a good testimony and witness.” My son answer, “Yes, you were rude, Dad. We are embarrassed!”

Immediately, I went around the neighborhood looking for the two women. I caught up with them a few blocks away. I got out of the vehicle, gently spoke with them, and with a broken heart and crushed spirit, I said to them, “I apologize for my attitude. I am very sorry for being so rude to you. Please forgive me. May I have a copy of your literature? The cover page is interesting. In exchange, may I give you a gift? This is the DVD, The Life of Jesus according to the Gospel of John.” I received their magazine and they walked away with my gift.

Why do I share this with you? What is the value in all of this? Let me share just a few thoughts:

  1. Theologically speaking, all human beings are made in the image of God. We must treat others with kindness and respect. They are not our enemy; instead, they are blinded by the enemy. The hymn writer pronounced, “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Jesus is merciful ...”

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He Gave Christian Researchers $100 Million. Now His Legacy Lives on Through Their Work.

Longtime Lilly Endowment executive Robert Wood Lynn died this month at 93.

While plenty of Christian leaders set out to serve the “common good,” the late Robert Wood Lynn asked, “But whose ‘common good’? Even more to the point, how would we know if we had served the good or not?”

As an educator then a longtime executive at the Lilly Endowment, Lynn dedicated his career to surfacing the answers and helping Christian institutions continue to make meaningful contributions to the shifting society around them.

At Lilly, one of the richest charitable foundations in the world, Lynn served as senior vice president for religion. Starting in 1974, he distributed $100 million in grants to fund research examining the role of Protestant institutions, according to a recent Christian Century tribute, written following his death this month at age 93.

Lynn was responsible for bringing evangelical scholarship, as well as other traditions, under the purview of Lilly’s generous philanthropy, funded by billions left behind by the pharmaceutical family—J. K. Lilly Sr., J. K. Lilly Jr., and Eli Lilly.

The Lilly Endowment continues to fund evangelical endeavors (full disclosure: both Christianity Today and fellow CT publication Church Law & Tax have received grants), with the organization recently granting $1 million for a church revitalization initiative through Wheaton College’s Billy Graham Center for Evangelism.

Lynn himself was a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister and served at Union Theological Seminary and Auburn Seminary before transitioning to Lilly, whose work overlapped with his interest in mainline Protestantism in America.

Thanks to the influence of his Yale Divinity School professor H. Richard Niebuhr, Lynn paid particular attention to America’s relationship ...

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The First Female Evangelists

Mary Magdalene and the woman at the well couldn’t help but share their good news.

We each have our notions about who is and who is not an evangelist. People like Billy Graham, who filled arenas, come to mind. Or perhaps we think of the person who first shared the gospel with us. Bold people. Gifted people. Often it is those who strike us as evidently holy people. Rarely do we think of ourselves as evangelists.

For some, the idea of evangelism causes fear and anxiety. Perhaps we’ve heard horror stories from others or we’ve had our own bad experiences with it. Our notions of evangelism might conjure up thoughts of a complex and slimy enterprise that involves Christians aggressively pushing our faith on others despite their protests. As a result, we may be disinclined to want any part of it.

But when we turn to Scripture, we find an evangelism that is much different than the corruptions we’ve experienced or of which we’ve heard. In the Old Testament, Isaiah 52:7 joyfully declares, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” In Greek, “the evangel” essentially means “to tell good news, to bear witness, and to proclaim.” Princeton Theological Seminary professor C. Clifton Black tells us that New Testament authors use the term good news “to mean the news of salvation, or liberation from sin, brokenness, and estrangement from God. God reveals this good news through Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection.”

Isaiah tells us what we all know to be true: Those who witness and proclaim good news are beautiful—not odious. Don’t we all welcome good news—and the messenger by which ...

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Top 20 Learn English Podcasts You Must Subscribe and Listen to in 2018

Learn English PodcastLearn English Podcasts List.
The Best Learn English Podcasts from thousands of Learn English Podcasts on the web using search and social metrics. Subscribe to these websites because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information.

These podcasts are ranked based on following criteria

  • Google reputation and Google search ranking
  • Influence and popularity on Facebook, twitter and other social media sites
  • Quality and consistency of posts.
  • Feedspot’s editorial team and expert review

Best 20 Learn English Podcasts

CONGRATULATIONS to every podcast that has made this Top Learn English Podcasts list! This is the most comprehensive list of best Learn English Podcasts on the internet and I’m honoured to have you as part of this! I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world.

If your podcast is one of the Top 20 Learn English Podcasts, you have the honour of displaying the following badge on your site. Use the below code to display this badge proudly on your website. You deserve it!:

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Learn English Podcast newsletter is a comprehensive summary of the day's most important blog posts and news articles from the best Learn English Podcast websites on the web, and delivered to your email inbox each morning. To subscribe, simply provide us with your email address.

Learn English Podcasts

1. Espresso English Podcast

Espresso English Podcast About Blog Improve your english in just a few minutes a day. Learn english grammar, vocabulary, phrases, idioms and more.
Frequency about 1 post per week.
Website espressoenglish.libsyn.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

2. Effortless English Podcast

Effortless English Podcast About Blog Learn to speak english easily, quickly and automatically with effortless english podcast
Frequency about 3 posts per week.
Since Sep 2006
Website effortlessenglish.libsyn.com
Facebook fans 390,566. Twitter followers 99,247.

3. Plain English

Plain English Chicago, IL About Blog A podcast of news, culture and vocabulary with written transcripts to help english language learners improve vocabulary and listening comprehension
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Website plainenglish.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

4. English with Kirsty

English with Kirsty About Blog The English with Kirsty podcast is for anyone who wants to improve their english skills and particularly for those who want to improve their business english.
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Website englishwithkirsty.podomatic.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

5. Happy English - Podcast

Happy English - Podcast New York About Blog Happy English provides the best practical and useful english language tutoring
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Website myhappyenglish.com/learn-eng..
Facebook fans 463,985. Twitter followers 10,973.

6. Rock n Roll English - Podcast

Rock n Roll English - Podcast About Blog Rock n Roll English is a podcast created to help people learn english
Frequency about 1 post per week.
Website rocknrollenglish.com/categor..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

7. Aussie English

Aussie English Melbourne, Victoria About Blog Follow Aussie English to learn to speak english like a fair dinkum Aussie.
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Website theaussieenglishpodcast.com
Facebook fans 19,680. Twitter followers 192.

8. Miss Buswell - Podcast

Miss Buswell - Podcast About Blog Follow Miss Buswell podcasts to improve your English skills
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Website missbuswell.com/category/pod..
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

9. Speak English Now

Speak English Now About Blog Speak english fluently with no grammar and no textbooks with your teacher Georgiana
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Website speakenglishpod.com
Facebook fans 6,133. Twitter followers 1,548.

10. Daily Easy English Expression Podcast

Daily Easy English Expression Podcast About Blog Daily Easy English Expression is a podcast is for english learners around the world.
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Since May 2014
Website dailyeasyenglish.libsyn.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.

11. Business English Pod - Podcast

Business English Pod - Podcast About Blog Business English Pod publishes audio and video of cast lessons and online learning materials for intermediate and advanced business english learners. The lessons cover a comprehensive range of business english skills for meetings, presentations, telephoning, negotiating, job interviews, travel and more.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jun 2006
Website businessenglishpod.com/categ..
Facebook fans 83,479. Twitter followers n/a.

12. Learn English Through Football - Podcast

Learn English Through Football - Podcast About Blog Podcast for learners of english who love football. The podcasts feature real-life stories from the world of football
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Since Nov 2006
Website languagecaster.com/category/..
Facebook fans 1,063. Twitter followers 819.

13. Let's Master English

Let's Master English About Blog The Let's Master English podcast is for ESL learners. This podcast has many features news, Q&A, english learning advice and other fun sections.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Aug 2013
Website letsmasterenglish.libsyn.com
Facebook fans 29,319. Twitter followers 8,502.

14. Follow English podcast

Follow English podcast Brazil About Blog Follow English specializes in the teaching of adult learners of english. This podcast is for EFL learners and teachers.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jan 2014
Website pod.followenglish.com.br
Facebook fans 279. Twitter followers 71.

15. All Ears English - Podcast

All Ears English - Podcast About Blog Learn advanced conversational english with professional American teachers Lindsay and Gabby
Frequency about 4 posts per week.
Since Sep 2013
Website allearsenglish.com/episodes
Facebook fans 47,198. Twitter followers 2,473.

16. ESL Library - Podcast

ESL Library - Podcast About Blog Follow this podcast from ESL Library to learn and improve english language
Frequency about 2 posts per month.
Website blog.esllibrary.com/category..
Facebook fans 110,214. Twitter followers n/a.

17. English Made Simple - Podcast

English Made Simple - Podcast Adelaide, South Australia About Blog English Made Simple is a podcast for expats, migrants and non-native English speakers
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Website englishmadesimple.net/catego..
Facebook fans 333. Twitter followers 44.

18. Slow American English

Slow American English About Blog Streaming audio recording and transcript/text of the Slow American English podcast for learners of American english.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Dec 2014
Website slowamericanenglish.net
Facebook fans 104. Twitter followers 355.

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