Publisher's notes --- March 2001 

Why do Christians maintain that their message is "good news"? Is it because the Christian religion guarantees a life of prosperity, absent adversity? Not hardly. Most of the early Christians experienced adversity in many forms well reported in the Biblical accounts and early church histories. And we present day Christians can testify that life is not without hardship and disappointment. Yet, the Christian can face life's trials with some assurance, hope, maybe even peace because of Christianity's hope. I was reminded of this fact when I realized one of our Next-Wave "family" has been experiencing adversity with a serious illness. On behalf of Leslie Ramusack, author of a couple of articles in the past year on "real life", I solicit your prayers for her physical health and her spiritual strength.

This month's issue of Next-Wave covers a lot of ground. Mark Riddle delivers another Dennis Milleresque rant on the 'self-help' preaching that has seeped into the contemporary Christian culture. Stephen Shields continues his exposition of postmodern currents in part 2 of his series. Self-proclaimed techno-geek Ben Rushlo delivers a critique of the Christian subculture. Off-the-map's Jim Henderson explains why Evangelism is just too darn hard. (Check out the off-the-map conference in Seattle). Canadian Jordon Cooper exhorts the virtues of getting digital and Contributing editor David Hopkins explores the state of multiculturalism in the postmodern church. I take a look at what it might be like to "preach at McDonald's". 

I encourage you to respond to the content of Next-Wave in one of two ways: either by e-mail or by posting a message to our discussion page. Representative e-mail responses are published in our letters section.

Once again, thanks for your continued interest in Next-Wave. I invite you to get further involved by responding, discussing or by writing an article (please see Call for Papers).

Blessings,

Charlie Wear,
Publisher