Urban Current

Parenting in our Urbanized World

“Why are they lying to us?” Her 4-year-old face, innocent, puzzled. She had explained the situation to the teacher’s aide, a member of our church.  Jose, her friend, had come to Pre-K at 3 years of […]

July/August 2018

Metro Millennials: Why Do We Care?

Millennials Projected to Overtake Baby Boomers as America’s Largest Generationscreams the headline by Richard Fry highlighting info by PewResearch.org. Millennials are on the cusp of surpassing Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest living adult generation […]

May/June 2018

Great Minds

“Some want to work within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” C.T. Studd, 1862-1931British missionary, China Inland Mission   “As a minister in […]

March/April

“… zealous of good works”

Why was I picketing an off-track betting parlor on a gritty westside street? A new law allowed these establishments which had popped up in the sketchier Chicago neighborhoods like mushrooms after rain.  This one was next […]

Urban Current

Being Biblical

Recently I was in a small Illinois town at dinner time.  Noticing a Mexican restaurant, I thought I’d take a chance even though it was in the middle of nowhere.  After a great meal, I […]

Urban Current

Notes from the Streets

The notes on our Sunday Connection Cards are life snapshots of the people who worship at Armitage Baptist. The following appear as written. Pls pray for my nephew recovery from gunshot to the head, on […]

Urban Current

10 Largest Cities … and Who Cares

Tracking urban population can be tricky. Some numbers reference the city proper, others the entire metropolitan area. Also, there is the matter of people who are residing illegally, therefore remaining invisible and uncountable. #10 New […]

June

The Hispanic Wave

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week observed September 15 and 16. In 1989, Congress expanded the observance to a month-long celebration (September 15-October 15) of the […]

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May

Not our lucky day

by Charles Lyons The sin-sellers want to convince us gambling is gaming. A problem: one definition of game is “an illegal or shady scheme or maneuver, a racket, as in ‘gaming the system’” … or, […]

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April

Everything dies

by Charles Lyons Chicago’s 2017 soaring body count is keeping pace with 2016’s bloody horror. This reminds me of my thoughts some years ago.