The church is filled with stories of unlikely, and sometimes unwilling leaders. Many times leaders are called into leadership against their own will. If you remember the Story of Gregory the Great a few months ago this was the case with his appointment into the papacy. Few stories of ordination and vocation can compare with the strang story of Ambrose of Milan (who was honored by the church this week).  Saint Ambrose was raised in a Christian home, but had... Read more

Social justice is a sticky topic, because it goes beyond helping people and focuses on fixing systems. It doesn’t just feed people, it’s asks the question “why are poeple hungry” Because of this it’s frequently been accused of having a “liberal agenda.” Covenant Pastor, Dr. Mae Cannon, knows a lot about Social Justice. She wrote the book on it, Literally. Social Justice Handbook: Small Steps for a Better World (IV Press, 2009). The book is, according to Shane Claiborne, “a cookbook for... Read more

I just had to share it with you all…. Thanks to S_P for telling me about it! Read more

I am not a Calvinist, I’m far from it in many ways. I did word for a Reform church for about a year once. There is a new movement called “new calvinists” that have gained a great amount of energy among many young Christians burned out on evangelicalism. Here is a video about it. Are any of our readers Calvinists? I would like to know why. What draws you to this tradition? What’s New about the new Calvinists? http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=15887245&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0DeYoung, Duncan,... Read more

“Confession of Christ does not make one immune from the snares of the devil. Nor does it defend one who is still placed in the world with a perpetual security against worldly temptations and dangers and onsets and attacks. Otherwise we should never have seen afterwards among the confessors the deceptions and debaucheries and adulteries that now with groaning and sorrow we see among some. Whoever that confessor is, he is not greater or better or dearer to God than... Read more

Here is a song i wrote three years ago. It’s been one close to my heart since I wrote it. I thought I would share it with you the Em      Am                    C     Em    With you before my eyes            B     C             Am  Em Your very words are lullabies Em      Am     ... Read more

My son was baptized on the first Sunday of Advent this year. This was one of the best moments of my entire life. I thought I would share it with you. Let me know what you think! I know that this is more special to me then to you, but bear with me. note: My wife’s name is Joan, not John. The priest simply pronounced it a little funny. Also if you are viewing this in facebook the video won’t... Read more

Revelation is a book that is troubling to many people. It’s filled with images and language that seems very much out of this world. Many people wonder if there is any thing profitable in a book that by all outward appearances has only indecipherably cryptic references to seals, bowels, trumpets, whores, beasts, plagues, sores, and countless other strange things. I would like to argue that Revelation is more then just profitable, it offers the very paradigm that guides the Christian... Read more

New Testament and Mission: Historical and Hermeneutical was written by Associate Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the Department of Biblical Studies, University of Aarhus, Denmark, Johannes Nissen. Nissen believes that the New Testament’s theology of mission is multidimensional, each author and genre emphasis a different perspective, which should be viewed in harmony rather then homogenized together. To show this Nisssen parses the New Testament canon up into different sections and addresses them individually, rather then presenting an overall theology and... Read more

I am in the midst of prepairing for the end of all my classes here at seminary, which is why I havn’t been posting nearly as much as I normally do. Please keep me and all the other students here in your prayers. Here is a traditional Coptic prayer I ran into. I have found it to be beneficial to me. Take a look:  Most blessed Lord, send the grace of Your Holy Spirit on me to strengthen me that... Read more