We are looking at one fascinating book:  Faith Formation in a Secular Age, by Andrew Root. In the first half of the book he maps the age of obligation and duty giving way to the age of authenticity where authenticity is understood as being true to one’s own self. Inherent to authenticity’s supreme value is youthfulness, a category describing those who are seen as most relevant because they pursue authenticity. Root also sketches three kinds of Secular: Secular 1: Sacred... Read more

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. BCP Read more

The Blue Parakeet has escaped the cage! This is the beautiful cover to the 2d edition of Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible. Not a slight revision. There are whole new sections, and this much-revised edition is nearly 100 pages longer than the original.  New sections on reading the Bible as narrative, new material on slavery in the Bible, on science and faith, on the gospel … and more! This 2d edition comes because of comments from readers,... Read more

T. Desmond Alexander (aka “Desi”) is senior lecturer in biblical studies and director of postgraduate studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The following interview revolves around his latest book, The City of God and the Goal of Creation. https://www.amazon.com/City-God-Goal-Creation-Introduction/dp/1433555743 David George Moore conducted the following interview. Dave’s videos can be seen at www. mooreengaging.com. Moore: Give us an idea of how you first became interested in tracing the theme of city in Scripture. Alexander: My interest in... Read more

We have turned toward summer here in Chicago: the crabapple trees are blooming, flowers are blooming, some leaves and buds are emerging, local baseball games can be heard, and, well, rain. And a number of interviews and short pieces on my new book —-> Thanks to Kris for so many of the links this week. Best internet piece I read this week. Wonderful story: Most people, when they retire, get a gold watch. James Harrison deserves so much more than... Read more

Matthew Lunders and Becky Castle Miller serve on the pastoral staff of Damascus Road International Church in the Netherlands. They both worked as journalists before going into vocational ministry. They wrote this dialogue between two disciples dealing with the ascension aftermath as a script and performed it for the church to help them engage their imaginations in studying the Bible. All three pics are by Ger van den Elzen <https://www.instagram.com/ger_van_den_elzen_photography/> Damascus Road website Damascus Road YouTube channel Mary of Magdala... Read more

What does it mean to be a self that is Christian? What is Christian identity? These are the questions in the magnificent tome edited by James Houston and Jens Zimmermann, Sources of the Christian Self: A Cultural History of Christian Identity. A big big volume, second-to-none for those studying Christian identity, and written but dozens of authors and specialists. From this time forward it would be by the name “Christian” that the followers of Jesus would be identified. But what did... Read more

Boots on the Ground, by Mike Glenn One of my friends is a retired Army officer. To be more precise, he’s a retired infantry officer. While the infantry is usually the point of military humor, my friend will tell you the battle isn’t really engaged and never really won until the infantry gets there. He’s not really impressed with drones, satellites and cyber warfare. For him, the enemy isn’t conquered and the battlefield is never owned until an infantry soldier... Read more

What’s your score? From Inc.: In an intriguing article, Anna LeMind, founder and lead editor of Learning Mind, clues us in to what “every introvert has done at least once in their lifetime in order not to talk to people.” I’d be curious to know if my introvert readers actually agree with her assertions. Here are the ones that really stood out for me, according to LeMind. 1. THEY PRETEND THEY’RE NOT HOME WHEN THE DOORBELL RINGS. 2. THEY CHANGE WALKING DIRECTION... Read more

John Walton and Tremper Longman III (The Lost World of the Flood) consider many of the stories in the old Testament, and in Genesis 1-11 in particular, to be theological histories. These stories refer to historical events in some sense, but they are not exhaustive accounts. They are structured to convey a theological message. Biblical narrators thus speak from their worldview and select and emphasize aspects of the past that communicate their interest in God and the relationship between God... Read more