How do we find a “third way” when it comes to theology? Doesn’t it seem that we always trip over one another on theology? I am so glad and happy with how Jim Belcher approaches theology, speaking as many of us do of “mere Christianity,” in his new and important book: Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional . (Our last post looked at the emerging movement’s critique.) Belcher is proposing a “new ecumenism” that is really the “old... Read more
I had not heard of Margery Kempe until I read about her in Chris Armstrong’s new book, Patron Saints for Postmoderns: Ten from the Past Who Speak to Our Future , and I’m still wondering about her. Here’s a brief on her: For six hundred years her story, which had been told to folks and written down and stored away, was unknown until, in 1934, someone found it — and a woman, a mystic, an emotional person, a pilgrim, a... Read more
The question to ask when we read the Book of Acts is not so much “What do we learn about mission?” but “What is God doing in God’s mission?” The second question’s answer leads to an answer for the first question. Perhaps no passage is clearer in this regard than Acts 5:33-46: 5:33 Now when they heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute them. 5:34 But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by... Read more
We began a series, which will have new posts sporadically rather than consistently, not long ago about Translation and the tribalism that we now experience with translations. One of our points is that the authoritative text is not the translation but the original languages. (This is not denying the authority of God or the Holy Spirit, but instead the smaller point: when translating, we don’t pronounce the translation the authority but always defer to the original. Always.) Another point being... Read more
I consider Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together one of the most important theological works in the 20th Century. There is in this brief encounter with Bonhoeffer’s ideas a swelling gloom of Nazism, a palpable blur of what is to come, and an insight into how the Church is to conduct itself that makes the book a one-of-a-kind and I hope you own it, read it, and read it often. Bonhoeffer combines profound insight into the psychology of how humans interact along... Read more
Ben Witherington III, another Beliefnet blogger and who writes more books than most people read in a lifetime, has put his mind to a big project and volume one is now out: The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical World of the New Testament, Vol. 1: The Individual Witnesses . It is a two-volume work on theological ethics in the New Testament, and when he’s done with volume two he will write a one-volume shorter version. This book examines the... Read more
From Psalm 48… Mount Zion rejoices; the towns of Judah are happy, because of your acts of judgment. Walk around Zion! Encircle it! Count its towers! Consider its defenses! Walk through its fortresses, so you can tell the next generation about it! For God, our God, is our defender forever! He guides us! Read more
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Read more
Christianity Today is my favorite Christian publication — it has exceptional leadership and editors, solid articles from across the spectrum, and a real keen eye for what’s not only happening but is what to happen. I hope you subscribe. But there’s something brand new about it… Have you seen the new design of Christianity Today? Carol Stream, IL―September 18 – Christianity Today magazine debuts its redesign in the October issue with new features and a bold, new look. The magazine... Read more
A star cluster photo released from NASA Please pray for Dianne and Bob, and pray that the God who made that vast starry sky will attend to Bob at this time. One of my favorite journalists, Christine Scheller, creates some controversy with some cutting remarks. One of my favorite backyard photographers, Rob Merola, offers us a reminder. Jim’s got a great story to tell: part one and two. LaVonne Neff connects health care reform to the big food problem. ... Read more
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