In the last few years a number of churches, from a variety of denominations, have used our 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed for Lent. (My publisher (Paraclete) has been in contact with a few churches already inquiring about Lenten materials, so that is why we are approaching Lent so soon.) Others are using The Jesus Creed itself, which is longer. We have three accompanying books as well! A Companion Guide to The Jesus Creed The Jesus Creed for Students Sharing... Read more

By Carl Trueman One of the secrets to being a competent church historian is – to state the obvious – knowing what makes a competent historian in general. So I always recommend that those interested in the subject also read more widely in the discipline to keep their minds sharp. One area of importance is historical method, a topic which can quickly become bogged down in arcane philosophical jargon. Yet there are some fine and even entertaining books which help... Read more

I once sat in a prayer meeting where a well-meaning woman prayed to cast out a demon named “The Spirit of Menopause”. Read more

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. BCP Read more

Ah, a group of men after our own heart — libraries and books, by Spencer Feingold and Hande Atay Alam: (CNN)A library in Ankara gives new meaning to the notion that books are timeless. Garbage collectors in the Turkish capital have opened a public library comprised entirely of books once destined for the landfills. The library, located in the Çankaya district of Ankara, was founded after sanitation workers started collecting discarded books. For months, the garbage men gathered forsaken books.... Read more

By D’Arcy Maine: Nearly 100 victims are expected to speak during the four-day sentencing hearing against former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar. Ingham County (Michigan) Circuit Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is presiding over the hearing and thoroughly listening to each speaker’s statement. For this, and for the respect and compassion she has shown to each and every courageous woman who has spoken, we thank her. Dear Judge Aquilina, Thank you. Thank you for listening to the incredibly brave women who... Read more

By Mike Glenn A few years ago, the boys (yeah, I know my sons are 33 and married with children) and I were talking about what to give each other for Christmas. We went through the usual suggestions—ties, shirts, some Alabama gear. And then one of them asked me this question: “If we could give you anything you wanted for Christmas, what would you ask for?” I looked back at my son and said, “You can’t give me what I... Read more

After a few essays laying the foundation, the recent book Evolution and the Fall edited by William T. Cavanaugh and James K. A. Smith turns to biblical and theological studies. In the first essay in this section J. Richard Middleton, professor of biblical worldview and exegesis at Northeastern Seminary, looks at the theological and biblical themes found in the first few chapters of Genesis. Some of the material has already been covered in more detail in his earlier books The... Read more

In his exceptional book Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition, Craig Bartholomew lays out five models of how Christians relate to the world, or how they perceive what they do in terms of the mission of God in the world. Or, to use terms philosophers like, five models of the relationship of nature and grace. Here they are: 1. Grace against nature (gratia contra naturam) (Anabaptism) 2. Grace over nature (gratia supra naturam) (Roman Catholicism) 3. Grace alongside nature (gratia iuxta naturam)... Read more