Jesus Creed
Casey Stengel was once asked about his own successfulness. Here’s his response: |inline Read more
Casey Stengel was once asked about his own successfulness. Here’s his response: |inline Read more
It will be called “First Day, Goldingay.” The first day of the next twenty months will have a post on John Goldingay, Old Testament Theology — Israel’s Gospel and Israel’s Faith. There are now 2 volumes out; it is too much to write a weekly post so I thought we’d keep his theology on our minds for about two years. How’s that for a suggestion? |inline Read more
The 8th chp of Darryl Tippens’ Pilgrim Heart concerns yet another spiritual discipline that is designed for the Christian in community rather than just for the Christian alone. This chapter discusses confessing to one another and hearing the words of grace from one another. |inline Read more
Mark Allan Powell’s book, What Do They Hear?, opens up for pastors and laity the differences between how they read the Bible and what they hear when they read it — especially when they are not together. Chp 4 concerns “meaning” and “effect.” (Note to self: I’m not sure Mark always distinguishes between “affect” and “effect.”) This chp presents a very important difference in reading the Bible between clergy and laity. |inline Read more
The psalmist has found peace but he has not found that peace in the security of knowing he’s no longer persecuted nor in the security of being “in the know” with the right people. He’s found peace, great peace, because he’s found the path of life — to walk in Torah. This leads him to peaceful resolutions … |inline Read more
Fasting, as we see it in the pages of the Bible, has been appropriated in the Christian tradition in a way that often abandons its biblical sense. In particular, it has become for many today a technique. What do I mean? |inline Read more
We now come to the end of Alan Hirsch, Forgotten Missional Ways, which book has continued to grow on me as a must-read for missional Christians. What happens when a growing, thriving, missional church gets captured by middle-class culture: it combines safety and security with comfort and convenience. Somehow it moves from a missional church into an institutional church. There’s more: |inline Read more
The psalmist is at peace and resolved to tremble at God’s word — not the princes of his day — and to take his joy in the promises of God — not the strength that comes from association with powers — and to love God’s law — not falsehood. So, in 119:165 the psalmist announces his discovery: |inline Read more
Pastors, this one’s for you — non-pastors, this one’s also for you. Mark Powell’s book, What Do They Hear?, assumes a significant distinction between clergy and laity and, if you are in a reasonably traditional church, the assumption is a good one. Most importantly, Mark asks this question: How do clergy read a text when compared to how laity read the same text? The answer boggles. |inline Read more
Hildegard, one person says, “was a remarkable woman in an age of remarkable men.” And Carmen Butcher, author of a beautiful study on St. Benedict, brings Hildegard of Bingen to life in this fresh translation and study of her life. |inline Read more
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