Brian McLaren’s new book, The Secret Message of Jesus, seems somehow to have escaped the sort of reviews that his other more recent books have — Generous Orthodoxy and The Last Word and the Word After That. I’d like to record a few observations over the next few days about this newest book from McLaren. What do you think of his use of the word ‘secret’? |inline Read more
In the form of Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code. Tuesday afternoon, fast at work grading student papers and journals, I got a phone call from Garry Poole. Garry is a friend, a former student of mine at TEDS and now a pastor at Willow Creek. He asked me if I’d be willing to participate in the weekend services at Willow Creek. |inline Read more
As some of you may know, my publisher (Paraclete) went over the top by giving away 50 copies of my new book Praying with the Church. We blogged the offer some time back. Kris and I now call this book the “Candle Book.” I’ve already heard from some of you about the book so I know some have arrived. The comments have been very encouraging, and we are hoping that the book will get many of us to consider the... Read more
From The Book of Common Prayer: Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake; watch over us as we sleep, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace. Amen. Try this every night for a week and you’ll learn its rhythms and graces. Read more
About prayer, from The American Scholar: Dressed and came on deck — the morning was brilliant. I amused myself with finding the lessons and collects and psalms for the whole ship’s company. After lunch, they spread our tent, a chair was placed for my father, and a little bell being rung, we collected in our rude church. It affected me much, this praying on the lonely sea, in words that at the same hour were being uttered by millions of... Read more
Peter Rollins has written what I predict will be a firestorm of a book — no one will agree with all of it, most will find challenging insights, and everyone will be brought to the table for a passionate discussion. The book runs a mad dash from the borderline brilliant to the most challenging suggestions I’ve read in some time. Here’s a brief summary of the first half of How (Not) to Speak of God, which is about theology (the... Read more
This has been a heavy week for this blog, with more than the norm for comments, and I’m grateful to the many of you who contribute to this blog by encouraging remarks and by your comments. I’m proud of this blog and of those who carry forward our conversations. Now, the good news: school ends next week and I’ll have more time for reading blogs and commenting elsewhere. |inline Read more
In the last two weeks of my class, Jesus of Nazareth, we take brief stops in each of the Gospels to give a perspective on the overall theology and style of each Evangelist. Recently we were looking at John. It is the end of the semester, students are working late into the night to get everything done by the end of the term, and tend to come to the 8am class a bit tired. So, the class was anything but... Read more
Yesterday Tony Jones published a statement by LeRon Shults about whether or not Emergent should have a doctrinal statement. LeRon says “No, Emergent shouldn’t have a statement of faith.” I stand with those who think Emergent should not have a statement of faith, but I would narrow my reasons to one basic consideration. So here’s the statement by LeRon and my comments follow: |inline Read more
I’ve said this before, but I sense (I’m not a prophet) that the future of conservative evangelicalism in the USA can be charted in the leading voices found at Southern Seminary in Louisville, though I would not want to be thought of saying that it will all be Southern Baptist. On a day I posted about Emergent and doctrinal statements, the Together for the Gospel leaders have emerged with a “together for the gospel” statement. Anyone care to comment on... Read more
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