In what will become one of the most discussed chapters in Greg Boyd’s The Crucifixion of the Warrior God, Boyd sketches The Synthesis Solution. That is, four ways the church has attempted to include the violence passages in its theology without diminishing its view of Scriptures. Which of these four views did you grow up hearing? Or did you learn as the best explanation? While theologians within the historic-orthodox church have always viewed Christ as the most important revelation of... Read more

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples... Read more

This is Mother Theresa’s version of the “St Francis” Prayer, and it can guide us as we remember those who have lost their lives in service to their country: Make us worthy Lord to serve others throughout the world, who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day, their daily bread and by our understanding love give peace and joy. Lord, make me a channel of thy peace. That where there is hatred I... Read more

Inviting Richard Spencer to Church, by Jason Micheli Here in Alexandria this week the local gym made news by canceling the membership of Richard Spencer, leader of the Alt-Right (racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic) movement. Identified by a Georgetown Professor, the gym cancelled his membership after a confrontation provoked by the professor. Maybe it’s because we’re about to kick-off a summer long series in Romans, but reading the article in the Washington Post recently, my first thought was “That’s what makes... 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

Good start for a Saturday morning! Must read of the week: In March 2016, Harding High football coach Sam Greiner moved quarterback Braheam Murphy into his home when Murphy was functionally homeless and helped the young man turn his life — and his academic status — around. Monday, Murphy got the news he had always dreamed of: he got his first college scholarship offer — from Army. Since moving in with Greiner, Murphy has kept his grade-point average over a... Read more

By Omar Fahmy | CAIRO Gunmen attacked a group of Coptic Christians traveling to a monastery in southern Egypt on Friday, killing 28 people and wounding 25 others, and many children were among the victims, Health Ministry officials said. Eyewitnesses said masked men opened fire after stopping the Christians, who were traveling in a bus and other vehicles. Local television channels showed a bus apparently raked by gunfire and smeared with blood. Clothes and shoes could be seen lying in... Read more

One Human Being, by John Frye Tucked into the quiet pages of the New Testament is a book that takes up just two-thirds of one page in my NIV. This very brief personal letter is the key that has unlocked and continues to break the chains of slavery (of any kind). The book was written by Paul to a good friend named Philemon. The short letter is so personal and unassuming that its latent liberating energies may be totally missed.... Read more

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From Babylon Bee: U.S.—According to reports flooding in from around the country, believers everywhere stopped what they were doing Tuesday and began begging God to prevent the “male romper” craze from catching on among their congregations’ worship leaders. “We’ve persevered through the skinny jeans, Lord, but this may be more than we can bear,” one Tennessee man said in an emergency prayer meeting held at his local Baptist church after he found out about the hugely successful Kickstarter launch of... Read more