Good read of the week, by Tim Carman, with HT: LNMM: In the military-style hierarchy of U.S. restaurant kitchens, a dishwasher ranks near the bottom, even if chefs, given half a chance, will loudly sing a good pot-scrubber’s praises. (These hard-working men and women, often immigrants, would probably prefer a living wage over songs of praise, but that’s another story.) But over in Copenhagen, Rene Redzepi, the chef and co-owner of Noma, did something extraordinary last week for the restaurant’s... Read more

The ruins of Qumran’s famous cave 4. Pictures by Erick Hodge: Sir Hodge Read more

Very well done by Krish Kandiah, who reflects on five lessons from Keller’s ministry: 1. Transition is difficult so plan for it This deliberate transition is a bold move. Keller is still one of the most well known and well loved preachers in the world. He is at the top of his game and is surely the biggest reason that new people visit Redeemer church. Two years ago in an interview I asked Keller candidly about the fact that so... Read more

By John Frye In this corner: hermeneutics, and in this corner: lectio divina. A recent discussion with colleagues about dialoguing with seminarians regarding the personal disciplines of Christian formation prompted this comment, “Some of the students are too much in their heads and not their hearts.” I knew what was meant by the comment about those students because I had them in a three hour session as well. I think the “heart and head” contrast surfaced around hermeneutical issues and... Read more

HOW NOT TO BREAK UP WITH YOUR CHURCH… By Deacon Godsey Pastor, Vintage Church (NOTE: If you’re in a spiritually abusive situation, feel free to disregard the following…these thoughts assume the existence of a fairly normal, run-of-the-mill local church setting where nothing abusive is taking place.) I often feel like one of the things I’ve become most effective at in my role as a Lead Pastor is developing the “spiritual gift of ecclesiastical repulsion,” or “the ability to cause people... Read more

The title to this post will conjure up a variety of different impressions. Some will hark back to old campaign slogans, others will take umbrage at my use of the word “stupid “. Who am I to call anyone stupid! The readers of this blog are not stupid and I’ve just maligned large swathes of people who will take the term as a direct indictment of themselves.  Words communicate meaning.  That meaning can be deep, contextual, and indirect. Meaning is... Read more

This is the first in a series this month on the new, provocative but powerful book by Matthew Bates. Next week we begin a series on the book. Salvation by Grace through Faith… But What Is Faith? (A review by Chad Thornhill) By Chad Thornhill is the Chair of Theological Studies for the Liberty University School of Divinity and the author of The Chosen People (IVP Academic, 2015) and Greek for Everyone (Baker Books, 2016). There are certain concepts which... Read more

The synagogue of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene and most likely a synagogue Jesus visited. Pictures by Erick Hodge: Sir Hodge Read more

Jason Micheli is a United Methodist pastor in DC and popular blogger at www.tamedcynic.org.  [For SMcKnight’s take on fasting, see Fasting.] This week we observe Ash Wednesday, the day when Christians defy every lie sold to us by Madison Avenue, the American healthcare system, and our President’s eerily orange visage. (Not to mention, Warren Beatty is still alive!?) Here’s the lie: We’re not getting out of this life alive. Not a one. Heaven may be but Death definitely is for real. With dismal... Read more