Pastor Paul: Nurturing a Culture of Christoformity in the Church Read more

Here’s his little response to all those who have been asking him questions about his new book, That All Shall Be Saved: Heaven, Hell, and Universal Salvation. Read more

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. BCP Read more

Where did summer go? The Burnt Church’s questions: A crowded mosaic on the floor of an early Christian church overlooking the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel apparently depicts the Miracle of the Multiplication, in which Jesus fed a multitude of 5,000 followers with just five loaves of bread and two fish. Going by Byzantine standards, the floor art in the so-called Burnt Church in Hippos-Sussita is of mediocre workmanship with regard to both the mosaic tiles and the scenery... Read more

Tuesday’s post on creation care highlighted the need for a careful and informed approach to the bible and to biblical theology. There are not easy and straightforward answers to many of the questions raised in our modern world. Unfortunately many Christians have a rather poor understanding of Scripture as a whole and of the nature of the Bible. This does not help matters. Sermons alone are not usually sufficient to raise biblical literacy and understanding. Those of us who attended... Read more

It is, one would think from listening to many so-called thinkers today, that Western Civilization is dead-and-gone, a subject beyond-which-we’ve-moved, and other cultural insults. That being educated into, or formed by, Western civilization is a dangerous illusionary world, a bad social imaginary. Not so, says David Brooks in The Second Mountain. Many say that Western Civ and this kind of Great Books education is an elitist enterprise dominated by dead white males. But Western Civ was and remains radicalism—a subversive, revolutionary... Read more

How can a two to three thousand year old book (with some portions likely older) speak to a 21st century Western audience? Where is the relevance? While some things remain constant (e.g. the draws of selfish desires, money, sex, and power), many of our challenges and cultural norms are quite different. Among other things, animal sacrifice is not a going concern. Many in the church strive to make the stories relevant to draw in the unchurched. I recall a sermon... Read more

Andrew Bacevich is professor emeritus of history and international relations at Boston University. He is the author of numerous books including America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History. The following interview revolves around a recently released collection of his post 9/11 essays with the sobering title, Twilight of the American Century. This interview was conducted by David George Moore. Some of Dave’s teaching videos can be found at www.mooreengaging.com. Note to Jesus Creed/Patheos readers: This book will... Read more

Three books, three levels, each very good in its own way. One exegetical-theological, one analytical-logical, and one exegetical-motivational. One by Lucy Peppiatt: Rediscovering Scripture’s Vision for Women: Fresh Perspectives on Disputed Texts. I have had two posts about Lucy’s very fine book. This will prove to be an influential book from a professor and theological college principal. It is full of wisdom: she knows the debates, what gets folks riled up, and she avoids creating controversy. Rather, she speaks words of peace,... Read more