I am traveling quite a bit this term – so this is a repost of one of my favorites. We need to read the Bible as the authoritative message of God, but this doesn’t mean that “traditional” readings are always correct. The authority is in the intent and the message. The genre of a book is important. The book of Jonah is fascinating – but it isn’t history. The point isn’t to dismiss the book or to identify “error” in... Read more

This is good, and go to the link to read the rest: My professional life exists at the intersection of creativity, God, and the church; which means my career has been made by trying to describe the indescribable. I work with words–whether with songs or prose–that are patently inadequate to the task I’ve been given. When I was young, I thought my job was to help people see God. Now I think my job is to help people let go... Read more

I couldn’t resist on that blog post title. Source: A rare natural phenomenon which makes it look like wheels of snow have been rolled on their own has been captured in photos. Six rare “snow rollers” were spotted by Brian Bayliss in Wiltshire. He said he spotted them in a field he owns and at first thought they had been manmade but there were no footprints. It is thought the bales are formed when wind conditions are ideal to blow... Read more

How odd that in the span of a few months two books by well-known American pastors appear with the title “Irresistible”? Well, the one for this blog is called Irresistible Faith. (The other one is too frustrating for me to blog about.) Scott Sauls, who in some ways has worn one of the mantle’s of Tim Keller, is a Nashville pastor with a new book called Irresistible Faith, with the subtitle Becoming the Kind of Christian the World Can’t Resist. His Amazon bio says:... Read more

Jemar Tisby, in The Color of Compromise, speaks his theme into challenge: Progress is possible, but we must learn to discern the difference between complicit Christianity and courageous Christianity. Complicit Christianity forfeits its moral authority by devaluing the image of God in people of color. Like a ship that has a cracked hull and is taking on water, Christianity has run aground on the rocks of racism and threatens to capsize—it has lost its integrity. By contrast, courageous Christianity embraces racial... Read more

God’s acts in creation but his action is mediated. He generally acts through some intermediary – even if it is just his word. Robert Bishop in Ch. 2 of of Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins elaborates on a Christian understanding of God’s action, both in the creation of the universe and yet today.  “For God’s action in nature to be mediated means divine activity in creation is shaped by or takes place through something else. That God’s activity in the... Read more

It is rare that a post on this blog focuses on its blurbs, but today is that day. An African American PhD student of history, Jemar Tisby, has a new book out called The Color of Compromise. Good title, clever title, one that grabs my interest, one that makes me wonder if the book is about racism and makes wonder if compromise is or has a color. The subtitle is not so subtle: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in... Read more

I’m taking a few stops at James D.G. Dunn, Jesus According to the New Testament. We call the authors of the first four Gospels the “evangelists” because they are recording the evangel, the gospel itself. That gospel is the story of Jesus. But in telling that story each of the Evangelists presents a distinct, if complementary, view of Jesus. Dunn proceeds through each of the synoptic Evangelists — Mark, Matthew, Luke — drawing out the themes of each. Long ago a... Read more

Paul’s letter to the Philippians has a lot to say to the present world where human feelings and emotions get hijacked by so many force. Lynn and Scot unpack how joy is more than a mood, but a constant experience that comes from receiving one’s identity from Christ. Paul opens his heart up in some profound ways in this letter. The Kingdom takes root and joy overflows when followers of Jesus orient their life around the surpassing greatness of knowing... Read more

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; 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