Last Fall I began reposting a series on biblical womanhood with intent to expand and extend. Today’s post is a lightly edited repeat of a post from the original series. My contention is that our only true authority is God, with all authority given to Jesus. God calls who he will, when he will, to carry out his work. As humans we are brothers and sisters who stand before Christ. Effective Christian leaders will model, or aim to model, Christ’s... Read more

By JASON SWAN CLARK (Jason and I have known one another since the emerging church days, and we contributed to a book with Kevin Corcoran some years back). He gave me permission to repost this — part of a project he’s working on. (Hear this article in full as an audio recording) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. –... Read more

RJS made me aware of the letter drafted by the Montgomery Improvement Association to instruct folks on how to participate in the bus boycott and at the link is the letter, a letter revealing the methods of ML King Jr, who led the entire protest. I have been asked what to read about Martin Luther King, Jr., and I have always recommended the trilogy by Taylor Branch: Parting the Waters Pillar of Fire At Canaan’s Edge Read more

Martin Luther King. Jr. Letter From Birmingham Jail April 16, 1963 MY DEAR FELLOW CLERGYMEN: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities “unwise and untimely.” Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I... Read more

Here’s the text of Martin Luther King’s famous speech/sermon/address in Washington DC. I remember watching it as a kid on TV. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a... Read more

In my first teaching appointment, a student approached me with a humorous quip: “You’ve been talking so much about Jesus’ teaching about X, Y, and Z, when will we get a lecture on Jesus’ teaching on Jesus’ teaching?” He had a point. Another point can be added to it: Back up one step and we have to ask about Jesus according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and on and on. How important is this? Jesus is, in spite of the... Read more

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.BCP Read more

I’m on a brief mini-sabbatical in Florida, avoiding snow and working on some writing projects. Kris and I have enjoyed pleasant-weather-walks — two per day! Mancow and James Macdonald, and click on that link to read the Mancow Transcription — a very sad set of circumstances with one mistaken move after another. I will be writing something in the near future on elements of what’s happened in the last year, but for now I want to watch these stories unfold... Read more

Interested in getting a taste of Northern? Join us for a class at Northern – seminary.edu/taste One of the single most important steps to becoming like Jesus is learning to read the Bible well. In this episode of Kingdom Roots, I answer significant questions about reading and studying the Bible well. Check out the 2nd edition of The Blue Parakeet here >> amzn.to/2AHl8Ek Read more

By Mike Glenn Wherever two or more Baptists are gathered together, there will be an argument. Someone will have an alternative interpretation of a familiar passage and it will go downhill from there. Sooner or later, one of the good Baptists will respond, “you can’t tell me what to think. We believe in the priesthood of the believer”. Ah, “the priesthood of the believer”. This precious doctrine is very dear to Baptist. The idea that every believer has direct access... Read more