Is the Book of Revelation a narrative or is it something else? Something else says Craig Koester in Revelation and the End of All Things. Here is his “outline.”   I quote Koester’s brief explanation, and his approach undoes the “then this and then this and following that then this” approach. Rather than a linear reading Revelation is to be ready cyclically with each cycle to be taken as a centralization of the themes of the Book. Those who read Revelation... Read more

Source: WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Coptic Christians have been nominated for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for their refusal to retaliate against deadly and ongoing persecution from governments and terrorist groups in Egypt and elsewhere. The Copts, who are the indigenous people of Egypt and number as many as 20 million around the world, have been the victims of centuries of violence and oppression for practicing their Christian faith, chiefly in Egypt. Although organizations such as the Red Cross have won the Nobel Peace Prize, it... Read more

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; 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

Why Should the Devil Have all the Good Music? Greg Thornbury is the former president of The King’s College in New York City. He presently serves as Vice President at the New York Academy of Art. Greg’s latest book, Why Should the Devil Have all the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock https://www.amazon.com/Should-Devil-Have-Good-Music/dp/110190707X frames this conversation. The interview was conducted by David George Moore. Some of Dave’s videos can be seen at www.mooreengaging.com and his writing... Read more

Good morning! Joel Shannon: For months, a Pennsylvania man diagnosed with terminal cancer has been holding regular yard sales to help pay for his own end-of-life expenses. Now, those costs aren’t a worry any more thanks to the kindness of strangers. David Dunkleberger is one of the organizers of a fundraising effort, which has raised tens-of-thousands of dollars. He told USA TODAY that he met the man in need — Willie Davis, 66 — in early August. Dunkleberger and a friend attended one... Read more

By Mike Glenn One of the things I still carry from my southern upbringing in my love for college football. I live for Saturdays in the fall. For me and most of my friends, there was football season, spring practice and recruiting. Our discussions were always about who has the best quarterback, which defense could stop what offense and what top rated high school player was going to which school. Coaches were rated on wins and losses and how well... Read more

Luke Timothy Johnson begins his discussion of miracles in the Old Testament in a surprising place, but perhaps it ought not surprise us. Where does he begin? With prayer. Is prayer a miracle? If it is not, is it prayer? We are looking again at Luke Timothy Johnson’s new book on miracles, Miracles: God’s Presence and Power in Creation. The convictions for which I argued in part 1 continue here as I turn to an explicit engagement with Scripture. First,... Read more

I have been very busy lately. The beginning of the term, a major deadline, and a little traveling … and limited time to write. This is a repost, lightly edited with a few examples added, but one worth thinking about. More often than I am asked how I as a scientist can be a Christian, I am asked how I, as an educated woman, can be a Christian. After all, the questioner generally continues, Christianity oppresses women. Unfortunately we don’t... Read more

What happens to the Book of Revelation in church on Sundays? Craig Koester, Revelation and the End of All Things, has a very interesting set of observations about this question, and the answer is two-fold: The lectionary avoids most of it. The songbook is filled with lines from Revelation. Because the lectionary avoids most of it, most preachers in lectionary-based churches avoid the Book of Revelation. But it is my suspicion that very few in those lectionary based churches recognize the... Read more