Martin Thielen’s new book has a provocative title, but the title only gets us to open the book to a very serious topic that is handled responsibly and pastorally. The title: What’s the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian?: A Guide to What Matters Most. (For how to use this book in the church, see this site.) Last week we looked at the first five things Christian’s don’t need to believe, and we’ll add the next five... Read more
Jeff Cook, author of Seven: The Deadly Sins and the Beatitudes , has offered some brief meditations for us to ponder during Lent this year. Envy During Lent, we will meditate together on the Seven Deadly Sins and use this list as an aid in confession as we prepare ourselves for Holy Week, Good Friday and the Easter announcement of resurrection. The Deadly Sins are soul-poisons and envy is one of the most lethal. Envy cares nothing for my good,... Read more
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Read more
If you don’t know Geeding, follow him here. But tonight let’s help him name his little dog… Read more
This is from Laura Barringer, who a few years back was Laura McKnight. Which means, yes, Laura’s our daughter and she’s a primary grades teacher. This post is about Laura’s efforts to help her kids do some service learning by helping the needy of Haiti. Nice story, and I hope we can have some conversation today about what local schools are doing for relief efforts in the world. Here’s her post: Young Children Advocate for Social Justice by Laura Barringer... Read more
Rachel Held Evans is a young author, a talented writer, with a story of common experience to tell. Rachel’s book, Evolving in Monkey Town, is the memoir of a young Christian wrestling with the meaning and implications of Christian faith. Playing off the history of the Scopes trial, the theme of Rachel’s memoir is the evolution of faith – not the evolution of Christianity, as though we are moving from an inferior past to a more highly developed form for... Read more
Miroslav Volf, Professor at Yale, on the dedication page of his new book — Allah: A Christian Response, says this: To my father, a Pentecostal minister who admired Muslims, and taught me as a boy that they worship the same God as we do. Some of you may know Miroslav Volf grew up in Croatia/Yugoslavia, so his past is particularly suited to the content of this book. And there is our question: What are our options about working together with... Read more
From CBE’s Arise, by Jenny Dunham: Jenny Dunham is a recent graduate of Bethel University with a BA in biblical and theological studies. She is currently a CBE employee. * * * * * My questions: What are you doing to make sure women are part of the story of your church? of the Bible? of church history? Do you talk about women in the Bible? Do your folks know the women of the church? Which women have you mentioned... Read more
The book is by Dan Abrams: Man Down: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt That Women Are Better Cops, Drivers, Gamblers, Spies, World Leaders, Beer Tasters, Hedge Fund Managers, and Just About Everything Else. If anyone wants to review this book for this blog, send me the review. Read more
I stood in horror watching the blogosphere light up last week, but my horror was not simply over the accusations made against an author whose book was not even yet available nor just over those who were denouncing Rob Bell for what they were absolutely certain was universalism. No the horror was that there was a volley of posts put up about hell. It looked like a tug of war between Love Wins! and Wrath Wins! Is this what we... Read more
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