“In a library archive in Surrey can be found the last words Andrew Reed ever wrote. They sum up his philosophy, that true gospel compassion, true gospel charity should look to the needs of the whole person; that individuals should be cared for holistically, both body and soul. They are words of Scripture written in…
Because I review primarily non-fiction I find myself inequipped and lacking confidence in my ability to review fiction. Fiction, after all, is far more subjective than non-fiction. Where a book about doctrine is either right or wrong when measured by the standard of Scripture, a novel can appeal to one person and have no appeal…
As I read Humility by Wayne Mack I could not help but draw comparisons with C.J. Mahaney’s excellent book by the same title. I am glad to say that both books are deeply challenging and saturated in Scripture. Both men are skilled expositors of Scripture and both have a heart for the church. While I…
Wow. I’m really not easy to please when it comes to movies. Film is not my medium of choice and I almost always prefer a good book to a good movie. Rarely does a movie captivate me in the way a book does. As with most people I almost always find a movie to be…
This is the second part of an interview with Dr. Sam Waldron. It would, I’m sure, be helpful for you to read part one first. One issue you do not address in the book, very much anyways, is the issue of guidance. How is the issue of guidance, how God speaks to us, how God…
Friday December 9, 2005 Narnia: Rotten Tomatoes is collecting reviews of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Reviews are a bit mixed. I’ll be catching the earliest show available this morning (11:45). Du Jour: Tim Irvin reflects on this world not being his home. “There’s nothing like living in the cab of a big…
There are few subjects more debated and more hotly debated in the church today than whether or not the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to this day. We have recently seen a great deal of discussion about this issue in the blogosphere. It is an issue which leaves many believers confused, unsure as…
Thursday December 8, 2005 Blogging: I met this guy for the first time yesterday and had a very pleasant chat over a long lunch. He’s the real deal. I even got to experience someone making fun of his name (which he shares with Canada’s esteemed disgraced Prime Minister. A couple of years ago he wrote…
I love the expression “ink has been spilled.” Unfortunately it is not entirely valid in today’s world in which most nonverbal communication happens in a virtual realm of fonts, screens and pixels. As far as I know there is no phrase that adequately replaces it (“keys tapped?” “pixels sent?”). So I will use it even…
It is easy to grow discouraged at the state of the church. As a matter of fact, as one who has invested a lot of time and attention to studying the church, her health and what Jesus requires of her, I often find myself lamenting her state. Writers from all backgrounds and denominations have written…
Wednesday December 7, 2005 Blogspotting: Jollyblogger gives me the rare opportunity to gloat and say, “I told you so!” But, of course, I wouldn’t do that. Du Jour: Ben Witherington grabs those megachurches that cancelled services on Christmas Day, puts them over his knee, and gives them all a sound spanking. “What we are dealing…
I’ll be the first to admit that this week’s King for a Week is not a site that is geared primarily towards a person like me – a married male. However, this does not mean that the site is without value to me. Solo Femininity is the home of author (Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye?),…
If the measure of a book that means a lot to me is the amount of topics it provides for writing then Rediscovering God’s Love by Frank Allred must be a very good one. As I read this book I was continually challenged and found myself constantly scribbling down notes about future topics I would…
Tuesday December 6, 2005 Narnia: “Narnia represents everything that is most hateful about religion,” says a writer for The Guardian. I take this as a good sign. If the producers have been true to the story it should be offensive! Christmas Megachurches across the US have cancelled their Christmas Day services (presumably due primarily to…
Last week Laura Brumley, she of A Practice in Belief fame, wrote a little article she entitled (rather verbosely, I thought) “blogging, the ninth commandment, and your prerequisites to reading this blog.” It seems odd to me that Laura can read “A Reformation Debate: Sadoleto’s Letter to the Genevans and Calvin’s Reply” and “The Enchiridion…
Monday December 5, 2005 Blogspotting: The Thirsty Theologian wished me well on my birthday by posting a rather hilarious photo. Du Jour: Keith at The Christian Mind has an excellent article entitled IM One Another in which he reflects on communication technology. “Painfully aware that there is something wrong with us, we try in vain…
The following is a prayer taken from The Valley of Vision edited by Arthur Bennett. I read this prayer yesterday and was gripped by the honesty and humility it displays. I was challenged to ask myself if I really believe all of this or if I feel I am something just a little bit better.…
I guess that if a movie about Jesus became one of the highest grossing movies of all time (no pun intended), we should not be surprised to see other unusual subject matter become popular at the box office. This is the case with March of the Penguins, a documentary about the life cycle of the…
Today is my 29th birthday. Yes, I know that I’m younger than you thought and that you have children older than me. I get that a lot. Actually, having a birthday in December has always meant that I’m younger than my peers so I am quite accustomed to people saying, “You’re younger than I thought.”…
Friday December 2, 2005 Du Jour: JD Wetterling writes a challenging Confessional Book Review. It is a review of CJ Mahaney’s book Humility and a confession of his own pride. It is just an excellent post. Humor: Marc at Purgatorio hits a home run with his latest photo essay, ” You Might Be Emerging If…”…