In an essay on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, [Marilynne] Robinson declared that “great theology is always a kind of giant and intricate poetry, like epic or saga. . . .”Read more…
A Nation of Immigrants. Part 5 of Welcoming the Stranger Series
Your thoughts, emotions, and responsible actions will not be simple, because you do not face simplicity. We face complexity. And God is asking you to exercise discernment as you follow him into responsible action as we face this moment in our nation.Read more…
Second Week of Advent: The Hope (Scholar’s Compass)
Advent invites us to bring before God every weary and wasted place in us and around us . . . Read more…
Overnaming as The Fall
In this post I want to dive deeper into the original ‘scene of the crime’ for clues toward the character of the relationship between language and naming.Read more…
Why Might Christians Be Involved in Nonviolent or Violent Protests? Lessons from Ukraine’s Euromaidan Protests at Urbana
How can Christians decide when to be involved in conflict, and how can they know when to stop? In the past two years, Christians in Ukraine have faced all of these. How have they responded?Read more…
Advent: The Problem of What Matters
Waiting reminds us that were not center of the universeRead more…
Book Review: The Cross and Gendercide
This book breaks new ground in giving a theological basis in the cross of Christ for Christian advocacy and resistance against violence toward women and girls.Read more…
Book Review: Incarnational Humanism
Christianity and humanism have often been portrayed as foes — Christianity being about God and the other-worldly and humanism being about the greatness of human beings. This weighty book explores why this is a false misconception and how the divideRead more…
Meditation . . . Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible Part 3
I commend to you the Sons of Korah’s setting of Psalm 40 to music.Read more…
Active Waiting . . . Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible Part 2
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. — Psalm 40:1 In Part 1 I asked the question: How do you “read” and/or pray a Psalm as an individual follower of Christ (possibly asRead more…
Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible Part 1
In follow-up to Who Am I? Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer, I will explore Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s understanding of the Book of Psalms as The Prayer Book of the Bible and offer some suggestions for our daily practice. I was inspiredRead more…
Who Am I? Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer: Part 4
Preface Click here for Who Am I? Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer: Part 1, here for Part II (focused upon Bonhoeffer’s historical context), and here for Part III (focused on Bonhoeffer’s theological reflection). As you consider Praying the Psalms as part ofRead more…
Who Am I? Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer: Part 3
Preface Click here for Who Am I? Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer: Part 1 and here for Part 2 (focused upon Bonhoeffer’s historical context). As you consider the relationship of Bonhoeffer’s theology to a life of prayer, I encourageRead more…
Book Review: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Thomas Nelson, 2011) is a long biography not easily summarized in a few paragraphs. What I will do instead is mention some of my takeaways. 1. What a marvelous and unusual thing to see someone fromRead more…
Who Am I? Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer: Part 2
Preface In the process of completing the Christian Devotional Classics series, I was inspired to dig into material which I wrote on the prayer life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Theology and Practice of Prayer Click here for Who Am I? Dietrich Bonhoeffer as a HistoricalRead more…
Book “Review”: The Cost of Discipleship
I’m not going to attempt to “review” such a classic work. Rather, I thought I would comment on what I thought were some striking themes in Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship (1937). One thing is the theme of unqualified obedienceRead more…
Who Am I? Bonhoeffer as a Historical Mentor in Prayer: Part 1
Preface In the process of completing the Christian Devotional Classics series, I was inspired to dig into material which I wrote on the prayer life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for Theology and Practice of Prayer[1]. My intention had been to do such last fall, but IRead more…
Best Christian Book of All Time: Final Four
Over the weekend, voters made their choices for the Final Four in the Best Christian Book of All Time Tournament. Unlike the NCAA’s Final Four, ours was marked by fewer upsets and fewer broken legs. (Please – if you don’tRead more…
Best Christian Book of All Time: Elite Eight Update
The first teams books have arrived in the Elite Eight! Fittingly, this region paired two giants of 20th century apologetics and two giants of theology. Will this regional final answer the question of whether readers prefer accessible apologetics or densely arguedRead more…
Best Christian Book of All Time: The Sweet Sixteen
After a frantic week of voting, our original field of 64 has been whittled down to the Sweet Sixteen! Check out the Round 2 scores below, download the official bracket, and then head to Facebook to begin voting for ourRead more…
Best Christian Book of All Time: First Round Update
The first round has closed in the Theology & Apologetics and Christian Life & Discipleship brackets of our Best Christian Book of All Time tournament. Download the updated bracket for your office pools, and head to Facebook to vote forRead more…
The Best Christian Book of All Time Selection Show
The nominations have closed, the selection committee (of one) has met, and we’re ready to announce the official bracket for the Best Christian Book of All Time Tournament! Download your printable bracket for your office pool, and head over toRead more…
Best Christian Book of All Time: Early Nominations
The nominations are coming in for our Best Christian Book of All Time Tournament (BCBATT for short). So far, more than 140 different books have been nominated, ranging from the 2nd to the 21st centuries. Here are a few ofRead more…