In a world without taboos the only taboo is God. A higher power reminds of limitations, authority, and that something greater than number one exists. The rock star imagines himself as a human deity, and his many worshippers treat him accordingly. God’s a real buzz kill in that anthropocentric universe.   Babel, Mumford & Sons’... Continue Reading

So if perchance U2 and One Direction do not unite and thus revolutionise your church life this year through ushering in the millennium, you may have to fall back on those hackneyed biblical staples, the ordinary means of grace. In that desperate situation, these are two books which you will find most helpful.   It... Continue Reading

We can no longer afford the conceit that our helpful and powerful technologies—for all their help and all their power—come without remarkable human costs. “But these days, our problems with the Net are becoming too distracting to ignore … The ties we form through the Internet are not, in the end, the ties that bind.... Continue Reading

It was a sneaky thing that Victor Hugo did, publishing this book 150 years ago. We can’t have Bibles in schools anymore, but still we have “Les Miserables,” which puts forth the essence of the Christian faith as well as John, Mark, Matthew, and Luke — and with a much better soundtrack, it must be... Continue Reading

Still, Shortt notes the causes of conflict often are more mundane, such as differences in lifestyle, or fears that hard-working, thrifty and self-disciplined Christians may have an edge over their neighbors in the daily competition for survival. “I reject the…fantasy that holds Islam to be uniquely violent,”   Book Review:  Christianophobia, Rupert Shortt, 298 pp.... Continue Reading

The Two Kingdoms doctrine asserts that God rules all human institutions and endeavors, but in two very distinct ways…God rules his church as Redeemer through Jesus Christ. Thus, the church is God’s “spiritual kingdom.” He also rules the state and all other social institutions outside the church. However, he rules this “civil kingdom” only as... Continue Reading

Any properly functioning society needs justice. Knowing when to temper it with mercy can be a challenge for societies and individuals. The proper balance helps make civilizations civilized. Which world would you rather inhabit: one tilting toward Valjean’s mercy or Javert’s legalism?     Could receiving a healthy dose of kindness and mercy help transform... Continue Reading

The big question: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?  It’s a movie about a science fiction book right? No! Though to be fair, for some of you the answer is yes. (Please stop reading if you are one of these people).   Some may say producer/director Peter Jackson’s latest J. R. R. Tolkien adaption is an... Continue Reading

When I say “best” I have several questions in mind: Was this book well written and enjoyable to read?  Did I find it personally challenging, illuminating, edifying, or entertaining?  Is it a book I am likely to reread or consult often?  Do I see myself frequently recommending this book to others?   This was a... Continue Reading

If you want to understand your Bible better, read this book. The authors glorify God by teaching his promises to which we can hold fast. We may break our promises, but God was pleased to make a covenant with his people, and then fulfill the full sanctions of that oath. He delivered his righteousness in... Continue Reading