“Surely, Lord, it is not I?” So often we know even before we ask that it is.   We, like Judas, like all the disciples, like every disciple who has ever lived, have betrayed Jesus for the most trifling of rewards.   May we, too, feel the burn of Jesus’ eyes as he speaks […]

If you’re in West Michigan on October 15th, plan to attend the day conference at GRTS on Christian civic engagement. I’m very pleased to participate in this along with two excellent scholars. Amy Black teaches political science at Wheaton College and has written Honoring God in Red or Blue: Approaching Politics with Humility, Grace, and […]

With the number of theological schools in the Southwest and especially in Southern California, the Los Angeles Theology Conference seems like something that should have been going on for some time already. The first of several planned conferences is focused on Christology, and it boasts an impressive lineup. Check out the press release from Zondervan, […]

My friend and colleague in New Testament studies, Michael Pahl, has a new blog: Rustlings in the Grass. First, a warning: Michael is Canadian.  He is, however, a seriously thoughtful Christian person who writes with a  wonderfully light touch.  His posts have been thought-provoking and very interesting, so do make his blog a regular stop! […]

The winner of last year’s ArtPrize contest, “Crucifixion,” by Mia Tavonatti, is on display in the lobby of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.  They installed it today and it is just stunning. It’s a stained glass mosaic and is most certainly worth a visit to the seminary building to have a look. Here’s a glimpse of […]

I’ve mentioned previously that one of the tasks of Christian teachers and pastors is to continue to shape the imaginations of Christian communities by creatively capturing gospel realities through new and faithful expressions. When we use the same old speech patterns to speak of Christian realities, those realities become less and less compelling.  We lose […]

I’ve been discussing passive-aggressive relational postures on and off for the last few weeks.  It’s worth lifting up the hood on this basic relational orientation because it is so pervasive and so subtle. Many Christians are self-deceived into imagining that passive-aggressive attitudes and behaviors are somehow closely related to cruciformity and humility. But they most […]

A personality profile once indicated that I tend to judge others on their verbal skills.  I’ll admit it.  I am indeed highly attuned to others’ facility with words. As I’ve indicated previously, this can be a problem for me since my sole engagement with radio and television has to do with sports.  Listening to former […]

Rep. Todd Akin’s comments about rape last week ignited a firestorm.  His ignorance of female anatomy and human reproduction, and his insensitivity to rape victims caused great offense. There is much I’d like to say about many aspects of this discussion, but I’ll make just this one point: If I were a policy-maker in power […]

When you think of the Apostle Paul, what sort of contemporary job or career or social station do you imagine him occupying? Do you see him as an executive person, an administrator?  Does he wear business casual, shop at a department store, play golf, drive a sporty 4-door car, and live in a leafy suburb? […]