starting to live

An individual has not started living until he (or she) can rise above the narrow contours of their individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Martin Luther King Jr.

Paternoster: suffering and faith

Paternoster: suffering and faith: Two books on suffering and faith. A remarkable book, Raymond Brown, Spirituality in Adversity. English Nonconformity in a Period of Repressi...

suffering and faith

Two books on suffering and faith. A remarkable book, Raymond Brown, Spirituality in Adversity. English Nonconformity in a Period of Repression, 1660-1668 (Paternoster, 2012). A lifetime's research and thought has gone into this book. In it Brown demonstrates the courage of those being persecuted, their faith, their worship and their perseverance in adversity. A magnificently scholarly and pastoral work.
The other is my own, Michael Parsons, Luther and Calvin on Grief and Lament. Biblical Text and Life-Experience (Edwin Mellen, forthcoming). In this I examine how these two pastor-theologians respond to their own and other's adversity and loss: their faith, their centering on Christ and grace, their trust in God the Father and their advice, too.

two awards

Elmer Thiessen, The Ethics of Evangelism (Paternoster, 2010) has just been given two awards in Canada: one for the category of 'culture', the other for 'evangelism'. It's a great book that offers confidence to those of us who want to speak about Jesus and salvation in him in a pluralistic society.

Gospel messengers

'But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent?' Romans 10.14-15. The logic is indisputable - whatever the culture we live in! Tell people about salvation in Jesus.

Grace

'There is no such thing as merit.' 'Everything is forgiven by grace.' Luther. It's just so profoundly simple!

Faith

'Faith is not a feeling, nor is it a magical incantation that turns darkness to light: faith is trusting God even without feeling and even in continuing darkness; faith is faithfulness,' John Colwell, Why Have you Forsaken Me? A personal Reflection on the Experience of Desolation (Paternoster, 2010).