Category Archives: IM Recommended Reading

IM Book Review: What I Learned from Cancer

What I Learned from Cancer By Dennis Maione Prompters to Life / Winnipeg (September 19, 2014) • • • I very much doubt that the author of “What I Learned from Cancer”, Dennis Maione, remembers this, but we shared a house for six weeks. It was actually Dennis’ roommate Bazyl that I met first. InContinue reading “IM Book Review: What I Learned from Cancer”

Creation Is a Many Splendored Thing (2): Genesis 1:1-2:3

The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength.He has established the world; it shall never be moved; your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. • Psalm 93:1-2, NRSV As the Bible’s first creation account, Genesis 1 enjoys pride of place. Positioned asContinue reading “Creation Is a Many Splendored Thing (2): Genesis 1:1-2:3”

Creation Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1)

Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. • Proverbs 9:1 Though separated by over two and a half millennia, the authors of ancient Scripture and numerous scientists of today find themselves caught up in a world of abiding astonishment. • Brown, William P., The Seven Pillars of Creation • • •Continue reading “Creation Is a Many-Splendored Thing (1)”

My So-Called Evangelical Life (2)

In spite of the televangelism scandals and the failed presidential run of Pat Robertson, the evangelical right remained the political and cultural baseline for measuring the status of religion in American public life. The emergence of groups like Moral Majority, wrote theologian Richard John Neuhaus in the mid-1980s, “kicked a tripwire” in the ongoing church-stateContinue reading “My So-Called Evangelical Life (2)”

My So-Called Evangelical Life (1)

This book explores the place and meaning of evangelical Christianity in the United States from the 1970s through the first decade of the twenty-first century. It pays particular attention to the uses that a diverse array of Americans — self-proclaimed evangelicals, of course, but also movement conservatives, secular liberals, journalistic elites, and sundry others —Continue reading “My So-Called Evangelical Life (1)”

Paul among the Philosophers

But in essence, Wright’s argument in this part is fairly simple. Paul needs to be understood against all of these backgrounds — Greek, Jewish and Roman, imperial and local, philosophical and cultural — but primarily, he is a second-temple Jew, and a Pharisee at that. • Andrew Wilson A Review of Tom Wright’s Paul andContinue reading “Paul among the Philosophers”

Another Look: The Apocalyptic Luther

Note from CM: This was first posted as an IM Book Review in December, 2012. I offer it again today (with a few edits), because it brings together emphases from this past week of posts: eschatology and the Reformation. It was eye-opening to me to realize the extent to which Luther was influenced by LastContinue reading “Another Look: The Apocalyptic Luther”

Matthew B. Redmond: The Apostle Paul or the Person in the Pew?

Note from CM: Matthew B. Redmond is a good friend of Internet Monk. He has written for us on this week’s subject, and we have reviewed his book, which holds up as one of the finest, most needed books in recent years. See the links below for those posts. Matthew B. Redmond: The God ofContinue reading “Matthew B. Redmond: The Apostle Paul or the Person in the Pew?”

Paul Zahl: Grace in Pastoral Ministry

  He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory. – Matthew 12:20, NRSV * * * Pastors see many things. It is easy to get angry in ministry. One can become overwhelmed by brokenness, dysfunction, and trouble in people’s lives. A pastor feels responsible. AContinue reading “Paul Zahl: Grace in Pastoral Ministry”