Category Archives: Recommendations and Reviews

Thoughts and Review: The Unseen by Craig Wright

The Unseen by Craig Wright, March 16, 2007, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, Humana Festival of New American Plays. It will probably be a long time before you have the opportunity to see Craig Wright’s stunning short play, “The Unseen.” If you get the chance, it will probably be at a university theater performance where someContinue reading “Thoughts and Review: The Unseen by Craig Wright”

Southern Baptists and the Emerging Church: Friends or Foes?

Mark DeVine, theology professor from Midwestern Seminary (and a man who knows his Barth), has looked seriously and deeply at the emerging church and suggests some directions for SBC interaction, avoidance and further study. A measured and competent essay, worth your time. [Or you can watch the video below. It’s more of a summary ofContinue reading “Southern Baptists and the Emerging Church: Friends or Foes?”

Three Resources For A Missional Reading of the Bible

Three good resources for a missional reading of the Bible: one essay, one book, one set of questions. The essay is Notes Toward a Framework For a Missional Hermeneutic by Michael Goheen. Goheen is one of the authors of the outstanding literary/narrative introduction to the Bible, The Drama of Scripture. Goheen is a professor atContinue reading “Three Resources For A Missional Reading of the Bible”

Premiere: Allelon-A Movement, A Resource, A New Web Site

I’m excited to tell you about the re-opening of one of the best websites I can recommend to you: Allelon- A Movement of Missional Leaders. This site involves a lot of people who you know and some you don’t (many from outside the U.S., esp Canada), but one of the main faces is the brilliantContinue reading “Premiere: Allelon-A Movement, A Resource, A New Web Site”

That Music You Hear: Rhodes

The music you hear on this week’s podcast (in and out, not the segment bumpers) is by Daniel Whittington’s new band, Rhodes. Their CD, Half a Mind to Stay is available at CD baby and I would encourage all of the IM audience to check it out. Samples are available at their myspace page. TheContinue reading “That Music You Hear: Rhodes”

Simply or Merely? Comparing Mere Christianity and Simply Christian

Upon finishing N.T. Wright’s Simply Christian, I found myself comparing it to the classic C.S. Lewis book, Mere Christianity. Wright, the publishers and many readers have invited the comparisons as well. I’ve read Mere Christianity many times with my Advanced Bible students. I’m impressed with the durability of Mere Christianity. The chapters were originally deliveredContinue reading “Simply or Merely? Comparing Mere Christianity and Simply Christian”

Recommendations and Reviews: J.F. Powers, “Wheat That Springeth Green”

Just finished J.F. Powers’ novel of the life of an ordinary suburban priest, Wheat That Springeth Green. Maybe I’m starved for a good novel, but it was fine. Great character. Understated, excellent humor. A simple, even profound, vision of the priestly life and ordinary people. Powers seems to have mastered the small, almost invisible worldContinue reading “Recommendations and Reviews: J.F. Powers, “Wheat That Springeth Green””

Recommendation and Review: “Apocalypto”

Back in the day, Hollywood used to occasionally make a movie about the early Christians. Central to those films was a sense that the old world, the Roman world, the world of the old gods, was on the verge of collapse, while the new world shaped by the Christian vision was being born. Hollywood nowContinue reading “Recommendation and Review: “Apocalypto””

Recommendation and Review: “The Pursuit of Happyness”

Every so often, Hollywood surprises you. Imagine that a major studio is making a movie starring a marquee quality African-American actor. The story is set in the Reagan-era 80’s, with an African-American protagonist who, despite being the top of his class and the class of his navy unit, is still on the verge of economicContinue reading “Recommendation and Review: “The Pursuit of Happyness””