It has been almost three years since I traveled across the state of Alaska with four other energetic college students and recent grads.  The destination was not as far from home for me as it was for everyone else since I was born and raised in interior Alaska, but the experience has had a great effect on every step I have taken since the last day of debrief in August 2005.  It was the kind of summer one has to recover from.  By now I have gone through the stages of depression, withdrawal, doubt, times of seriously questioning my sanctification....  But even today, talking to my friends from SEND of Alaska's Summer Missionary Program (SMP) sometimes reminds me of what I imagine an AA meeting to be like.  ... more

In the thirty years since its inception, the so-called New Perspective on Paul (NPP) has attracted both eager followers as well as vehement critics for its treatment of the gospel. Some of the most trenchant criticisms have come from scholars, often of the Reformed tradition, who allege that the New Perspective undermines the traditional doctrine of "justification by faith." My aim, then, is to assess the proposals of leading New Perspective scholars N.T. Wright and James D.G. Dunn in order to better understand just what they have done with justification. (And this is only meant to be a kind of ‘readers' introduction; for me, it was important to come to an understanding of the essential argument so that I could engage faithfully with recent New Testament theology, I hope it might serve the same purpose for you). In my read of things, it becomes quickly apparent that the new understanding of Paul around the issue of justification, far from undermining the gospel, actually encourages a richer and fuller understanding of the gospel and its implications for people of faith.

In his letter to Boniface, history's most quoted bishop, Augustine has a lot to say. Throughout the letter, the reader is struck by many attributes, among them are his compassion, strength, logic, and his reliance on the Scriptures. The letter opens by complimenting Boniface for his fervent desire to know the truth of Christ. Wasting little time, Augustine dives right in by mentioning the Arians and the Donatists. Avoiding the temptation of taking the side of either, Augustine points out the flaws in both, however, this letter is certainly more concerned with the Donatists.

When the above painting was first exhibited, there was a gigantic uproar. To a twenty-first century audience, John Everett Millais' painting ‘Christ in the House of His Parents' would rarely raise an eyebrow in response. More likely it would be glanced over simply as a realistic, but uninteresting biblical scene. If one reads criticism from the time period, however, one realizes two points. First, viewers were genuinely angry and disgusted with Millais' depiction of the holy family. Secondly, there really was a reason for the dismay-at least to those writing the critiques. "We are presented with that which is merely disgusting," wrote the author of A Glance at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, 1850, "forced and painful attitudes; elaboration of ugliness; expatiation on sordid or unimportant details; and all this to the contemptuous banishment of the mysteries and beauties of nature."[1] Another critic, Wornum, is quoted: "The dirty corrugated skin of an emaciated frame" should never, ...[be selected as ] model for sacred or historic character"; "The physical ideal alone", he went on, "can harmonise with the spiritual ideal: in Art, whatever it may be in Nature in its present condition, the most beautiful soul must have the most beautiful body; lofty sentiment and physical baseness are essentially antagonistic; even in the lowest sinks of poverty in the world, the purest mind will shine transcendent."[2] ... more

there i lay, my body
trembling,
leaf-like,
in the wind of wondrous discovery.

there i stayed, my mind
roving,
winding---
why was i made steward of such mysteries? ... more