On Monday, Feb 22, Reformed Christians remember the adjournment of the Westminster Assembly in 1649. This collegium of august theologians produced the Westminster Confession and Larger and Shorter Catechisms - documents that profoundly shaped the course of British and American Christianity. This Assembly held one thousand one hundred and sixty three sessions over a period of … Continue reading The Bible in a Year Challenge – Week 9 (Feb 21-27)
Author: Russell Smith
The Bible in a Year Challenge – Week 8 (Feb 14-20)
On Feb 16, we commemorate the birth of reformer Philip Melanchthon (1497). A collaborator of Martin Luther, Melanchthon was a keen thinker who wrote the first protestant systematic theology. He was known for his piety and his even headedness. For more information about this under-celebrated reformer, check out the Christian History Institute's website. Notes for … Continue reading The Bible in a Year Challenge – Week 8 (Feb 14-20)
The Bible in a Year Challenge – week 7 (Feb 7-13)
The Sunday before Ash Wednesday is the day that liturgical churches celebrate Transfiguration Sunday (known in some circles by the catchy name "Quinquagesima Sunday"). On this day, we recall when Jesus' full glory was revealed to Peter, James, and John (pictured here in a painting by Raphael). The texts we read this week are … Continue reading The Bible in a Year Challenge – week 7 (Feb 7-13)
I Should Have Loved This Book, But I Didn’t: A Review of “Ready Player One”
Full disclosure: I am a Gen Xer. An 80s geek-child. I spent my teen years as a Trek loving, comics collecting, D&D playing, all-things-Spielberg fanboy. I geeked out on EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth (the original ride, with the Walter Cronkite voiceover). I saw the original Dune in theaters and liked it. When other kids went out … Continue reading I Should Have Loved This Book, But I Didn’t: A Review of “Ready Player One”
2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 6 (Jan 31-Feb 6)
On Wednesday, Feb 3, liturgical churches commemorate St. Ansgar, who in the 9th century was sent to evangelize Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Today, he is known as "The Apostle of the North." Here, Ansgar is depicted by the great 19th c painter Gustaf Olaf Cederstrom. Reading Notes for the Week The Tabernacle: This week’s passage … Continue reading 2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 6 (Jan 31-Feb 6)
Monthly Mini Reviews for January 2016
As we work our way through the 2016 52 book challenge, I’m going to try (once again) to offer monthly mini-reviews of the books I complete. Last year, I fizzled out on this part of the project in February - we’ll see how well I do this year. But first some observations about this year’s … Continue reading Monthly Mini Reviews for January 2016
2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 5
On Jan 27, Liturgical churches remember the great saint John Chrysostom, a great fourth century preacher, leader, and defender of the Christian faith. Chrysostom's sermons from his service in Antioch are still fresh and relevant for today, but he is most famed for his tenure as archbishop of Constantinople. During that office, Chrysostom preached against … Continue reading 2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 5
2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 4
On January 18, liturgical churches commemorate the confession of Peter's faith in Christ as the Messiah (see Matthew 16:13-20). Protestant churches look to the confession itself as a key element of Christian unity. The witness of the apostles is a foundation upon which the whole church is built, as it says in Ephesians 2: 19-22: … Continue reading 2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 4
2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 3
This Sunday, liturgical churches across the world commemorate the Baptism of Christ. This is a time to recognize Christ's humility and submission to the Father. The One who had no need to repent submitted to a penitent's ritual; the One who was perfectly clean humbled himself to receive a sinner's bath. As we go through this … Continue reading 2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 3
2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 2
This week, we enjoy the classic church holiday of Epiphany (January 6). Traditionally observed as the end of the 12 days of Christmas, Epiphany is a celebration of God's appearance with us in the person of Christ. Many traditions associate the Magi's visitation of the Holy Family (Matthew 2:1-12) with this holiday. However the Big Idea … Continue reading 2016 Bible in a Year Challenge – week 2
Horizons of the Possible 