What if I said that all humans beings are inherently vile, evil, and despicable? What if I then said that we were all born that way, and it was impossible to ever be good using what we know, learn, and…
Monthly Archives: March 2014
DEUTERONOMY INTERPRETATION by PATRICK D. MILLER
***** (of 5) The bottom line: An insightful, comprehensive, and outstanding volume to conclude the Interpretation series on the Pentateuch. The Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy) does not describe the entry into the Promised Land, but does describe the journey…
Posted in Book Reviews
THE BENEFITS OF SLEEP
The benefits of sleep in supporting and maintaining overall health is undisputed. Sufficient sleep aids in healing, improves mood, decreases the level of stress hormones in the body, facilitates learning and memory, and also increases alertness (obviously) and productivity during…
THE SACRED WILDERNESS OF PASTORAL MINISTRY by DAVID ROHRER
***** (of 5) The bottom line: A must-read for anyone involved in pastoral ministry. The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry resolves the dilemma of how pastoral leaders can remain true to the gospel, while recognizing all the internal and…
EVIL AND THE UKRAINE PROTESTS
Thomas Aquinas considered evil to be one not fulfilling his/her telos, or purpose. The telos was a concept taken from Aristotle, who thought of reality in the context of its true end. Aquinas thought of happiness as the ultimate telos,…
SORTING IT OUT: DISCERNING GOD’S CALL TO MINISTRY by ALICE R. CULLINAN
*** (of 5) The bottom line: Depending on the audience, a comprehensive guidebook to assist the unsure into Christian ministry. If you are considering, or feel compelled, to pursue vocational ministry, Sorting It Out will hold your hand and…
THE ARIZONA DISCRIMINATION BILL
Last month, the Arizona State Legislature approved a new law (Senate Bill 1062) that was sent to Governor Brewer for approval—she subsequently vetoed it. The religious right welcomed the rule as a necessary form of protection for those who denounce…
JESUS AND JUSTICE by PETER G. HELTZEL
**** (of 5) The bottom line: An intriguing look at the roots and mission of the modern evangelical movement. In Jesus and Justice, Heltzel describes the origins and subsequent development of the evangelical movement in America. From this common…
INCARCERATION vs. RESTITUTION
What wins the battle of incarceration vs. restitution? Incarceration refers to being in jail; restitution means restoring an injured party to the preinjured condition. Incarceration locks an offender away in a remote guarded prison. In general, restitution allows the offender…
