Devotional Recommendations?

Students and friends often ask me what books I would recommend for devotional reading.  I admit I am not entirely sure what sort of book they are looking for.  If by devotional they mean a book they can read a few pages each morning that will provide spiritual reflection throughout the day, then nearly anything …

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The Grand Paradox by Ken Wytsma (Review)

Honestly, I did not expect much from The Grand Paradox by Ken Wytsma. I had never heard of the author but I picked it up when I saw a few people recommend it on Twitter...and it was free for a few days. After reading some challenging books this summer, from philosophers who hurt my brain …

The Life of Moses by Gregory of Nyssa (Review)

Gregory of Nyssa was one of the Cappadocian Fathers, three Christian thinkers whose work was tremendous in the solidification of orthodoxy int he late 300s.  But they did not just write heady theological tomes, they also wrote profound works on spiritual life.  One of the best is the Life of Moses by Gregory. If you …

Question and Answer Night (Weekly Word)

Last night we had a question and answer night at our CSF meeting.  Full disclosure - I am writing this at 5 PM, two hours prior to the event beginning, though this post will not go up till Friday.  So I do not know for sure what questions will be discussed.  But I do know …

Beliefs and Desires – Thoughts on Pascal’s Pensees (Listening to the Saints)

I used to write a "Weekly Word" every Friday, devotional thoughts geared towards the CSF students at PSU Berks.  This summer I am bringing the Weekly Word back in hopes of providing spiritual support to the students while they are home. Blaise Pascal lived in France in the mid-1600s and by all accounts was a …

A Review of Just a Few of Eugene Peterson’s Many Great Books

Sometimes when I begin a new book, I am gripped from page one and tear through the book rather quickly.  Other books are slower to grab me, it takes a few chapters, but eventually I get sucked in.  Then there are Eugene Peterson books.  Eugene Peterson is best known for his translation of the Bible, …

What A Student Who Loves Doctor Who Taught me About Faith

This article was written for my December newsletter, sent out to all supporters of my ministry at PSU Berks.  I thought it was worth posting here too. On Monday, November 23 I found myself in a theater surrounded by "Whovians."  For those of you who don't know - a "Whovian" is a fan of the …

The Beauty of Silence

"I really loved how we didn't have cell phone coverage this weekend." "I wish there were more places back home where cell phones didn't work." These were just two comments I heard from students as we headed home from our annual fall retreat this past weekend.  The retreat takes place at Sylvan Hills Christian Camp …

The Journal of John Woolman – A Not-Review

John Woolman was a Quaker who lived just prior to the American Revolution.  But he is not known for anything to do with that, for he was fighting a much bigger fight, speaking our against slavery while the vast majority of people in the colonies still accepted it.  Woolman did not just speak out about …

How I Spent My Summer (well, part of it)

My introduction to Dallas Willard came in my first semester of seminary when we were assigned read his Renovation of the Heart in a class called Shaping the Heart of a Leader.  We read other books on the soul of a leader, but this was the most difficult one.  I do recall the professor admitting this …