I recently unsubscribed from a Christian book review site. Why? For the same reason I avoid most Christian book review sites — they’re not objective. As I said in one of my all-time most reviled posts, “most Christian reviewers seem to feel obligated to give good reviews to their brethren.” What results, in my opinion, [...]
When I led the Youth Group in our old church, we regularly played a game called “Spot the Lie.” In it, I would replay a current TV commercial — selling jeans, teeth-whiteners, electronic devices, cosmetic products, etc. — and ask the students to “spot the lie.” The whole premise was that American consumer culture thrives [...]
While watching the hated Yankees defeat the hapless Twins, one broadcaster noted the upbeat clubhouse chemistry of the Bronx Bombers. These Yankees are easy to coach, the announcer noted. Which led to an interesting question about the role and importance of a coach. Who determines the overall health and success of a team anyway — [...]
If post-modern Christianity is faithful to its “relativistic” roots, there is no need to convince anyone of its relevance. Why? Because all faiths are equally true. While pluralism poses a distinct problem for traditional, absolutist, evangelicals, evangelism creates a similar quandary for post-moderns. I mean, why engage someone about the truth of Christianity when one [...]
“The Dude Abides.” What “Dude,” you ask? Well, if it’s Jeff Bridges’ character in the cult classic, The Big Lebowski, then the Dude is a worn out, spaced out, teetering-on-the-edge of transcendent stoner / philosopher. But if you ask Cathleen Falsani, author of the new book The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Coen [...]
I’m in a serious grudge match with my own political convictions. And I am so tired. Like many believers, I’ve come to see biblical faith as more aligned with the Republican Party than the Democratic Party. And for good reason — traditional values, limited government, belief in natural law, liberty over equality, a pro-life plank. [...]
I heard that champagne ages well. Which is probably good for Joe Torre and the Dodgers. You see, they’ve had the bubbly on ice for the last week, ready to celebrate clinching the NL West. Problem is, they played three of the worst teams in the league. The Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego [...]
My article at Novel Journey, What’s More Dangerous, Amish Heroines or Christian Vampires?, has stirred far more discussion than I anticipated. At this writing, there are 34 comments, several of them taking a turn I did not expect. Camille’s comment is representative of a theme that emerged in response to my assertion that Amish fiction [...]
I was recently privileged to preview Lord Save Us From Your Followers, a provocative new documentary from Dan Merchant (his book of the same title was published by Thomas Nelson). Subtitled “Why is the Gospel of Love Dividing America?” the film takes a hard, but pretty fair, look at the state of evangelicalism in the [...]
Christians can’t escape their theology when writing conversion scenes, but neither can they escape their own experience of it. I think this is what Dave Long meant about Christian authors bringing “a level of specificity” to the subject. Perhaps this is why the discussion generated by Dave’s “conversion story” contest dealt largely with theology. In [...]
