The Parable of the Rich Fool – Sermon by Nicole Giesbrecht
I’ve been reading a wonderful book called “Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes” by Kenneth Bailey. In it Bailey peels off the layers of western interpretation of the gospels and gives a look at how Jesus original audience might have understood him. It has helped so many...
The ‘Lambkin’ of Revelation: Subverting Apocalypse – Jacob Wright
Is the seemingly violent Jesus in the book of Revelation in contradiction to the nonviolent Jesus of the gospels? Is it true that Jesus came the first time as a lamb but he's coming the second time as a lion? Actually, the whole book of Revelation is...
A Christlike Response to ISIS – Fr. Michael Gillis
One cannot help being deeply troubled by the latest wave of persecution against Christians perpetrated by the ISIS movement. It is a terrible situation that demands from Christians everywhere some sort of response. To do nothing seems intolerable. We feel we must...
Living in Communion, Living in Forgiviness: interview w/ Father Thomas Hopko
Reprinted from February 1995 issue of IN COMMUNION, journal of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship Father Thomas Hopko is dean of Saint Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York, the author of many books and essays, and a member of the advisory board...
“Disarming Scripture” – Brad Jersak interviews Derek Flood
A God of love and genocide? For many Christians the problem of violence in Scripture can result in a crisis of faith--especially when we see how such passages have been used throughout history to justify horrific bloodshed in God's name. Moving beyond typical...
For a Culture of Co-Suffering Love – 2nd edition
Andrew Sopko, For a Culture of Co-Suffering Love: the Theo-anthropology of Archbishop Lazar Puhalo (2nd edition), with a new foreword by Brad Jersak and historical biography by David Goa. 206 pages. $14.95 Available now: ...
The Last Testament of a Beheaded Christian – by Brian Zahnd
Christian de Chergé was a French Catholic monk and the Trappist prior of the Tibhirine monastery in Algeria. With the rise of radical Islam in 1993, Father Chergé knew that his life was in danger. But instead of leaving Algeria, Father Chergé chose to stay and...
Who Would Jesus Behead? – by Boyd Barrett
The recent shoreline scene of orange-clad followers of Jesus kneeling before the severing power of metal still haunts me.The pure horror of that line of sword-wielding terrorists rips at the fabric of my faith. Where is justice? There must be vengeance! But as I think...
Massacres in the Name of Religion – Monte Wolverton
It had been some twenty years since I visited France, so when I was invited to the 33rd annual St. Just le Martel Cartoon Festival, I had to find a way to go. St. Just le Martel is a village east of Limoges, about four hours south of Paris by train. I traveled with...
Book Review of Brad Jersak’s ‘Her Gates Will Never Be Shut’ – by Rob Grayson
Today I’m delighted to be reviewing Her Gates Will Never Be Shut: Hope, Hell, and the New Jerusalem by Brad Jersak, published in 2009 by Wipf & Stock. Hell is a subject which, in my experience at least, is not often openly spoken about in churches and...