The Upside-Down Kingdom by Donald B Kraybill Marshalls, 1978 318 pages 978 0 551 011 885 Donald Kraybill is, in his own words, ‘a theological layman’. His graduate qualifications in sociology become quickly apparent as you read this book for there is a great deal of sociological reference and explanation in this work – too…
Losing control is the worst of all possible experiences for any human being. Before the onset of the pandemic, you could move about freely, you could travel, you could do more or less as you pleased. The start of the pandemic changed all that. You weren’t able to move about freely or travel and you…
A Flame of Love : a personal choice of Charles Wesley’s verse by Timothy Dudley-Smith Triangle (SPCK), 1987 160 pages Available second-hand from Amazon ISBN 978 0 281 043 002 To remember the bicentenary of the death of Charles Wesley, the greatest of all English hymn writers, as well as the 250th anniversary of…
You can’t go far in reading the Bible without coming across encouragement or a command to show gratitude to God – being thankful. As early as Chronicles (16 : 34), for example, we read – ‘Oh, give thanks to the Lord for he is good…’ Do you tell God in your prayers that he is good…
The preaching service – the glory of the Methodists : a study of the piety, ethos and development of the Methodist preaching service by Adrian Burdon Grove Books, 1991 42 pages £3.50 ISBN 1 851 741 712 These words of John Wesley appear on the title page – “The morning preaching is the glory…
On Jesus by Douglas Groothuis Wadsworth, 2002 £20 98 pages ISBN 978 0 534 583 941 (Wadsworth Philosophers Series) This is one of a series of well over 70 compact volumes dealing with the work and thought of great philosophers, both classic and contemporary. This book by a scholar (professor of philosophy…
When Charles II entered London on 29th May 1660 to reclaim the throne which his father lost, hewas preceded by a kettle drummer and four trumpeters. The musicians acted as heralds announcingthe imminent arrival of someone of great importance – the King of England.John the Baptizer performed a similar function for the imminent arrival of…
Doubt : how to handle it honestly by Alister McGrath IVP, 1990 £2.30 (Amazon) 144 pages ISBN 0 851 108 504 In just six chapters Alister McGrath grapples honestly and positively with one of the difficulties in the Christian life faced by many at some time or other in their Christian journey. Sadly, some regard…
Every square inch : an introduction to cultural engagement for Christians by Bruce Riley Ashford Lexham Press, 2015 160 pages £12 ISBN 978 1 577 996 200 What an excellent little book ! The author, professor of theology and culture at an American theological college, writes about how Christians can and should engage with their…
If you start to make a list of all the things for which you want to thank God, then you will need a very large sheet of paper – a roll of backing paper used in decorating would do – for starters, anyway ! It’s almost certain that one of the items on your list…