William P. Young's The Shack is the most engaging book I have read in ten years. My wife and I have given away a couple dozen copies (so far!) and are recommending it to all our friends.

This isn't "dry, boring theology"; it is a novel. It pulls together in a creative way some healthy insights about the nature and activity of God in order to tackle the problem of human suffering. You owe it to yourself to read this book. My guess is that you will wind up sharing it with your friends and inviting them to discuss it with you. Click here to order.



This Week's Fax of Life

MERCY
We have circled back to the discussion of “civic responsibility” in light of recent events in Richmond, California.[more]





This Week's Sermon

LOVING THE PERSON WHO ISN'T "ONE OF US"
The best way for the church to get clear about our mission in the world is to study the life of Jesus.[more]



REMEMBER THE BASICS
With the World Series in progress, maybe a baseball story is in order.[more]

HOW TO THINK OF GOD
There is a lot to be learned about God from paying attention to infants.[more]

RESPECT AND TRUTH-TELLING
I had occasion recently to read a classic piece of Russian literature called The Death of Ivan Ilych.[more]

WHEN YOU KNOW EVERYTHING
One of my all-time favorite quotes is from Coach John Wooden, who turns 99 this Wednesday (Oct 14, 2009).[more]