Feb 2, 2013

A Word to Seminary Students

  
Michael Kruger has good and balanced advice for seminary students here.
 

Feb 1, 2013

Free Audio of God's Smuggler


Christianaudio.com's free audiobook download for the month of February is God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew and John and Elizabeth Sherrill. This is a 35th anniversary revised edition of a much read story of one man's efforts to smuggle Bibles into closed countries.

For more information or to get your download go here
 

Jan 31, 2013

Interview with Kenneth Bailey


The Christian Post has an interview with Kenneth Bailey concerning Bible Interpretation here. Bailey is probably best known for his book Jesus Through Middle-Eastern Eyes.

Jan 30, 2013

Common Mistakes in Preaching Genesis

  
Peter Mead has a brief but helpful discussion of three common mistakes in preaching Genesis here.
 

"Bible-Minded" Cities In The United States

  
See this Huffington Post article and slide show on the most And least "Bible-minded" Cities in the United States.
  

Jan 29, 2013

Review of Contextualization in World Missions



A. Scot Moreau, Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical Models (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2012). A. Scot Moreau is Professor of Intercultural Studies at Wheaton College, a former missionary in Africa, and the author of numerous articles on missions in journals and books.

Moreau’s book might be better titled “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Contextualization but Were Afraid to Ask.” Contextualization, a term which entered the missional context in 1972, is defined by Moreau as “the process whereby Christians adapt the whole of the Christian faith (forms, content, and praxis) in diverse cultural settings” (p. 46).

By way of overview, this book consists of 14 chapters and six appendices. The major content is divided into two major sections. The first section addresses the foundations for evangelical contextualization. The second, and larger, section maps out evangelical models for contextualization. The book is not light reading and clocks in at 429 pages. Each chapter is helpfully organized with an overview, chapter outline, main body, definitions of keywords, and questions for reflection. There are also numerous charts and diagrams. Moreau’s attention to detail is obvious. There is much to like and to learn here.

The challenge for many readers not already familiar with missiology in general and contextualization in particular is the breadth and depth of this work. As already noted, Moreau tries to make this work reader-friendly, but although I have a working familiarity with the issues, I still found it a bit overwhelming at times. I also wish that there had been more interaction with the Bible and theology, but the author makes it clear that he has taken a different approach. So this is more of an expression of personal preference than a criticism.

Overall, Contextualization in World Missions provides a major contribution to the study of missiology and contextualization. If either is one’s area of study or interest, then there is a wealth of information to be found here. Readers with less interest or exposure to the discussion will likely find the book a bit much. In any case, you can read an excerpt here.

Thanks to Kregel for providing this free review copy.


Jan 28, 2013

New Bible Atlas Resource

  
Todd Bolen has announced a new Bible atlas resource produced by Bill Schlegel. Read more about it here.
 

Jan 27, 2013

Follow-Up on Picture Taking Tips

I have received some very positive feedback related to my recent series on picture taking tips for the Holy Land which can be found here, here, and here. I am especially grateful to Todd Bolen who offered some encouragement and sage advice early on. Mark Hoffman also has some helpful responses and additions to my posts here and here.