Are you new to Apologetics? Here are three things every Christian should do with the apologetics information they learn from conferences, podcasts, books and other training resources. In my presentations and workshops, I like to call these the three essential elements of everyday apologetics. 1. Find answers for yourself First, know that Apologetics is for you. It helps you, … [Read more...]
Conspiracy Theory
Many today are obsessed with conspiracy theories. They believe that hidden from view those with great power and influence manipulate everything for their personal gain. Behind wars, economic disasters, disease lies the guiding hand of an unseen group of politicians and bankers who really rule the world. They think there is a double-game; a powerful group of kingmakers and … [Read more...]
"Insurgent": Wars, Factions, and Forgiveness
“You said you were waiting?” says Caleb. “What were you waiting for, exactly?” “For the world to fall apart,” Edward says, “And now it has.” _________________________________________________________________________ Veronica Roth’s Divergent introduced us to a utopia gone terribly wrong. Society has been divided into factions, each focusing on a particular character quality or … [Read more...]
"Divergent"
“My father says those who want power and get it live in terror of losing it. That’s why we have to give power to those who don’t want it.” _________________________________________________________________________ Divergent, the first book in the amazingly popular YA trilogy by Veronica Roth, spent months on bestseller lists and was voted "Favorite Book of 2011" in the … [Read more...]
The Christian Story
Apologists seek to defend the truth of the Christian faith, and have many ways to present the one truth. Preaching is one way; reasoned argument, another. But too often Christians today are hesitant to use story as a means of presenting the truth - perhaps through unfamiliarity, perhaps through associations with postmodern and liberal interpretations of Christianity. However, … [Read more...]
The Light that can be found – reflections on a lyric by 3 Doors Down
The song "When I'm Gone" by 3 Doors Down begins this way: There's another world inside of me That you may never see There're secrets in this life That I can't hide Somewhere in this darkness There's a light that I can't find Maybe it's too far away... Or maybe I'm just blind... What struck me about this lyric is the comparison with light and darkness. The Bible uses this same … [Read more...]
Bitterblue: Kingdoms of Truth and Lies
Kristin Cashore's recently released Bitterblue, the sequel to Graceling, premiered at #2 on the New York Times Bestseller List. If early reviews and previous successes are any indication, the list of accolades will be impressive – and deservedly so. Ms. Kashore is a gifted writer who spends years honing her books, and it shows. THE BASIC PREMISE The story takes place … [Read more...]
Evolution, Morality, and Transformers
Recently I saw the movie "Transformers: The Dark Side of the Moon". I almost made it through the whole thing without a single thought about worldviews, philosophy, or apologetics. But, alas, near the end, something happened that my mind couldn't ignore (I pulled out my phone and immediately started taking notes). For those who are unfamiliar with the Transformers' basic … [Read more...]
Graceling: On Monsters and Grace
Publishers Weekly listed Graceling,the debut novel from Kristin Cashore, in its Best Book of the Year list in 2008. Since then, Cashore has published a sort-of prequel called FIre and a sequel titled Bitterblue. Here's Wikipedia's list of awards: Graceling was shortlisted for the ALA's William C. Morris YA Award, is an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, was a Cybils finalist … [Read more...]
Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination by Malcolm Guite (book review)
For as long as people have written, sung, and told stories about God, literature has been a means by which the Holy Spirit has moved individuals to draw closer to Christ. However, the role of the imagination in apologetics and theology has received, until lately, little attention from Christian scholars and apologists. Fortunately, this situation is now being remedied by a … [Read more...]