A Saturday afternoon grab bag: If you like books and book reviews, you’ll want to bookmark the Englewood Review of Books website. Every Tuesday and Friday, a thoughtful variety of book reviews are posted, along with an occasional poem or music review. Browse the site to give yourself a sense of the breadth of the…

“When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him.” – Ps. 116:15 MSG  I remember where I was* in 1982 when I heard the news that Keith Green died. Though I’d never met him in person, his life message of radical discipleship shaped me more than the sermons I sat…

There has been a (welcome) shift in many corners of Evangelicalism in recent years toward story-shaped preaching and teaching. Many pastors and writers have discovered that three alliterative points have more to do with activating short-term memory than engaging spiritual imagination and motivating long-term growth. Dr. Larry Crabb understands this shift. His rich teaching and…

Our youngest son Jacob, 23, regularly surprises us as he’ll offhandedly recount a little snippet of a childhood memory. He remembers the shape of trees, the location of a neighborhood kid war, the texture of food on a plate. I’ve long since forgotten the details that are vivid brushstrokes inside of him. He’s an artist…

About as long as I can remember, the fall, winter and spring seasons have been punctuated by fairly predictable bouts of bronchitis/sinus infections, usually at least two doozies a year. This week, like clockwork, a sinus infection ambushed me, and even the twice-a-day doses of unpleasant antibiotics didn’t work much magic on the misery. When…

“They’re all here to hear John Ortberg, don’t you think?” a first-time attendee at this morning’s Catalyst Lake County “Bonfire” gathering wondered aloud. Warm conversation filled the room as 400+ congregational leaders, community builders, non-profit heads and church champions representing over 75 churches from Lake County, IL (and beyond) spent the morning talking, laughing, weeping,…