James C. Howell
Onward to Mordor: 2 Kings 2:1-12
Why does Elijah try to spare Elisha? Does he simply prefer to die alone?
Remember the water: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Could Peter Leithart be on to something when he calls 2 Kings 5 “the richest Old Testament story of baptism,” one that “anticipates Christian baptism”?...
The Discipleship Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version Including Apocrypha
Recently I browsed the front end of the religion section in my neighborhood bookstore, and I found ...
Not Ashamed of the Gospel: Sermons from Paul's Letter to the Romans
When I carried this book into a gas-station diner I saw the waitress look at the title and roll her eyes....
Staying power: Our true vocation
The reason I am still in the ministry is because of the night I decided to leave the ministry. It was my day off. The phone rang, and it was the chaplain at a nearby hospital....
Fellow students: Theological formation in the parish
A quarter century ago, I dreamed of being a teaching pastor....
Best gift: What God wants us to have
The best gift I ever received was something I never wanted....
Invigorating Acts
Browsing through this pair of commentaries on Acts, I found myself wondering, “What are commentaries s...
Lame excuse: Pastors and parishioners
One night over burgers and some libation, a seminary classmate declared, “Theology and exegesis won’t matter once you’re in the parish....
The Way of Jesus
As a clergyman in a mainline denomination, I find myself either bored or annoyed when I even glance over a book ...
What kind of Christian? The man on the train: The man on the train
As our train ambled through the outskirts of London, I thought I would kill some time by quizzing my children on a few items I’d tried to instill in their brains as a little bonus above and beyond their school curricula. I elicited mild groans and chuckles when I asked, “How did the Gettysburg address begin?” and “Can you count to ten in Spanish?” But when I asked, “Can you name the books of the Bible?” a train rider across the aisle turned, and his eyes flew wide open.
Hopeful grieving: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Perhaps the most insidious byproduct of modern apocalyptic scenarios is that grief is shoved right off the table.
What are "talents"? (Matthew 25:14-30)
Talanta doesn't refer to a special ability I have, my passion in life, or this little light of mine. It certainly isn’t a mere $100.
Childish behavior (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8)
Does Paul say "we were gentle among you"? Or "we were infants"?
The Jesus Creed/Loving Jesus
Two bible scholars have weighed in with books that emphasize love as the heart of our life with God—a s...
Quirks of grace: When strange things happen
Ministry is befuddling, either in the way the people we serve are just so very strange, or in the way the grace of God catches us off guard—or both....
What I want for Christmas: A prayer rug
I am surprising my wife, Lisa, with a rug for Christmas, and since she isn’t a reader of this magazine, I trust my secret is safe with you. We weren’t looking for a rug; it just showed up....
