Guest Post

In noting the death of Chuck Colson, David Sessions at the Daily Beast points to Colson’s role in popularizing the idea--which he got it from Francis Schaeffer, who got it from other Reformed thinkers--that Christians possess a distinct “worldview.”

New today from the Century: The lure of books, Chuck Colson and worldviewism, more.

New today from the Century: Spring book reviews, more.

New today from the Century: The family doesn't come first, where to read the Bible, more.

When I was doing my taxes this year, it occurred to me that the process is a bit like praying the prayer of examen. This Ignatian prayer is used at the end of the day to think back on what happened that day, to ponder where God was in it and to think ahead to the next day. In doing my taxes, I was forced to think back on the events of my life in 2011, both the good and the bad.

New today from the Century: Seeding time, tax prep as Ignatian practice, more.

New today from the Century: Essential books, truncated Eastertide, more.

New today from the Century: Hemingway's yearning, a tax-day miscellany, more.

New today from the Century: Best recent books, pastoring a pastor, more.

New today from the Century: Calvin DeWitt beholds the hippo, Steve Woolley draws some worship lines, more.

New today from the Century: Philip Jenkins on real-world apostasy, Kristine Culp reviews Wendy Farley, more.

On Easter Sunday, Jake Tapper interviewed Rick Warren on ABC’s This Week, asking the influential pastor a series of questions on faith and politics. Of particular interest were his comments on soldiers and war (which did not make it into the aired segment but are available here). At the end of the interview, Warren exclaimed, “God hates war, but loves every soldier.”   As a combat veteran, I was impressed by and grateful for Warren’s statement. The Bible makes clear that war is at best a necessary evil--the idea at the core of the just war tradition. And yes: God loves each and every soldier. But I want to look more closely at the latter thought, especially in light of the suicide epidemic that currently afflicts our nation’s veterans and soldiers.

New today from the Century: Truth is proportional, God loves soldiers, more.

New today from the Century: Walter Brueggemann reviews Frederick Gaiser, Rep. Ryan goes all social-teaching-ish, more.

In a recent interview for the Century, African Methodist Episcopal bishop Vashti McKenzie spoke to Joan Harrell about her use of social media in ministry as well as her vision for a church focused on social justice. You can hear Harrell’s complete interview with McKenzie on her podcast, Empowering Voices.

New today from the Century: Marilynne Robinson on John's prologue, LaVonne Neff reviews books about the devil, more.

This spring, the most interesting question for me about the Occupy movement isn't whether it will find focus or whether it will revive or whether it will make a difference in the election. What I want to pay attention to is the ongoing and generative outpouring of creative politics. The Occupy movement is rich in unedited signs. In my mind, creative placarding will forever be its legacy.

New today from the Century: Craig Barnes's visit to Palestine, Occupy and creativity, more.

New today from the Century: Sara Maitland pursues desert silence, Carol Howard Merritt details the rules of power, more.

New today from the Century: John Buchanan on life after resurrection, Marilynne Robinson's lectionary column for Low Sunday, more.