Back issues of Christian Odyssey

For a subject index of articles on this website, click here.

June/July 2008

Letters to the editor I couldn’t seem to find who authored “Sinners in the Arms of a Loving God.” Was this an oversight?
I've Been Reading...: Everything Must Change: Global Crises and a Revolution of Hope, by Brian McLaren; review by Brenda Steffen. McLaren asks two main questions: what are the biggest problems in the world, and what does Jesus say about them?
Editorial: Don't just accept the Trinity, by John Halford. A tall, thin, rather severe-looking clergyman made a beeline for us.
Cover story: We were always on his mind, by Joseph Tkach. Through the atoning Incarnation of the Son, Jesus Christ, humans are already forgiven, reconciled and saved in him.

Free to be, by Mike Feazell. John wasn’t interested in the limelight. He was interested in preparing the way for someone else.

In Other Words: Hand in hand, by Kalengule Kaoma. Just as hands work together for a common purpose, people working together will accomplish much.

It was OK for Timothy, by Kerry Gubb. Timothy had Paul to help him grow. Whom do you have?

Bystander: The great fever, by Joyce Catherwood. We greeted him, filled with anxiety over my mother’s condition.

Developing a spending plan with a "virtual cookie jar" by Brent Baker. Very few people today have a spending plan, or budget, to manage their personal finances.

Saying grace graciously, by Paul Hailey. I don’t think God makes junk food nutritious even when we ask him to.

Christian word crossword puzzle. (pdf format) Designed by Christopher Sealey based on articles in this issue of Christian Odyssey.

Mid-life melancholy, by Barbara Dahlgren. We have more, more, more of everything, yet feel less, less, less satisfied.

Church History Corner: Karl Barth: "prophet" to the church, by Paul Kroll. Karl Barth has been called “the most outstanding and consistently evangelical theologian that the world has seen in modern times.”

Home Base: Our children's heroes, by Jeb Egbert. I cherished that time with my dad. It wasn’t what he said to me, and it certainly wasn’t the level of basketball training.

Being human, by Bill Winn. Religion makes people think that being real, being really human, is either wrong or not good enough.

Bible Study: We were not a burden: a study of 1 Thessalonians 2, by Michael Morrison. A critic might have said: Paul gave his spiel, but only a few gullible people fell for it, so Paul left to try his luck somewhere else.
Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Ekklesia.

Hmm... A Jewish economist stunned his host by praying, “Lord, I pray that Jews would come to know Jesus Christ."

Entire issue in PDF format (3 megabytes)

April/May 2008

Letters to the editor
I've Been Reading...: The Shack Book by William Young; review by Rick and Sheryl Shallenberger
Editorial: There is a hole in my campus. By John Halford. The only thing that we can take with us is relationships.
Cover story: Sinners in the arms of a loving God, by Paul Kroll. What is hell, is anyone going there, and why?

In Other Words: Sorting the seed. By Kalengule Kaoma. My mother taught me how to preserve good seed.

"A place where everybody belongs." By John McLean and Kerry Gubb. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd led a bi-partisan motion of apology on behalf of the country.

Fluffing the faith, by Fraser Henderson. Should you be that comfortable with your Bible?

Getting Real, by Mike Feazell. Life has much more to offer than "keeping up appearances."

Speaking of Life: The perfect communicator, By Joseph Tkach. God has taken the initiative for us to know him.

Celebrating "Holland," by Brenda Gordon. "Welcome to Holland" is an insightful essay about giving birth to a disabled child.

Bystander: Lunch basket extraordinaire, by Joyce Catherwood. I gave the basket to my son and gently pushed him toward Jesus.

Church History Corner: Irenaeus and the second-century church, by Paul Kroll. The most important theologian of the second century.

Buddy—the Mighty Lizard Hunter, by Steve Schantz. Be willing to lose your rear end!

Encounter 2008. Discover WCG Next, near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Look Again: Sharing in Jesus' life, by C. Baxter Kruger. Sin is insisting that Jesus repent and believe in us.

Crossword puzzle.

Home Base: The Gift, by Jeb Egbert. Dr. Egbert begins writing a new feature on parenting.

Bible Study: Do good to all: a study of Galatians 6, By Michael Morrison. Be a benefactor, especially in the church.
Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Katartizo.
Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (2.4 megabytes)

February/March 2008

Letters to the editor
I've Been Reading...: I Sold My Soul on eBay Book by Hemant Mehta; review by John Halford
Editorial: Depth Perception By John Halford. How do we get perspective on Christian doctrine?
Cover story: You'd Have to Have Been There, by Kerry Gubb. During a drought in my country, I visited Huka Falls in New Zealand.
Is Jesus Really God? A Look at the Arian Controversy. By Mike Feazell. Arius was trying to reconcile belief in one God with the Christian belief that Jesus was divine.

In Other Words: When Trees Grow Together. By Kalengule Kaoma. Those who grow together rub against each other.

The Beauty Within, by Anne Gillam. Reaching for a rock is a natural movement of my hand.

Bystander: I Am Pilate's Wife, by Joyce Catherwood. From my window, I could see the judgment seat...and Jesus.

Odyssey Interview: Acting Wisely During a Recession: a conversation with Brent Baker. We should really get our finances in order whether or not a recession is likely.

Worldwide Church of God Generations Ministry Camps 2008. PDF file with links.

In Remembrance of What? by John Halford. When we examine ourselves, what do we focus on?

Look Again: Forgiveness and Faith, by C. Baxter Kruger. Thomas Erskine solved a critical and practical theological problem for me.

Running Away From Intimacy, by Mark Mounts. We are supposed to handle difficult moments well, so why don't we?

Church History Corner: William Seymour and the Rise of Pentecostalism, by Paul Kroll. In April 1906, a momentous revolution in Christianity began in a ramshackle part of Los Angeles.

Speaking of Life: Come Just As You Are? By Joseph Tkach. God sees our best and our worst, and he loves us anyway.

Bible Study: The Purpose of Freedom: A Study of Galatians 5, By Michael Morrison. Do not use freedom to serve yourself, but serve others.
Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Sarx.

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (3.8 megabytes)

December 2007/January 2008

Letters to the editor "The God you present in the Three-Piece Suit, the pieces sending other pieces to other places, seems a bit anthropomorphic..."
In Other Words: Sticking together. By James R. Henderson. "Two people are like a lump of porridge."
Editorial: How ugly are the feet? By John Halford. On the back of our previous issue, we show a barefoot man looking at our magazine.
Cover story: Lovers of pleasure... Are we trying too hard to be happy?, by Dr. Archibald Hart. We are pushing the pleasure button in our brain—and overloading a system that is not designed to be continuously stimulated.

Christmas Light, by Mike Feazell. Christmas lights remind us of the true Light, Jesus Christ.

Managing the postmodern church, an interview with Dr. Karl Moore. Should we adapt leadership styles to the culture?

Oh No... I'm a mother-in-law, by Muriel Hacker. Be a positive influence, not a divisive one.

I've been reading... What About Those Who Have Never Heard? book review by Paul Kroll.

Small miracles, by Gianni and Mirella Iarroni. A family learns from a tragic accident.

Bystander: 21st-century bystander, by Joyce Catherwood. We see and respond to Jesus, too.

Discovering Handel's Messiah, by John Halford. The musical masterpiece was written by a man on the edge of despair.

The First Church Christmas, by Paul Kroll. The Church celebrated Christmas to defeat paganism, not copy it.

Speaking of Life: A Time for Love, by Joseph Tkach. Do we love people only when they do well?

The Boys, by Kerry Gubb. I feed the birds, but they don't seem very thankful.

The way of Trinitarian love, by C. Baxter Kruger. Jesus suffered from our wrath, not from the Father's.

Born of a woman: a study of Galatians 4, by Michael Morrison. God treats his children as adults.

Hmm... "The very best way to send an idea is to wrap it up in a person."

entire issue in pdf format

October/November 2007

Letters to the editor
In Other Words: How Selfish is Your Christianity? By James Henderson. "Even the hyena with a cub does not eat all available food."
Editorial: Too old to be useful? By John Halford. There is no such thing as a useless or obsolete part of the body of Christ.

Cover story: The Trinity: Just a Doctrine? By Mike Feazell. For the average Christian, the kind of people who have families to feed, jobs to get to, and lives to live, what difference does an ancient doctrine make anyway?

Interview with Ruth Tucker: Hope for the Left Behind Church. by Sheila Graham. God works in little churches, even churches losing membership.

Bystander: The Woman Accused of Adultery, by Joyce Catherwood. Just before dawn, the door to our hiding place burst open and slammed
against the wall. Scribes and Pharisees stormed in...

Meeting a Living Legend, by Curtis May. It isn’t often that a man gets to meet one of his boyhood heroes. I got to meet Fred Shuttlesworth.

The Dead Sea Scrolls—60 Years Later, by Timothy Finlay. The Scrolls strengthen our trust in the validity of the Scriptures, further our understanding of Judaism, and deepen our background knowledge of the New Testament.

The Prayer God Always Answers, by Bernie Schnippert. Be careful, because the answer will shake you to your core.

Encounter 2008: All Generations Gathered As One Family. Announcing a retreat for all ages, near Cincinnati, Ohio, in October 2008.

Church History Corner: Vatican II and the Future of Church Unity, by Paul Kroll. Vatican II altered Catholic Church life in many fundamental ways and opened up dialogue between Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox churches.

new feature: Speaking of Life: Which Is the Best Translation? By Joseph Tkach. New versions reflect growth in biblical scholarship, including better texts, as well as changes in the English language.

Good Things, by John McLean. Each night, Melanie wrote down three good things that happened to her that day.

Look Again: God's Video, by C. Baxter Kruger.

Bible Study: Redeemed From the Curse of the Law: A Study of Galatians 3, By Michael Morrison. The law cannot declare us righteous. So the obvious question is: What was the law for?
The Gospel Revealed: A Study of Galatians 1
Justified by Faith, Not By Law: A Study of Galatians 2

The Greeks Had a Word For It: Antilepsis. It is the noun form of a verb that
means “to take hold of the other side.”

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (2.5 megabytes)

August / September 2007

Letters to the editor "I’m confused as to your organization’s belief that "all" are God’s children. Don’t you have to be a believer to be a child of God?"
Editorial: Stirred—but not shaken By John Halford. These are stirring times to be a Christian. Critics are having a field day, questioning, undermining and ridiculing every aspect of our beliefs. Nothing, it seems, is sacred.

Cover story: Immortality: The "Mother of All Changes" By Paul Kroll. The hope of all Christians is to live again—and live forever—by a resurrection from death, an event that will occur at Jesus Christ’s return. But what kind of body will God provide for us?
Companion article: What happens in a chrysalis?

In Other Words: Advice to husbands from a nomadic tribe
By James Henderson. "Man, don’t break the vase from which you drink."

One Pilgrim's Progress: "If you really had repented..." By Mike Feazell. Christians set out with the best of intentions to change their ways. Some ways change, but other ways stick like super-glue.

The problem of forgiveness, by Lila Docken Bauman. Forgiveness is more than merely an ideal Christian virtue; it penetrates to the very heart of life.

Facing up to Autism, by Judith Foyabo. Before my son was born, I had a few friends who had children with autism. But I had no clue what it really meant.

I've Been Reading... The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon; reviewed by Victoria Feazell. This book provides a simple yet insightful look into the mind of a young person with high-functioning autism.

Dumpy, Dumpy moments, by David Harstin. As a home daddy, I spend most days doing housework and tending to my children’s needs. Today has been especially frazzling...

Bystander: The Unclean Woman, by Joyce Catherwood. Jesus praised my faith and said, "Take heart, daughter, you are free from your suffering!"

Getting it back to front, by John Halford. Churches, like British front and backyards, seem to like to separate themselves with walls.

Still small voices, by Shirley Henderson. At this conference, the voice of God was in the still small voice of one woman who stood up unprepared and spoke from her heart.

Church History Corner: Billy Graham: Evangelist to the World, by Paul Kroll. It is estimated that some three million people have responded to Graham’s offer at the end of his campaign sermons to come forward and accept Christ.

Look Again: Was Jesus plan "B"? By C. Baxter Kruger. Jesus is the original plan, the alpha and the omega, the eternal Word of God, the good shepherd appointed before the creation of the world.

"Not Long Now..." By Kerry Gubb. I don’t want to die. I didn’t ask for this wretched cancer to eat away my life.

Bible Study: Relationships in and out of the church: a study of Colossians 3-4, By Michael Morrison. Paul describes the kind of conduct that is appropriate for people whose lives are "hidden with Christ in God."

Hmm... Whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.

Entire issue in PDF format (2.5 megabytes)

June/July 2007

Letters to the editor
Editorial: Little steps in the right direction, By John Halford. Can good really overcome evil?

Cover story: No contest: Why the argument over Genesis? By Dennis P. Gordon. What did Genesis 1 say to the people of the ancient Near East?

One Pilgrim's Progress: "People, I just want to say, you know, can't we all get along?", By Mike Feazell. Most of us do "get along," more or less, most of the time.

Changing Faces, by Brenda Plonis. I silently thanked God I had only two lips.

Bystander: Joanna, by Joyce Catherwood. My sojourn in the palace provided a unique opportunity.

In Other Words: Who's afraid of the big, bad... lion? by James R. Henderson. The Maasai are not afraid of lions—the lions are afraid of the Maasai.

Christian Odyssey Interview: Good news to the poor. An interview with Richard Stearns, President of World Vision U.S.

Should you take the Bible literally? by Bernie Schnippert. Whether you say "yes" or "no," the critic will respond...

Church History corner: How Russian became Christian, by Paul Kroll. The king demanded that the emperors give him their sister in marriage.

Is the Bible just a white man's book? Part Two. By Dan Rogers. The Bible mentions people of color not because of their color, but because they were there.

I've Been Reading...: Evangelism Through the Local Church, by Michael Green; reviewed by Mike Feazell. Why would anyone want to be a member of our congregation?

Look again: The boy in the airport, by Baxter Kruger. The boy walked out and stopped dead still. His eyes scanned the airport.

Bible Study: New clothes for new people: a study of Colossians 3, by Michael Morrison. Our life is hidden with Christ, and that has something to say about the way we live.

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (2.5 megabytes)

April / May 2007

Letters to the editor
I've been reading: Forgive and Forget, by Lewis Smedes, reviewed by Michael Morrison
Editorial: It isn't just about how he died, By John Halford. Why focus on the graphic details of crucifixion?

Cover story: Is the Bible just a white man's book? Some scholars say that the Bible does not mention any people of color. By Dan Rogers.

One Pilgrim's Progress: Loaded Bibles and made-up minds,
By Mike Feazell. Can we read the Bible without any bias?

Moving mountains in Appalachia, by John Halford. How one congregation encouraged churches to cooperate.

The thief's story, by John Halford. He was the first person to look to the crucified Jesus for salvation.

Church History corner: Augustine: "Father" of the Western Church, by Paul Kroll. Perhaps the most influential theologian of Christianity in the West.

Lost in New Orleans, by C. Baxter Kruger. In the first of a series of articles, Dr. Kruger gives a living picture of how Christianity works.

In Other Words: Now wash your hands, by James R. Henderson. Ever tried to wash your right hand without using the left?

Modern Slavery: the unheard cries, by Curtis May and Neil Earle. About 27 million people are trapped in abusive labor.

Bystander: Martha, by Joyce Catherwood. "I suppose I was jealous of Mary. I was sorry I had not understood what Mary did."

Where are you, Lord? by Michael Houghton. "I had blunt, direct words with God this morning. I was not happy with the way things were going."

WWJD? By Kerry W. Gubb. Do people even know what Jesus did?

Bible Study: Victory on the cross: a study of Colossians 2, by Michael Morrison. Jesus triumphed on the cross, and we share in his victory.

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (3 megabytes)

February / March 2007

Letters to the editor
Editorial: Where Next? By John Halford. Two things about publishing have not changed.

Cover story: Watching God work in the Philippines God gave the harvest. All we did was shake a tree full of ripe fruit. By Michael Morrison.
Companion article:
Is a short-term mission worth it?

One Pilgrim's Progress: Does it all depend? By Mike Feazell.
Does salvation depend on what we've done?

Confessions of a part-time waitress, by Brenda Plonis. The job takes patience, multi-tasking, dexterity and politeness.

I've Been Reading... Cities of God: The Real Story of How Christianity Became an Urban Movement and Conquered Rome, by Rodney Stark; reviewed by John Halford

Christian Odyssey Interview: Playing Jesus--a discussion with Bruce Marchiano. He played the lead role in the dramatization of the Gospel of Matthew.

Impress Yourself, by Rose Huff. What do you do well?

Generations Camps 2007. Fifteen Christ-centered camps and retreats for children, teens, adults and families.

Church History Corner: William Wilberforce: Christian abolitionist, reformer, statesman, by Paul Kroll. The struggle would be long and bitter, and was not won until three days before his death.

Bystander: Widow of Nain By Joyce Catherwood. Stunned and speechless, his friends just stood there with their mouths open, watching a dead person talk to them!

Dead to Sin—Oh Really? By Sheila Graham. In Christ, we die to sin—but still struggle against it.

In Other Words: Get Salty By James Henderson. Grace should flavor our relationships with others around us.

Bible Study: Already in the Kingdom: a study of Colossians 1, By Michael Morrison. God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and qualified us for his kingdom.

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (2.5 megabytes)

December 2006 / January 2007