Back issues of Christian Odyssey

Unless noted otherwise, articles are copyrighted by the Worldwide Church of God. All rights reserved. Unless noted otherwise, scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers

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

September/October/November 2009

Cover story: It can't be depression... I'm a Christian. But it can, and you need to know how to recognize it and what to do about it. By Mark Mounts, LPC.

Editorial: How to be effective and memorable, by John Halford. Show or tell people something they don’t know, about something they are interested in, in a way they can understand.

The Yoke Was on Me! By Kerry Gubb. Poor exegesis and my enthusiasm for a metaphor had misrepresented the extent of Jesus Christ’s mediation.

The Lady with the Lamp. By Bernie Schnippert. For about 20 minutes two years ago, in a hospital room, in the middle of the night, I was visited by "the lady with the lamp."

Letters to the editor

I've Been Reading: Magnificent Desolation, by Buzz Aldrin; reviewed by John Halford. It is a story about the conquest of inner space.

In Other Words: Mako Ndi Mako , by Kalengule Kaoma. Your mother is still your mother even if one leg is shorter than the other.

Thinking out loud: God's Masterpiece, by Barbara Dahlgren. being God’s "workmanship" has deeper meaning than God bringing us into existence.

Silk Purses From Sows' Ears, by Al Doshna. Some lessons from "the worst movie ever made."

Home Base: How Are You Today?, by Jeb Egbert. "I'm teaching him that he should begin his conversations by demonstrating an interest in others."

Mirror, Mirror, by J. Michael Feazell. What we see in the mirror is not what we really are.

Worth a Million Words, by Mike Swagerty. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a visit is worth a thousand pictures.

Give Now? By Mathew Morgan. Why do some people respond to uncertain economic times with generosity?

Bible Study: Staying on Track When Others Are Not : a study of 2 Timothy 3, by Michael Morrison. Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Theopneustos. Some of the strongest evidence for the gospel is the example set by people who believe it.

Hmm... Jesus Christ died for you precisely because you are sinful and utterly unworthy of him, and he has thereby already made you his own...

Entire issue in PDF format (2 megabytes)

June/July/August 2009

Cover story: Duty of Care? What is the Christian responsibility to the environment? By Dennis P. Gordon. Will God simply discard the material world? Does it exist simply to serve our needs?

Editorial: The Church's Leaky Basement, by John Halford. Are we more concerned with sin, than with salvation? What are our priorities?

Where Are We Now in Prophecy? By J. Michael Feazell. Is this the "end time"? What should we be doing about it?

New Glory: How becoming a citizen helped me understand the Christian faith better. By John Halford. "My whole attitude toward the law changed. I wanted to live up to the finest ideals of my adopted country."

Letters to the editor

I've Been Reading: I Don't Believe in Atheists, by Chris Hedges; reviewed by Neil Earle. Some atheists seem to have a fundamentalist mind-set.

Thinking out loud: Text Speak, by Barbara Dahlgren. Acronyms can be useful in communicating with a new generation.

Home Base: Go Ahead—Spend, Spend, Spend, by Jeb Egbert. Creative ways to spend time with your family.

In Other Words: Ever See Roasted Corn Grow?, by Kalengule Kaoma. Roasted corn is a metaphor for good deeds, which produce more good deeds.

She Made Home Happy: An important lesson from an unusual epitaph. By Kenda Turner. What was the secret of her happiness?

A Message the World Forgot, by Neil Earle. Forty years ago, one man on the moon spoke unforgettable words. The other did something equally momentous.

Confessions of a Youth Evangelist, by Greg Williams. Do we form relationships for an ulterior motive, or is the relationship important in itself?

Give Me a Break! by Sue Berger. I look at the hand-written IOU, tempted once again to just throw it away.

Bible Study: Work Hard for the Lord : a study of 2 Timothy 2, by Michael Morrison. Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Orthotomeo.
If God's church had a foundation stone, what would be written on it?

Hmm... Think of the vision at the end of Revelation. It isn’t about humans being snatched up from earth to heaven.

Entire issue in PDF format (2 megabytes)

April/May 2009

Cover story: We Say Goodbye... but then what happens when we die? By John Halford. At a funeral, the words of an old Beatles song suddenly popped into my head. “You say goodbye, but I say hello." could those words actually reflect what was happening?
Between Death and Resurrection, by Michael Morrison. We'll be resurrected when Christ returns. But what happens in the meantime?
Editorial: Would You Have Chosen Barabbas? by John Halford. We may not have liked Barabbas, but we understood him. He was of our world.
Sold for 30 Pieces of Silver, by Joyce Catherwood. They counted out 30 silver coins, a sum equal to compensation for a dead slave.

Letters to the editor. As we expected, we received many letters and emails about the material on creation and evolution in the last issue.

I've Been Reading: Jesus, the Man Who Loved Women, by Bruce Marchiano; reviewed by Ruth Miller. This book challenges a host of misconceptions about what Jesus really came to do.

The Gentle Giant, interview with Richard Kiel by Alan Doshna. Richard Kiel is probably best known as the actor who played the horrific “Jaws” character in the James Bond films. But appearances can be deceptive.

Grace: A License to Sin? by Mike Feazell. When you trust God to love you and forgive you, you want to be like Jesus; you don’t want to sin.

Thinking out loud: How to Fix People, by Barbara Dahlgren. Being a Christian is not really difficult if you don’t have to deal with people.

From the Cornfields to the City: How a Small Church Reinvented Itself, by Ken Williams. They decided that they were in the wrong community. They needed to move.

Her Beauty and Her Terror, by Kerry Gubb. When a wall of fire is bearing down on you at 200 miles an hour, it rearranges your priorities.

Home Base: My Mother's Prayer, by Jeb Egbert. When I finally put all the pieces together, I did what most 6-year-old boys would do…burst into tears.

In Other Words: Lozi Proverb, by Kalengule Kaoma. Bring your cattle so our riches will add up.

Speaking of Life... with Joseph Tkach. The crown of thorns - we are joined to Jesus in the crucible of suffering.

Bible Study: The Resurrection Body : a study of 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, by Michael Morrison. Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Psychikos.
To Greeks steeped in ancient philosophy, this made no sense. Why would God mess up the afterlife by putting people back into their defective bodies?

Hmm... Think of the vision at the end of Revelation. It isn’t about humans being snatched up from earth to heaven.

Entire issue in PDF format (2 megabytes)

February/March 2009

Letters to the editor

Editorial: In search of the God of the gasps, by John Halford. We need a sense of wonder at what God has created.

Cover story: Creation and evolution? How did God bring about the rich variety of species on earth? Almost 150 years ago Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species. The debate between science and religion has been fast and furious ever since.

Should "Intelligent Design" be taught in the science classroom? By Dennis Gordon. The Vatican’s chief astronomer said that “Intelligent Design” isn’t science.

Little Stars: a story of love, faith and vision from Thailand. By John Halford. Education brought them both to the gospel. So, they decided, education would be the tool they would use to reach others.

Home Base: Washing your children in the Word, by Jeb Egbert. What are some ways we can help our children or grandchildren learn the Bible and memorize scriptures that contain words of life?

It could happen to you! By Mat Morgan. One of the most disruptive and fearful situations that we will face in our lives is the sudden loss of a job.

I thought I would lose my job! By Ken Williams. A few months ago my supervisor reluctantly informed me that I could be unemployed by the end of the year.

Thinking out loud: Using knowledge wisely, by Barbara Dahlgren. I asked, “How do you feel all these findings have enhanced your walk with Jesus Christ?”

The audacity to hope, by Jeffrey Broadnax. As an African American, I am humbled by the sweat, tears and blood of those whose impassioned struggle enabled my children and me to live in a nation where we are judged primarily by the content of our character.

The Forgettery, by Nanette Kuhlman. “He must have filed it in his Forgettery,” my husband says.

In Other Words: “Mvula ikakuona lisilo sikhata,” by Kalengule Kaoma. The rain won't stop until it washes you clean.

I preached the Sermon on the Mount, by Ken Slade. They’ll never believe this when they hear it back home—Jesus’ sermon with an Aussie accent!”

I've Been Reading...: Theistic Evolution, reviews by John Halford. Five books that help explain this view.

Bible Study: Paul's Farewell Letter : a study of 2 Timothy 1, by Michael Morrison. Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Syneidesis. Paul gives his last instructions to the closest thing he had to a son.

Hmm... Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.

Entire issue in PDF format (2 megabytes)

December 2008/January 2009

Letters to the editor
In Other Words: “Injila shiboolanga akali mwilia,” by Kalengule Kaoma. Facing an uncertain future.
Editorial: He's Only Human, by John Halford. The Prime Minister of Norway admitted that he could not keep all his promises.
Cover story: The Real Christmas Miracle Story, by Paul Kroll. There was nothing special about the way that Jesus developed in his mothers womb or the way that he was born. And that is just the point.
Meeting Jesus on the Road to Ethiopia, by Lila Docken Bauman. "Who wrote this?" he wanted to know. "Who is it that went through what I am going through?"
Home Base: Two Peas, Same Pod?, by Jeb Egbert. Children are not all the same, even if they have the same parents.

The Shepherd's Story, by John Halford and Mike Feazell

Does God Hate Christmas? By Joseph Tkach. Let's look at four arguments used against Christmas and explain why each one does not stand up.

Anger: A Battle We Can Win, by Neil Earle. Here are five principles that can help us deal with stress and strain.

Thinking out loud: The Irony of It All, by Barbara Dahlgren.

Living Today, by Randall Bourchier. A magazine helps a congregation become part of the community.

The Second Best Christmas Gift, by Mat Morgan

I've Been Reading...: The Jesus Legend, by Paul Rhodes Eddy and Gregory Boyd; review by Dennis Gordon

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

Bible Study: The Coming of the Lord : a study of 2 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, by Michael Morrison. Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Parousia

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (2 megabytes)

October/November 2008

Letters to the editor A selection of letters from Australia.
I've Been Reading...: Who Stole My Church? What to do when the church you love enters the 21st century, by Gordon MacDonald; reviewed by Barbara Dahlgren.
Editorial: Doing what comes "naturally," by John Halford. The process of becoming an American citizen is called "naturalization."
Cover story: So how did it go? A report from the Philippines from the four young people we interviewed in our previous issue. Companion article: Benefits of a short-term mission trip.
Revelation: It's no mystery, by Mike Feazell. John says his book is written about things that would take place soon after he wrote. What would his readers think?

Theater of the Imagination, by Kenda Tuner. Little did I know that we were having fun participating in a centuries-old form of theater.

Home Base: Parenting "Do Over" for Grandparents, by Jeb Egbert. I ask the grandparents, If you had to do it over, what would you change?

"When I am Bigger..." by Pat Halford. My 4-year-old granddaughter asked, "Do you want me to pray for you?"

In Other Words: If you hide the sickness, you hide the treatment, by Kalengule Kaoma. Are we hiding our needs from the people who want to help us?

The most important election ever, by Eric Wilding. The Christian doctrine of election involves a choice made by God. For Karl Barth, this was the truth on which all other Christian truths are built.

Speaking of life...with Joseph Tkach. The gospel offers the greatest hope.

Bystander: Let the Little Children Come, by Joyce Catherwood. The disciples rebuked the parents, but Jesus rebuked the disciples.

Thinking out loud: one Christian's (a)musings about everyday life: What, Why, When, How, Where, Who, by Barbara Dahlgren. Everyone has a story to tell, if you ask the right questions.

From both sides now, by Sheila Graham. When I was in California, my values were considered conservative. When I moved to Texas, some considered them liberal.

The untold "unstory" of Trophimus, by Kerry Gubb. Not very impressive, but that's the point.

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

Bible Study: Living a holy life: a study of 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, by Michael Morrison. Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Porneia

Hmm...

Entire issue in PDF format (3 megabytes)

August/September 2008

Letters to the editor We often get letters asking us to print the magazine in larger type.
I've Been Reading...: The Year of Living Biblically, by A.J. Jacobs; review by John Halford. He exposes just why a legalistic approach just does not work.
Editorial: Who's Who?, by John Halford. Let me introduce "the rest of us" who put this magazine together?
Cover story: Winning from the start, by Ned and Tina Graham. We always wondered by the Special Olympics were called special. We found out why when we attended the events in Shanghai.

Speaking of life...with Joseph Tkach. Was Elijah really a man like us?

Bystander: The sword, by Joyce Catherwood. Simeon had predicted that a sword would pierce me, and now I felt it.

The scarred frog blanket, by Shiela Carmel Miller. The hole in the poor frog's face looked like it had been stitched up by Dr. Frankenstein.

Mission Bound. In a few weeks, a group of young Christians will visit the Philippines on a short-term mission trip. We interviewed four of them to see what they expect.

Urge Protection, by John Halford. We have surge protectors for sudden voltage increases. But what about sudden urges?

In Other Words: Mbio za sakafuni huishia ukingoni!, by Kalengule Kaoma. Even the worst things come to an end.

Who's Afraid of the Schizophrenic God? By Neil Earle. Many Christians seem to think that the Father is worried about the law, and the Son has a more merciful attitude.

Christian Odyssey Interview: Talking with Paul Young, author of the best-selling The Shack. "I'm the most accidental author you'll ever meet."

Church History Corner: The Council of Chalcedon and the "Two Natures" Controversy, by Paul Kroll. Apollinaris said that Jesus had two natures—one human and one divine.

Home Base: Jesus loves them, this I know, by Jeb Egbert. The disciples hindered the children's access to Jesus. Do we?

Kitchen-Bin Guidance, by Kerry Gubb. Children are fascinated with garbage. Adults often are, too.

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

Bible Study: Paul's Concern for the Thessalonians: a study of 1 Thessalonians 2;17-3:13, by Michael Morrison. Paul said he was as gentle as a woman nursing a baby.
Companion article: The Greeks had a word for it: Perichōresis.

Hmm... The line between good and evil is never simply between "us" and "them."

Entire issue in PDF format (3 megabytes)

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. 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.

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