Recommended Summer Reading

For what remains of summer, here are three important book recommendations:

• William Lane Craig's third edition of Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics (www.reasonablefaithtools.com). This is a masterful work - both as a model and introduction to - Christian apologetics.
• Craig Hazen's creative apologetic fiction, Five Sacred Crossings: A Novel Approach to a Reasonable Faith (see his interview here). Craig's book is a ground–breaking offering, able to both educate and entertain.
• My co-authored work (with Tim Muehlhoff), The God Conversations: Using Stories and Illustrations to Explain Your Faith. This is an important book for anyone who cares deeply about not only what we believe as Christians, but how we communicate the relevancy of our beliefs.

Christian Scholar's Review Showcases Kingdom Triangle

The latest issue of the Christian Scholar's Review (Summer 2008) has a very long and favorable review (pp 505-510) of Kingdom Triangle.

CSR is widely read among Christian professors and scholars in the North American context. "[It] is the forum for Christian intellectuals to discuss their ideas in community with one another," says JP.

The review is by Dr. Gabriela Sabau, who is Professor with the Economics/Environmental Studies department at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College.

Sabau spends nearly three pages providing a very helpful summary of Moreland's thoughts in Kingdom Triangle and does a commendable job of paying attention to his intention and care throughout the book.

"[Christian Scholar's Review] is very select in the books they review," says Moreland. "The simple fact that Kingdom Triangle is reviewed in this journal indicates that the book is being taken seriously as a substantive contribution to Christian thought."

Moreover, JP says,

It is my hope and prayer that more Council for Christian College and University professors will take seriously the need to take our religion as a knowledge tradition and not just a faith tradition, a point central to me thesis in Kingdom Triangle. More generally, I offered the book to my Evangelical community in hopes that it would foment a conversation about the central ideas I offer in the book. This review is part of an answer to my prayers.

Sabau concludes her review this way:

Moreland writes with insight and passion about a very difficult subject which is dear to his heart. He knows that before Christians in the Western traditional churches can become efficient at proclaiming and extending the influence of he Kingdom, they must put their inner house in order. This is what he has done, and this book is evidence that he is living and acting through the power of the Holy Spirit. I urge everyone to read this book. It has greatly helped me regain the vision of human life caught up in the divine conspiracy constituted by the progressive spread of the Kingdom of God. It has encouraged me to believe that God can use any of His children for His purposes when He recognizes His son in their minds and hearts (510).

San Jose Blogger Plugs Kingdom Triangle Website

Ryan, at his Illuminate blog, has a great plug for www.kingdomtriangle.com.

Concerning JP's talks on how the culture plays with our mind (part 1 and 2 here), he says,

For those of you headed to college, those who want to be thoughtful followers of Jesus, and those who want to engage culture in a constructive way, this is a very helpful subject.

Pneuma Informer Reviews Kingdom Triangle

The Pneuma Informer, a publication of The Pneuma Foundation, generously reviewed Kingdom Triangle.

You can read the entire review here:

The review is an example of someone taking seriously all three legs of the "Kingdom Triangle."

Kingdom Triangle is a biblically grounded vision of Christian discipleship, uniting J.P Moreland's concern for the Christian mind with his pursuit of the spiritual disciplines, and calling for the whole Church to rediscover the power of the Holy Spirit ... Kingdom Triangle is a book for both the heart and the mind, the fruit of many years of thoughtful ministry, apologetic engagement and philosophical reflection, articulated with passion and erudition. It is not always easy reading. But then, why should it be? We have been lazy and simple for too long. If we are really going to exemplify the mind and character and power of Jesus Christ, enter the Kingdom Triangle and take our place in the Grand Drama—where the stakes are so high, and the rewards are eternal—it will demand our best efforts. But that's what we were created for.

JP Moreland and Lee Strobel Share the Stage

On Tuesday, May 27th, JP Moreland and Lee Strobel will share the stage at Biola University for a launch of Lee Strobel's DVD The Case for Christ, for which JP was interviewed in the course of the documentary's production.

Moreland says,

Measured by his impact for Christ, Lee Strobel is on a very short list of the most influential apologists for Christianity in this generation. His works are having an impact all around the world and they regularly exhibit the sort of quality and relevance that characterizes classics. Over the years I have had the privilege of working with Lee on several projects, and I particularly enjoyed filming for the Case for Christ DVD. It is vintage Strobel, and a powerful voice for the faith.

If you are in the Southern California area, come to Biola University's gymnasium at 7:00 pm.

Event Details and RSVP: www.apologeticsevents.com

Mark Yarhouse (Regent University) Interacts with Kingdom Triangle

Mark Yarhouse, a core faculty in the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at Regent University, interacts with Kingdom Triangle at his blog, Limning the Psyche.

Read part 1 and then part 2 here.

Moreland on the Spirit's Guidance

At his home church - the Anaheim Vineyard - JP recently gave a Sunday night talk on "The Guidance of the Holy Spirit."

The material I covered is not in Kingdom Triangle, but it is an application of the third leg to the Christian life. I began by showing from scripture that while God sometimes has a very specific will for us in detailed circumstances, there are other times when God wants to know what we want to do and He promises to go with us in those endeavors. I talked about how the Spirit sometimes speaks/leads by placing thoughts in our minds (see Nehemiah 2:12) and I shared the phenomenology as to how I have made progress in discerning those occasions in my own life. I also shared how I discern words of knowledge or wisdom when I am ministering to others. It was really fun. What meant the most to me was the fact that ordinary people like me and the congregation at large can actually make progress in this sort of intimate relationship with God.

You can either listen online or download JP's talk here.