Summer 2015

• Building Christian Community

  If ministry is only the work of professional clergy and is restricted to what goes on at a church service or a major Christian event, then the church is lost and doomed to implode and die in our century. Why? Because, though these things may ... Read More

• While on a quest to find some books

  Ever been looking for a hard-to-find book? Whether you find it or not, you’re sure to learn something.   In a recent conversation, I wrote to Darrin Rodgers with a question about some hard-to-find titles by early charismatic authors. Just like the abundant research resources of the ... Read More

• Fire From Heaven: an interview with Harvey Cox

  John Lathrop interviewed Harvey Cox at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1996 about his book, Fire From Heaven.   What prompted you to write a book about the Pentecostal Movement? Two things prompted me. One was my discovery which came through my great interest in urban ... Read More

• Pentecost and Harvard

  Pentecost and Harvard. Sounds odd, doesn’t it? If we allow stereotypes to prevail, the two seem to be in direct contradiction to each other. Harvard has a reputation of being a very wealthy school with high academic standards. Pentecostals, on the other hand, at least in ... Read More

• Pavel Hejzlar: Two Paradigms for Divine Healing

  Pavel Hejzlar, Two Paradigms for Divine Healing: Fred F. Bosworth, Kenneth E. Hagin, Agnes Sanford, and Francis Macnutt In Dialogue (Brill, 2010), 289 pages, ISBN 9789004178328. This work provides an analysis of the healing theologies by four major players in the 20th century. F. F. Bosworth ... Read More

• Doing Business in Africa: How Culture Changes How We Work Together

  If we want to break the dependency cycle, we must better understand the cultural context where we want to do business and ministry.   Abstract Failure to take insufficient cognisance of local contexts leads to outsiders’ encouraging business in Africa resulting in a trail of dependency. Pertinent differences ... Read More

• Peter Marina: Getting the Holy Ghost

  Sociology and the Spirit: a review of Peter Marina’s Getting the Holy Ghost by Joy Allan. Peter Marina, Getting the Holy Ghost: Urban Ethnography in a Brooklyn Pentecostal Tongue-Speaking Church (Lexington Books, 2014), 322 pages, ISBN 9781498503563. A snapshot: A young man sits alone in an office, ... Read More

• The Preeminence of Life: Towards an African Christian Cosmology in Intercultural Context

  A fresh look at how emphasizing full life can transform how we do mission. Without life all else that may be considered of value is nothing. African people are not easily convinced of the hegemony of science that seems to sideline life itself. Once undermined, the ... Read More

• Scott Rodin: The Steward Leader

  R. Scott Rodin, The Steward Leader: Transforming People, Organizations and Communities (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010), 197 pages, ISBN 9780830838783. The Steward Leader begins by telling the reader that the book is not about the “how” of leadership but about the “who”—who God is and who ... Read More

• Help Starving Widows with Children in India

  Vision: About a year and a half ago the Lord gave me a vision on how we can help young Christian widows with small children in India. India has millions of young widows, some are Christians. Need: Indian widows live on less than $1.00 per day ... Read More

• Pursuing the Possibility of Peace with Iran

  Reading news that diplomats say they have an agreement that would block Iran from developing nuclear weapons and prevent another war, my mind went back to the 1979 hostage crisis. As a 19-years-old American, I was so outraged by the treatment of our diplomats that ... Read More

• A Faith Encompassing All Creation, reviewed by Stephen Vantassel

  Tripp York and Andy Alexis-Baker, eds., A Faith Encompassing All Creation: Addressing Commonly Asked Questions About Christian Care for the Environment, The Peaceable Kingdom Series (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2014). A Faith Encompassing All of Creation is the third book in The Peaceable Kingdom ... Read More

• Jerusalem 2015 Empowered 21 Global Congress: Renewing the Revelation of a Worldwide Pentecostal Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

  Some 4,500 Pentecostal/Charismatic Christians from approximately seventy nations gathered in Jerusalem May 20-25, 2015 to reaffirm and clarify the Pentecostal truth restored to the Body of Christ in the first part of the 20th century and to pass the vision of the Pentecostal revival and ... Read More

• International Society of Biblical Literature meeting 2015

  Pastor Cletus Hull tells us about the International Society of Biblical Literature meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I am back from my trip to Argentina and I had a great experience. The Meeting was held from July 19-26, 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   The paper was titled “The ... Read More

• Ancient Jewish Cessationists

  In Jesus day, did the rabbis think God was done with miracles?   In the commentary to Deuteronomy (The Stone Edition, Artscroll Mesorah Series, 1995) reads, “Once crossed the Jordan, the people would no longer see God’s constant Presence and daily miracles, as they had in ... Read More

• Jack Levison: Fresh Air

  Jack Levison, Fresh Air: the Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life (Brewster, MA: Paraclete Press: 2012), 217 pages, 9781612610689. Jack Levison, in his work Fresh Air: the Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life, aims to clear a foggy, often caricatured view of the Holy Spirit in ... Read More

• Denis Alexander and Robert White: Science, Faith, and Ethics

  Denis Alexander and Robert S. White, Science, Faith, And Ethics: Grid or Gridlock? (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2006), xii + 190 pages, ISBN 9781598560183. Molecular biologist Denis Alexander and geophysicist Robert White are committed to both their Christian faith and their scientific fields, which is a characteristic ... Read More

• Veroni Kruger: What Has Your Church Become

  Véroni Krüger, What Has Your Church Become (CreateSpace, 2014), 230 pages, ISBN 9781500556839. Véroni Krüger’s work What Has Your Church Become is a look with historical insight at what the church was at its beginning, at Pentecost, compared to what it has become. Reverend Krüger uses ... Read More

• The Ninth Decade of Life

  Pastor Mur talks about finishing well and blessing the people you encounter no matter where you are in life. Once you pass your 80th birthday, opportunities disappear. Everyday logic says that you are too old for a new career in any field. Time is short. Health, ... Read More

• Summer 2015: Other Significant Articles

  Wes Granberg-Michaelson, “Pentecostalism in a Postmodern Culture” Sojourners (May 26, 2015). William De Arteaga writes: “This is a very positive take on Pentecostalism from a left-leaning Christian magazine which normally disdains home-grown American Pentecostals.” J. Lee Grady, “Don’t Quench the Spirit in the Next Move of ... Read More

• Alister McGrath: Faith and Creeds, The Living God

  Alister McGrath, Faith and Creeds: A Guide for Study and Devotion, The Heart of Christian Faith Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2013), x + 115 pages. Alister McGrath, The Living God: A Guide for Study and Devotion, The Heart of Christian Faith Series (Louisville, KY: ... Read More

• Antipas Harris: Holy Spirit, Holy Living

  Antipas L. Harris, Holy Spirit, Holy Living: Toward a Practical Theology of Holiness for Twenty-First Century Churches (Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2013), 181 pages, ISBN 9781610979306. In Antipas Harris’ book, Holy Spirit, Holy Living: Toward a Practical Theology of Holiness for Twenty-First Century Churches, the ... Read More

• What is Salvation?

  What does the Bible mean when it talks about salvation? Scholar Jon Ruthven shares some “hasty, preliminary notes” as he works through this important question and asks for your feedback. In response to a query from a friend, I am working through what “salvation” means. Certainly, ... Read More

• Paul Pomerville: The New Testament Case Against Christian Zionism

  Paul A. Pomerville, The New Testament Case Against Christian Zionism: A Christian View of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Seattle: CreateSpace, 2014), 484 pages. Paul Pomerville has produced an uncompromising argument against Christian Zionism. Drawing upon his extensive experience in police work, he detects a gap in the ... Read More

• Aida Spencer: 2 Timothy and Titus, NCCS

  Aída Besançon Spencer, 2 Timothy and Titus, New Covenant Commentary Series (Cascade Books, 2014), 184 pages, ISBN 9781625642530. It is with integrity and in a very comprehensive fashion that Dr. Aida Spencer presents her readers with a worthwhile commentary which combines the Apostle Paul’s letter to ... Read More

• The Bible’s Undertaker: Cessationism in Contrast to a Living, Miraculous Christianity

  Introduction Twentieth century Pentecostalism reawakened the world to miracles. The growth of this movement activated individuals in established religion to wrestle with a major player on the world scene of Christianity. Even so, as Pentecostalism expands, the cessationist view resuscitates a theological position that corresponds with ... Read More

• The theology and influence of Karl Barth: an interview with Terry Cross

  Karl Barth was an influential Swiss Reformed theologian that lived from 1886 to 1968. Featured on postage stamps and the cover of Time (April 20, 1962), today we would call him a rock star among theologians. A strong critic of those Christians who supported the ... Read More

• Pneuma Review Summer 2015

  The exclusively digital edition of The Pneuma Review, Summer 2015 (18:3). Some of what you will find in this issue: An interview with Harvey Cox Ancient Jewish Cessationists Scholar Jon Ruthven shares some “hasty, preliminary notes” as he works through “What is Salvation?” The Bible’s Undertaker: Cessationism in Contrast to ... Read More

• Does Agnes Sanford offer something for Post-Christian Europe?

  I am blessed to share with you about my just released book, Agnes Sanford and Her Companions: The Assault on Cessationism and the Coming of the Charismatic Renewal (Wipf and Stock, 2015). Last Wednesday, just after I had received a copy from the publisher, I spent ... Read More