Mark S. Medley

Christmas

Theology

“In this follow-up to his popular and successful The Saint Who Would Be Santa Claus, Adam English offers a splendid set of theological reflections on the liturgical season of Christmas. With intellectual and literary verve, he brings light to the very mysteries of Christmas. Rooted in the scriptural narrative, steeped in the ancient Christian tradition, and at ease with culture both classical and popular, English dares his reader to ponder the incarnation, Mary the Mother of Jesus, Bethlehem, the luminous star spotted by the sages from the east, the flight to Egypt (Jesus as exile and migrant), the significance and meaning of Christmas day, and saints of the season. Let me invite you to unwrap this gift!”

Revisioning, Renewing, Rediscovering the Triune Center

Theology

“A wonderful set of essays about, and engagements with, Stan Grenz. In divergent ways, these vibrant essays take the reader into the substance and significance of Grenz's theological project to articulate the eschatological orientation of the church's communal life with the triune God and from the triune God. The chapters on eschatology are especially illuminating, and gesture toward the importance of what is perhaps an underappreciated dimension of Grenz's project. Whoever wants to understand the possible trajectories of theological scholarship in dialogue with Grenz will profit immensely from this book. Hopefully these essays will serve as a call for a new generation of Christian scholars to take up Grenz's work in creative, imaginative, and pastoral ways. A much deserved and worthy tribute!”

Theology Remixed

Theology

“This is a good work! I found myself saying 'Amen!' repeatedly as I read through the text. In a cultural moment marked by the white heat of the polemical new atheism, English offers a most appropriate response: a passionate, discursive witness to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In so doing, he bears witness to what Stanley Hauerwas has called an essential task of ministry: to teach the language called Christian so as to speak Christian rightly. Reading Scripture and tradition with charity and cherishing its wisdom, English wonderfully employs a pedagogical strategy of using four analogies (story, game, language, culture) to offer an invigorating and faithful understanding of Christian faith and life. His discussion of Christianity as game is inventive and most illuminating for a culture obsessed with sports and gaming; the discussion of Christianity as language is worth the price of admission. Written in an accessible style, this timely book is a small catechism of the Christian faith which can guide preachers and teachers, in the service of the triune God, to help those they serve know how to speak Christian.”