I just finished reading The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown a couple of days and feel the need to respond. It goes without saying that Brown is a gifted writer and a wonderful story teller. I applaud his creativity and style. However, Brown’s theology is problematic and his theological agenda is apparent through the character of Robert Langdon. Like The DaVinci Code, The Lost Symbol is filled with factual errors and heretical statements that are simply passed off as common knowledge with universal agreement. Thus, I have felt the need to respond because several of the issues raised by Brown...

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  When we think of those who were martyred for their faith in Christ, our mind often conjures up images from the early church.  We generally think of early Christians living in the Roman Empire who were killed under brutal Emperors like Nero, Domitian, and Diocletian.  While it is true that many were killed for their faith at the height of the Roman Empire, we should not forget that the 20th Century was really the age of martyrdom.  From the Boxer Rebellion in China to the brutal regimes of dictators in Russia, Vietnam, Japan, Cambodia, and elsewhere, many Christians were...

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   Out of the many names that Jenny and I have considered for our son, Ulfilas somehow hasn't made the cut.  This is indeed a tragedy for it is not everyday one meets an Ulfilas!  I always find myself fascinated with the early church because it is interesting to consider the impact that Jesus made on the first few centuries of the Christian church.  It is always encouraging to read about the methods and teachings of the early church and to realize that in many ways they experienced the same challenges that we do today.  Ulfilas is one such character...

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I remember the first time I was challenged with the question of what my purpose was in life?  If I could summarize my life's motto, what would it be?  The apostle Paul gives us his life sentence in Phil 1:19, "for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  These words also summarize the life of Bill Wallace.  Wallace is not a name that is often associated with the "who's who" of missionaries.  You may have never heard of Bill Wallace, but a small community in Wuchow, China was forever changed by the commitment, passion, focus and...

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          "What a waste" best sums up the sentiment that many felt on hearing of C.T. Studd's decision to enter the mission field.  Studd came from a very prestigious, well to do family in England.  His advantages came not only from the Studd name that he inherited as C.T. was quite the intellect and athlete as well.  He was captain of the famed "Cambridge Eleven" and considered by many to be the best all around Cricketer in all of England.  His decision in 1886 to enter the mission field full time created quite a shockwave as he was joined by...

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