What would your reaction be if someone came up to you and told you that they had had a near death experience, or that they had seen and talked to God? It probably would be one of skepticism. I know that is how I approached a book that I was asked to review entitled, God […]
Author: Kevin Ruffcorn
Christianity Without Insanity and the path Toward a Sane Faith
One would think that on a blog site named, “Toward a Sane Faith,” a book entitled, Christianity Without Insanity, would be highly recommended. I wish I could do that … but I can’t. I give the book a 3.5, out of a scale of 1-5. Here’s why. The book’s entire title is, Christianity Without Insanity: […]
Devotions on Matthew 6:7-12, The Lord’s Prayer
January 28–February 3, 2019—The Lord’s Prayer The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Monday, January 28, 2019 —The Lord’s Prayer “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases” (Matthew 6:7). Two new bikes fresh from the wrapping paper of Christmas leaned against the park picnic table. Sitting on top of the table the bike’s […]
Jesus in the Wilderness
Devotional Thoughts on Matthew 4:1-17–Jesus in the Wilderness January 14-20, 2019 Monday–Jesus in the Wilderness “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1). Odd. We never think of the Spirit leading us anywhere with the intent of having us tempted by the devil. We […]
Baptism of Jesus Christ
January 7-13, 2019 Matthew 3:1-17-Baptism of Jesus Christ Monday -Baptism of Jesus Christ “Repent for the kingdom of God has come near” (Matthew 3:2). Diego was following the directions of his GPS but he had a nagging feeling that he was going the wrong way. The neighborhood that he was driving through didn’t look familiar […]
Matthew 2:1-12–Magi Bible
December 31, 2018-January 6, 2019 Monday–Magi Bible “Wise men from the East came to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1). Faith pops up in the oddest places. Karen sat at the kitchen table surrounded by bills and trying to figure out how she was going to pay them. Tears of frustration welled up in her eyes and flowed […]
Authentic Health
It’s New Year’s resolution time. I just finished reading of Authentic Health: The Definitive Guide to Losing Weight, Feeling Better, Mastering Stress, Sleeping Well Every Night, and Enjoying a Sense of Purpose, by Gus Vickery, M.D., (Morgan James Publishing, New York, 2018). If any one of these is one of your goals for the New […]
The Lotus and the Rose
Have you ever wondered what a conversation between two different faith traditions would look like? You no longer need to wonder. You can read the conversation and even view it. Pick up a copy of The Lotus and the Rose: A Conversation between Tibetan Buddhism and Mystical Christianity, Reverend Matthew Fox and Lama Tsomo (Namchak […]
A Gracious Heresy
I’m not an avid reader of biographies, but occasionally I pick one up. Usually my tastes lean toward well-known personalities such as Lincoln, Hamilton, Jefferson, King and Mandela. Thus when I was offered the opportunity to review, A Gracious Heresey: The Queer Calling of an Unlikely Prophet, by Connie L. Tuttle (Resource Publications, Eugene, 2018) […]
A Rose by Any Other Name …
I was intrigued by a book entitled, Naming the Unnameable, by Matthew Fox (Homebound Publications, Pawcatuck, CT 2018). Fox has gathered eighty-nine names for God and written a brief description and devotion for each name. This is not necessarily an original idea. There are several books occupying Christian bookshelves that have done this in one […]