Posted on December 13, 2011 - by David Foster

Books by Christine Smith

Christine Smith has had a new book published “Daughters Under Trial” which is available from her website (click on this link) along with her previous book which has recently been reissued entitled “It Could Take Faith To…” (Previously “Lost in Faith”).

Daughters Under Trial is also available for Kindle from Amazon.

Christine is the wife of the School founder Christopher Smith and mother of principal Calvin Smith.

Details:

Daughters Under Trial… Twenty-eight distinct devotionals addressing the trials of faith and the challenges that daughters of the heavenly Father can encounter in their Christian walk. Further details and reviews from Christine’s Blog .

Also:

It Could Take Faith To… A compelling and exciting story of a leap of faith to take the Gospel to Spanish gypsies living in caves. Further details and reviews from the book’s website.

I personally found It Could Take Faith To… immensely enjoyable, not least because it is about the family so much responsible for the setting up and ongoing work of Kings. I for one have benefited enormously from my studies there and believe their approach to be absolutely right.

David Foster (Webmaster)

Posted on December 7, 2011 - by King's Evangelical Divinity School

Make a New Year Resolution With a Difference

We’re fast moving into the Christmas holiday season (how did it get here so fast?) and with it New Year. By the end of December millions of us will be contemplating our New Year’s resolutions for early January. For many people the start of a brand new year is simply an opportunity to put the excesses of the Christmas season behind them (more diets are started – and end – in January than at any other time of the year). But for others 1 January represents something a little more serious: an opportunity for a fresh start, a time to wipe the slate clean and move on, the start date for ditching a particular habit, or else the ideal time to do or try something new.

Of course, one can draw a line under the past, kick a habit, or take up something new at any time of the year… there’s no need whatsoever to revolve life changes around the somewhat abstract concept of New Year. Yet given how the work, school and family yearly cycles tend to operate, together with how society seems to invest so much into the concept of a fresh start at New Year, it is difficult not to see 1st January as an opportunity to make those desired changes. The problem is, many New Year resolutions rarely make it to the end of the month. The long dismal winter ahead (at least here in the northern reaches of the globe), the abrupt introduction of an ascetic lifestyle following a month of feasting, unrealistic resolutions, and the cold light of (wintry) day all combine to make us fail at the first hurdle.

So this coming New Year why not make a decision to do something realistic, worthwhile and beneficial in early January, rather than a well-meaning resolution which will fall by the wayside within a week or two? Apparently New Year’s decisions which seem to succeed most are the proactive kind, the ones in which people set about engaging a new interest, learn a new skill, or make a decision to study. Thus, the New Year offers an excellent opportunity for those who have contemplated studying the Bible in greater depth, those wanting to study Theology for whatever reason, or perhaps individuals who feel a vocational calling to ministry but have never done anything about it. So this holiday season why not give serious thought to studying Theology at King’s in  early January? Moreover, unlike most schools and colleges, our flexible distance learning programmes permit you to begin studying straight away – this very January – rather than having to wait until next September. Applications received during December will be processed in time for an early January start for new students, well before the post-season blues have had a chance to set it.

We offer a Bachelor of Theology with a strong focus on biblical interpretation, a Master of Arts in Evangelical Theology, and a Graduate Diploma in Theology for those already holding a degree in another subject, all validated by the University of Chester. We also offer our own Knowing Your Bible short courses for those seeking a deeper knowledge of the Bible without the study commitments of our validated courses. So whatever your reason for studying the Bible and Theology – whether part-time or full-time ministry, future teaching or higher studies in Theology, to become more effective in lay ministry, or else purely out of personal interest and spiritual development – consider making a New Year’s resolution with a difference this December.

Posted on November 11, 2011 - by Chris Lazenby

The End of God? (BBC4 at 8pm, 10th November, 2011)

As is often the case with modern documentaries on science and religion, this one seemed designed from the outset to try and destroy any remaining faith people may have in a supreme being. Dr Thomas Dixon, the presenter, informed us at the very outset that: ‘in the battle between science and religion, it would seem that science has won the war. Is there any room left for God.?’

Naturally, we were treated to the story of Galileo and his telescope proving the church wrong. His telescope, said Dixon, was ‘more reliable than the bible’. This is because ‘at the heart of scientific knowledge are observation and logic’. Scientists ‘make hypotheses and test them time and again against the evidence’. For poor old faith, there is just ‘revelation – direct communication from God.’ (more…)

Posted on September 13, 2011 - by Andy Cheung

Reverend Eugene Nida

THE REVEREND EUGENE NIDA, who has died aged 96, helped translate the Bible into more than 200 languages, enabling the world’s most popular book to be understood by remote populations from the icy wastes of the Arctic Circle to the deserts of Africa. (From the obituary here at the Daily Telegraph)

Posted on September 13, 2011 - by Chris Lazenby

THE SILENT HOLOCAUST

In the UK, at the time of writing there has been much coverage over the proposals by Nadine Dorries MP and Frank Field MP to change the way counselling about abortion takes place. As far as I’m aware, Nadine Dorries claims to be a Christian, and so some of us were hopeful about the possibility of an MP taking up the gauntlet in this area.

However, it turns out that Ms Dorries is quite firmly ‘pro-choice’. Her desire is not to see the number of abortions in the UK reduced (from the horrendous figure of 200,000 per year). What she is actually after is ‘independent help’ for mothers seeking abortion, rather than counselling from any organisation with a vested interest in the performing of abortions. ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14822710 ). (more…)

Posted on July 24, 2011 - by Andy Cheung

Daniel Wallace NIV 2011

Dan Wallace, who is always worth reading, has begun a four-part series on the NIV 2011 edition. The first two posts are available here and here. It’s not just a review of the newly updated NIV, but also contains a select history of Bible translation, which is well worth a read. If you want something meatier, go with what I’m currently rereading this week: David Daniell’s outstanding 900 page historical survey titled, The Bible in English, by some distance the best book of this type. Admittedly, at 900 pages, it might be a bit long for most, in which case go for the next best thing: Bruce Metzger’s Bible in Translation:Ancient and English Versions.

Posted on July 8, 2011 - by Chris Lazenby

High Street Evangelism

I had a rather unusual experience (for me) today, in that I got involved in a discussion about ‘religion’ in the middle of the busy hight Street in Skipton, North Yorkshire (which is near to where we live). A dear old saint who is there week by week, handing out little tracts and telling people that ‘Jesus loves you’ seemed to be having a hard time with a young, well educated man, who had stopped and was arguing (in a rather loud voice) about the age of the universe, carbon-dating, miracles and so on. I couldn’t help but overhear and wandered a little closer where I gradually got drawn into the discussion. (more…)

Dr, Dr how dare you!

by Keith Waters on May 23, 2011