Are we using a season designed for contemplation of the holy to alleviate our own insecurities about our bodies, our work ethic, our personal health? And if so, is it time, as we’ve done with Christmas, to take stock of what the “true meaning” of Lent really is?

In our culture it is quite fashionable to acknowledge a person’s faith. We’re likely to praise the strong faith that enables people to courageously cope with major challenges. This is true even in primarily secular settings.

What do you consider to be the most humorous passage in Scripture?
Thanks for asking! I'm always grateful for those who find humor important for our health and welfare, including biblical humor. There's a lot of it. But my favorite?

Elizabeth Hay’s memoir candidly and poignantly expresses the difficulties she faced as she cared for her aging parents.

Let Chopin and Andsnes take you on a gripping musical ride.

Luke Powery’s brief, compelling devotional combines spirituals with the 40-day Lenten journey.

Transit is a timely film that addresses many of the current complexities and confusion around our global refugee crisis.

Congregations may look like organizations in which market-based strategies apply, but these strategies are never going to capture the full range of what they do or how they can best be supported.

Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun have teamed up to argue that theology needs to get back to basics

Margaret Bradley’s world is shattered when her son Andrew, a pilot, dies while flying a Canadian peacekeeping mission in Kurt Palka’s wise novel.

Morse and his band ended up creating another two-disc concept album, The Great Adventure, based on the next part of Pilgrim’s Progress.

기독교인에 대한  세상 사람들의 기본 인식을 비판적이고 부정적이라는 데에서 생명을 창조하고 사랑한다는 인식으로 바꿀 수 있을까요? 저는 예방지향적인 사람과 촉진지향적인 사람 중에서 선택한다면, 어떤 사람과 어울릴 것인지 이미 결정했습니다.

My Spotify playlists are organized by the seasons of the church calendar. There’s Lent, Advent, Epiphany, and Pentecost. My playlist “Common Time” happens to be almost exclusively made up of female artists.

Can we change the world’s perception of Christians as primarily judgmental and negative into one of Christians as primarily life-affirming and loving? Given a choice between a prevention oriented person and a promotion oriented one, I know who I would rather hang out with.

The last round of movie awards this season will be handed out Sunday night, February 24. To take a look at what Banner reviewers thought of some of the nominees,

Peter Jackson’s stunning documentary examines the life of British infantrymen during World War I.

This distinctive children’s picture book could prove to be a valuable resource.

The challenge for all of us who are in the church is to be honest about the planks in our own eyes rather than searching for everyone else’s specks. We need to stop idolizing an artificial ideal of purity that none of us can uphold and instead love our neighbors as ourselves.

Wolterstorff’s journey reveals a grace-filled life, a personal embodiment of shalom.

I have had awful times talking about justice with my family and friends who do not agree with my perspective. I love them, but my approach is not working. Any advice?

What is wrong with gene editing in embryos if we can save children from horrible genetic diseases?

As I see it, morality is at the center of God’s heart; it always has been and always will be. If so, we need to rediscover its beauty and power.

Why does the abuse of power by leaders in our churches and parachurch organizations seem to be more common than it used to be, and how can we best address this problem?