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History of Hymns
 ‘In the Spirit’s Tether’ bonds hymn singers with original disciples. What began as an additional stanza to an already written hymn became its own hymn, bringing congregations full circle from the Upper Room to Communion. Michael Hawn has more on “Draw us in the Spirit’s Tether” by Percy Dearmer.Read more...
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 “This Is the Day” by Les Garrett continues a movement from the 17th century of using Scripture as hymn lyrics, using Psalm 118:24. Michael Hawn has more on this hymn of God’s redemption. Read more...
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.jpg) “Go Forth for God” written by Anglican priest John R. Peacey is based on verses from Thessalonians and Romans and has been called one of the greatest going forth hymns of the 20th century. Michael Hawn has more. Read more...
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 British hymn draws on early theology of angels
John Atheslstan Riley used his knowledge of early theology and angels to write the hymn “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones.” Michael Hawn has the story. Read more...
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.jpg) Popular hymn celebrates prayer as time with God. Blind lay preacher William W. Walford has been credited with writing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” in 1842 but speculation surrounds the hymn’s origins. C. Michael Hawn has the story. Read more...
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 ‘O Zion’ calls disciples to cooperate in mission.
Michael Hawn compares the 19th-century hymn, “O Zion, Haste” by Mary Thomson to H. Ernest Nichol’s “We’ve a Story To Tell the Nations” and describes their different styles of expressing the Great Commission. Read more...
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 ‘My Way’ echoes call of Christ in John 14:6
Seventeenth-century poet and priest George Herbert contributed to a culture of devotional poetry in his time. Among his writings is the hymn “Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life.” Michael Hawn provides more background on the text and its author. Read more...
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.jpg) Hymn urges Holy Spirit to ‘fall afresh’ on singers
With only five notes in its melody, Daniel Iverson’s “Spirit of the Living God” is one of the most long-lasting and widely used choruses in Christian worship. Dr. Michael Hawn explains. Read more...
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 Song of God’s peace spreads around world
Written in the 1950s, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” quickly gained popularity in schools, civic clubs and churches. Michael Hawn shares the song’s story. Read more...
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 ‘O Worship the King’ praises God’s splendor
This hymn personifies an earthly monarch that is magnified to communicate the characteristics of the King of kings. Michael Hawn shares more. Read more...
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 Hymnist wrote about love for Christ after conversion
The lyrics of “My Jesus, I Love Thee” likely emerged from the conversion experience of its author, William Featherstone. Michael Hawn shares the hymn’s background and examines its unifying themes. Read more...
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 Hymn celebrates victory of God’s grace over sin
Though Julia Harriette Johnston wrote more than 500 hymn texts, her reputation rests on the hymn “Grace Greater Than Our Sin.” Dr. Michael Hawn explains. Read more...
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Film Reviews and Faith Perspectives
 Get Low will reach a wide audience.
Get Low offers a look into a man’s sinful past and his redemption while attending his own funeral. Bill Fentum has the review of this film starring Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray. Read more...
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 Sci-fi blockbuster Inception revels in creative confusion.
The futuristic thriller Inception begins in a dreamlike state and hooks viewers to the end, even if only to figure out the storyline. Bill Fentum has the review.
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 Last ‘Toy Story’ adventure honors love, imagination
Old friends Buzz Lightyear and Sheriff Woody come to life again in Toy Story 3, with new lessons about the love of friends sticking together. Bill Fentum has our review...
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 ‘Screwtape’ staged with devious skill
With only one actor with dialogue, the cast of The Screwtape Letters is able to portray a story of how evil consumes itself. Mary Jacobs has more on this compelling off-Broadway show based on one of the works of C.S. Lewis. Mary Jacobs has the review...
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 DVD REVIEW: 'Messenger' explores costs of war on U.S. homefront
Compelling and quietly intense, The Messenger follows two soldiers serving on the U.S. military Casualty Notification Team. Newly released on DVD, the film deserves a wide audience, says reviewer Bill Fentum.
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 'Iron Man' sequel resumes flawed hero’s redemption
Iron Man 2 brings back flawed good guy Tony Stark for another turn as the comic-book action hero. Amid impressive stunts and special effects, the plot introduces plenty of new elements to carry characters into another movie down the line. Bill Fentum has the review.
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 Oceans explores mysteries, beauty in world’s oceans
Oceans, a new documentary from DisneyNature, maintains a reverential sense of awe in its subject, the often-mysterious life contained within the world’s waters. Associate editor Bill Fentum has the review. Read more...
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 'Perfect' or not, baseball film may win some fans
The Perfect Game, based on the true story of a Mexican Little League team in the 1950s, is Hollywood's latest inspirational sports drama. Does it win over the competition? Bill Fentum has the review. Read more...
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Book Reviews
 Minor-league ball player tells of busting color line in ’50s
Jerry Craft, a West Texas rancher and a United Methodist, was the first white man to play in the West Texas Colored League in the late 1950s. He tells about his “Jackie Robinson-in-reverse” story in a new memoir. Robin Russell reviews.
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 Theistic debates through the ages
Dean Overman’s A Case for the Existence of God is a wide-ranging overview of centuries of debate and philosophy about the existence of God, says reviewer David Mosser. Read review...
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 Author chronicles realities of aging
Missy Buchanan’s book Talking with God in Old Age is a slim volume of psalms that act as a short course in compassion for the trials of the elderly, says reviewer Mary Jacobs. Read review...
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 Exploring path to interfaith dialogue
The book Interfaith Dialogue at the Grass Roots, edited by Rebecca Kratz Mays, is an essential read to help people of faith connect with those of other world religions, says reviewer David Mosser. Read more...
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