Preacher to Preacher

Hope springs eternal. Those words are especially meaningful to me as I write on this sub-zero, wintry day. I’m dreaming of baseball spring training and the perpetual possibility this could be the Cubs’ year!

I think I’m essentially an optimist. I’m not the only one. Ernest Lawrence Thayer used the line in 1888 when he wrote “Casey at the Bat,” quoting Alexander Pope’s line. Wesleyans are optimists—our theology is full of expectant hope. One of the things about which I feel optimism is what I sense to be a growing freedom for us to engage in robust theological dialogue and debate.

Our Advent/Christmas issue included an article by Dr. C. S. Cowles on the idea of divine omniscience, or what some are calling Open Theism. It sparked more feedback than perhaps any article appearing in Preacher’s Magazine over the past seven years. We printed it with the assumption this is intended to be a professional journal for theologically trained pastors. It is our belief that the PM crowd is capable of engaging in thoughtful and graceful dialogue around contemporary theological and professional issues. We believe holiness includes the grace to be kind to one another, even when we disagree.

In this issue we have included a response written by Dr. Don Minter, pastor of our Flagstaff, Arizona Church of the Nazarene. We think Don has prepared an engaging response as part of this important and ongoing dialogue, and he has done so in a spirit of respect for those who come to different conclusions. Don and I (Jeren) were students together of Dr. Cowles at Northwest Nazarene College many years ago. We had wonderful and robust dialogue then and it has been fun to engage it again.

The sermons for the season after Pentecost have been provided by students in Dr. Jay Akkerman’s “Preaching and Worship” class at Northwest Nazarene University. We are happy to allow these students the opportunity to share with us their work as developing exegetes and proclaimers of the Word. Other sermon material in this issue comes from evangelist Norman Moore, H. Ray Dunning, and the editors. We pray this material will inspire and help you as you faithfully prepare each week to share the glorious good news of our Lord Jesus Christ!