MSI Press Blog

    The e-book edition of Bruce Floren's book, Eternal Springs: Joy Found in the Book of John , was released today. Book Description: What if joy isn’t optional in the Christian life—but essential? For many, religion feels heavy, demanding, and joyless. Yet Jesus promised life “to the full.” In Eternal Springs, the author draws from his deeply personal journey of leaving faith behind to pursue happiness, where he ultimately discovered that true joy could only be found by returning to Christ. Rooted in the Gospel of John and shaped by decades of lived experience, this book uncovers a vibrant, Spirit-led understanding of joy—not as shallow emotion, but as the divine energy that fuels love, grace, fruitfulness, and spiritual vitality. This is Christianity rediscovered: Joy that sustains rather than distracts Faith that overflows rather than burdens A life that becomes an attractive aroma to the glory of God Eternal Springs is for seekers, believers, and anyone who has ever wond...

  Bruce Floren's book, Eternal Springs: Joy Found in the Book of John, to be released soon. Book Description: What if joy isn’t optional in the Christian life—but essential? For many, religion feels heavy, demanding, and joyless. Yet Jesus promised life “to the full.” In Eternal Springs, the author draws from his deeply personal journey of leaving faith behind to pursue happiness, where he ultimately discovered that true joy could only be found by returning to Christ. Rooted in the Gospel of John and shaped by decades of lived experience, this book uncovers a vibrant, Spirit-led understanding of joy—not as shallow emotion, but as the divine energy that fuels love, grace, fruitfulness, and spiritual vitality. This is Christianity rediscovered: Joy that sustains rather than distracts Faith that overflows rather than burdens A life that becomes an attractive aroma to the glory of God Eternal Springs is for seekers, believers, and anyone who has ever wondered if there is more to fait...

  1. The Shared Foundation Both Jews and Christians revere the same ancient writings — the sacred texts of Israel. But they organize, interpret, and frame them differently. So the question isn’t what the texts are, but how they are understood. 2. The Hebrew Scriptures (Tanakh) In Judaism, the Hebrew Scriptures are called the Tanakh , an acronym formed from three sections: Torah — “Instruction” or “Law” (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Nevi’im — “Prophets” (Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others) Ketuvim — “Writings” (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Chronicles, and others) The Tanakh is written primarily in Hebrew (with some Aramaic) and arranged to emphasize covenant and continuity — the story of Israel’s relationship with God. 3. The Old Testament Christians inherited these same texts but read them through the lens of Christ’s coming . The term Old Testament reflects that relationship: it is the “old covenant” preceding the “new.” Key differences: Order and grouping:...

  Every generation faces its own temptations. Ours includes the rise of Christian nationalism — the belief that a nation’s identity and destiny are tied to a single religious tradition. Many scholars and faith leaders have warned that this fusion distorts both Christianity and democracy. It narrows the gospel into a cultural identity and narrows citizenship into a religious test. Christian nationalism is not the same as Christians participating in public life. People of faith have always contributed to civic conversations. The concern arises when Christianity becomes a political brand, a boundary marker, or a tool for exclusion. When that happens, the faith’s universal call — to love neighbor, welcome stranger, and seek justice — becomes overshadowed by the desire to preserve power. Pluralism is fragile. It requires humility, restraint, and the willingness to share public space with those who believe differently. When any group claims divine authority for its political agenda, the ...