Jody took this photo, May 2005Contact:  Ben Richmond

last updated November 30, 2005

Welcome to my home.

My new book.

Signs of Salvation:  New Life Where Grace and Truth Meet 

cover of Signs of Salvation; click for contents

Salvation is not merely private "fire insurance."  Rather, the Bible reveals a God who saves in practical ways from the "first evil" of loneliness into community, from economic oppression and scarcity into bounty, from our enemies in a life of peace. The requirement is listening to and obeying the living voice of our living God who brings us into the community of grace and truth that reflects the grace and truth that we see uniquely combined in Jesus Christ.   From the Introduction:

Salvation comes at the intersection of grace and truth, where God saves us from our enemies and all sorts of evil, not least of which is the evil within ourselves.  It brings us into the joy and goodness that God intended from the beginning of creation, and gives us hope for eternal life. 

Click here for Table of Contents, with links to sections you can read on-line.

ORDER online:  Amazon or (for the same $20.00 price) from Quaker Hill Bookstore and support Friends.

Or contact the Quaker Hill Bookstore.or call 1-800-537-8838.  (253 pages. $20.00.)

Some family photos:

Wedding photo - Jessica and Max, May 2003 Anya, the granddaughter

That's the granddaughter on the left ... . the whole imediate family at Jessica and Max's wedding, May of 2003. More pictures and family info later

Links to some of my other writing:

"The Christian Faith of Friends" is a short interpretation of Quaker faith which I wrote in conversation with the North American Ministries Committee of Friends United Meeting. (requires Acrobat Reader)

FUM triennial Johnson Lecture (Tells some history of Friends United Meeting and challenges Friends to proclaim a Gospel based on a life-transforming encounter with Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant.)

My pamphlet on Conscientious Objection (requires Acrobat Reader) and a recent article on preparing for a possible draft that appeared in Quaker Life.

The Bible Study blog has been (temporarily?) discontinued. 

Here is my (nearly) daily Bible Study blog  

You are invited to join me for Quaker-flavored reflections, as we read through the Bible. My task is to stay true to the text and try to find Good News in every chapter (or group of chapters). Perhaps you can help with your comments and thoughts. (The blog maintains an archive that began with Deuteronomy 12.).

Deuteronmy was delightful in its insistence on a inclusive and just community. I'll confess that I was glad to get through Joshua and Judges after working around the genocidal demands of "the conquest" narrative.  Ruth was an interesting interlude.  Now back to history. Saul has surprised me as being more sympathetic than expected; maybe I can relate to his weaknesses.  I'm in Kings now -- just at the point where David's might is at the greatest but his sin against Uriah results in the judgment that his house will suffer from the sword.  Grace and judgment . . . how these are to be balanced is the great question.

 

Click here for my favorite links

Click here for my resume