This week’s column takes a slight turn from fiction and non-fiction books to look at two easily overlooked genres of great Christian literature: poetry and sermons. And both are exemplified in the brilliant and curious character John Donne.

First, a caution: “Donne” is pronounced, “dun.” Do not open yourself up to the teasing I did.

In the period of a few minutes, Kristi Eskelund’s excitement at discovering she was pregnant with twins turned to confusion and fear. She recorded her doctor’s words in her journal: “You just went from a no-risk pregnancy to an off-the-chart risk.” 

She tried to comprehend what he was telling her: Her twin girls were conjoined at the abdomen and—if the ultrasound reading was correct—it was possible they shared a heart. 

Dante’s Divine Comedy is, arguably, one of the greatest Christian works in the Western canon. Unfortunately, most of us were only asked to read the first installment—Inferno—in literature classes, if we’ve read it at all. Unfortunate, because stopping at the end of Inferno leaves the reader, quite literally, sitting in hell, when Paradise stands before them.

For aficionados of the world’s best fictional detectives, I have news for you: Christians can write fantastic mystery stories—and not in spite of or coincidental to their Christianity. G.K. Chesterton wrote great mystery stories because he was a Christian.

Debate over teaching evolution in Texas lasted late into the night last week at a State Board of Education meeting. The board approved several textbooks, but withheld approval of a high school biology textbook by Pearson education on the charge of factual errors in the book’s stance on natural selection.

For a C.S. Lewis aficionado like me, choosing a favorite of his works is like asking me which of my five senses is my favorite.

Um … all of them?

Billy Graham, “America’s pastor,” will celebrate his 95th birthday today with a star-studded party in Asheville, N.C.

Graham’s son Franklin said between 600 and 700 people have been invited, including former President Bill Clinton, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Donald Trump, musician Michael W. Smith, Pastor Rick Warren, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and country music star Ricky Skaggs. The elder Graham will attend, but won’t give a speech.