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La La Land

Spoiler Alert: This blog will give you some general knowledge of the basic plot line of the movie La La Land. This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends…

Revolution

“Caritas” The Seven Acts of Mercy, pen and ink drawing by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1559.[1] If every one of us, every day, does a work of mercy, there will be a revolution in the world! Pope Francis on Twitter 2016-11-15 The traditional seven acts of mercy include: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty,…

Nothing Sacred

Today, I saw second Timothy chapter 3 with greater understanding. The whole chapter speaks into the contrast between those who “love pleasure” and those who “love God.” Those who love pleasure are said to Love only themselves and their money Be unloving and unforgiving Slander others Be unforgiving Be cruel Hate what is good Betray…

Loving Our Enemies

In his brilliant novel, Jayber Crow, Wendell Berry creates a particular scene to illustrate a point. Jayber Crow, who is narrating his own story, is the town barber and, as is the lot of a small-town barber, hears many conversations in his barber shop. Some of these conversations are entertaining, amusing, and educational. Others are…

Follow-Up to Christians, Catacombs, and Chemistry Sets

Am I being real with God, or just “playing at church?” How many idols do I have in my hip pocket just in case this religion doesn’t work out? The Jews, during the time of Jeremiah the Prophet, were playing the odds. They had a number of idols and places of worship that supplemented…

Christians, Catacombs, and Chemistry Sets

Frequently, my attitude needs adjustment. The odd thing is that my own blog can be the catalyst for such “attitudinal correction.” Recently, looking for a quote by Annie Dillard, I came upon my thoughts as expressed on July 10 of 2011 (read them here). There, once again, Annie Dillard’s reflections about church caused me to…

Tolkien on Judging Others

J.R.R. Tolkien reminds us that we must not be hasty in judgment in this line from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is a good reminder to all of us. “Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then…

The Road Goes Ever On and On

The Road goes ever on and onDown from the door where it began.Now far ahead the Road has gone,And I must follow, if I can,Pursuing it with eager feet,Until it joins some larger wayWhere many paths and errands meet.And whither then? I cannot say.– J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring At 54 years of…

Authenticity

“The ideal of authenticity is something like the ideal of perfection. All of us have some idea of what we are talking about without ever having had any direct personal experience of it.”1 This is a revealing and reassuring statement from David Benner. For truly, none of us will ever achieve perfection, and neither will…

Together for The Poor

The Jesus Creed blog has an article about Evangelicals in the United Kingdom and the various theological perspectives on Hell. I appreciate the perspective of this Evangelical Alliance because they are a true alliance. It does not seem that one theological group is trying to win out over another group. They truly recognize that there…