My favorite scene in Les Miserables is also the most important scene: the interaction between Jean Valjean and Bishop Bienvenu. It is the scene where Victor Hugo sets in motion the driving issue of his great novel. It is a picture of redemption as both death and new life — a demanding, imperfect, complicated new […]
A Leap into the Light
What is faith, really? Some will tell you it is a leap into the dark — jumping into the unknown, off a proverbial cliff, and hoping that Someone will catch you. For Jesus that wasn’t faith; that was “tempting” or “testing” God, and he wouldn’t do it. Or when we need faith to pray effectively […]
What Christians Believe in 15 Seconds
You are talking with your co-worker from the next cubicle over coffee. She knows you are active in a church. She is in a season of searching. What is Christianity actually all about?” she asks. “I mean, what do you believe?” She really wants to know. You really want to tell her. Three problems: You […]
Tidings of Comfort and …
The Christmas Carol ends that phrase with “Joy”. The Heidelberg Catechism appears to end it with “Misery”! Or does it? I’ve been spending a lot of time in this text in recent years — the Heidelberg Catechism is a 16th century summary of the Christian faith, and the most widely used Reformed theological standard worldwide. […]
Welcome Back, and a Title Brainstorm!
How would you like to help me find a title for a new book project? That question seems like a great way to step back into blogging, with the hopes that this time (1) I’ll be more consistent, and (2) I can begin to make this a more interactive community endeavor. My first effort at […]