In the novel Leaven of Malice Robertson Davies has one character tell another You are in a richly varied mess, true enough. But, much as I like you, I am clear-eyed enough to see that it is the outward and visible reflection of the inward and invisible mess which is your soul. What fascinates me is Davies’ […]
When Giving Up Means Gaining Something More
Great news! I looked at my stats on Monday, and Sunday there were precisely ZERO views of my blog. They must have all been keeping Sabbath and avoiding the internet. Or maybe they were watching the Superbowl. Who knows? I have long taken Sunday as a day of rest. Back in college I figured that […]
Whadaya Know? (And Who and How?)
“Studying a sixteenth century document has nothing to do with real living faith!” The objection is close to the surface whenever I talk about using the Heidelberg Catechism in real life — say, to teach youth or adults what the Christian faith is about. This is followed by a second, corollary objection: “I can’t memorize anything!” […]
I’m dead! Now what do I do? (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. 88)
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 […]
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