29. Guild of the Cowry Catchers, Book 1 (ua), by Abigail Hilton
30. Called out of Darkness (ua), by Anne Rice
31. Heartless (pb), by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
32. The Swan Thieves (ua), by Elizabeth Kostova
33. Penny For Your Thoughts (ua), by Mindy Starns Clark
The observations (and ramblings) of a Real Person searching for the Real God in the Real World.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
On seeing God
From a homily of St. Gregory of Nyssa:
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The happiness God promises certainly knows no limits. When one has gained such a blessing, what is left to desire?
In seeing God, one possess all things. In the language of Scripture, to see is to have. "May you see the good things of Jerusalem" is the same as "May you possess the good things of Jerusalem."
One who has seen God has in the act of seeing gained all that is counted good: life without end, everlasting freedom from decay, undying happiness, a kingdom that has no end, lasting joy, true light, a voice to sing pleasingly in the spirit, unapproachable glory, perpetual rejoicing. In a word, the totality of blessing.
------------------------------------------------
The happiness God promises certainly knows no limits. When one has gained such a blessing, what is left to desire?
In seeing God, one possess all things. In the language of Scripture, to see is to have. "May you see the good things of Jerusalem" is the same as "May you possess the good things of Jerusalem."
One who has seen God has in the act of seeing gained all that is counted good: life without end, everlasting freedom from decay, undying happiness, a kingdom that has no end, lasting joy, true light, a voice to sing pleasingly in the spirit, unapproachable glory, perpetual rejoicing. In a word, the totality of blessing.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
From The Stowe Missal
An ancient prayer book from about the year 800:
You are God, one and immortal;
You are God, incorruptible and unmoving;
You are God, invisible and faithful;
You are God, wonderful and worthy of praise;
You are God, strong and worthy of honour;
You are God, most high and magnificent;
You are God, living and true;
We believer you, we bless you, we adore you;
ANd we praise your name forever more.
You are God, one and immortal;
You are God, incorruptible and unmoving;
You are God, invisible and faithful;
You are God, wonderful and worthy of praise;
You are God, strong and worthy of honour;
You are God, most high and magnificent;
You are God, living and true;
We believer you, we bless you, we adore you;
ANd we praise your name forever more.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Book Review
Giving Church Another Chance, by Todd Hunter.
Todd Hunter has had a varied and intriguing career in the ministry. He was a leader in the early days of the Vineyard movement, including a stint as National Director. He then lead Alpha USA for a time, before pulling out of the formal curch altogether and becoming involved in the "home church" movement. He then turned around another 180 degrees, and is a newly-ordained bishop of the Anglican Mission in America.
Hunter brings much of this interesting spiritual biography to bear in this, his second book. His focus is on the historical liturgical practices of the church, encouraging evangelicals to re-consider how to adopt these practices.
The book covers a range of topics, including quiet time, reading scripture, giving, communion and blessings. He brings an interesting take to these topics, relying the works of Eugene Peterson and N.T. Wright, among others.
I heard Hunter speak years ago, when he was a Vineyard pastor, and was quite impressed. I have followed him as his pilgrimage has taken him around the church, and was intrigued when he joined the Anglican community. My own move into the ancient-future church ideas has not been as dramatic as Hunter's, but I found this book an intersting and thought-provoking treatise on integrating the ancient practices of the church into a modern life.
Todd Hunter has had a varied and intriguing career in the ministry. He was a leader in the early days of the Vineyard movement, including a stint as National Director. He then lead Alpha USA for a time, before pulling out of the formal curch altogether and becoming involved in the "home church" movement. He then turned around another 180 degrees, and is a newly-ordained bishop of the Anglican Mission in America.
Hunter brings much of this interesting spiritual biography to bear in this, his second book. His focus is on the historical liturgical practices of the church, encouraging evangelicals to re-consider how to adopt these practices.
The book covers a range of topics, including quiet time, reading scripture, giving, communion and blessings. He brings an interesting take to these topics, relying the works of Eugene Peterson and N.T. Wright, among others.
I heard Hunter speak years ago, when he was a Vineyard pastor, and was quite impressed. I have followed him as his pilgrimage has taken him around the church, and was intrigued when he joined the Anglican community. My own move into the ancient-future church ideas has not been as dramatic as Hunter's, but I found this book an intersting and thought-provoking treatise on integrating the ancient practices of the church into a modern life.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
On the two natures
From St. Leo the Great
"To pay the debt of our sinful state, a nature that is incapable of suffering was joined to one that could suffer. Thus, in keeping with the healing that we needed, one and the same mediator between God & Men, the man Jesus Christ, was able to die in one nature and unable to die in the other.
He who is true God was therefore born in the complete and perfect nature of a true man, whole in his own nature, whole in ours. By our nature, we mean what the Creator had fashioned in us from the beginning and took to himself in order to restore it."
"To pay the debt of our sinful state, a nature that is incapable of suffering was joined to one that could suffer. Thus, in keeping with the healing that we needed, one and the same mediator between God & Men, the man Jesus Christ, was able to die in one nature and unable to die in the other.
He who is true God was therefore born in the complete and perfect nature of a true man, whole in his own nature, whole in ours. By our nature, we mean what the Creator had fashioned in us from the beginning and took to himself in order to restore it."
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