24. The Professional (ua), by Robert B. Parker
25. A Twisted Faith (hc), by Gregg Olsen
26. Archangel:Legion (ua), by Scott Roche
27. Giving Church Another Chance (hc), by Todd Hunter
28. The Scarpetta Factor (ua), by Patricia Cornwell
The observations (and ramblings) of a Real Person searching for the Real God in the Real World.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Scot McKnight on Living the Bible
God did not give the Bible so we could master him or it; God gave the Bible so we could live it, so we could be mastered by it. The moment we think we have mastered it, we have failed to be readers of the Bible."
Saturday, May 22, 2010
More from Blaise Pascal
From Penses #131:
"There are in faith two equally constant truths. One is that man in the state of his creation, or in the state of grace, is exalted above the whole of nature, made like unto God and sharing in his divinity. The other is that in the state of corruption and sin he has fallen from that first state and has become like the beasts. The two propositions are equally firm and certain ... whence it is clearly evident that man thhrough grace is made like unto God and shares his divinity, and without grace he is treated like the beasts of the field."
"There are in faith two equally constant truths. One is that man in the state of his creation, or in the state of grace, is exalted above the whole of nature, made like unto God and sharing in his divinity. The other is that in the state of corruption and sin he has fallen from that first state and has become like the beasts. The two propositions are equally firm and certain ... whence it is clearly evident that man thhrough grace is made like unto God and shares his divinity, and without grace he is treated like the beasts of the field."
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
St. Hilary on the Trinity
from a treatise:
---------------------------
Our Lord commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In baptism, then, we profess faith in the Creator, in the only begotten Son, and in the gift which is the Spirit.
There is one creator of all things, for in God there is one Father from whom all things have their being. And there is one only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; through him all things exist. And there is one Sprit, the gift who is in all.
So all follow their due order, according to the proper operation of each: One power, which brings all things into being; One son, through whom all things come to be; and one gift of perfect hope.
Nothing is wanting to this flawless union. In Trinity, there is infinity of endless being, perfect reflection of the divine image, and mutual enjoyment of the gift.
---------------------------
Our Lord commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In baptism, then, we profess faith in the Creator, in the only begotten Son, and in the gift which is the Spirit.
There is one creator of all things, for in God there is one Father from whom all things have their being. And there is one only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; through him all things exist. And there is one Sprit, the gift who is in all.
So all follow their due order, according to the proper operation of each: One power, which brings all things into being; One son, through whom all things come to be; and one gift of perfect hope.
Nothing is wanting to this flawless union. In Trinity, there is infinity of endless being, perfect reflection of the divine image, and mutual enjoyment of the gift.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Defending the Trinity
Many of the great heresies that have faced the church have come from different understandings (misunderstandings) of the doctrine of the Trinity. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology lists the three core components of the trinitarian belief. They are in tension, they don't "make sense" to our human mind, but deviating from any of these three core components leads us astray:
1. God exists eternally as three persons.
2. Each person is fully God.
3. There is one God.
1. God exists eternally as three persons.
2. Each person is fully God.
3. There is one God.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
From St. Maximus of Turin
From a sermon:
Christ is risen.
He has burst open the gates of Hell and let the dead go free. He has renewed the earth through the members of his Body, born again and baptized, and has made it blossom afresh with man brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked the doors of Heaven, which stand wide open to receive those who rise up from earth. Because of Christ’s resurrection, the thief ascends to Paradise, the bodies of the blessed enter the holy city, and the bodies of the dead are restored to the company of the living.
Christ is risen.
His rising brings life to the dead, forgiveness to sinners, and Glory to the saints.
Christ is risen.
He has burst open the gates of Hell and let the dead go free. He has renewed the earth through the members of his Body, born again and baptized, and has made it blossom afresh with man brought back to life. His Holy Spirit has unlocked the doors of Heaven, which stand wide open to receive those who rise up from earth. Because of Christ’s resurrection, the thief ascends to Paradise, the bodies of the blessed enter the holy city, and the bodies of the dead are restored to the company of the living.
Christ is risen.
His rising brings life to the dead, forgiveness to sinners, and Glory to the saints.
Friday, April 30, 2010
April reading list
20. Reliving the Passion (hc), by Walter Wangerin, Jr.
21. Madman (pb), by Tracy Groot
22. Dexter by Design (ua), by Jeff Lindsay
23. The Law of Nines (ua), by Terry Goodkind
21. Madman (pb), by Tracy Groot
22. Dexter by Design (ua), by Jeff Lindsay
23. The Law of Nines (ua), by Terry Goodkind
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Book Review
Mother of God, by Miri Rubin.
Rubin, a history professor from England, presents an extremely well-research and detailed "history" of the Virgin Mary. In reality, it is a history of the Christian era of human history, using the Catholic Church as its focus, using the portayal of the Blessed Virgin as the narrative thread.
Rubin reviews (extensively) nearly 2 millennia of art, poetry, and songs of Mary, explaining how specific portrayals relate to a particular cultural view of the Virgin. She also covers theological and political developments as they relate to the Catholic Church and Mary's role in it.
The volume of notes at the end of the book place it firmly in the cAtegory of "academic," but is also manages to be a very readable and intersting work.
Rubin, a history professor from England, presents an extremely well-research and detailed "history" of the Virgin Mary. In reality, it is a history of the Christian era of human history, using the Catholic Church as its focus, using the portayal of the Blessed Virgin as the narrative thread.
Rubin reviews (extensively) nearly 2 millennia of art, poetry, and songs of Mary, explaining how specific portrayals relate to a particular cultural view of the Virgin. She also covers theological and political developments as they relate to the Catholic Church and Mary's role in it.
The volume of notes at the end of the book place it firmly in the cAtegory of "academic," but is also manages to be a very readable and intersting work.
Monday, April 19, 2010
More From Blaise Pascal
Penses #121:
-------------------------
It is dangerous to explain too clearly to man how like he is to the animals without pointing out his greatness. It is also dangerous to make too much of his greatness without his vileness. It is still more dangerous to leave him in ignorance of both, but it is most valuable to represent both to him.
Man must not be allowed to believe that he is equal either to animals or to angels, nor to be unaware of either, but he must know both.
-------------------------
It is dangerous to explain too clearly to man how like he is to the animals without pointing out his greatness. It is also dangerous to make too much of his greatness without his vileness. It is still more dangerous to leave him in ignorance of both, but it is most valuable to represent both to him.
Man must not be allowed to believe that he is equal either to animals or to angels, nor to be unaware of either, but he must know both.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Podcast Review
The Bible Study Podcast
Note that there are many podcasts in iTunes with similar names -- this review is for the weekly podcast hosted by Chris Christensen and produced for Mevio.
This is a nice, bite-size podcast, that runs 10-12 minutes per weekly episode, covering a topic or book of the Bible in 10 to 20 episodes. After series on "The Church is Called to be" and "The Bible on Leadership," Chris is currently working his way through Acts, after covering Luke's Gospel.
The theology espoused in this podcst is standard and orthodox, a "safe" presentation of biblical truths for Christian believers of all stripes.
Note that there are many podcasts in iTunes with similar names -- this review is for the weekly podcast hosted by Chris Christensen and produced for Mevio.
This is a nice, bite-size podcast, that runs 10-12 minutes per weekly episode, covering a topic or book of the Bible in 10 to 20 episodes. After series on "The Church is Called to be" and "The Bible on Leadership," Chris is currently working his way through Acts, after covering Luke's Gospel.
The theology espoused in this podcst is standard and orthodox, a "safe" presentation of biblical truths for Christian believers of all stripes.
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