We spent the day at the zoo. Bears, elephants, and splash pads. Every time we go (we have season passes), I wonder at the variety of creatures and the uniqueness of each. The Red Pandas are ridiculously designed and ridiculously cute. The giraffes look preposterous and the elephants unlikely. What I see in each animal is the excess of artistry, not the burden of … [Read more...] about Excess of Artistry
Articles
A Gentle Rebuke
This is great: "Christopher Robin…said, 'Silly old bear,' in such a loving voice that everyone felt quite hopeful again."A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh (New York: Penguin, 1992), p. 29. "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). May all our rebukes land so gently. … [Read more...] about A Gentle Rebuke
Images of the Bible – Waking the Dead
The Gospel of Mark relays a touching story about the death of a child. In Mark chapter five, we read: “And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him,and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little … [Read more...] about Images of the Bible – Waking the Dead
Civil Obedience
What struck the jailer with awe? "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were … [Read more...] about Civil Obedience
Images of the Church – The Temple
The Temple of the Old Testament figured large in the minds of the Israelites. The temple, as a physical structure, symbolized the presence of God in Israel, and in fact, God’s presence rested on the Temple. Life for the average Israelite centered on the Temple. People made regular pilgrimages there for festivals and to fulfill sacrificial rites and responsibilities. The … [Read more...] about Images of the Church – The Temple