June 2011
2 posts
No need to point out the irony of posting that last quote.
“We should have much peace if we would not busy ourselves with the sayings and...”
– Thomas à Kempis
May 2011
4 posts
“Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is...”
– Wendell Berry
Calculating the End — Again and Again
Apparently, there are many discussing what to expect on May 21. Of course, it’s not the first time that the end of the world has been predicted. Bill Leonard, professor of church history at Wake Forest, recently posted an article at Associated Baptist Press reviewing past mistaken predictions. Note the final two paragraphs:
For now, let’s keep last things last. The end will come, for...
“To be a witness does not consist in engaging in propaganda or even in stirring...”
– Emmanuel Célestin Suhard
April 2011
1 post
Another One for the Brothers
Sheri finished The Brothers Karamazov yesterday. Pancakes are on the menu for breakfast this morning.
March 2011
7 posts
“Nothing true can be said about God from a posture of defense.”
– Marilynne Robinson
Sleep Deprivation
This is for all my students who send me emails at 3:00 in the morning.
From Tony Schwarz’s post titled “Sleep is More Important than Food” at the Harvard Business Review:
…In reality, the research suggests that even small amounts of sleep deprivation take a significant toll on our health, our mood, our cognitive capacity and our productivity.
Many of the effects...
Drawing Closer to God Through Quietness →
Jan Chapman compares a Friends’ meeting with her usual church experience.
Lent - Day 6 →
NorthHaven’s devotional for the sixth day of Lent is a reflection on Romans 5:12-19, written by June Price.
Lent - Day 3 →
NorthHaven devotional for the third day of Lent.
Lent - Day 2 →
NorthHaven devotional for the second day of Lent.
February 2011
2 posts
1895 Eighth Grade Final Exam →
On the NY Times site, Stephen Dubner posted a final exam given to eighth grade students in Salina, Kansas in 1895. I’d rather not talk about how I would have done on the exam.
“The first duty of love is to listen.”
– Paul Tillich
January 2011
2 posts
Tolerance
I just finished my paper on the problems with tolerance. Of course, it was a day later than the conference deadline. Now to see how tolerant the conference organizers are.
“I don’t preach a social gospel; I preach the gospel, period. The gospel of...”
– Desmond Tutu
December 2010
9 posts
“The way to Christ is first through humility, second through humility, third...”
– Augustine of Hippo
Bob Feller (1918-2010)
Bob Feller, who pitched for the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1956, died Wednesday in Cleveland. In Alan Schwarz’s 2006 book, Once Upon a Game: Baseball’s Greatest Memories, he spoke of his decision to leave professional baseball after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and enlist in the United States Navy.
A lot of folks say that had I not missed those almost four seasons to...
“Mary represents the ‘rebel consciousness’ that is essential to...”
– Emmanuel Katongole, Associate Professor of Theology and World Christianity at Duke University Divinity School
“This is the rule of most perfect Christianity, it’s the most exact...”
– John Chrysostom
If you could have only one thing for Christmas →
In today’s Washington Post, Petula Dvorak’s column includes a story about a 6-year-old who was told by her mother to scale back her Christmas list. So, she wrote a letter to “Dear Sata” asking for just one thing, a remote control that controlled the world.
When her mother pointed out that the salutation was missing an “N”, she simply added it to the end of the...
“We all know well that we can do things for others and in the process, crush...”
– Jean Vanier
“The ethical and moral issues that face people in the U.S. have a great deal to...”
– Episcopal Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, Chicago Tribune, December 2, 2010
A Chaplain's Ultimate Sacrifice →
From the Los Angeles Times, a story about Chaplain (Captain) Dale Goetz, the first Chaplain since the Vietnam War to be killed in Combat. Remember to pray for Chaplains and their Chaplain Assistants, as they continue to minister to those who serve.
The Need for Community
From Basil the Great (330-379 AD):
In order to give us a precise and clear example of humility in the perfection of love, our Lord took a towel and washed his disciples’ feet. So what about you, living entirely on your own, how will you ever discover such humility? Whose feet will you wash? Whom will you care for?
On Not Understanding Prayer →
From EthicsDaily.com
November 2010
9 posts
“To be alive is to be broken; to be broken is to stand in need of grace.”
– Brennan Manning
Descartes First Edition
A first edition of Descartes’ Principles of Philosophy will be up for auction on December 2. Do you think Sheri will let me bid?
“Jesus does not demand great actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude.”
– St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
“Once upon a time, the story goes, a preacher ran through the streets of the city...”
– Joan Chittister
“A life in prayer is a life in open hands where you are not ashamed of your...”
– Henri Nouwen
October 2010
6 posts
Baptist Millenials →
A nice article by a daughter of two of my fellow church-members. Together they founded His Nets, an organization devoted to stopping the spread of malaria.
The Christian Literary Underground
The November issue of Sojourners Magazine has an interesting article by Julie Polter about the “Christian literary underground.” There is also a slightly tongue-in-cheek post on their website by Betsy Shirley titled “7 Essential Tips for Fitting in With the Christian Literary Underground Scene Near You!” I’m pleased to see that the first essential tip is this:
Be...
“Today it is fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not...”
– Mother Teresa
Philosophy Club
Philosophy Club will meet next Tuesday to view and discuss the 1959 film, Hiroshima Mon Amour. We’ll begin at 6:30 in the media auditorium in the Library.
Religious Knowledge Survey
EthicsDaily.com has an interesting story about a recent Pew Forum survey on religious knowledge in the United States. Jews, Mormons, and atheists/agnostics appear to know more about world religions than American Christians.
For those who would like to test their own knowledge, the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has provided a short version of the survey that you can take online.
Brief Habits as the Key to Living Forever →
Nietzsche would like this.
September 2010
3 posts
“If God’s incomprehensibility does not grip us in a word, if it does not...”
– Karl Rahner
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because...”
– C.S. Lewis
Did I Miss Anything? →
A poetic answer to that perennial question from those who were absent from class.
August 2010
5 posts
Room Change
PHIL 1043 A, Introduction to Philosophy, which meets at 11 on MWF, will move to Montgomery Hall 204 beginning on Monday. To all of you who had to sit on the floor today, thanks for your gracious spirit.
“A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking...”
– Miguel De Unamuno
Greatest Beatles Songs? →
Rolling Stone’s ranking of the top ten Beatles songs.
A Mosque in NYC
I’ve been following the debate over the proposed Mosque near the site of the World Trade Center in New York City. Baptists have historically been champions of religious liberty, and denying Muslims the right to build a house of worship is contrary to historic Baptist principles.
The question to ask is this - would you be happy with a Christian Church at the same location? If so, then do...
Advice for Christian Politicians →
From Ethics Daily.