thinking honestly about life and faith
I’ve not known of Anker’s paintings for long, but here I show one of them, and another of the same genre, with wonderful insight into the reality of human life and relationship. Albert Anker (1831 – 1910) was considered the … Read More »
I will be preaching this coming Sunday for a group of churches who will meet on Pentecost Sunday. I thought to share a few thoughts which will form some of the basis for my sermon. The principal text is the … Read More »
In the last few weeks I have encountered again a view of God and of life in general which I can only call oppressive. I attended the funeral of a person whose family of origin belonged to a quite exclusive … Read More »
I am really enjoying Marilynne Robinson’s latest book Reading Genesis. Many of us have loved her novels, especially the Gilead series, filled with rich insight into human life, themes of family, love, home, and the quest for a faith that … Read More »
I am writing out a sense of sadness, as well as gratitude and I hope an appropriate perspective. This post concerns life and death. We’ve attended a funeral in each of the last three weeks—all older men, who had lived … Read More »
After his immensely helpful book When bad things happen to good people, Rabbi Harold Kushner wrote another equally insightful book, which in many ways is more challenging still: When all you’ve ever wanted isn’t enough: the search for a life … Read More »
The Apostle Thomas is surely one of the most unfairly maligned characters in the Christian stories. I have been reflecting upon his part in the Gospel narratives in preparation for this coming Sunday. Thomas has always been a hero of … Read More »
I have long been enriched by the poetry of T S Eliot. Here is a section from ‘East Coker’, from the Four Quartets. It seems particularly apt for this week, especially for those Christians who find it hard to stay … Read More »
I’ve greatly appreciated the work of Elizabeth Johnson, Catholic feminist theologian, from whom this provocative quotation comes: In his brief ministry, Jesus appears as a prophet and child of Sophia sent to announce God as the God of all-inclusive love, … Read More »
We celebrate the 90th birthday of John Dominic Crossan, whose exceptional scholarship into the origins and types of the Christian testament has been so valuable. Having hosted a conference with him as the main speaker, I can testify to his … Read More »