In 1968, Francis Schaeffer wrote that the problem with communicating Christianity to a new generation was centered on new view of truth that detached it from objective and knowable reality… . Truth, especially spiritual truth, is now widely taking to be a matter of perspective, a mere social or personal construction. Truth no longer concerns the true nature of thing, nor is it subject to intellectual analysis.
oakenquill
words matter
Panicked Stallions
A quick thought on travel:
When you’re running, the demons are too busy holding on to remind you of why you left.
I’ve noticed that many of the expats I meet out here in Asia are running from something. Indeed, expats everywhere are probably running from something. Often, they’re running from inferior conditions back home hoping to find some greater sense of security than that of their home countries. But the American expats are not running from financial insecurity.
Americans always seem to be running from demons. There’s always some emotional baggage from which they’re trying to unchain themselves.
It’s easy from me to see it in others, but my demons are always hiding behind me — this is likely the reason we can see others’ demons directly, but our own we see only peripherally. From what I’m running, it doesn’t matter. Just like it doesn’t matter from they others are running.
Regardless of our demons’ natures, they ride us like jockeys. And we run like panicked stallions. At least the view is nice.
Real science arose only once: in Europe. China, Islam, India, and ancient Greece and Rome each had a highly developed alchemy. But only in Europe did alchemy developed into chemistry. By the same token, many societies developed elaborate systems of astrology, but only in Europe did astrology lead to astronomy. Why?
Releasing the June Bugs
What calms the wild, indifferent night? What condenses untamed attention? In the swirling collection of conflicting desires, spinning around like June bugs on threads, it is music that releases all but one.
And with that one, no longer am I undone — at least, no longer am I hopelessly undone.
The trick is to pick music that doesn’t feed upon your pain. The trick is to pick music athwart your uncontrol. Pick music crafted for beauty; pick music crafted upon an ideal greater than the material chaos about you.
Otherwise, it is but the sound of your own captivity.
For Jesus the kingdom of God indicates God’s intervention in history to accomplish both redemption and judgment. The kingdom refers to God’s authority and dominion, rather than a set location or one group of people. It has both present and future dimensions. In the person and actions of Jesus the kingdom breaks forth in new power, but much more is yet to come.
Eponymous
Hamlet is the story of a man named Hamlet.
Truer words…
There is no fear that a modern king will attempt to override the constitution; it is more likely that he will ignore the constitution and work behind its back; he will take no advantage of his kingly power; it is more likely that he will take advantage of his kingly powerlessness, of the fact that he is free from criticism and publicity. For the king is the most private person of our time. It will not be necessary for any one to fight again the proposal of a censorship of the press. We do not need a censorship of the press. We have censorship by the press.
Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. “He that will lose his life, the same shall save it,” is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers.
The elusive haloes of utopia.
