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The Church and the Charioteer

THE CHURCH AND THE CHARIOTEER

Once again, I’d like to borrow, perhaps misappropriate an allegory from Plato (this time from Phaedrus, sections 246a–254e). My readings many years ago of the early church fathers such as Justin Martyr, Eusebius, Augustine and others convinced me that there was a certain admiration for Plato back then and a usefulness in his writings when contrasted–or even compared–with the Gospel. In this post, I’d like to borrow Plato’s charioteer illustration. In so many words, Plato speaks of a charioteer driving...

Best practices

BEST PRACTICES

  • January 28, 2022
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  • Faith

I was in a webinar yesterday that was open to the public and which featured Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO. As you might imagine, the focus was on the Ukraine and Russia’s intentions on the eve of what might mean war. A catastrophic war. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Secretary General Stoltenberg is precisely the sort of leader that NATO needs as the West seeks to understand and confront this threat to the sovereignty...

The true test of greatness

THE TRUE TEST OF GREATNESS

The XXIV Olympic Winter Games (起向未来) In another two weeks, thousands of athletes from ninety countries will be descending on Beijing for the 24th Winter Olympic Games. For atheltes, this is the true test of greatness. While the very first Olympics were held in Greece in the 8th Century B.C., the modern Olympics debuted in 1896. Neither of the events included what we know as winter sports. The Olympics were, then as they are now, very important events. In fact, time...

Do not fall victim to false gods again

“DO NOT FALL VICTIM TO FALSE GODS AGAIN”

Yesterday, Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan sentenced a January 6th rioter from Utah who stole a decorative flag while unlawfully within the Capitol building during the infamous insurrection. The rioter also recorded himself on that occasion saying that he was willing to “die for Trump.” Except for the theft of the flag which has since been retrieved from the defendant’s home, the only charges presented were “Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds”; “Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in...

Eye of the tiger

YEAR OF THE TIGER (虎)

 过年 Next month will be the beginning of the Year of the Tiger (虎). But what does that mean? Long, long ago at the bottom of the sea lived a monster called Nián (年).  Nián had sharp teeth and horns, and was very fearsome to behold.  At the end of every Lunar Year, the hungry monster would leave his lair and surface, looking for a feast.  The monster particularly liked to eat people.  In order to avoid the monster, the villagers would flee inland....

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEARS

Wishing all my Twitter friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years! Thank you for all your support, and I hope you’ll continue to visit my Blog throughout the coming year. Garland credit: Naddiya (iStock) Illustration credit: Thinkstock...

Fear and heart failure in Luke

FEAR AND HEART FAILURE IN LUKE

Today is the first day of December. At the moment, many Americans are nervously awaiting the arrival of the Omicron strain of the SARS-COV-2 virus. We’re told that it may very well evade the immune response in our bodies conferred by the vaccine. Some citizens are more bothered by the prospect of having to wear masks and the odds of another lockdown. But other Americans don’t care one way or another about Omicrom. They think they are invincible, or it...

Lamentations

LAMENTATIONS

The world we live in is a dangerous world. Sudden death is possible from nature when cars (or houses) fall into sinkholes that appear out of nowhere and ships are tossed by rogue waves. More commonly, tornados tear through homes with impunity and people are killed by their fellow man in drive-by shootings. Sometimes, death is not quick, as in the case of chronic diseases. Too often, unborn babies are, in the words of Shakespeare, “from their mother’s womb untimely...

The Queen of Sheba and Q

THE QUEEN OF SHEBA AND Q

Multiple newspaper reports here and here this morning describe an hundred or more followers of Q, many with Donald Trump banners or other alt right symbols, loitering around Dealey Plaza in Dallas where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald in November 1963. They are waiting for the miraculous reappearance of his son John Jr. who died in a plane crash in July 1999. They expect an imminent announcement that Donald Trump will run for reelection with...

Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again

THOUGH THEY SINK THROUGH THE SEA THEY SHALL RISE AGAIN

  • November 19, 2021
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  • Faith

The late Irish poet Dylan Thomas once crafted a poem called “And Death Shall Have No Dominion” based on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. I’m not sure how many Christians are fond of Dylan Thomas, though they may have been exposed to him in college. Part of the poem reads: Though they go mad they shall be sane, Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again; Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no...

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