“But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days to be cured, and not on the sabbath day.”
From Luke chapter 13
This verse was part of our scheduled readings for this morning in the Episcopal Church, and it sparked some thoughts as we discussed it. Continue reading
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This question popped up on another site, Quora.com, which I enjoy messing around with.
It gave me a chance to do sort of a theological “geek-out” on the “filioque” clause in the Nicene creed. I enjoy making an attempt at this because it lets me try something really hard in language that is very street-level. And that lets me see what it is I really think. (C.S. Lewis said that “any fool can write ‘learned’ language.” The real test is to see if you can translate the ideas into the everyday speech) Continue reading
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A friend of mine once asked for some Bible passages for a friend who was going through some rather serious difficulties. The following is taken from my response.
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OK. I’ve been wanting to write this, and ducking it all morning, probably for days. Perhaps longer.
“Start with the truth as it is, Eric, and only then into commentary, and on to thoughts about that truth, or what you wish to do with it. Start by what is”
Seems like sound advice. The sort of thing I might say. Continue reading
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O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel;
that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny.
From depths of Hell Thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here.
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law, in cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.
My favorite song of this season, Advent, and one I am full ready to proclaim this this year. I need the awareness of Emmanuel (“God with us”) now, as proclaimed in the third verse, to
“Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death dark shadows put to flight.” Continue reading
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More on the idea of universal salvation and personal choice Discussion on the nature of the Holy Trinity: Why only 3? This post prompted me to reply with what I intend to be a draft of a fuller post Starting with Anthroposophy, a very interesting discussion ranging from stained glass and mirrors and the invocation of Saints, to Jung and speculations about the existance of evil.
Random Musings 