Katherine and her New Truck

Pictures here.

Leaf by Niggle

I'm leading a group of musicians through a study of the ancient letter of the Apostle Paul to the Galatian churches. Last Monday night, I referred to a great short story by Tolkein, Leaf by Niggle. Here's a link.

After The Hobbit, Tolkein was asked to write another story about the hobbit. He had a mental block and struggled to come up with a good story. He turned his attention aside and wrote "Leaf by Niggle." Very autobiographical, yet philosphical (in a Tolkein sort of way), and a good story even if you don't understand the background and meaning. I won't give the story away -- but after he wrote this short story about a struggling artist, he started The Lord of the Rings which he wrote quite quickly.

Enjoy.

A Word from Bilbo

Last week I conducted two memorial services for a friend who killed himself on Palm Sunday. I'm still wrestling with it. When I described my friend as a "wanderer" it struck home with most folks, including his mother. In my homily I quoted the first two lines of a beautiful song by Bilbo Baggins at the Council of Elrond. It expresses my great and only hope in this world.

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken:
The crownless again shall be king.

Andre Rieu

Last night, Katherine and I became the recipients of great generosity and we attended a beautiful and joyous concert by Andre Rieu at the basketball arena of the University of Miami. Hard to capture the experience, but . . . a full orchestra with 6 soloists, playing waltzes, polkas, arias, Broadway, opera, and folk tunes. Great lights, video, smoke, balloons. Classier than the circus, more fun than the symphony, better music than any pop concert -- but a little of all those together.

Highly recommended.

Thanks, Woody and Shirley.

WIR

God leads a very interesting life and his full of joy. Undoubtedly he is the most joyous being in the universe . . . We pay a lot of money to get a tank with a few tropical fish in it . . . but God has seas full of them, which he constantly enjoys.

Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, page 62.
Given to me by my friend, Woody Lippencott.

Good Reading

In an effort to distract you (and me) from the TV, this is a list I'll keep updated, and linked on the right. Good places for stimulating reading. What resources have you found? Where do you like to read? Let's cross-pollenate.

For fun
Harvard Commencement Address, 2000
The Onion
Urban Legends
Demotivators

Physical Health and Fitness
John Stone Fitness
Check this girl out
Natural Physiques
John Berardi

Good Christian Articles
Andy Crouch, culturally relevant articles
Modern Reformation
Covenant Seminary Resources, articles and audio from CTS profs
Sojourners, Jim Wallace, and the social-minded evangelicals
Christian Book Summaries, summaries, not reviews, of new books
Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals
Greg's Couch, my friend in the St. Louis Study Center
Ransom Fellowship, reviews of movies and music
Hollywood Jesus, more reviews and studies of movies
First Things, Neuhaus's wonderful journal
Probe, apologetic think tank
byFaith, only for PCA folk

Ministry Resources
Redeemer Center for Faith and Work
Tim Keller's Church Planting Newsletter
Church Planting Resources
Ed Stetzer on Church Planting
Vision Papers of Redeemer PC, NYC
JETS, giving away their articles for free! Wow!
Resources for NT Exegesis
Reformed Praise


Classic Literature
Monergism Free Books
Works of John Calvin
Works of Jonathan Edwards
Christian Classics
Medieval Sourcebook

WIR

I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand. For this I believe -- that unless I believe, I should not understand.

Anselm, Proslogion