Beethoven once said: “Handel was the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb.” King George III called Handel “the Shakespeare of Music.” George Bernard Shaw commented that “Handel is not a mere composer in England: he is an institution. What is more, he is a sacred institution.” In North America and England, at the very … [Read more...] about The Messiah of Handel
Jimmy Stewart’s Wonderful Life
One of our favourite Christmas movies is It’s a Wonderful Life where Jimmy Stewart plays the part of a generous but discouraged businessman who discovers that he really was making a positive impact. You will remember how the Christmas angel Clarence had to earn his wings by helping out Jimmy Stewart (aka George Bailey). George was so distraught at Christmas that he was about to … [Read more...] about Jimmy Stewart’s Wonderful Life
The intense humanity of Tolstoy’s characters in Anna Karenina
Perhaps more than any other book, Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy’s novel that readers consistently say they cannot stop reading. If you are still mystified to why Russia recently invaded Ukraine, read Anna Karenina. The intense humanity of Tolstoy’s complex characters allows us to read it again and again with new insights about the Russian soul. Many consider Anna Karenina to be … [Read more...] about The intense humanity of Tolstoy’s characters in Anna Karenina
Is God tolerant?
A.W. Tozer said that the most important thing in life is how we view God. Our conception of God radically shapes how we treat people. Is God tolerant? If so, how then should we act towards others? The modern secular concept of tolerance seems to demand that we must celebrate what others are doing, even if it goes against biblical ethics. But what if biblical tolerance … [Read more...] about Is God tolerant?
Leo Tolstoy – War and Peace making
What might it take for peace to come between Ukraine and Russia? What seems impossible with people is still possible with God. What if Ukrainians and Russians would both rediscover the message of peace and reconciliation in Tolstoy’s War and Peace? Sadly, this book is currently banned in the Ukraine because of the mistaken idea that it glorifies the Russian military. Since … [Read more...] about Leo Tolstoy – War and Peace making