In Dostoevsky’s favorite novel The Idiot, we meet Prince Myshkin, a Christ-like person whose goodness, open-heartedness, and genuineness lead people to call him an idiot sixty times in the novel. Dostoevsky saw Myshkin as his best and richest poetic idea. Three times in his notes, Dostoevsky identifies Myshkin as a Christ figure. Like Jesus, he was full of child-like … [Read more...] about The foolishness of God in Dostoevsky’s Idiot
Faith
Inspiring a deeper walk of faith in God, expressed as Father, Son, and Spirit. Living out our shared experiences of life in Christ.
Petra, the treasury carved from rock
When something is carved in rock you pay attention. Even if it’s a ‘rose’ city hewn out of sandstone. Over one million tourists now make the trek into Petra, Jordan – most on foot, although you can support the Bedouin caretakers by riding their horses, camels, golf carts or horse drawn carriages. This enduring marvel has now been voted one of the new seven wonders of the world … [Read more...] about Petra, the treasury carved from rock
Dostoevsky’s conflicted Brothers Karamazov
Do you enjoy ‘who-done-it’ murder mystery stories by Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle? Then you will love the Russian Christian author, Fyodor Dostoevsky. He was a master at using graphic crime stories to create the most remarkable psychological/philosophical novels ever written. You will be puzzled as you try to figure out which of the four Karamazov brothers killed his … [Read more...] about Dostoevsky’s conflicted Brothers Karamazov
New resolutions for January 2023
Everyone believes in change, as long as it involves someone else. Each New Year in January, many of us make New Year’s Resolutions about how we are going to change. After Christmas season, people often feel remorse for having over-eaten and under-exercised. In early January gyms are flooded with new recruits, often lasting until February when our muscles begin to ache. So … [Read more...] about New resolutions for January 2023
The obedience of Joseph central to the Christmas story
Do you ever wonder about Joseph, the man we see walking alongside a very pregnant woman on the way to Bethlehem? I’m often tempted to think of him as an unnecessary extra in the Christmas story. The Christ child is, of course, central, as is his mother, Mary. Meanwhile, the conception itself had happened without any help from Joseph. Then there are shepherds, sheep, wisemen, … [Read more...] about The obedience of Joseph central to the Christmas story