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Photo by Mary Fran
Category Archives: religion
Thinking wins
I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing, so I’ll start again. Our Neighborhood MeetUP viewed a film on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Lutheran pastor who collaborated with German leaders seeking to kill Hitler. Bonhoeffer wrote extensively … Continue reading
Bah! Humbug!
I love Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. My favorite realistic version stars George C. Scott (1984); its production values are outa sight. A close second is The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992), with a lovely musical score. Hallmark’s musical version (2004) also … Continue reading
A good pastor
A.J. Cronin’s book Keys of the Kingdom. Written in 1941, it tells the story of Father Francis Chisholm, a Scottish Catholic who turns poverty and tragedy into a life of beauty in the service of the poor and of the … Continue reading
Posted in literature classics, reading, religion
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Light through the cracks
Stephen Tomkins. John Wesley: A Biography. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003. 208 pp. I wanted to read a biography of Wesley in honor of the church I attend, and am growing to love: Trinity United Methodist, Richmond. Nobody with an ounce … Continue reading
Fire light
Pilgrim Aflame, historical novel by Myron Augsburger based on his dissertation on Michael Sattler, the 16th century leader/martyr of Anabaptists. The Radicals, a film/DVD based on the novel. The writing is good enough; the story, absorbing. Sattler, a Benedictine prior … Continue reading
Another Silent Night, Holy Night
American Christianity has, for the most part, held high the flame for separation of church and state. But, we haven’t done as well keeping church and business apart. Most churches run on a business corporate model. They have a board … Continue reading
Jesus connects with Old Testament roots
Tonight we read Luke’s account of the Last Supper, Luke 22.1-38. Preliminaries: Satan recruited Judas to betray Jesus. The disciples prepared for the Passover/Unleavened Bread feast. They killed and roasted the lamb, brought the wine and unleavened bread, arranged the … Continue reading
ANFECHTUNG—terror, despair, suffering, affliction, trial, test, tribulation—up close and personal
Luther frequently experienced what he called Anfechtung (pl. Anfechtungen), translated “terror, despair, suffering, affliction, trial, test, tribulation.” Luther gave a three point process for doing theology: Oratio (Prayer) Meditato (Meditation) Tentatio (Anfechtung) A terrific article here in Concordia Theological Quarterly 47:1, … Continue reading
The tintinnabulation of the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, bells-
Food for thought for all us theologians, Doctors of Divinity, &c. &.c. from Martin Luther: If, however, you feel and are inclined to think you have made it, flattering yourself with your own little books, teaching or writing, because you … Continue reading
Michael & Margareta Sattler, martyrs
You can read about Michael Sattler here. The Radicals is a fictionalized life on film, available throug Netflix. At age 37, he was martyred in 1527 by torture and burning. Two days later his wife Margareta was drowned. Drowning, or ”third baptism,” … Continue reading
Posted in Anabaptist, religion
Tagged Anabaptist, Luther, Michael Sattler, Schleitheim Confession
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