faithasawayoflife

Immoral Politics, and Stupid, too

"The biggest energy crisis we have in our country today is the energy to be serious — the energy to do big things in a sustained, focused and intelligent way."  Read more here.

the utter wasteful beauty of the tulip magnolia

today walking the kids to school we passed a number of yards with tulip poplars in full bloom and the beautiful pedals littering the ground attracted my daughter grace's attention.  she picked up a handful and commented on how beautiful they were.  here's the tree, and an up close of the leaves:

they are so over the top.  simply a superabundance of beauty, thrown before the world, falling daily on the ground, crushed under foot, turning brown, becoming rot.  and the amazing thing is they are so indiscriminate about showing their glory.  it is on full display for every and anyone.   no admission charge.  no proof of standing according to any membership in clubs that monitor aesthetic sensibility.  just overwhelming copious amounts of stunning glory given, free, to all.  O foolish god, o lord of all creation, who hath praise enough?
+anon,
Chris

Faith as a Way of Life book: further comments by Bellah

I'm getting geared up for the release of my new book, Faith as a Way of Life, out from Eerdmans in May.  I've heard recently from Rick Bliese, President of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.  Eerdmans sent him a copy for comment and he had just read it.  No word yet on if he'll offer an endorsement, but he did say he enjoyed it and was surprised to see within one book materials appropriate for seminary students, pastors, and ordinary Christians as well.  Not too common, he thought, and by way of example said his wife, who owns an art gallery, read the chapter on faith and the arts, which she found convicting and engaging.  Great!

Here is a bit more from Robert Bellah, who read the manuscript in January and offered the first endorsement I've seen.  I posted his official endorsement here, but he went on to say:

"I read your book all the way through and like it a lot. You have focused on just what the problems are for recovering a genuine sense of faith in the modern world, why it is so tempting to think only in private and personal terms and thus lose the reality at the core of our tradition. I think your book should be of great help to pastoral leaders but also to lay Christians and I hope it gets wide circulation."

Me, too! 

Peace,
Chris