miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
The Screwtape Election. If you've not read C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters, you should. It's a funny piece of fiction describing an experienced demon, Screwtape, offering advice to his bumbling idiot relation, Wormwood, on how to be a better demon. It's hilarious. It's light, but it also reveals a lot about humanity and the ways of the world.
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
As election season gets into high gear, there is more and more ink spilled (and electrons rearranged) on political topics. Instead of just linking article after article after article on politics, which is wearying—at best—I'm linking broader articles that are older than just this week to keep it interesting!
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
An Embassy In an Alien Land. As always, Pr. Peters has some well-thought out reflections on the relationship of the Church to the world. The Orthodox often use the metaphor of the Church as a “hospital” insofar as we are made up of fatally flawed, sinful individuals which will continue to struggle with sin until their dying day.
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
Igniting Holy Fire: Lessons from the Ancient Church. “For some time, church growth was predicated on the notion of making the church feel welcoming and comfortable. Contemporary music, good coffee, a casual atmosphere, a great children’s program, and the absence of 'religious' rituals brought people in the door. Once they were in, so this line of thinking went, they could hear the message of the Gospel, get to know other Christians, join a small group, and thereby grow in the knowledge and love of God. The problem was, while the crowds were large, large numbers didn’t necessarily translate into individual personal growth in Christ. The Willow Creek Reveal study, for example, indicated a disconnect between attendance and transformation. As it turns out, making church as comfortable and easy as possible isn’t the best way forward. Rather, it makes the church simply one more consumeristic commodity.”
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
The Death of Christendom, the Rise of the Church. We all tend to lament the decline of American Christianity in the last 50 years or so. The blatant assaults on our faith are wearying, and we know they will only get worse. But we ought to take heart!
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
This week two different but related articled caught my eye, both encouraging us to enjoy the good, the beautiful, the elegant, and the dignified...one of them in relation to our everyday lives, the other in relation to our worship.
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
How Cell Phones Impact Our Relationships. Take two minutes and give it a watch. As we've told our kids repeatedly, the real-life person in front of you is infinitely more important than the unreal world on your phone...treat them that way.
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
Given our recent experience with Hurricane Beryl, I thought this quote from Amma Theodora of the Desert quote appropriate: “If trees have not stood up against trial, winter’s storms, they cannot bear fruit. It is much the same with us. This present age is a storm, and it is only through many trials and temptations that we can obtain an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
How important is it? “Well, the Methodists have gone and done it. The United Methodists in the US have decided that it is worth dividing their church and for the sake of giving approval to homosexuality and homosexual clergy. This issue was the hill on which a church died. Imagine that. Not for the sake of the divinity of Christ or His humanity or for the sake of justification or for the cause of Scripture — they were willing to kill a church for the sake of the alphabet soup of sexual desire and gender identity.” Pr. Peters nailed it with his assessment of the true priorities of the UMC.
miscellany [ mis-uh-ley-nee], noun
1. a miscellaneous collection or group of various or somewhat unrelated items2. a miscellaneous collection of literary compositions or pieces by several authors, dealing with various topics, assembled in a volume or book
Tractor Supply Company Statement In the midst of “Pride Month,” American's force-fed, practically-legislated celebration of the complete spectrum of sexual immorality, it's nice to see someone besides the Texas Rangers emphasize business over politics. I never turn down even the weakest excuse to visit Tractor Supply...now I'm even more of a fan.