de Sales

from Introduction to the Devout LIfe:
Alexander caused the lovely Campaspe, who was so dear to him, to be painted by the great Apelles, who, by dint of contemplating her as he drew, so graved her features in his heart and conceived so great a passion for her, that Alexander discovered it, and, pitying the artist, [...]

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Taizizze in the Hizzle

From Taize founder Brother Roger, in Songs and Prayers from Taize:
In a technological society, there is a clear separation between prayer and work. When inner life and human solidarity appear to be in competition with one anothe, as if people had to choose between them, that opposition tears apart the very depths of the soul.
Prayer [...]

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Monstrance of Rock

I’m writing on something loosely connected to this picture, which I found by accident, but am considering as a tattoo.

I will be looking for a cleaner copy.

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Spider Sense

Young’un (picking up Spider Man lego figure from car floor): I’m going to take Spider Man inside to church today.
Me: Ok.
Young’un: He’s going to think this is craazy.

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Streets of Bling

This idealized newsfeed (HT ME) was really fun for me. It might not be all your hopes and dreams, but it got my imagination going.
It also got me thinking about how we talk about heaven. A lot of our songs and language about the restoration of a broken, groaning creation amount to odd quotes of [...]

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Julian

Julian of Norwich asked three things of God: a sympathetic vision of Christ’s suffering; an encounter with debilitating physical illness to facilitate pure worship and nearness to God; and “three wounds” described here:

These two desires of the Passion and the sickness I desired with a condition, saying thus: Lord, Thou knowest what I would,—if it [...]

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Right side up

Hard to believe you can get a crowd these days at an event called “Bible Lectures,” but it’s a great week around here for seeing folks you love to see and hearing folks who’ve given some thought to what matters. Highlight of the week so far was a few nights ago when a coupla ministers [...]

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Shout to the What?

I haven’t seen this yet, and I imagine there will be something well said about it before I have time to recover from the concept:
Tonight, American Idol wrapped up their big giant charity-event show, live at the Kodak, home of the Oscars, featuring Snoop Dog and Miley Cyrus (I hope they dueted), with the [...]

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Poor Kings

Yesterday was George Herbert’s birthday. Happy belated, George.
Church Music
Sweetest of sweets, I thank you: when displeasure
Did through my body wound my mind,
You took me thence, and in your house of pleasure
A dainty lodging me assigned.
Now I in you without a body move,
Rising and falling with your wings:
We both together sweetly live and love,
Yet say sometimes, [...]

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The Cross and the Inoperable Hard Drive

If I’d been writing last week, I would have included this then:
Nothing is more important than the cross, except the perfect reign of God. Indeed, when we suffer with love, his reign has begun in us, and we must be contented with that as long as God defers the consummation.
Francois Fenelon, Talking with God.
. . [...]

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