Both Jesus and John the Baptist begin their preaching with the same word: “Repent.” The “R-word” has lots of baggage and needs a second look and more expansive understanding. For repentance is good news, not a gloomy indictment. Listen to the words of Bishop Kallistos Ware today. … More On Repentance
I’m debuting my Bob Dylan Tribute show later this week, and hoping to bring a simple twist of faith to my performance. I even bought a special shirt for the gig (see photo). This has me revisiting a piece I wrote a while back. Enjoy some wisdom from the now 83-year old Bob that he shared on his 50th birthday. … More Bob Dylan, Yuppies, and the Most Important Thing
“God forgives me with the compassion of his eyes, when my back is turned to him. For he takes my head between his hands, and turns my face to him. And though I struggle against these hands, they do not let go until he has smiled me into smiling; and that is the forgiveness of God.” … More He Smiled Me Into Smiling
“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan to build a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.” —St. Augustine … More St. Augustine on Humility
“Are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor give thought to wisdom or truth or the best possible state of your soul?” … More Wise Words: Socrates
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” -PLATO (428-348 BC) compare to… “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).
I have found it necessary to spend the first couple classes laying some groundwork about healthy attitudes and approaches to learning, and naming and avoiding unhealthy approaches and attitudes that stunt growth. Toward this end, I have found one book helpful. … More 3 Great Untruths Stunting our Growth
It was said of St. Basil that “his words were like thunder because his life was like lightning.” -UNKNOWN … More Quotables: St. Basil
I’m excited to share a series of chapter summaries by my fellow doctoral graduates from the book we published together called Wise Church: Forming A Wisdom Culture in Your Local Church. Today’s chapter is “What is Wisdom?” … More What Is Wisdom?
“The problem is, many of the people in need of saving are in churches, and at least part of what they need saving from is the idea that God sees the world the same way they do.” -BARBARA BROWN TAYLOR … More Quotables: Barbara Brown Taylor
“Most problems in contemporary churches can be explained by the fact that members have not yet decided to follow Christ.” … More Quotabes: Dallas Willard
I’m thrilled to share my past four years of doctoral studies has resulted in a thesis that has been approved. You can call me Dr. J if you want! :) I have been researching sages & students in the ancient world, and having the time of my life with renowned New Testament scholar Scot McKnight. … More I’m a Doctor!
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” -Mark Twain … More Quotables: Mark Twain on the Right Words
In the year 44 BC, Cicero was in his sixties — an old man by Roman standards — living on his farm outside of Rome removed from political power by the dictatorship of Julius Caesar. He turned to writing to ease the pain of exile and the recent loss of his beloved daughter. Among these works was a short essay on friendship dedicated to Atticus. … More Cicero on How To Be A Friend
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” -C.S. Lewis … More When Moderation is the Enemy
“It is no small pity, and should cause us no little shame, that, through our own fault, we do not understand ourselves, or know who we are … It is foolish to think that we will enter heaven without entering into ourselves.” … More Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Every day we find ourselves back in Eden standing before the Tree of Temptation faced with two types of wisdom. Based on what I’m watching and reading in the media, we’ve set up a buffet line at the forbidden Tree. … More Satan’s Urinal & Forbidden Fruit
“I wonder if we shall ever be put into songs or tales. We’re in one, of course; but I mean: put into words, you know, told by the fireside, or read out of a great big book with red and black letters, years and years afterwards.” … More I Wonder What Sort of a Tale We’ve Fallen Into?
“Worldliness is everything in the world around us that makes sin look normal and that makes righteousness look strange.” -DAVID WELLS … More WOW – On Worldliness
This week’s Words of Wisdom (WOW) come from Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): “The time of the Incarnation was most suitable. Had God come to man to redeem us immediately after the first sin was committed, human pride would not have been humbled in consequence of that sin; man would not have realized, through an impressive stretch of time, the greatness of the treasure he had lost. … More WOW – Aquinas on the Incarnation
“Man’s maker was made man that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast; that the Bread might hunger, the Fountain thirst, the Light sleep, the Way be tired on its journey; that Truth might be accused of false witnesses, the Teacher be beaten with whips, the Foundation be suspended on wood; that Strength might grow weak; that the Healer might be wounded; that Life might die.” … More WOW – Augustine on the Incarnation
“How long will grown men and women in this world keep drawing in their coloring books an image of God that makes them sad?” -Meister Eckhart (1260-1328) … More WOW – Meister Eckhart (1260 – 1328)
“Don’t be more serious than God. God invented dog farts. God designed your body’s plumbing system. God designed an ostrich. If He didn’t do it, He permitted a drunken angel to do it. Empirical facts can add significantly to the meaning of “being godlike”.” … More WOW – Peter Kreeft
“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.” —Oswald Chambers … More WOW – Oswald Chambers
“The poet enters into himself in order to create. The contemplative enters into God in order to be created.” -Thomas Merton … More WOW- Thomas Merton & Divine Poetry
Jeremy L. Berg 