living in light of eternity
We wrapped it up last night, our study of Ecclesiastes. The Preacher has taken us one by one down a maze of dead-end roads, pushing us past our pat answers. As Derek Kidner says, "The searching questions he has asked are those that life itself puts to us, if we will only listen. He can... Continue Reading →
"Most of the things we need to be most fully alive never come in busyness. They grow in rest." — Mark Buchanan "Sabbath observance invites us to stop. It invites us to rest. It asks us to notice that while we rest, the world continues without our help. It invites us to delight in the... Continue Reading →
What can we do when we're lost in the dark? How can we confront the absurdities of life on a fallen planet? What does it mean to choose light? Last night we talked about this idea of choosing light, setting our hearts on things above, consciously turning away from darkness that could swallow us whole.... Continue Reading →
So enjoyed our conversation about spiritual battle Sunday night! It went right along with this gem from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening... Stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord. (Exodus 14:13) "These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot... Continue Reading →
Chapter 7 of Ecclesiastes--another fascinating bit of ancient wisdom! While it did contain a sprinkling of sound relationship advice (especially what to avoid), it wasn't a perfect match for our chapter of Thirty Thousand Days, "Love Deeply." The closest fit for that idea would have come from Ecclesiastes chapter 9, where the Preacher exuberantly says,... Continue Reading →
Miss Erika brought it again this week as she shared with us her thoughts on holding loosely. It led to an interesting discussion of idolatry -- what is an idol? how would you know if you had one? how would you go about getting rid of it -- or would you want to? Hope you... Continue Reading →
We're halfway there! So far we have talked about the meaning of life (meaningless, meaningless-- or is it?), seeing eternally, wholeheartedness, walking with purpose, compassion, and generosity. Next on the docket, Hold Loosely. (Feel free to sing the 38 Special version if you grew up rollerskating to it.) Last night we peered into chapter 5... Continue Reading →
This week we tackled suffering. How do we care passionately in a broken world? What does it mean to have "an abundant life" in the midst of the oppression and injustice around us? How do we get our minds around that? Here are Erika's thoughts -- so encouraging! If you know someone whose life is... Continue Reading →
This week we talked about Ecclesiastes chapter 2 and all of the ways we seek satisfaction under the sun. The Preacher, as one commentator remarked, tries hard to set up his own little Garden of Eden without any of the forbidden fruits, and oh how his experiment fails! Here's my friend Erika leading us. Enjoy!... Continue Reading →
"Vanity of vanities!" "Meaningless, meaningless!" "Mist and vapor!" What can it mean? Here we go -- chapter one of the difficult/intriguing/rich/rewarding book of Ecclesiastes.
Catherine's Letters 