Quote of the day

[Teluog]

Long one, but very relevant to all of us. It's from an article on Christian's and the movies, and is a combination of quotes:

Nancy Pearcey, in her book TOTAL TRUTH, continues the work of Dr.Schaeffer. She writes, "Artists are often the barometers of society, and by analyzing the worldviews embedded in their works we can learn a great deal about how to address the modern mind effectively. Yet many Christians critique culture one dimensionally, from a moral perspective alone, and as a result they come across as negative and condemning. At a Christian college, I once took an English course from a professor whose idea of critiquing classic works of literature was to tabulate how many times the characters used bad language or engaged in illicit sexual relations. He seemed blind to the books' literary quality--whether or not they were good as literature. Nor did he teach us how to detect the worldviews expressed there...When the only form of cultural commentary Christians offer is moral condemnation, no wonder we come across to non-believers as angry and scolding. Our first response to the great works of human culture should be to celebrate them as reflections of God's own creativity. And even when we analyze where they go wrong, it should be in a spirit of love.. Today on religious radio or in ministry funded letters, it is common for Christian activists to attack Hollywood or television in tones of aggrieved anger, berating their immoral content or mocking the pretensions of postmodern political correctness. But Schaeffer would have none of that. Even when raising serious criticisms, he expressed burning compassion for people caught in the trap of false worldviews. When describing the pessimism and nihilism expressed in so many movies, paintings, and popular songs, he demonstrated profound empathy for those actually living in despair. These works of art "are the expression of men who are struggling with their appalling lostness," he wrote. "Dare we laugh at such things? Dare we feel superior when we view their tortured expression in their art" The men and women who produce these things "are dying while they live, yet where is our compassion for them?" Pg.57.

[Kelp]

That is very good. Reminds me of D.A. Carson's lament that most authors who try to follow in Schaeffer's footsteps and interact with culture just come off sounding like "very angry people".

[Teluog]

That is very good. Reminds me of D.A. Carson's lament that most authors who try to follow in Schaeffer's footsteps and interact with culture just come off sounding like "very angry people".

the quote is saying that Schaeffer's attitude is to be followed. It's the rest of the church that come off as angry. Unless that is what you meant to say.

Just came across this:

"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today, He would have never been crucified." Leonard Ravenhill

[Kelp]

Oh sorry. Carson meant other people come off as angry, not Schaeffer (nor Pearcy for that matter).

[Teluog]

"I give thanks unto my God for this; that I am found worthy to be among those whom the world hateth." St. Jerome

[lee_merrill]

Good quotes! And the Jim Eliot quote is worth repeating...

Bring joy to your servant; for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
--PSALMS 86:4


Prayer is a habit; and the more we pray the better we shall pray. Sometimes to go to be alone with God and Christ in the fellowship of the Spirit, just for the joy and blessedness of it; to open, with reverent yet eager hands, the door into the presence chamber of the great King, and then to fall down before Him, it may be, in silent adoration; our very attitude an act of homage, our merely being there, through the motive that prompts it, being the testimony of our soul's love; to have our set day-hours of close communion, with which no other friends shall interfere, and which no other occupations may interrupt; to which we learn to look forward with a living gladness; on which we look back with satisfaction and peace; this indeed is prayer.
--ANTHONY W. THOROLD

Ah, dearest Lord! to feel that Thou art near,
Brings deepest peace, and hushes every fear;
To see Thy smile, to hear Thy gracious voice,
Makes soul and body inwardly rejoice
With praise and thanks!
--CHRISTIAN GREGOR

(from Joy and Strength, by Mary Wilder Tileston)

God bless you,
Lee

[Teluog]

A Man Said to the Universe by Stephen Crane

A man said to the universe:
“Sir, I exist!”
“However,” replied the universe,
“The fact has not created in me
A sense of obligation.”

[JB]

A quote from David Crump, on page 107 of his Knocking on Heaven's Door: A New Testament Theology of Petitionary Prayer:

Studying the Lord's Prayer while neglecting to participate in the existential reality of God's fatherhood is like a condemned death-row criminal minutely analyzing the governor's signature at the bottom of the bottom of the pardon while refusing to exit the cell.

[Teluog]

"No man ever repented of being a Christian on his death bed." Hannah More

[Teluog]

Hilarious quote, not related to religion though:

"A woman has a close male friend. This means that he is probably interested in her, which is why he hangs around so much. She sees him strictly as a friend. This always starts out with, you're a great guy, but I don't like you in that way. This is roughly the equivalent for the guy of going to a job interview and the company saying, You have a great resume, you have all the qualifications we are looking for, but we're not going to hire you. We will, however, use your resume as the basis for comparison for all other applicants. But, we're going to hire somebody who is far less qualified and is probably an alcoholic. And if he doesn't work out, we'll hire somebody else, but still not you. In fact, we will never hire you. But we will call you from time to time to complain about the person that we hired." From an IRC conversation.

[Teluog]

Even better:

"I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out." Rodney Dangerfield

[NeilUnreal]

Hilarious quote, not related to religion though:

"A woman has a close male friend...

Story of my life.

-Neil

[lee_merrill]

Even better:

"I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out." Rodney Dangerfield

It's good to know who said that! Now I can give an attribution. And speaking of sports, in view of the many criminal reports on ESPN now, should it be called "Sports Sinner"?

Not that I should be snooty, given that Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners, and now the conservative camp seems to be known as the friend of Republicans and Senators.

There, two quotes from me.

Blessings,
Lee

[Teluog]

“The winds of God are always blowing, but you must set the sails.” Anonymous

[lee_merrill]

More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me night and day.

For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain,
If, knowing God, they lift not the hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

- Alfred Tennyson





"Perhaps we do not think enough what an effective service prayer is, especially intercessory prayer. We do not believe as we should how it might help those we so fain would serve, penetrating the hearts we cannot open, shielding those we cannot guard, teaching where we cannot speak, comforting where our words have no power to soothe; following the steps of our beloved through the toils and perplexities of the day, lifting off their burdens with an unseen hand at night. No ministry is so like that of an angel as this— silent, invisible, known but to God." (Elizabeth Rundle Charles)