Christ Driving the Money-Changers from the Temple by Cecco Caravaggio (1610) “And Jesus told those who sold pigeons, ‘take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’ His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” John 2:16–17 Earlier this week, there was a post circulating on social media that had an…
Each Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle lists the ten most popular fiction and non-fiction reads among Bay Area residents. Most books have been published in the last two years. A few weeks ago, however, a modern classic cracked the tenth spot: The Plague (1947) by Albert Camus (1913–1960). COVID19 is an ostensible explanation for The Plague’s bump in readership. With no premonition…
If like me you have annual reading goals, you probably struggle to decide which books are worth your precious time. It’s not my custom to elect books at random, but after my 18-month old daughter Sophia grabbed a thin, 1955 used copy of Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography off the shelf, I took her to the task. The Autobiography is not your typical first-person…
As we celebrate the 243rd anniversary of America’s Independence, the holiday presents an opportunity to reflect on the nature of patriotism. At a fundamental level, patriotism is an expression of gratitude for citizenship in one’s nation. In this sense, it is a virtue. Affection for a place and people to whom you belong is imminently natural. Patriotism is also a profoundly complex…
“For a brief moment, I feel perfect.” Alex Honnold’s revelatory statement is crucial to understanding the internal drive that led the climber to successfully scale Yosemite’s El Capitan alone, and without equipment—”free solo”—in June 2017. This pursuit is what drives the plot in Free Solo, the 2018 documentary directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Vasarhelyi. When applied to Honnold’s staggering feat, “perfection”…
I became a subscriber to Sports Illustrated as a Freshman in high school. Being an athlete who played baseball and football, articles about professional sports naturally piqued my interest. But one issue that came every February never passed through my hands: The annual swimsuit edition. Mom made sure it moved swiftly from mail box to trash can. It was a few…
This message, preached on December 25, 1530 is among the most poignant and well-known sermons by the German reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). The sermon focuses on the “trust” aspect of faith that leads a person to believe not only that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin, but that Christ was born for them, yes even born for you. You have heard today…
Christmas brings joy because God keeps his promises. In her Magnificant, upon being told that she will give birth to the Messiah, Mary jubilantly proclaims, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his offspring forever.”—Luke 1:54–55 The Father’s sending of his eternally begotten son to became incarnate in the…
A chlorine green muscular giant with jet black hair, yellow eyes, and nails protruding from his neck is such an ubiquitous sight at Halloween that any semblance of terror that would’ve plagued the original readers of Mary Shelly’s epic novel, Frankenstein, is lost. It has been called the first piece of science fiction, a modern reiteration of the classic Greek saga, Prometheus.…
You Hold My Right Hand Psalm 73:23–26 Considering the destructive wildfires that have ravaged our community for the last week, there are genuine reasons to be discouraged, even afraid. Maybe you’re asking yourself why things like this happen. Perhaps you’ve had friends who’ve lost their homes. Scores of individuals have already lost their lives, and no doubt, many are wondering, “Where is…