Your dad opined about Hitler's near assassination misses last week on his show... I was actually thinking the same thing when I read last week's post. However, God does what He wills for reasons we can't always know. Why did Arthur Tudor die young and leave us with Henry VIII? Why have I survived a couple serious car accidents when a young man close to our family was just sitting at a stop sign on his way to work and his vehicle was obliterated by a semi who failed to stop or even slow down for said stop sign? I don't know why, but I do trust that God knows why. And while we can only see the knots and stitches from the back of life's tapestry currently, someday when we see the full and beautiful thing and say, "Ah...what a Master artist!"
As a side note, I believe that young man won eternal life. I think the man who was shot saving his wife and daughter won eternal life. And you know what, I think knowing what they know now about all the things, they are praising God for His wisdom while basking in His glory for all eternity. And while we grieve the tragedies of their losses, they haven't lost... they have won, and that is goal for all our lives in the end!
Not too squishy at all… speaking for myself, skill of learning to hear his voice is the thing…in my individual life and in the cultural…When I have been really uncomfortable with life, I have mistaken a quick fix solution as something divine. For me the key is going slower and getting quieter… and not looking too closely.
When things don’t go well, I blame myself or, on occasion, just misfortune. For all else, I credit God for both the great and the small. It’s just what I do, and I have to admit, even though I’m not rich or famous, I’m wealthy in the blessings of the Lord. So, in the long run, thanking Him all the time certainly hasn’t hurt.
I agree with your dad, no relation. I think we see the hand of Providence here. What is impossible to know is His reasons. We can only guess at that. I believe your father said something like maybe God didn’t want the last best hope for man to devolve into open civil war. We are already looking pretty chaotic, but open violence would put an end to that last best hope idea. Maybe He just wanted to keep one last hope alive a little longer.
I loved Truth and Beauty. It’s my favorite non-fiction book of all time. And your quote elder Klavan attributed to you was the centerpiece of the book. A marvelous insight. It means a lot to me, a former atheist.
Style is who you are, who you choose to be as your “inside you” presents to the outside world. In that sense it’s incarnation. The Christian (Jesus) part happens, depending on who you listen to as you make the presentation. All else is noise.
This article made me think of something. I have a master’s degree in theological studies, so I’ve known and spoken to many theologians over the years. What I’ve noticed is that some theologians err in criticizing Christians today for not viewing Christianity from an “intellectual” perspective, while some non-theologian Christians will criticize theologians for being too intellectual and not focused enough on the spiritual side of God. This made me think of your story. Maybe theologians make the mistake in reading the Gospels as a book on Christ’s philosophy when they (myself included) should never forget to also read the Gospels in a way to get to know Christ as a man. I wonder how we can find a balance between both? I’m interested in knowing anyone’s thoughts on this.
Balance is perhaps bogus. Focus on the infinite and eternal Atonement of Jesus Christ, who was neither a philosopher or a man, but our Master, Prophet, Priest and King. The holy one of Israel, the Son of God . He shows us the way back home.
Thank you, Klavans, for this conversation to focus on better understanding God’s will and word. I don’t know that aesthetics can be a reliable or final test of the divinity of a message. Is not the devil the master of deception and able to appear as an angel of light? (Doctrine and Covenants 128:20) Is it not a better judge whether we are moved to repent and believe in Christ, obey the commandments and do good by what we see and hear? The counterfeit will never measure up to the joy we feel in serving the living God.
Like one can tell fine wine to fine music or poetry , prose whisky and cigars you just know when it’s the right stuff that’s how you know that voice is genuine 👍
Your dad opined about Hitler's near assassination misses last week on his show... I was actually thinking the same thing when I read last week's post. However, God does what He wills for reasons we can't always know. Why did Arthur Tudor die young and leave us with Henry VIII? Why have I survived a couple serious car accidents when a young man close to our family was just sitting at a stop sign on his way to work and his vehicle was obliterated by a semi who failed to stop or even slow down for said stop sign? I don't know why, but I do trust that God knows why. And while we can only see the knots and stitches from the back of life's tapestry currently, someday when we see the full and beautiful thing and say, "Ah...what a Master artist!"
As a side note, I believe that young man won eternal life. I think the man who was shot saving his wife and daughter won eternal life. And you know what, I think knowing what they know now about all the things, they are praising God for His wisdom while basking in His glory for all eternity. And while we grieve the tragedies of their losses, they haven't lost... they have won, and that is goal for all our lives in the end!
Not too squishy at all… speaking for myself, skill of learning to hear his voice is the thing…in my individual life and in the cultural…When I have been really uncomfortable with life, I have mistaken a quick fix solution as something divine. For me the key is going slower and getting quieter… and not looking too closely.
When things don’t go well, I blame myself or, on occasion, just misfortune. For all else, I credit God for both the great and the small. It’s just what I do, and I have to admit, even though I’m not rich or famous, I’m wealthy in the blessings of the Lord. So, in the long run, thanking Him all the time certainly hasn’t hurt.
I agree with your dad, no relation. I think we see the hand of Providence here. What is impossible to know is His reasons. We can only guess at that. I believe your father said something like maybe God didn’t want the last best hope for man to devolve into open civil war. We are already looking pretty chaotic, but open violence would put an end to that last best hope idea. Maybe He just wanted to keep one last hope alive a little longer.
I loved Truth and Beauty. It’s my favorite non-fiction book of all time. And your quote elder Klavan attributed to you was the centerpiece of the book. A marvelous insight. It means a lot to me, a former atheist.
Style is who you are, who you choose to be as your “inside you” presents to the outside world. In that sense it’s incarnation. The Christian (Jesus) part happens, depending on who you listen to as you make the presentation. All else is noise.
This article made me think of something. I have a master’s degree in theological studies, so I’ve known and spoken to many theologians over the years. What I’ve noticed is that some theologians err in criticizing Christians today for not viewing Christianity from an “intellectual” perspective, while some non-theologian Christians will criticize theologians for being too intellectual and not focused enough on the spiritual side of God. This made me think of your story. Maybe theologians make the mistake in reading the Gospels as a book on Christ’s philosophy when they (myself included) should never forget to also read the Gospels in a way to get to know Christ as a man. I wonder how we can find a balance between both? I’m interested in knowing anyone’s thoughts on this.
Balance is perhaps bogus. Focus on the infinite and eternal Atonement of Jesus Christ, who was neither a philosopher or a man, but our Master, Prophet, Priest and King. The holy one of Israel, the Son of God . He shows us the way back home.
Thank you, Klavans, for this conversation to focus on better understanding God’s will and word. I don’t know that aesthetics can be a reliable or final test of the divinity of a message. Is not the devil the master of deception and able to appear as an angel of light? (Doctrine and Covenants 128:20) Is it not a better judge whether we are moved to repent and believe in Christ, obey the commandments and do good by what we see and hear? The counterfeit will never measure up to the joy we feel in serving the living God.
The rain falls on the just and the unjust.
Like one can tell fine wine to fine music or poetry , prose whisky and cigars you just know when it’s the right stuff that’s how you know that voice is genuine 👍
Maybe a bit squishy.