Thomas wrote a number of sermons, letters, hymns, and information about the lives of the saints. He reflected the mystical spirituality of his times, the sense of being absorbed in God. The most famous of his works by far is The Imitation of Christ, a charming instruction on how to love God. This small book, free from intellectual pretensions, has had great appeal to anyone interested in probing beneath the surface of life. "A poor peasant who serves God," Thomas wrote in it, "is better than a proud philosopher who … ponders the courses of the stars."
“Intelligence must follow faith, never precede it, and never destroy it.”
Thomas wrote a number of sermons, letters, hymns, and information about the lives of the saints. He reflected the mystical spirituality of his times, the sense of being absorbed in God. The most famous of his works by far is The Imitation of Christ, a charming instruction on how to love God. This small book, free from intellectual pretensions, has had great appeal to anyone interested in probing beneath the surface of life. "A poor peasant who serves God," Thomas wrote in it, "is better than a proud philosopher who … ponders the courses of the stars."
0 Comments
Pope Benedict XVI's announcement of his imminent resignation has, understandably, ushered in a flood of assessments of his papacy, both of his administration of the Papal office and of his theological contributions. Many observers have characterized Benedict XVI as remaining foremost a theologian; it is in that role that a multidisciplinary group of scholars treat the full scope of Benedict's theological work in "Explorations in the Theology of Benedict XVI." Edited by John C. Cavadini, the volume provides an introduction to Benedict's ecclesially grounded theology, articulated in his essays, monographs, and sermons, and also serves as a primer in the major concerns of recent and current Catholic theological discourse. Says Cavadini: "We are losing a great leader, certainly one of the most sophisticated theological minds to serve as Pope in modern history. His legacy is one of integration on so many fronts -- integration of faith and reason above all, but also of witness and dialogue, culture and community, Catholic Social Teaching and its place in the wider framework of Catholic theology, Eros and Agape -- he refused dichotomy and cultivated dialectic." “Whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it; for all is theirs to help them towards heaven; therefore if poverty be good they shall have it; if disgrace or crosses be good they shall have them; for all is ours to promote our greatest prosperity.” Sibbes was ordained to the ministry in the Church of England in Norwich in 1608. He was chosen as one of the college preachers in 1609 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1610. From 1611 to 1616, he served as lecturer at Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge. His preaching awakened Cambridge from the spiritual indifference into which it had fallen after the death of Perkins. A gallery had to be built to accommodate visitors in the church. John Cotton and Hugh Peters were converted under Sibbes’s preaching. During his years at Holy Trinity, Sibbes helped turn Thomas Goodwin away from Arminianism and moved John Preston from “witty preaching” to plain, spiritual preaching. “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. If they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one GO there UNWARNED and UNPRAYED for.” Spurgeon preached his first sermon, at a Cottage in Teversham, in 1850. In 1852 he was appointed pastor at Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, and then on April 28, 1854, he was installed to the pastorate at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, in London; he took over the care of 232 members. Quickly, the congregation outgrew the building and moved to Exeter Hall, grew again and went on to Surrey Music Hall. In these locations Spurgeon often preached to audiences of more than 10,000. “He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of Christianity will change the face of the world.” Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. His accomplishments as a scientist, publisher and statesman are particularly remarkable when considered in the context of colonial North America, which lacked the cultural and commercial institutions to nourish original ideas. He dedicated himself to the improvement of everyday life for the widest number of people and, in so doing, made an indelible mark on the emerging nation. “Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.” The success of Chrysostom's preaching is chiefly due to his great natural facility of speech, which was extraordinary even to Greeks, to the abundance of his thoughts as well as the popular way of presenting and illustrating them, and, last but not least, the whole-hearted earnestness and conviction with which he delivered the message which he felt had been given to him. “I don’t go around preaching in the locker room. But I try to live a certain way, and maybe that will have some kind of effect. I think God has allowed me to have an impact on a few people’s lives” Reginald (Reggie) Howard White was born on December 19, 1961, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. His family had strong religious ties and Christian values. They attended the local Baptist church regularly where White was inspired by the ministers and teachers. At age 12, he proclaimed to his mother that he wanted to be both a football player and a minister. By age 17, he became an ordained Baptist minister. White attended Howard High School in Chattanooga where he played football and basketball, earning All-America honors in football and all-state honors in basketball. “He that falls into sin is a man; that grieves at it, is a saint; that boasteth of it, is a devil.” Thomas Fuller was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his Worthies of England, published after his death. He was a prolific author, and one of the first English writers able to live by his pen. The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?” In 1954, Martin Luther King became pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Always a strong worker for civil rights for members of his race, King was, by this time, a member of the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the leading organization of its kind in the nation. <more...> “Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.” Clive Staples Lewis, or Jack Lewis, as he preferred to be called, was born in Belfast, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) on November 29, 1898. He was the second son of Albert Lewis, a lawyer, and Flora Hamilton Lewis. His older brother, Warren Hamilton Lewis, who was known as Warnie, had been born three years earlier in 1895. <more...> |
Walter Blackwood
Associate Pastor with The Bridge Community of Faith in Kelowna BC Canada. Archives
May 2017
|