Prophecy is poetry

 As Abraham Heschel comments, “Prophecy is the product of a poetic imagination. Prophecy is poetry, and in poetry everything is possible, e.g. for the trees to celebrate a birthday and for God to speak to man.”

http://www.rzim.org/a-slice-of-infinity/the-great-metaphor/

I believe in Christianity

C. S. Lewis put it this way: “I believe in Christianity in the same way as I believe that the sun has risen. Not because I see it, but that by it, I see everything else.”

http://www.rzim.org/a-slice-of-infinity/evidence/

Prayer for unity

Lord may your Church see, days of peace and unity. Lord have Mercy. Amen.

Work and rest

Melanchthon was certainly at his best when he worked on this theological treatise (Apology IV). He was an exact and a hard worker. Bente recalls an incident, recorded by Mathesius and others, which happened at Spalatin's house at Altenburg, while Luther and Melanchthon were returning from Coburg after the Diet. Melanchthon went to work on the Apology there even on a Sunday and during meal time. Then Luther went to Melanchthon and "plucked the pen from his hand," saying, "God can be honored not only by work, but also by rest and recreation; for that reason He has given the Third Commandment and commanded the Sabbath." CTQ: Warth: 125

The temple is out there

You inside the walls, listen! Stop beating your drums! You think they will come If you make your "worship" louder. Get out! Go forth and find souls, For too long you have been fortified While the beasts tear their souls apart! Woe to you! Get out! The temple is out there, NOT here. One day you will look at your walls And lament at the horror of those days, SAYS THE LORD.

Turning Point 2000 Conference

Praying the Catechism

What does this teach?
What are we thankful to God for?
What do we need to confess?
What can we ask God for?

He led captivity captive (Ps 68:18 KJV)

It is a glorious phrase – “He led captivity captive.” (Ps 68:18 KJV).

The very triumphs of his foes He used for their defeat. He compelled their dark achievements to subserve His ends, not theirs. They nailed Him to the tree, not knowing that by that very act they were bringing the world to His feet. They gave Him a cross, not guessing that He would make it a throne.

They flung Him outside the gates to die, not knowing that at that very moment they were lifting up all the gates in the universe to let the King of Glory come in. They thought to root out His doctrines, not understanding that they were implanting imperishably in the hearts of men and women the very name they intended to destroy.

They thought they had God with His back to the wall, pinned and helpless and defeated. They did not know it was God Himself who had dragged them down to that point. He did not conquer in spite of the dark mystery of evil, He conquered through it.

James Stewart, 1972. The Strong Name, Baker, Grand Rapids, MI, pp 55.

Eternal contemporary

I was listening to a  Ravi Zacharias podcast and he quoted F F Bruce saying that Jesus is our "eternal contemporary", meaning that he has been and always will be relevant.

Welcome

Welcome to the blog "Christian Elephant". My name is Dan Mueller and I'll be your host for the evening.

I have a background in computer science, but more recently I have begun studying theology at Australian Lutheran College. This influx of new knowledge required an organisation mechanism, hence I use this little corner of the Interweb as my scratch-pad. If you happen to stumble upon it (the blog is publicly searchable) and you find something useful — great! But just remember: this blog is primarily for me. Some posts are more substantial, while others are little more than jottings to help jog my memory. The title "Christian Elephant" stems from my use of the blogosphere to help prompt my memory through a searchable repository of notes/thoughts/etc.

Blessings in your search for the truth, Jesus Christ.

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jn 14:6 ESV