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The Airlock
For me, Laity Lodge is like an airlock between different environments and periods of time. My first trip to the Lodge (you can see a picture of it from across the Frio River in the photostream to the right) back … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Music, The Long Story, Travel
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It’s a Tom Bombadil World . . .
. . . and we’re just living in it. The season two premiere of The Rings of Power is about two weeks away. To whet the appetites of viewers, Amazon and composer Bear McCreary have released to musical track for … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Movies, Music
Tagged JRR Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, Rings of Power
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What Can Already Be Present
At the end of my reflections on Radner’s Mortal Goods, I mentioned that I was pleased that Benedict of Nursia was brought up as an example for faithful living. Erik Varden recently posted a reflection on Benedict’s life. Here’s my … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Church, Faith
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Benedict and Radner
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part Seven I find two things particularly encouraging as Radner brings the first major section of Mortal Goods to a close. He has already laid the groundwork for a conversation about “Christian politics” … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Church, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, Scripture, The Long Story
Tagged Ephraim Radner
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Towards a Beautiful, Virtuous Life
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part Six Much of the first chunk of Ephraim Radner’s Mortal Goods is an attempt to “get the lay of the land.” God gives us life to live, but the days in which … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, Scripture, Teaching
Tagged Ephraim Radner
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Maneuvering Metaphors
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part Five About a month ago, back with The Lord of the Rings was back in the theater, I posted some thoughts about the place of metaphors (a piece also inspired by something … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Church, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, Organizations and Institutions, Scripture
Tagged Ephraim Radner
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Made in the Midbar
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part Four One of the first “5-minute finds” that we do in our senior-level class involves the ancient concept of eudaemonia, the term the ancient Greeks used for a good or flourishing life. … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, Scripture, Teaching
Tagged Ephraim Radner
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Sojourn
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part Three The third chapter of Ephraim Radner’s Mortal Goods is one that really sings to me. After getting the lay of the land as a place and time for “evil days,” Radner … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Church, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, Scripture, The Long Story
Tagged Ephraim Radner
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Letters for Evil Days
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part Two In the last few weeks of my spring course, we use 1 John as our opening Scripture. The letter allows for a number of call-backs to both the Old Testament and … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Church, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, Scripture, The Long Story
Tagged Ephraim Radner
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Concerning Mortal Goods
Reflections on Mortal Goods by Ephraim Radner, Part One The most unfortunate (but also necessary) cut that Peter Jackson’s team made to the cinematic version of The Lord of the Rings is, without a doubt, the scouring of the Shire. … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Church, Faith, Life in the Fifth Act, The Long Story
Tagged Ephraim Radner, Lord of the Rings
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Space Enough, and Time 