Thank you, Kristin, for your continued bravery, persistence and insight. You are a much admired and appreciated leader, and oh so deserving of some vacation time. Safe travels, and enjoy the new little one in your family.
Thank you Kristin for your wonderful posts. You always give me so much to ponder. I hope your family has a wonderful Christmas with the change in itinerary this year. Pretty cool- Hamilton in Chicago as a way to break up a monotonous car ride. (I remember several 11 hour rides between Chicago and Philadelphia in our family’s station wagon- which we dubbed “Starkey Traveling Zoo”. 2 parents, 3 young boisterous girls-what could go wrong?
Once again, thank you for all you do. J & JW is a brilliant work. Looking forward to your new book. I live just a few miles from the real, original, Chautauqua. Please come here and share your insights. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
One of the most profound meditations on the Advent that I have ever encountered: God Holds the Key
Being a record of his meditations and reflections centering on the period of his imprisonment in China, October 1950 to December 1953
by Geoffrey T. Bull 1959
Geoffrey Bull was a missionary in China who was imprisoned after the communist takeover and the book consists of meditations he wrote while in prison.
As the days drew on and I trudged the dusty floor, I felt the irksomeness of the filth and the cell became more loathsome. There was no escape. The enclosure was complete. ‘Consider Him lest ye be weary and faint in your minds,’ the ancient writer of the Hebrew letter had recorded, ‘for others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.’ Thus did I turn from myself to reflect upon the Lord. What was His place on the moment of His arrival, that first day in Bethlehem? Surely there was no confinement like His. Where did the fullness of time find Him? I see Him as the One who fills all things, the sublime, eternal and unmeasured Word. In the Godhead He proclaims all that God is to God, the abiding declaration to all heaven of the glory of the Father. Now the mystery of incarnation is enacted in the cattle shed at Bethlehem. There in the tiredness of that evening after the long ride and the dilemma of no accommodation and with the little one almost delivered, the greatest miracle of all comes true. Time and eternity meet. Spirit and flesh converge. Visible and invisible combine. God and man are brought together. And in the tiny new-born babe is housed the very fullness of the Godhead bodily. The incomparable restriction unveils to faith the incomparable glory. Think of His eyes accustomed to observe the earth from end to end in the mighty ‘to and fro’ of His discerning. Yet as they open to His mother’s face they have not focused yet, not till He in whom all strength is found wax strong. Ponder His hands. Moon and stars knew the touch of His fingers. All are His fashioning, yet Mary waits as any mother does for the little curl of her baby’s finger about her own. Remember His feet. He it is who ‘rides upon the heavens by His name Jah,’ yet, as He lies sleeping in the manger, He must be turned in the hay. He who moves all things cannot move Himself, and soon before the rage of princes, He is carried into Egypt in the night. Recall His mighty word and how he upholds all things by its power. ‘He spake,’ we read, ‘and it was done.’ Yet have you wondered how very silent Jesus is within the stall. He has not learned to talk as yet. Speechless He lies, quite unable, even in a word, to speak His need. Such was the body God prepared. Such was the restriction which He voluntarily received, for ‘Lo I come,’ He said, ‘to do Thy will. . .’
Since J and JW embodies such a well written, insightful carefully documented history of evangelical religion in America, I've started through your work on Bushnell; expecting to gain from your insights in a work reflecting your capabilities in your discipline , once again.
I cannot imagine what your next book might cover that could be bring an even greater academic paradigm shift; but i certainly look forward to it.
Tom Holland on podcast The Rest is History said Jesus was born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem, so manger scene in question. I don’t know Bart Ehrman’s take on it. Anyway, happy Midwest travels.
Thanks for your update, Kristin. Blessings on finishing your new book in 2024. Your voice is needed, especially in Christian and CRC circles. Eager to read your new discoveries and insights!
Kristen, I must share this advent poem!
If You Want
If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the road
pregnant with the holy, and say,
"I need shelter for the night,
please take me inside your heart, my time is so close.”
Then, under the roof of your soul,
you will witness the sublime intimacy,
the divine, the Christ, taking birth forever,
as she grasps your hand for help,
for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us.
Yes there, under the dome of your being
does creation come into existence eternally,
through your womb, dear pilgrim - the sacred womb of your soul,
as God grasps our arms for help:
for each of us is his beloved servant, never far.
If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the street
pregnant with Light and sing.
- St John of the Cross (1542- 1591)
Thank you, Kristin, for your continued bravery, persistence and insight. You are a much admired and appreciated leader, and oh so deserving of some vacation time. Safe travels, and enjoy the new little one in your family.
It’s privilege to support you. Thank you for all you do. My friend and I came to your talk at ware house 6. Wilma Rabidoux. Hudsonville Michigan
Thank you for the words to that beautiful Christmas Song! Merry Christmas from Snowless in Minneapolis ; )
Thank you Kristin for your wonderful posts. You always give me so much to ponder. I hope your family has a wonderful Christmas with the change in itinerary this year. Pretty cool- Hamilton in Chicago as a way to break up a monotonous car ride. (I remember several 11 hour rides between Chicago and Philadelphia in our family’s station wagon- which we dubbed “Starkey Traveling Zoo”. 2 parents, 3 young boisterous girls-what could go wrong?
Again-Thank you for your wonderful posts!
Once again, thank you for all you do. J & JW is a brilliant work. Looking forward to your new book. I live just a few miles from the real, original, Chautauqua. Please come here and share your insights. Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Brian Bowman
Fredonia NY
Thank you for your work and your words . Have a safe trip and Merry Christmas
Grateful to be in the journey with you.
From David Whyte’s “The Winter of Listening” -
“Inside everyone
is a great shout of joy
waiting to be born.
Even with summer
so far off
I feel it grown in me
now and ready
to arrive in the world.
All those years
listening to those
who had
nothing to say.
All those years
forgetting
how everything
has its own voice
to make
itself heard.”
May we all discover our own great shout of joy waiting to be born!
One of the most profound meditations on the Advent that I have ever encountered: God Holds the Key
Being a record of his meditations and reflections centering on the period of his imprisonment in China, October 1950 to December 1953
by Geoffrey T. Bull 1959
Geoffrey Bull was a missionary in China who was imprisoned after the communist takeover and the book consists of meditations he wrote while in prison.
As the days drew on and I trudged the dusty floor, I felt the irksomeness of the filth and the cell became more loathsome. There was no escape. The enclosure was complete. ‘Consider Him lest ye be weary and faint in your minds,’ the ancient writer of the Hebrew letter had recorded, ‘for others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment.’ Thus did I turn from myself to reflect upon the Lord. What was His place on the moment of His arrival, that first day in Bethlehem? Surely there was no confinement like His. Where did the fullness of time find Him? I see Him as the One who fills all things, the sublime, eternal and unmeasured Word. In the Godhead He proclaims all that God is to God, the abiding declaration to all heaven of the glory of the Father. Now the mystery of incarnation is enacted in the cattle shed at Bethlehem. There in the tiredness of that evening after the long ride and the dilemma of no accommodation and with the little one almost delivered, the greatest miracle of all comes true. Time and eternity meet. Spirit and flesh converge. Visible and invisible combine. God and man are brought together. And in the tiny new-born babe is housed the very fullness of the Godhead bodily. The incomparable restriction unveils to faith the incomparable glory. Think of His eyes accustomed to observe the earth from end to end in the mighty ‘to and fro’ of His discerning. Yet as they open to His mother’s face they have not focused yet, not till He in whom all strength is found wax strong. Ponder His hands. Moon and stars knew the touch of His fingers. All are His fashioning, yet Mary waits as any mother does for the little curl of her baby’s finger about her own. Remember His feet. He it is who ‘rides upon the heavens by His name Jah,’ yet, as He lies sleeping in the manger, He must be turned in the hay. He who moves all things cannot move Himself, and soon before the rage of princes, He is carried into Egypt in the night. Recall His mighty word and how he upholds all things by its power. ‘He spake,’ we read, ‘and it was done.’ Yet have you wondered how very silent Jesus is within the stall. He has not learned to talk as yet. Speechless He lies, quite unable, even in a word, to speak His need. Such was the body God prepared. Such was the restriction which He voluntarily received, for ‘Lo I come,’ He said, ‘to do Thy will. . .’
Since J and JW embodies such a well written, insightful carefully documented history of evangelical religion in America, I've started through your work on Bushnell; expecting to gain from your insights in a work reflecting your capabilities in your discipline , once again.
I cannot imagine what your next book might cover that could be bring an even greater academic paradigm shift; but i certainly look forward to it.
Best to you in this season and the coming year!
Tom Holland on podcast The Rest is History said Jesus was born in Nazareth, not Bethlehem, so manger scene in question. I don’t know Bart Ehrman’s take on it. Anyway, happy Midwest travels.
I am so eager for your next book!
Enjoy Hamilton.
Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy almond patties as much as I do and you can eat a few on Christmas break. Safe travels.
Thanks for your update, Kristin. Blessings on finishing your new book in 2024. Your voice is needed, especially in Christian and CRC circles. Eager to read your new discoveries and insights!