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The Selfless Gene: Living with God and Darwin © 2009
Thomas Nelson
283 pages

The Selfless Gene is a side-splitting call for moderation. Foster contends that it’s possible to believe in God without sticking your head in the sand when it comes to science. In pursuit of this belief, he disarms and jabs young earth creationists and uber-Darwinists [...]

I’ve finished reading von Balthasar’s Love Alone Is Credible, so this will be the last Weekend Wisdom post from him. I know I’ve gone to him a lot lately—he’s just that good. Here’s his simple-yet-profound definition of love:
Love is unconditional assent to and readiness for God’s will.
PS: I’d like to offer my apologies to everyone [...]

The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate © 2009
IVP Academic
192 pages

Controversy surrounds anyone who decides to talk about Genesis one. Young Earthers, Old Earth Creationists, Literary Readers and Gap Theorists form their identity by battling each other. Walton brings something completely new to the argument with compelling clarity. Here’s a [...]

This week I found a nugget from a hymn of St. Ephrem (in Ephrem the Syrian: Hymns):
Truth and love are inseparable wings—for truth cannot fly without love—and love cannot hover without truth.

Once an Arafat Man: The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life © 2008
Tyndale House
233 pages

People can change—Saada is living proof. Once an Arafat Man is the story of how Tass Saada was transformed from a violent hate-filled PLO sniper to a humanitarian committed to the peaceful reconciliation of the Jewish [...]

Here’s my fourth Weekend Wisdom post on von Balthasar’s Love Alone Is Credible. I just can’t resist. In today’s installment he speaks about how we understand hell:
Soaring in the air, I also necessarily experience the abyss below, which is only part of my own flight. Similarly, I can speak of hell only in relation to [...]

I found this brilliant little piece of music and had to share it. What do you think? Does Hamelin’s treatment of Nokia’s motif cut through the urge to run for your phone?

(A related note: Hamelin did a stunning job on Alkan’s Concerto for Solo Piano. He’s got virtuosity to spare!)

The Piano Man’s Daughter Special Edition © 1995
Harper Collins
499 pages

I’ve read Findley before: Pilgrim: A Novel and The Wars. Although this title sounded a little too Hallmark-ish  for my taste, I gave it a shot on the strength of his other books and my love for pianos.
The novel felt painfully average. It was easy to [...]

I was afraid this might happen. Thomas’ Imitation is storehouse of wisdom packed into pithy sayings. I don’t want to overwhelm Weekend Wisdom readers with him, but I couldn’t let this one slip by—especially given the number of book reviews I write.
Let not the authority of him that writeth whether he be of great name [...]

Say what you want about the state of pop music today. It takes quite a mind to put it together like this: