Sep 16
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God and Creation, Word and Revelation | Irenaeus of Lyon

If the vision of God which is made by means of the creation, gives life to all the living in the earth, much more does the revelation of the Father, which comes through the Word, give life to those who see God. —Irenaeus of Lyon, in Shane Claiborne, Common Prayer, June 28.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Sep 09
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Clothed in the Goodness of God | Julian of Norwich

For just as the body is clothed in its garments, and the flesh in its skin, and the bones in their flesh, and the heart in its body, so too are we, soul and body, clothed from head to food in the goodness of God. —Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love, Revelation 1, ch [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Sep 02
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Temptation Defense | John Calvin

The Word of God is not received by faith if it flits about in the top of the brain, but when it takes root in the depth of the heart that it may be an invincible defense to withstand and drive off all the stratagems of temptation. —John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.ii.36.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Aug 26
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Religion Usurps God | Miroslav Volf

It is time for Muslims and Christians to rebel against religion as a marker of identity and weapon in worldly struggles. It usurps the place of God in their lives. —Miroslav Volf, Allah: A Christian Response, 253-4.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Aug 19
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Men, Women, and Loneliness | Douglas Coupland

A man walks into a bookstore and looks up books on loneliness, and every woman in the store hits on him. A woman looks for books on loneliness, and the store clears out. —Douglas Coupland, Player One, 8.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Aug 12
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Muslim and Christian Prejudice | Miroslav Volf

Prejudices are errors born of ignorance, self-absorption, resentment, and fear—all stances incompatible with the active love of neighbor enjoined on Muslims and Christians alike by their common God. —Miroslav Volf, Allah: A Christian Response, 203.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Aug 05
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The Vital Holy Spirit | John R. W. Stott

Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, even impossible. There can be no life without the life-giver, no understanding without the Spirit of truth, no fellowship without the unity of the Spirit, no Christlikeness of character apart from his fruit, and no effective witness without his power. As a body without breath is [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley
Jul 29
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Infinite God, Finite Minds | Thomas Merton

The infinite God has no boundaries and our minds cannot set limits to him or to his love. —Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer, 79.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Jul 22
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Our Will Be Done? | Shane Claiborne

Too often we just do what makes sense to us and ask God to bless it. —Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, 219.

Author: Stephen Barkley
Jul 15
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Robbing Reality | Jacques Ellul

Ellul’s The Subversion of Christianity is just too good to contain within one Weekend Wisdom post. Here’s the last of five good quotes: Believers, then, are those who have the wisdom and strength to rob material realities of their seductive power, to unmask them for what they are, no more, and to put them in [...]

Author: Stephen Barkley