Selected Reading, July 17, 2021

 

A few good reads for your weekend.

One Brave Woman

Helene Kottanner — Medieval Thriller
An exciting true story leading to an ethical question: “Besides leaving us a riveting account of a daring mission, Helene Kottamer brings to light a dilemma that has puzzled believers of all ages, from the Jewish midwives in Egypt to the Christians who hid Jews during World War II: is it right to deceive or break the law in order to fight injustice or prevent a greater evil?”

A Classic

J. I. Packer’s Famous Essay on Christ’s Death
Have you read J. I. Packers introduction to John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ? I recommend it.

Some Definitions

General Revelation
Barry Cooper explains: Even if we had no Bibles, and no preachers, the psalmist says that God would still make his majestic beauty known to us through the skies, the stars and the sun.” 

Eventually I’ll add this link to the general revelation entry in the Theological Terms. But you might want to read it now.

The Difference Between ‘Disinformation’ and ‘Misinformation’
I’m linking to this mostly for the carrot story.

Two Hunters

Rabbit, run! Wolverine and raven tag team on a wild chase
I’ve written about how smart ravens are. Here’s a little proof.

Theological Term of the Week: Monica

Monica
The mother of Augustine of Hippo. She “stands out as an example of a Christian woman whose faith helped to shape her more famous son into one of the spiritual giants of the early church.”1 She lived from 331 until 387.

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 248: 

Monica prayer unceasingly with tears for [Augustine’s] conversion. Once she tried to persuade a Catholic bishop, himself a converted Manichee, to prove to Augustine the errors of Manichaeism and the truth  of the Catholic faith. The bishop refused, explaining that only prayer, not arguments, would rescue Monica’s son from the Manichees. When Monica continued, weeping, to beg for the bishop’s help, he replied famously: “Go; it cannot be that the son of such tears will perish.” 

 Learn more:

1. 5 Minutes in Church History: Monica: A Mother’s Prayer
2. Christianity History: Monica, Faithful Mother
3. Southern Equip: “So Many Voices”: The Piety of Monica, Mother of Augustine

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Athanasius
• Basil of Caesarea
• Cappadocian fathers
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Hilary of Poitiers
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Jerome
• John Chrysostom
• Justin Martyr
• Origen
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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Sunday Hymn: Crown Him With Many Crowns

Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
All music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

Crown him the Lord of love;
Behold his hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye
At mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of peace;
Whose pow’r a scepter sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease,
Absorbed in prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end;
And round his pierced feet
Fair flowers of Paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years,
The Potentate of time;
Creator of the rolling spheres,
Ineffably sublime:
All hail, Redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me:
Thy praise shall never, never fail
Throughout eternity.

—Mat­thew Bridg­es

Other hymns of worship songs for this Sunday:

• The Solid Rock at The Happy Wonderer