John 1:18 (NIV) ". . . the one and only Son, who is himself God . . ."
No better way exists to begin the new year or a new day or the next minute than to affirm the divinity of Christ. We can easily affirm the humanity of Christ. His birth into flesh and blood and his death on the cross reveal his humanity. To affirm the divinity of Christ, however, creates contingency on every decision we make. Always we look to Jesus for guidance because he is the author of life and from him flows grace to live the life entrusted to us. He is Lord who conquered death and rules the kingdom of God in which we long to live now and forever.
Grandchildren. Sweetie Pie and Mr. Happy drew me down from my upstairs study as I heard them giggling uncontrollably. What delight filled my heart as I shared a moment of silly abandonment with them. Giggling cannot be planned, but I hope for more of it in 2015.
Books. I have several pencils with the quotation attributed to Thomas Jefferson: "I cannot live without books." I find it hard to recommend or take recommendations on reading. What we each find enjoyable or meaningful is so personal that a choice that fits me at this point in my life may be completely wrong for someone else at their particular moment. Still, I enjoy knowing what others are reading. Every year I read the Bible. Every year I read "The Pilgrim's Progress," by John Bunyan. Every year I read "Purity of Heart," by Soren Kierkegaard. Every year I read a chapter here and there from "Lectures to My Students," by Charles Spurgeon. (These lectures bring tears to my eyes, tears of laughter and moments of self-awareness that make me tear up, too, but not with laughter.)
Recently (actually 2012, but it's one of those books that stays fresh in your mind) I read and found fascinating, "When God Talks Back," by Tanya Luhrmann. I've just read, "My Bright Abyss, Meditation of a Modern Believer," by Christian Wiman. It's a very personal self-revelation which makes me unwilling to criticize it or to recommend it.
