What I have been calling quantum thinking, moving from the binary "not this but that" to the quantum "yes this and also that" Sweet entitles "sacred tensions," in Chapter 14, and Kierkegaard calls paradox the thinker's passion, and that is the perfect way to begin.
“Personal Knowledge,” by Michael Polanyi (Part 2)
Intuitive and creative thought can only thrive in a free society. Only human beings were able to develop signs and symbols that could record and convey ideas, which made it possible for our intelligence to grow. We are still growing. It takes all of us to know and share the truth, and to continue to find meaning.
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“Personal Knowledge,” by Michael Polanyi (Part 1)
Polanyi gives his thesis statement a number of times, but I thought this one was fairly straightforward and succinct: “… The whole process of discovery and confirmation ultimately relies on our own accrediting of our own vision of reality” (p 130). This is true of faith and belief as well.
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“Art and Faith,” by Makoto Fujimura
We would relish God's invitation to create without the inhibition of embarrassment or inability, or cringing in fear at the inevitable smack-down. We would throw ourselves heart, mind, soul, and strength, and with great joy, into the project.
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“Primal Intelligence,” by Angus Fletcher (Part 2)
Fletcher’s challenge to make new plans when the environment changes, and to junk our must successful plans (that was then, this is now) is bracing counsel that sits well, as is his exhortation to be bold. A mentor of mine once urged me to “fail fast and fall hard,” or something like that. “Cut away the tried-and-true and double down on the eccentric, until you make a breakthrough”
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“Primal Intelligence,” by Angus Fletcher (Part 1)
The human brain thinks in story, and that kind of thinking can be observed in intuition, imagination, emotion, and common sense. Mentally, I was rubbing my hands with anticipation to read this book, and I was not disappointed.
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“Ecosemiotics,” by Timo Maran
Perhaps we view Maran in the way we might view a Hebrew Testament prophet, as one who is telling us the awful truth while there is yet time to do something about it.
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Abigail: God’s Ambassador
How could a marriage so broken, weighted by the burden of abuse and unchecked addiction, bring any good to Abigail? And yet, God had a magnificent purpose in this apparently mismatched couple, as Abigail’s story reveals.
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Rebekah: Single-Hearted Faith
Rebekah is most remembered for her elaborate—and successful—plan to fool Isaac into giving Jacob both the birthright blessing and the Abrahamic blessings, the promises of God. Her intelligence, persevering faith, and costly sacrifice are often forgotten in the negative reading of her account. Lessons about consequences and familial dysfunction are drawn from her story, but seldom is her single-hearted devotion to God and to God's word highlighted.
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Martha: From Burdened to Beatified
Most of us remember the Martha depicted in Luke’s Gospel, the busy beaver who is reprimanded by Jesus, and chastened to be more like her spiritual sister Mary. Or, at least, that is the sermon I’ve heard many a time. But I do not think that is the Martha Jesus knew and knows to this day. Imagine, with me, a very different story.
