Deus Misereatur

  In many circles, it feels like science and religion are in a sweaty jiujitsu match. Tossing, tumbling, vying for dominance. Recently John Van Sloten, a Calgary-based writer, teacher, and pastor, has published a 208-page softback, working with both science and faith. Overall, it is an interesting book with good intentions. Science and faith are not at odds, at their heart. They are the two books of God's revelation, showing us God's attributes in different ways. The author does a nice job working this out, drawing in the help of scientists who believe in God's work, who would claim to be Christians. It is written on a popular level and not with theoretical abstractions. Throughout the work science is understood as unpacking "God's creation words" (12). And Scripture, like a pair of good glasses, sharpens our vision. "When viewed through the lens of the Scriptures, creation becomes a theater of God's glory" (11). This is the theme throughout the ...

This morning it was beautiful as I read my Bible. In the dark right before dawn, I sat on my patio under the lamp – with birds singing, mild skunk smell wafting on the breeze, cicadas rattling, etc. – and read two passage. At first they seemed to have no relation to each other, but later, while running my 3.3 miles and reflecting on them, it hit me how well they went together. Maybe a few of you reading this will profit by these considerations. Steadfast in Your Faith (Colossians 2.1-5) Paul wrote, “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, // that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.\\ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, ...