To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23 Jesus is called the Word of God[1]. Surely this points to the enormous value of words. What is it with words? What do words do? There are so many types of words! From the technical explanation in a manual, to the beauty of poetry. From a heated argument to a formal speech. Last…
In the last Christian Classics meeting, we discussed the book ‘The Abolition of Man’ by C.S.Lewis. There was one paragraph that struck me especially, he was writing about the dangers of modern genetics, and wrote: There is something which unites magic and applied science while separating both from the wisdom of earlier ages. For the wise men of old the cardinal problem had been how to conform the soul to reality, and the solution had…
This contribution is from Ruth Alkema who contributes articles regularly both at Holy Trinity and Jerusalemkerk in Utrecht
Ruth Alkema has contributed this book review – highly recommended reading! Simply good news By N.T. Wright I read this book with a bible study group in the Jeruzalemkerk. Even though most of us found the writing style really tedious, lots of repetitions, we still had a very lively discussion afterwards. He writes by giving loads of examples, all explaining another aspect of his point, but it is difficult to detect what the point is.…
Ruth Alkema has contributed this book review – highly recommended reading! The Power and the Glory By Graham Greene In a poor, steamy and barren Mexican state, the Red Shirts have gained control, outlawed God, and murdered priests. But one still lives, the whisky priest, who has an illegitimate daughter and believes he has lost his soul. Now he is on the move, trying to escape his executioners. As he tramps anonymously through the glowing white…
Ruth Alkema has contributed this book review – highly recommended reading! Confessions By Saint Augustine Wow! What a wonderful book was this! I am so glad that I read it! Everything that I had heard about Augustine was proven false. I really love this man, he is so open and sensitive and honest, and very intelligent and broad minded! For a long time I had wanted to read this book, but not really felt up…
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8) Spring has come. For me this is always a time of exuberant joy when there is so much more light, and the fresh leaves are coming out, and all the little flowers with their freshness that is in such sharp contrast with the surroundings that still remind of winter. It is the time with all the cute young animals, soft lambs, calves…
A few months ago, I went to the movie ‘Fantastic Beasts and where to find them’. It was tremendously inspiring. Such a wonderful world, with such diversity, magic, and a beautiful display of openness for others and tenderness and eccentricity and loads of humor! There was a dark side too. Without spoiling too much, I think I can say that it seems to me a very apt description of what dark sides always do: oppress differences, make…
This contribution is from Ruth Alkema who contributes articles regularly both at Holy Trinity and Jeruzalemkerk in Utrecht. Some two years ago, I came across the book ‘Morals on the book of Job’. It is a verse by verse commentary on the Bible book of Job, written by Saint Gregory around the year 590. For several reasons this book captivated my attention [1], and now I have read almost half of it, and just read…
Warmth of friendliness: it reminds me of sweet images of cozy Christmas trees and fireplaces and hot chocolate milk and friendly old smiling people…