Comments on: A Melancholy Thanksgiving

By: Peter Olsson

Peter Olsson — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 14:20:57 +0000

Death’s People

We the tired seed
of the great humbler pain,
wear disheveled masks
of who we used to be.

Our greatest terror
the malignant metamorphosis
of respect turned to pity,
of love lost in grief.

All efforts of ego turned inward
toward fighting loss of self.
Demands of relationships too great,
for a soul consumed by suffering.

Infinite loneliness
the awesome climate of birth,
now descends in renewal,
at death it’s inevitable counterpart.

Farewell life and health,
your wealth we now honor.
Memories become actors now,
on a Christian life’s final twilight.

By: Calvin

Calvin — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 18:59:15 +0000

Beautiful as always. Thank you

By: Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 15:51:26 +0000

In reply to Kam Congleton. My brother is in the hospital with COVID-19, so those prayers are timely!

By: Kam Congleton

Kam Congleton — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 13:11:57 +0000

Such timely words, Philip.... thank you!! Just this morning I was reflecting on I Peter 5:12... "My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing [affliction & persecution] is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace." "Sharing in Christ's sufferings" (Rom.8:17) is the hardest part of the Christian life to grasp, as Western believers especially. But I think it is the door to intimacy with Jesus, learning along with Paul--"when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). The road of God's grace is incomprehensibly deep and wide, but never easy. Yet if we choose to stay on it...joy inexpressible. Blessings to you and prayers for your brother.

By: Berwyn

Berwyn — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 01:12:29 +0000

A beautiful, moving, and relevant paraphrase of Donne’s Devotions. His persona here is much more gentle, even tentative, than in the sonnets, perhaps because he can’t be sure “for whom the bell tolls,” possibly himself. And I love his asking why God doesn’t “let us have more glories and joys in this life.” But then, of course, comes the admonition: “we must find joys in our sorrows.”
What a wonderful book project. Thank you.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 00:15:28 +0000

John Dunn summed it up well from a human perspective:
“Permit me to ask one thing, though, my God: Since heaven promises glory and joy, why don’t we experience more glorious and joyful things to induce us to heaven? In the Old Testament, you guaranteed your people wine and oil, milk and honey, abundance and victory, peaceful hearts and cheerful countenances—all to prepare them for the joys and glories of heaven.”
Are we in such a state of spiritual ruin that we have lost the vision and energy of heavenly things to come?

By: Troy Lilly

Troy Lilly — Fri, 27 Nov 2020 00:15:13 +0000

Thank you, Philip. Hoping to get everybody over the virus so we can come to Evergreen for Christmas to see our kids.

I look forward to the book.

By: Avenel Grace

Avenel Grace — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 23:49:14 +0000

I wonder , has anyone thought that God may be removing many of His loved ones before the great and terrible days to come? I know the rapture will see all who are covered by the blood of Jesus to go to be with Him, but many of the ones taken during this Covid illness are very elderly and the weak in body. The older you get, the more attractive the idea of dying becomes. One breath away from eternity …Praise God.

By: Darin Holmes

Darin Holmes — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 23:46:22 +0000

This was wonderful to read; thank you for sharing this. What a strong, honest faith John Donne had, with great humility as well.

By: Mark Harris

Mark Harris — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 23:31:43 +0000

Thank you for the insight into mans journey of faith and search for a greater knowledge of God, made so much more real in such times as these.

God bless you