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How Sweet the Sound

In recent years audiences worldwide have watched a drama of forgiveness played out onstage in the musical version of Les Misérables.  Now a major motion picture makes the story available to all.  I used the plot as an illustration in my book What’s So Amazing About Grace?  Often I’m asked, “Can a person be forgiven without first repenting?”  The following incident in Jean Valjean’s life indicates the answer is Yes. The musical follows its original source, Victor Hugo’s sprawling novel, ...

Notes from Newtown

Janet and I returned from Newtown, CT, Sunday night after a weekend that was at once poignant, meaningful, and very full. I hope to post a full report after I’ve had time to process all that happened. Let me simply mention a few lasting impressions: Newtown is worthy of a Currier and Ives print: a classic New England town of Victorian frame houses set among rolling hills blanketed in snow. The memorials—sputtering candles, teddy bears and stuffed animals (more than ...

A Cloud over Christmas

On Friday Janet and I will be headed to Newtown, the town drenched with sorrow that the whole world is watching. Walnut Hill Community Church, a thriving congregation with 3500 members, has arranged two community-wide meetings, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 28-29, on the theme, “Where Is God When It Hurts?” and then two church services on Sunday. (Click on the “Events” tab for more details.)  I’ve known the pastor, Clive Calver, for years. Before taking this church he headed an ...

Givers and Getters

For a Christmas meditation this year, I turn to William Willimon, who served as dean of the chapel at Duke University, then spent eight years as a Methodist Bishop in Alabama, and recently returned to Duke as a professor: We enjoy thinking of ourselves as basically generous, benevolent, giving people. That’s one reason why everyone, even the nominally religious, loves Christmas. Christmas is a season to celebrate our alleged generosity. The newspaper keeps us posted on how many needy families ...

God Gets His Family Back

Jürgen Moltmann, who came to faith as a captured German soldier in a British POW camp, returned to his homeland where he went on to serve as a pastor and professor in the church hierarchy.  Later, though, he began to question a religious system that ranked bishops, priests, and laypersons and defined them all against the nonbelievers.  Had not Jesus labeled his followers as brothers and sisters, implying something more like a family than a corporation?  Doesn’t God reign over ...