The Fourth Sunday in Advent is of course rarely Christmas day itself and this year that Sunday is December 19th.  THE SECRET   Hidden reality Like life in the womb Hidden reality Like death in the tomb   Hidden away For the appropriate day Wrapped in enigma, cloaked in secrecy, Awaiting a wake-up call with urgency. But how shall such a song be sung?   A tale that’s never told, A trail that’s long gone cold, A mystery unrevealed, A... Read more

Some of the art in the Kimbell collection cannot be grouped with specific periods or a collection of a famous artist’s work, and some of it seems to have been chosen because it was humorous or curious in nature.  Consider the following—- Or this one…. Or here’s a matador thinking that this endless poising for a picture is a bunch of bull. Sometimes you can only laugh at paintings of people who think they are so self-important, and can’t even... Read more

There is not a good deal of Biblical or Christian art in this museum, indeed there is more Greco-Roman art objects and mythological paintings and we will look at both in this post. The flight into Egypt painting 2 pictures above is mildly interesting this painting of Abraham taking Isaac up the mountain for the sacrifice is more telling. Certainly more colorful, with gold leaf, is the raising of Lazarus painting. A fresh take on John 4 is found in... Read more

I had not been to Niagra Falls since I was quite young, and my parents and my sister and I went, and saw both the American and Canadian side of the Falls including a ride on the Maid of the Mist.  But that was during high summer, and this time my old student and friend was taking me in frigid time— November 1.  There is a reason why super spicy hot wings were invented in Buffalo and are called Buffalo... Read more

Unbeknownst to me, I went to see the Turner visiting collection, and a bunch of French impressionist art was part of the permanent collection here, including considerable diversity, from both the early and later impressionists. Impressionism is as its name suggests, not an attempt at stark realism but an attempt to render how certain lightings leave certain impressions on the artist. In other words, it is a more subjective rather than objective take on the subject matter, along the lines... Read more

This is the Advent sermon I preached in Estes Chapel on Dec. 7th at Asbury.   Read more

Whilst in Fort Worth in November, I had the time between lecturing to go see the various exhibits at the Kimble Art Museum because I had heard about a special Turner exhibit curated from collections from all over the world.  Since he’s one of my favorite 19th century painters, especially of seascapes, I and my friend Gene Wilkes went to see the exhibits. It turns out there are other interesting exhibits there as well, the first of which is early... Read more

Above, Paul and Titus and the Church in Crete. Paul never really talked about the birth of Jesus much, though Paul mentions he was born of woman, born under the Mosaic Law (Gal. 4.4) and that he was of Davidic descent (Rom. 1.3).   Clearly, as Phil. 2.5-11 would show he is more concerned with the significance of the incarnation of Christ as a human and yet divine person than about the particulars in regard to how and where he came... Read more

The S of course stands for Samuels. There are various antiques and more modern art glass pieces in the house, as well as much Makers Mark memorabilia. Notice the rustic scenes painted on the walls. That’s my wife Ann on the divan. And no…. she does not come with the house!  But it is certainly well worth visiting and having a nice weekend at this B+B which has quite nice plush modern beds and bathrooms installed.  A good time will... Read more

Ye olde carriage house at the Samuels mansion.     The Samuels house from various angles today.  And below the lovely lane on which it sits. The house is in remarkably good condition for a 19th century fixer upper.  In our next post we will explore the inside story. Read more