Posted in textures, tagged biblical reflection, Daniel, textures on November 9, 2007| Leave a Comment »
When biblical prophets and seers look to the future that lies still over their horizon, they peer though a wide lens. The scope and scale become vast.
As the Ancient of Days appears in the book of Daniel’s seventh chapter, we are told that:
A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
Posted in textures, tagged biblical reflection, Daniel, textures on November 8, 2007| Leave a Comment »
It is so often this way when the Lord or his messenger confronts a prophet-to-be in the biblical literature. The chosen mortal quakes in fear, falls upon his face, confesses that he’s nothing but a child, trembles in awe of the messenger and his Sender. One recognizes a familar pattern, a classifiable response. It is usually this way when heaven and earth mingle, the men and women at the seam of these two realities suffering the almost unspeakable angst that accompanies the unsought terror of standing at the juncture. (more…)
Posted in textures, tagged biblical studies, Daniel, textures on November 6, 2007| Leave a Comment »
Daniel, this Jewish advisor in the court of a foreign king, has perfected self-control and diplomatic restraint. He is able to recognize the majesty of a pagan king in terms amenable to the king and acceptable to the standards of Daniel’s truth. His self-image is not on the table, the hair-trigger of religious and ethnic sensitivity has not been set, the safety lock is turned to ‘on’. (more…)
Posted in denkschrift, missio dei, tagged biblical reflection, Daniel, reseña on November 4, 2007| Leave a Comment »
Some human endeavors run stubbornly against statistical probability. Fishing, for example, or standing in to the batter’s box. Or training a Labrador puppy.
Reflecting this Autumn morning on the education of the biblical Daniel, I wince more strongly than ever at the short-horizoned pragmatism that pervades our view of preparation for Christian leadership today. A thoughtless consensus seems to make hay with the expense in terms of time and money of preparing such leaders through formal means. We think we ought to be batting about .950—though no one ever says that—and so we grow resentful and dismissive at, say, a solid .310. (more…)
Posted in textures, tagged biblical reflection, Daniel, textures on November 4, 2007| Leave a Comment »
Before the book of Daniel even gets to the Babylonian king’s weird dream and self-destructive behavior with his would-be advisors, a remarkable scenario is unfolded before the reader: the faithful Jew in the court of the foreign king. (more…)
Canter Bridge 