Category Archives: Oyan

The Greatest Showman, the Power of Story, and God’s Circus

Two intellectually challenged adults were in front of Teckla and I when we went to buy tickets for the movie The Greatest Showman. The young man looked like he had Down’s Syndrome. The young woman seemed to have some speech … Continue reading

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Common Grace on Mount Magazine

Beetles were his passion, the subject of his PhD in entomology, and the focus of his research on Mount Magazine, Arkansas. Teckla and I had seen what looked like billowing sheets tied to trees out by the bluffs that looked … Continue reading

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The Cold

Recently I wandered the grounds of the Heartland Center, near Kansas City Missouri, in 7-degree weather. The sun was shining but the grass crunched beneath my feet. At night it dropped below zero. I had been thinking about the cold … Continue reading

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The Lion’s Den Delusion

Too many Christians use the story of Daniel’s night in the lion’s den, not his decades in the governor’s office, to define their relationship with the world. I understand this. I grew up with Bible stories, VBS, Sunday school, and … Continue reading

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Be Kingsfoil

In June, I spoke at a One Year Adventure Novel Summer Workshop at Mid-America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. It was a privilege and great fun. I spoke to about 200 young writers between the ages of 13—19. Because most … Continue reading

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The King’s Fool

I was surprised and delighted to discover that in Chrétien des Troyes’ tale of Perceval, King Arthur’s fool is also a prophet. Immediately, this felt important. The fool is a prophet? Or perhaps prophets are fools? I tried speaking briefly … Continue reading

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Tom Bombadil, Evolution, and Useless Knowledge

In a letter answering a number of questions by Peter Hastings, Tolkien explains why he included Tom Bombadil in his Lord of the Rings. The story of Tom is delightful, but Tom is an enigma—not a wizard, elf, or man. … Continue reading

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The Glory of Useless Knowledge: Part Three

So how should we proceed once we have fully embraced wonder and joy as the foundation of knowledge? Our first duty is to identify and avoid whatever kills wonder. Chesterton said, “The world will never starve for want of wonders; … Continue reading

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The Glory of Useless Knowledge: Part Two

If ever there was a champion of useless knowledge, it was G. K. Chesterton. In the introduction to his book Tremendous Trifles, he urges us to see the wonders around us: None of us think enough of these things on … Continue reading

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The Glory of Useless Knowledge: Part One

In Genesis we are told that after each act of creation God looked at what he had made and saw that it was good. At the conclusion of the creation narrative, we are told, “God saw all that He had … Continue reading

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