Thanks for writing this, I admire how you were bold and kind and clear. It's hard and risky to write well about these topics, but I found this to be one of my favorites.
I don’t listen to music either, and I feel daunted by the overwhelming task of finding and downloading and organizing it. Fortunately I keep up with so many podcasts that my ears and brain are always full.😄
So much insight here Jen. "Partisanship and patriotism mimic the communion we’re meant to find through Christ and in his church. They are substitutes, counterfeits, to the real good." Amen.
May I suggest Pandora's "Relaxation Music" 'channel' or Jim Brickman? And ask Alexa (if she lives in your home...) for anything by VIvaldi or Chopin. Delightful. I too prefer instrumental music when I'm doing Bible studying or reading because if I know the words, I can't help but sing along& that just doesn't work with serious reading...
Such a good summary of Jennings thoughts. These two misapplications of joining in community seem to be especially prevalent in the church today and come in different flavors, but are present in both more conservative and more progressive expressions of belief.
I find music, not songs, a great friend. Lately (like the past five years or so) I cannot tolerate songs with words… I just want the music. Composers like Nicholas Britell, anything by Beethoven, try listening to some oud solos, or Bach string quartets. Music can be a loyal companion.
I wondered if your reference was deliberate to the song when you said: "In fact, we are all lonely people,..." It brough the tune to my mind and I looked up the lyrics .
My apologies-eradicable was probably the wrong word. This was a question that I wrestled with after writing my last book and came to the conclusion that loneliness just stays with us, and perhaps has a productive function.
There is no case for voting for Harris- not as a Christian- less so about her as a person- but her policies- from killing unborn babies to celebrating homosexuality and transgenderism. But also Harris and Democrat policies exclude Christian’s from their solutions- Democrats won’t pass a bill allowing Christian organizations to provide childcare. And just the other day when asked if Christian doctors should be allowed to not kill unborn children Harris replied “There should not be exceptions. “. She will force doctors to kill babies or lose their license.
The evidence is clear No Christian can vote ANY Democrat. They removed all mentions of God from their platform.
Dr Carson said it well- “Unless Jesus is on the ballot you’re always voting for the lesser of two evils.”. So vote for the party that will allow you to worship how you want and won’t imprison pro-lifers like the Democrats do.
Thank you for this Jen. I've lived this idolatry in marriage. It's something I inherited and it's been a difficult and painful idol to walk away from. My wife and I are still married but our relationship is going to take a long time to heal.
"Only in a space of shared intimate life may a couple be spared from its own idolatry and its use as a destructive power,”
I think we tried to do this in our local church but somehow it got all screwed up and now my wife is deeply resentful toward the church.
Thanks for writing this, I admire how you were bold and kind and clear. It's hard and risky to write well about these topics, but I found this to be one of my favorites.
Thank you! That’s encouraging!
I don’t listen to music either, and I feel daunted by the overwhelming task of finding and downloading and organizing it. Fortunately I keep up with so many podcasts that my ears and brain are always full.😄
I think this is true for me, too, that I don’t always miss music because I have a book or podcast I’m listening to!
I remember feeling responsible for creating a certain “environment “ with music when my kids were young. I do miss that.
What Emily Curzon said😉!
And—do not get tired of doing [writing] good thoughtful pieces♥️.
🫶
So much insight here Jen. "Partisanship and patriotism mimic the communion we’re meant to find through Christ and in his church. They are substitutes, counterfeits, to the real good." Amen.
What I learned from Jennings, tbh!
May I suggest Pandora's "Relaxation Music" 'channel' or Jim Brickman? And ask Alexa (if she lives in your home...) for anything by VIvaldi or Chopin. Delightful. I too prefer instrumental music when I'm doing Bible studying or reading because if I know the words, I can't help but sing along& that just doesn't work with serious reading...
Thank you, Susan, for these suggestions!
Such a good summary of Jennings thoughts. These two misapplications of joining in community seem to be especially prevalent in the church today and come in different flavors, but are present in both more conservative and more progressive expressions of belief.
Agreed!
I find music, not songs, a great friend. Lately (like the past five years or so) I cannot tolerate songs with words… I just want the music. Composers like Nicholas Britell, anything by Beethoven, try listening to some oud solos, or Bach string quartets. Music can be a loyal companion.
Thank you for sharing this!
I wondered if your reference was deliberate to the song when you said: "In fact, we are all lonely people,..." It brough the tune to my mind and I looked up the lyrics .
https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/23064699/Lonely+People
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_People
Not deliberate! But thanks for sharing!
Can I offer a heterodox take on this? What if loneliness isn’t an eradicable aspect of being God’s creature?
https://comment.org/the-solitude-of-the-saints/
Of course! And I don’t think I’m suggesting that we can eradicate loneliness, but rather that we can seek meaningful connection and should!
My apologies-eradicable was probably the wrong word. This was a question that I wrestled with after writing my last book and came to the conclusion that loneliness just stays with us, and perhaps has a productive function.
Looks like I will definitely need to read it!
There is no case for voting for Harris- not as a Christian- less so about her as a person- but her policies- from killing unborn babies to celebrating homosexuality and transgenderism. But also Harris and Democrat policies exclude Christian’s from their solutions- Democrats won’t pass a bill allowing Christian organizations to provide childcare. And just the other day when asked if Christian doctors should be allowed to not kill unborn children Harris replied “There should not be exceptions. “. She will force doctors to kill babies or lose their license.
The evidence is clear No Christian can vote ANY Democrat. They removed all mentions of God from their platform.
Dr Carson said it well- “Unless Jesus is on the ballot you’re always voting for the lesser of two evils.”. So vote for the party that will allow you to worship how you want and won’t imprison pro-lifers like the Democrats do.
Thank you for this Jen. I've lived this idolatry in marriage. It's something I inherited and it's been a difficult and painful idol to walk away from. My wife and I are still married but our relationship is going to take a long time to heal.
"Only in a space of shared intimate life may a couple be spared from its own idolatry and its use as a destructive power,”
I think we tried to do this in our local church but somehow it got all screwed up and now my wife is deeply resentful toward the church.