Alice Liddell: as in Liddell weird

We are watching Alice in Wonderland right now (well, I am 'studying' for an Ecclesiology exam). I did some grade A Google research on Lewis Carroll and I must say that I am quite creeped out.

This picture is Alice Liddell, the namesake of the movie. It seems as though our Opium addicted writer proposed to her when he was in his mid 20's. She was 11. The relationship did not work out because of another relationship that was going on with her mother at the time.

Another strange point is that he became some sort of recluse in his old age and was an Anglo-Catholic priest in a small parish. I have also heard that there may be a connection with 'Jack the Ripper', but who knows? I am still a bit creeped out by him.

Night

Lydia and I have been fans of Holocaust studies since we were at Calvin. While we studies there, Elie Wiesel spoke at the Faith and Writing Conference. Although Wiesel does not claim to be a Christian, and remains reluctant to speak about his spiritual life in public, he brings a lot of insight, through common grace, into human nature.

Many of his books are worth reading, Night remains his magnum opus despite being around 100 pages. I have also enjoyed reading many of the essays in his 2 volume shorter writings.

Today Mr. Wiesel was assaulted by a well known 'Holocaust denier'. This is quite tragic and shows that antisemitism remains strong in the world. We should pray for Mr. Wiesel as well as his Jewish brothers, knowing that the promise in Scripture is that one day the ancient people of God would be reconciled to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Any Takers?

I have always hated the trip from Michigan back to the glorious state of Pennsylvania. The problem is that annoyance that lay in-between called the State of Ohio. I am proposing an idea:

Let's Try Again!

Jersey Junction

East Grand Rapids is known for its fabulous shops and great curiosity stores. There are many places to go and many things to experience. 'East', as the locally preferred jargon, is a place of beautiful homes, great city-scape, Reed's Lake, and high taxes- but most importantly, East GR is home to Jersey Junction.
Jersey Juction has been open in East since the 1960s. The original owner was Cris VanAllsburg who is was the mother of the writer of Jumangi as well as Polar Express. There is a great large scale train that runs across the top of the store. It is very fun to watch and makes you want the wait for the ice-cream so that you can watch it longer!

Talkin' Turkey

Today I was doing some gardening along the driveway. I was carefully trimming one of my roses when I heard this huge swooshing noise above my head. I looked up and it was a turkey flying out of the old Oak of my neighbors! It flew across the street into the trees behind Saint Joseph's Seminary, but when I went to find it I no longer saw it.

Later in the afternoon I was talking with my other neighbor, Jim (who has lived here 30+ years), and he said that the Garfield Park Nature Preserve used to have a flock of about 30 that flew around from time to time. He was pretty amazed though, he hasn't heard of one being seen for years around the Alger Heights area.

Gnothi Se Auton

The famous philosopher Socrates spoke of Apollo and the Oracle of Delphi. The oracle was said to be inscribed with the phrase "gnothi se auton" or in English, "Know thyself".

Now I do not commend heading down to the nearest pagan oracle to find out who you are, but I do think that it is wise to know your weaknesses and your struggles. You will not be able to fight off your sin without a battle plan.

I think that Anna has begun to know herself. She knows, from an early age, how her main struggle with sin will manifest. I hope that this self knowledge drives her to Christ as a young girl.

John Calvin said that there is no knowledge of God without knowledge of self; and there is no knowledge of self without knowledge of God.