An accidental blog

"If God is sovereign, then his lordship must extend over all of life, and it cannot be restricted to the walls of the church or within the Christian orbit." Abraham Kuyper Common Grace 1.1.

Friday 30 October 2009

Monday 26 October 2009

Shaping the dreams of a generation - Mark Roques

Mark Roques has a new six-session course on story telling, worldviws and mission:


More details here

Sunday 25 October 2009

Calvin Seerveld's writings 1995-2008

1995
A Christian Critique of Art and Literature (2nd edn) Sioux Center: Dordt College Press.
A collection of four lectures first delivered in 1968: "The Necessity of Christian Artistic and Literary Activity," "The Nature of Art and Slant of Christian Art," "Literature Among the Arts," and "The Office of Literary Criticism." (First published 1968)

“Reading the Bible like a grown-up child.” The Banner (26 June)
http://www.freewebs.com/seerveld/Seerveld_Reading_the_Bible_Like_a_Grown-up_Child.pdf

“The Baby who brings the full rule of God.” The Banner 130: 1618.


1996

“Dooyeweerd's idea of 'historical development': Christian respect for cultural diversity.” Westminster Theological Journal 58:41-61. [Essay in a Fetschrift honouring Robert D.Knudsen.]

Philosophical Aesthetics at Home with the Lord: An Untimely Valedictory. Toronto: ICS

1997

“Art: God’s gift, our thank offering - Interview with Calvin Seerveld.” Christian Teachers Journal September 5 (1): 14-19
http://www.allofliferedeemed.co.uk/Seerveld/Seerveld_ABC_Interview.pdf

To Photostephano tis Anthropinis Phantasia translated by Eiurene Deontaridou. Thessolonica: Somateiou Ellenon Chritianon Kallitechnon.

1998

La foi et l’art: Les principes bibliques inspirant la demarche artistique. Translated by Richard Ouellette. Quebec: Editions la Clairiere.

“Minorities and Xenophilia.” In The Role of the Arts in a Europe on the Way to Integration. Rotterdam: International Christian Artists’ Seminar. Proceedings 7: 38-43.

"Not pilgrims ‘en route’ to heaven so much as building tent cities of refuge in God's world." In Signposts of God’s Liberating Kingdom: Perspectives for the 21st Centur y. Edited by B J van der Walt and Rita Swanepoel. Orientation Jan –Dec (83-86) Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys: IRS.

“Proverbs 10: 1-22: from poetic paragraphs to preaching” In Reading and Hearing the Word: From Text to Sermons. Essays in Honor of john H. Stek edited by Arie C. Leder. Grand Rapids: Calvin Theological Seminary.

Through the Waters: Christian Schooling as a City of Refuge. Ancaster: Ontario Christian School and Teachers Association.


1999

“The Necessity of a Public Christian Artistry.” In The Arts, Community and cultural Democracy ed. Lambert Zuidervaart and Henry Luttikhuizen. London: MacMillan/ New York: St. Martin's Press; pp. 83-107.

“Reading and Hearing the Psalms: the Gut of the Bible.” Pro Rege27 (4) (June)

“Creativity” Big Picture 1 (3) (Trinity) pp 5-6, 31-32.
http://www.freewebs.com/seerveld/Creativity.pdf

Review of: Reading Ecclesiastes: Old Testament exegesis and hermeneutical theory, by Craig Bartholomew Calvin Theological Journal 34 (2): 443-445.

Take Hold of God and Pull: Fresh Words from Scripture for our Lives Today Carlisle, UK: Paternoster Press.


2000

Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves: Alternative Steps in Understanding Art Carlisle, U.K: Piquant/ Toronto: Tuppence Press.

“Beyond Tolerance to Tough Love”. In Proceedings of the 9th Symposium on the Role of the Arts in a Europe on the way to Integration. Rotterdam: International Christian Artists’ Seminar: 39-43.

In the Fields of the Lord: a Seerveld Reader ed Craig Bartholomew Carlisle, U.K. ; Toronto: Piquant/Toronto: Tuppence Press.

Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
Bread and not stones: an introduction to the thought of Seerveld by Craig Bartholomew and Gideon Strauss
The Informal fantastic life of a believing fishmonger's son: autobiographical vignettes


Part 1 Hearing the Bible
1 Reading the Bible at home as a family
2 The gospel of creation
3 Psalm 30 and Ephesians 5:15-20
4 Reform needed in the church on sensing God's holiness and our sin
5 1989: in the year of our Lord's forgiveness Glory to God or Christmas?
7 Christmas means Lord of the angels and kids playing in the street
8 Psalm 115
9 Meditation: singing Psalm 137

Part 2 Philosophy
I A note on a school of thought and disciples
2 A note on philosophy at the Free University of Amsterdam
3 Philosophy as schooled memory
4 Philosophising beauty
5 Philosophical historiography
6 A Christian tin-can theory of the human creature

Part 3 Education
1 What makes a college Christian?
2 A Reformed Christian college
3 In quest of excellence
4 Perspective for our Christian colleges
5 Cultural objectives for the Christian teacher
6 Test the spirits
7 The Christian school in American democracy
8 The umbrella over Trinity Christian College
9 The cross of scholarly cultural power
10 The pertinence of the gospel of creation for Christian education
11 A cloud of witnesses and a new generation

Part 4 Work and Daily Life
1 Christian workers, unite!
2 Labour: a burning bush!
3 The rub to Christian organisation — or Christian Camel-Drivers unite?
4 The meaning of silence for daily life and Sunday worship

Part 5 Arts and the Aesthetic
1 Art: temptation to sin or testimony of grace?
2 Human responses to art: good, bad and indifferent
3 A Christian view of aesthetics
4 A way to go in the problem of defining 'aesthetic'
5 Christian art
6 A generation of the arts before and after 1984
7 Comic relief to Christian art
8 Cal looks at Nick: a response to Nicholas Wolterstorff's Art in Action
9 Affairs of the art: review of Art in question
10 The Christian encounters censorship, obscenity and sex
11 Mennonite art: the insider as outsider
12 'Lenten emblems' by Gerald Folkerts
13 Kurelek art: preaching in the footnotes
14 Diego Rivera's art: worth respectful attention


Part 6 Bible Songs and Dance
1 Songs to sing standing up
2 A note on the liturgical dance used with the Sunday exhortations on Ecclesiastes
3 A Bible song from Micah 6: 8
4 Miriam's song of victory with dance, Exodus 15: 1-18
5 The song of Deborah, Judges 5
6 The resourceful woman song, Proverbs 31: 10-31
7 A Christmas carol, Isaiah 11: 1-10
Appendix Seerveld gives mini-lecture on toilet paper
List of illustrations
Other writings by Calvin Seerveld

“On identity and aesthetic voice of the culturally displaced”. In Towards an Ethics of Community: Negotiations of Difference in a Pluralist Society ed James H. Olthuis Waterloo, Ont.: Published for the Canadian Corporation for Studies in Religion = Corporation canadienne des sciences religeuses by Wilfrid Laurier University Press.

Why Should a University Exist? 2000-01 convocation address (with a Korean translation by Sung Soo Kim). Pusin: Korea: Kosin University Press. 80pp.




2001


“Babel, Pentecost, glossalia and philoxenia: no language is foreign to God.” Journal of Christianity 2 (Spring): 5-30.

“Christian aesthetic bread for the world.” Philosophia Reformata 66 (2): 155-177

“Does the world ask Europe to sacrifice its beautiful art?” In The Art of Living edited by Jan Peter Balkenende, Roel Kuiper and Leen La Riviere, 13-17 Rotterdam: CNV-Kunstenbond/Europyausches Zentrum fur Arbeitsnehmerfragen.

‘Foreword.’ In Art and Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts by Adrienne Chaplin and Hilary Brand (Carlisle: Piquant)

“God's ordinance for artistry and Hogarth's 'wanton chance'.” In Marginal resistance : essays dedicated to John C. Vander Stelt edited by John H. Kok Sioux Center, IA: Dordt College Press: 311-336.

"Mmmmmm ... good: celebrating the gift of sensuous pleasure.” The Banner (February): 16-19.

“Reading the Bible and understanding art: how to redeem your time in taking a look at art in Canada” – lecture at Trinity Western University 28 November 2001.
http://www.freewebs.com/seerveld/Seerveld%20_Reading_the_Bible_and_Understanding_Art.pdf


“Reenchantment in European community.” In 10 years cultural paragraph: The 'Treaty of Maastricht', the social and cultural challenge of Europe : reflections on the Treaty of Maastricht (1991) Rotterdam: Christian Artists Europe. 81-87

When does Christian college teaching celebrate the Reformation initiated by Luther and Calvin: What do a Reformational Christian philosophy and Christian Reformed theology have to do with one another in developing Christian scholarship? "Dordt College faculty discussion, 29 October.


2002 

Imaginative reenactment of society in God's world: a redemptive artistic task in the European Union.” Christian arts international proceedings vol 11 (April) Rotterdam: 81-89.

“Jubilee on the job.” "Speech presented to, CLAC 50th anniversary banquet, October 26, 2002, Hamilton, Ontario".

"Letter to a young artist.” In Scribbling in the Sand: Christ and Creativity by Michael Card Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press: 142-147.

“Reformational Christian philosophy and Christian college education” IAPCHE Newsletter 14(1) (insert) and Pro Rege30 (March): 1-16.
http://www.freewebs.com/seerveld/RefPhilChristianColl.pdf
http://www.dordt.edu/publications/pro_rege/crcpi/69837.pdf

Review of: Good taste, bad taste, and Christian taste: aesthetics in religious life, by Frank Burch Brown. Christian Scholars Review 31 (4): 463-465.

“Flash of a fish knife” Point of View Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/276/


2003

“Christian artists: called to be fully human.” Christian Educators Journal Association 42 (3): 22-24.

How to read the Bible to hear God speak: a study in Numbers 22-24 Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press and Toronto: Toronto Tuppence Press.
[Revised edition of Balaam’s Apocalyptic Prophecies]

“Jubilee on the job” Point of View Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/173/


2004

“Our need to lament: a conversation between Michael Card and Calvin Seerveld.” The Banner 139 (9): 34-37.
http://www.calvin.edu/library/database/crcpi/fulltext/banner/114819.htm

“Pain Is a Four-Letter Word: A congregational lament” Reformed WorshipJune issue 72.
http://www.reformedworship.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=435


2005

“Art, the Bible and … .” Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. London: SPCK/   Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. 63-65.

“The flash of a fish knife.” Comment (August): 5

“Human multiculturality: invitation to enriched identities.” Multiculturality: blessing or nightmare, no road to let it go: lectures compiled from the 14th Symposium (Aug. 21-26, 2004). Rotterdam: Continental Art Centre.

Voicing God's Psalms. (Including CD) Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pub..


2006

“Glocal culture.” In That the World May Believe: Essays on Mission and Unity in Honour of George Vandervelde. eds. Michael W. Goheen and Margaret O’Gara. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

“No endangered species: an introduction.” In The Way I See It: Wood Engravings & Etchings by Peter S. Smith. Carlisle, UK: Piquant Editions.

“Ways-of-Life and Becoming Elderly Wise.” In Een weg gaan : Overwegingen en commentaren uit West en Oost. ed. Sander Griffioen et al. Budel: Damon.


Making the most of college: studying ourselves to life or to death?Comment


“The strategy of giving away gifts: cultural guidelines for artists” Point of View Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/304/

“Reading the Bible like a grown-up child” Point of View Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/310/

“Making the most of college: studying ourselves to death? Point of View Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/330/

“Making the most of college: philosophy as schooled memory” Point of View Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/329/


2007

“A morning weather hymn.” Reformed Worship84: 33
http://reformedworship.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=1851

“Antiquity transumed and the Reformational tradition: which antiquity is transumed, how and why.” In In the Phrygian mode: neo-Calvinism, antiquity and the lamentations of Reformational philosophy. Edited by Robert Sweetman Lanham, Md.: Institute for Christian Studies and University Press of America.

“A Christian school song for parents and teachers.” Christian Educators Journal Association 47, no. 1, p. 18-19

“Real faith: living the resurrection.” Christian Courier no. 2812, p. 2.

“Cities as a place for public artwork: a Glocal approach” Think Cardus
http://www.cardus.ca/think/523/



2008

The Gospel of Creation.” In Norman Matheis God’s Garden: Sketches, Drawings, and Watercolours (Iowa: Dordt College Press)

“Q&A with calvin Seerveld” Comment
http://www.cardus.ca/Comment/article/78/

“A few suggestions…for a Christian student at a secular university”. Comment (September) p66.

“Signs of hope: a Comment symposium” Comment (December) p. 25.

“Thinking deeply about our faith.” The Banner 143: 34-35.
http://www.thebanner.org/magazine/article.cfm?article_id=1829


2009

The damages of a Christian worldview In After Worldview ed. J. Matthew Bonzo and Michael Stevens. Sioux Center, Iowa: Dordt College Press.

Saturday 24 October 2009

Friday 23 October 2009

What were your last five amazon purchases? or book purchases?

This is a question posed by Jon Swales.

Mine are:

from amazon (or mostly amazon book place)

Church, State and Public Justice: Five Views.
I got this because I like the multiviews books and it had a chapter on the principled pluralism view that develops the idea of sphere sovereignty.

Called to Holy Worldliness by Richard Mouw
I bought this when I was preparing a talk on Col 3 and I loved the title and saw it cheap.

In the Phyrigian Mode: Neo-calvinism, Antiquity and the lamentations of reformational philosophy
I've been wanting to get hold of this for a while - but it had been too expensive, but I spotted it cheap second hand on amazon. A great collection of essays.

From other second hand booksellers (not amazon)

Confessing Christ in Doing Politics ed B J van der Walt and R Swanepoel
This is a brilliant collection of articles on reformational politics - I've wanted to get hold of this for some time it was a bit pricey, but well worth it.  Several of the articles have been scanned and are now on alloflife redeemed.

Our Reformational Tradition: a rich heritage and lasting vocation ed. B J van der Walt
This was another second-hand buy. I thought the price looked great €11 but then discovered that the postage was that again and more! hopefully, (c) permittingh some of the articles will be appearing on all of life redeemed.


 So, what were your last five amazon or book purchases?

Sunday 11 October 2009

Church, State and Public Justice : a brief review


Church, State and Public Justice: Five Views
edited by P. C. Kemeny
IVP Academic, Downers Grove, 2007
254 pp, pbk, ISBN 978-0-8308-2796-1

IVP have done a great service over the years in producing the x views series (where x has been three, four or five). This one deals with a faithful Christian response to Church and State and public justice. Here we have a Catholic, Separatist, Anabaptist, Social Justice and Principled Pluralist perspectives.

All the essay are well written and easy to follow. Each essay is followed by responses from the other authors.

The principled pluralist view is expounded by Corwin E. Schmidt. Schmidt provides an excellent overview. He places his view in a creation, fall and redemption framework. He sees the state as being creational (as does Henry Meeter) rather than as a result of the fall (as does Kuyper). He recognises that Calvin broke new ground he didn't develop a full theory of the state. This was developed more by Abraham Kuyper with his view of sphere sovereignty, a the notion of a free church within a free state. Principled pluralism develops on these ideas and maintains that pluralism is good and that the role of the state, though limited, should be to ensure that justice is done by each of the different aspects of society. The state should also be an agent of common grace.

He argues cogently that:

Principled pluralism recognizes and accepts the diversity evident in public life and the presence of different structures of authority operating within different spheres of life. It affirms the state as a social structure possessing legitimate authority within a particular domain of life, but as only one among various structures to which God has delegated authority. (p. 152)

Christians should not escape from the political domain, even though it is affected by the fall. Christians are called to 'act with political modesty, to demonstrate tolerance for those with whom they disagree, to cooperate with others to achieve the public good...' (p. 153)

What is most remarkable about this position is that most of the other commentators seem to agree with it. Ronald Sider (Anabaptist) seems more concerned that this position has been labelled Reformed: "I agree with most of Corwin Schmidt's lucid description of principled pluralism. Most of it flows from fundamental biblical teachig and careful historical analysis' (p. 163). Clarke Cochran (Catholic) writes: this view 'comes closest to the Catholic position I describe' (p. 154); and J. Philip Wogaman (Social Justice) seems more concerned with Schmidt's amillenialism.

One day everyone will come to their senses and accept that the principled pluralist view is biblical and the best perspective!

Saturday 10 October 2009

WYSOCS on Facebook

WYSOCS now has a presence on facebook:


Friday 9 October 2009

What is ministry?

Ministry is equipping others to equip others, so that the Body of Christ can become what God intended it to be. Ministry is not restricted to those with turned-round collars! But those with the turned-round collars need to know how to equip their congregation for living Christianly in society. To do this they need to have a well developed Christian worldview, a clear grasp of theology and the Scriptures as well as an understanding of philosophy and ethics. So that they can provide the theological and biblical resources for their congregation both corporately and individually to transform the areas of society that they come into contact with.

Thursday 8 October 2009

In the beginning of the beginning

In the Beginning of the Beginning is a study guide by Derek Melleby on the book of Genesis. It is well worth checking out.

Subversive questions by Mark Roques

Mark Roques has been developing an approach to worldviews and evangelism utilising subversive questions. He outlined his approach at the recent Crossroads conference at Trinity College, Bristol - his talk is available here.

He has also been developing and writing some materials to develop this approach. They will be brilliant for schools and youth workers. He has over a dozen available and is working on producing many more. One of them is available as a taster here:


If you know of any publisher that would be interested in Mark's materials get in touch!

Monday 5 October 2009

A new look

I've had a redesign.  I've been using helvireader and helvetimail and have loved the look, this is a poor-man's attempt to emulate helveti on a blog.