Backward Mutters

  • A Response to “Jesus is the Gospel!”, Part 1

    Recently, Christianity Today included an article on the recent controversy within Young Life regarding a paper written by Jeff McSwain and the ministry’s formulation of gospel non-negotiables. It seems that the area director and a good many of the staff in Durham/Chapel Hill resigned because of the disagreement. You can…

  • Proverbs 5 and Great Poetry, Part 3

    A VALEDICTION FORBIDDING MOURNINGby John Donne As virtuous men pass mildly away,And whisper to their souls to go,Whilst some of their sad friends do say,“Now his breath goes,” and some say, “No.” So let us melt, and make no noise,No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move ;‘Twere profanation of our joysTo tell…

  • Proverbs 5 and Great Poetry, Part 2

    Here’s another John Donne treasure. In it Donne employs his mastery of conceit. By conceit, we mean a cleverly employed metaphor which is unusual. Here, comparing his beloved to fish bait. The Bait by John Donne. Come live with me, and be my love,And we will some new pleasures proveOf…

  • Proverbs 5 and Great Poetry, Part 1

    In preparation for Valentine’s Day and in partial fulfillment of Proverbs 5:19, it’s time to do some work studying some of the great master’s endeavors on, er, “seeking satisfaction.” John Donne is one of my favorites. Here is a poem he wrote for his wife, Anne. ELEGY XX.TO HIS MISTRESS…

  • Belews Lake Wetlands

    Beautiful Saturday. Left while it was in the lower 50’s and by the time I got home it was pushing 70. Headed north around Belews Lake and looped back across Goodwill and Freeman. On the northside across from the dam you have the new wetlands created by Duke Power to…