Giver!
Marie Antoinette (1755–1793) was the wife of Louis XVI and Queen of France. She, rightly or wrongly (probably wrongly, say modern scholars), symbolized everything that was wrong with the French monarchy, and helped focus public hatred upon that institution.
Her husband, the King, was deposed and the royal family imprisoned. Soon Marie Antoinette was herself tried—accused of everything from immorality and incest to corruption and treason—and finally found guilty for
Mark 6:32–56
Disciples commissioned by the divinely powerful Jesus are themselves divinely empowered by him to meet any need.
“You yourselves give them to eat!”
Mark 6:37
The crowds gathered are like “sheep not having a shepherd” (6:34), a proverbial metaphor in the OT, used of Israel in a leadership vacuum (Num 27:17; 1 Kgs 22:17; Ezek 34:5–6). This sets the stage for the leadership role disciples are directed by Jesus to play. But they have apparently given no thought to
Head!
Another case of a Frenchman and his head.
Henry IV (1553–1610) was the King of France from 1589–1610, the first French monarch of the House of Bourbon, and grandfather of Louis XIV (aka the “Sun King”).
Henry was a popular ruler, greatly appreciated by his people for his concern for their welfare: he promoted agriculture, drained swamps, encouraged education, built highways, promoted arts, etc. Apparently he’s the guy who gave rise to the phrase “a chicken in
Celibacy
Last week, I was at Moody Bible Institute, to speak at their Annual Pastors’ Conference. It coincided with the release of my new book Privilege the Text: A Theological Hermeneutic for Preaching.
I had been informed earlier that Moody Radio, specifically The Chris Fabry Show—a national affair that runs on several hundred Christian radio stations—wanted to interview me when I was up there. I assumed it was another publicity engagement for the new book.
But I
Turnaround!
Last week I was in Chicago, speaking at Moody Bible Institute’s Pastors’ Conference. Lots of fun.
I also had a free afternoon and I decided to take The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s River Cruise on the Chicago River.
Chicago, they say, began where the river meets Lake Michigan. Trade and industry flourished on its banks, and the city was born.
The river is memorialized on the flag of Chicago in the two horizontal blue stripes.
(Another noteworthy feature of the river
Cleansing!
For all of its fancy cathedrals and cafes, chocolates and cheeses, museums and emporiums, Paris, like any other city, has a dark underbelly.
And you can see it all in Le Musée des Égouts de Paris—the Paris Sewer Museum. The museum is underground—yes, in the sewers—and yes, the sewers are functional—but no, it is only moderately stinky—and at €4.50, certainly worth checking out.
(Proves that the French can make a pretty good museum out of anything!)
Until the
Head?
The left portal in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (the west façade) (Portal of the Virgin) has a number of saints on either side of the doors. One of them is St. Denis. The dude is easily recognized: he is carrying his own head!
St. Denis (or Dennis or Denys or Dionysius) was, in the third century, the Bishop of Paris. Denis had been sent from Italy to convert Gaul and was having quite a bit of success in Paris. This enraged the pagan priests in the vicinity.
Abe Kuruvilla is the Carl E. Bates Professor of Christian Preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Louisville, KY), and a dermatologist in private practice. His passion is to explore, explain, and exemplify preaching.