Lincoln's Battle with God by Stephen Mansfield

Throughout his life, Lincoln fought with God. In his early years in Illinois, he rejected even the existence of God and became the village atheist. In time, this changed but still he wrestled with the truth of the Bible, preachers, doctrines, the will of God, the providence of God, and then, finally, God’s purposes in the Civil War. On the day he was shot, Lincoln said he longed to go to Jerusalem to walk in the Savior’s steps.

What had happened? What was the journey that took Abraham Lincoln from outspoken atheist to a man who yearned to walk in the footsteps of Christ?

Just as he is for many Americans, Honest, steadfast, witty, and determined, he guided our nation through one of our most difficult times. I remember hearing several years ago that he was an atheist and that any language about faith in his speeches was just for political purposes. Ok, if that's who he was then that's who he was.

I was intrigued, therefore, when I saw this book and many positive reviews. The subtitle grabbed me — A President's Struggle with Faith and What It Meant for America — so I picked it up with a spare Audible credit. It is read by the author and is fairly short - around 5 hours.

I was pleased to find an even-handed telling of Lincoln's faith journey throughout his life. I especially appreciated the author taking care to bring up opposing points of view and objections when people's accounts of Lincoln's faith seem too easy or fabricated. This is done through using Lincoln's own letters, speeches, and other writing, as well as those of his contemporaries.

It is also a good, fairly short biography for anyone who'd like to get the gist without committing to thousands of pages which usually comprise a Lincoln biography. Lincoln's story is also very modern in many ways. His motives for his atheism ring true today. His personal journey rings true with my own experience.

Highly recommended.

At Breakfast

At Breakfast. The painter's wife, Sigrid Kähler, by Laurits Andersen Ring

Your Manuscript is Both Good and Original

My congratulations to you, sir. Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good

Dr. Samuel Johnson

36 Years of Wedded Bliss

We can tell what doesn't work in marriages. So often today people ask, "Who will make me happy?" But what we should ask is, "Who will I love so much that I will sacrifice myself to make them happy?"

Father Roch Kereszty

Dear, even-tempered Tom is truly my soul mate. I'm so very lucky that he loves me as much as I love him. He has taught me so much over the years about music, about thinking, about humor, about originality, about kindness and consideration. Not because he actively taught me but just by being around him. That in itself tells you a lot about the sort of person Tom is.

It's wonderful having spent 36 years with someone. You know each other's references (jokes become real one-liners), you understand each other's moods, and it is a deep, restful relationship that is not without delightful times of surprise and passion.

I've said this before (as the comments will attest). But this year saw significant changes for us as a couple and as householders. Although she is such a part of our family now that I can't imagine life any other way, my mother came to live with us just last September. We were excited to have her move in but there's no denying it was a big adjustment, especially for Mom — she appreciates Bollywood movies now much more than we ever could have hoped.

Of course, we can't ignore the surreal change of life with Covid-19 and all the uncertainties that involves — swirling statistics with continual reinterpretations, quarantine, toilet paper shortages, three adults working from home (oh, wait, we already did that part of it). Oh no — we realized we are in the "danger" age group. The lower end, to be sure, but it was still a mental shock. Who better to help get through all this than the person who knows and loves you better than anyone else? Not that we could ever have dreamed of facing such strangeness when we married.

And there will be more changes to come as we await the arrival of our first grandchild in November! It's a wonderful world out there and I'm so glad to have Tom to experience it with.

A Movie You Might Have Missed #9: King Kong (1933)

t's been 10 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

King Kong (1933)

Reject all imitations. The original King Kong is one of my all-time favorite movies and a true classic in its own right.

It is a simple story: intrepid filmmaker, Carl Denham, leads an expedition to Skull Island where they discover a 50-foot gorilla who becomes enamored of Ann Darrow (Fay Wray). He is captured and brought back to New York City as the "8th wonder of the world" where he inevitably runs wild with Ann clutched in one hand and meets his death atop the Empire State Building.

The skill of the movie makers is such that it is still thoroughly enjoyable almost 90 years later. Fay Wray has a scream that could stop a freight train; you could hear it over practically anything that the movie threw at it. The animation was star quality at the time and you soon discover that it is not the animation but the story that carries a movie. (My review is here.)

Breakfast and excitement

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.

"It's the same thing," he said.”

A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Peacock from Behind

Peacock from Behind, Nihaljabinedk - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

I'm used to seeing peacocks with their tail feathers displayed, but in this shot I see how beautiful they are anyway.

Corn with Husk

Corn with Husk, Duane Keiser

All these things are here to save our lives

As Harold took a bite of Bavarian sugar cookie, he finally felt as if everything was going to be ok. Sometimes, when we lose ourselves in fear and despair, in routine and constancy, in hopelessness and tragedy, we can thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies. And, fortunately, when there aren’t any cookies, we can still find reassurance in a familiar hand on our skin, or a kind and loving gesture, or subtle encouragement, or a loving embrace, or an offer of comfort, not to mention hospital gurneys and nose plugs, an uneaten Danish, soft-spoken secrets, and Fender Stratocasters, and maybe the occasional piece of fiction. And we must remember that all these things, the nuances, the anomalies, the subtleties, which we assume only accessorize our days, are effective for a much larger and nobler cause. They are here to save our lives. I know the idea seems strange, but I also know that it just so happens to be true.

Zach Helm, Stranger Than Fiction: The Shooting Script

Gospel of Matthew: Why Jesus' Exorcisms Were Unique

Matthew 8:28-34

I have always loved the fact that Jesus is shown several times healing people simply with the power of his word, as we saw with the centurion's slave. But this equal power is shown in exorcisms, something that had escaped me entirely until I read this commentary. Of course. Jesus' own authority is enough.

Medieval illumination of Jesus exorcizing the Gerasene demoniac from the Ottheinrich Folio

Jesus was not the only exorcist in the ancient Near east (see 12:27), but the way he performed exorcisms was unique. First, other people claiming to expel demons used material instruments such as incense, medicines, rings, wood chips, olive branches, or bowls of water. Some played music or made special sounds. Jesus, however, does not rely on any device or special technique. He simply drives out demons by his command (8:32; 17:18; Mark 1:25; Luke 4:35; 8:29). Second, while other exorcists sometimes said prayers, Jesus never prays during an exorcism. He relies instead on his own power, which he associates with the Spirit of God (see 12:28). Third, other exorcists might invoke a higher authority or a powerful name, such as the name of Solomon, who in Jewish tradition was known for his exorcisms. Jesus, however, never expels demons by calling on on another name, not Solomon's or even God's. Jesus drives out demons by his own word and by his own authority.

Quote is from Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture: The Gospel of Matthew by Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri. This series first ran in 2008. I'm refreshing it as I go.

A Movie You Might Have Missed #8 — Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang

It's been 10 years since I began this series highlighting movies I wished more people knew about. I'm rerunning it from the beginning because I still think these are movies you might have missed.

8. Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang

A film that mocks film noir cliches while at the same time being a very satisfying mystery/action/buddy noir-ish film in its own right.

Robert Downey Jr. is a small-time thief who stumbles into an acting audition when on the lam from the cops. He aces the audition and is sent to Hollywood where he soon finds himself neck-deep in a murder mystery involving his childhood sweetheart. While shadowing detective Val Kilmer to learn more about his acting role, Downey Jr. becomes heavily involved in a second mystery as well.

Great fun, with fast-talking dialogue that will keep you on your toes. A nice companion piece to Brick; though completely different in feel, both movies mimic noir style while still standing on their own two legs.

Happy Birthday, Rose

The Roses of Heliogabalus by Alma-Tadema

Our celebration won't be quite on the scale (or style) of the one pictured. Though I do approve of their liberal enjoyment of roses.

Our own Rose is worthy of such a party though I think it would have to be a surprise party. We're going to have a modest, at home celebration with take out and a Cafe Latte Gingerbread Cheesecake (trying out an intriguing Mary Berry recipe).

We're so happy that Rose is here with us and not in L.A. We felt that way before the corona virus situation and it is doubled and redoubled now. Our lives are brighter thanks to her sense of humor, common sense, gardening, cooking, and (especially) Bollywood movie selections. Happy Birthday, Rose!

Lost and Found

The Texas Quote of the Day:

"Thursday I lost a gold watch which I value very highly as it is an heirloom. I immediately inserted an advertisement in your Lost and Found Column and waited. Yesterday I went home and found the watch in the pocket of my other suit. God bless your paper."

------ Letter to the editor of the Dalhart Texan Newspaper, 1920

via Traces of Texas

Let me read you a chapter of Thus Sayeth the Lord

Valencia. The Groups.

Joaquín Sorolla, Valencia. Las grupas

Stupidity

Stupidity is also a gift of God but one mustn't misuse it.

Pope John Paul II

I do my best but sometimes my gift overcomes me and springs free.

I'll Be Reading a Chapter of My New Book on Facebook Tomorrow

Friday, May 8

3:00 p.m. Central Time

My personal Facebook page

I'll be reading a chapter of Thus Sayeth the Lord: A Fresh Take on the Prophets.

If you miss the specific livestream reading, don't worry. Our Sunday Visitor will have the video living on its YouTube page later. And it will stay up on Facebook as a recorded video.

It'll be fun! A personal reading of one of my favorite chapters! Tune in to see which of the 18 prophets I choose!

A passing fairy's hiccough

[Mrs. Gamp] was by this time in the doorway curtseying to Mrs. Mould. At the same time a peculiar fragrance was borne upon the breeze, as if a passing fairy had hiccoughed, and had previously been to a wine vault.

Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit

Such pertinent information, so amusingly conveyed. What a master!

A Rooftop with Flowers

A Rooftop with Flowers, Joaquín Sorolla

The Key to a Happy Marriage

I have always believed that the key to a happy marriage was the ability to say with a straight face, "Why, I don't know what you're worrying about. I thought you were very funny last night and I'm sure everybody else did, too."

Miss Manners