In This Issue: From the DirectorDid God create swine flu? Does he allow it to exist? If it becomes pandemic, will it be attributable in any sense to God? In the theoretical realm, the question of God and evil is something of a poser, but it becomes acute when it strikes home in personal stories of disease or injury or grief. A five-year-old girl's rape and murder. Betrayal by a loved one. Where is God in such situations? Why doesn't he save us? This question is perennial, going back to the book of Job at least. In the eighteenth century Hume traces it back to Epicurus as an argument against the existence of God: "Is he willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?" The CCEL has an excellent philosophical treatment on the topic by Alvin Plantinga, a philosopher at Notre Dame University whom Time magazine once called "the leading philosopher of God" (and whom I call "father"). For those meditating on such matters from a more personal perspective, I'd recommend the book of Job, Psalm 42, and Chapter II.12 of Thomas a Kempis' Imitation of Christ.
Harry Plantinga
Hymnary.org TutorialHymnary.org Tutorial #1: Searching for Psalm 98
In this first ever Hymary.org video tutorial, you'll get tips from Greg Scheer about searching more effectively. You're bound to learn something new about the Hymnary's powerful search tools. View this tutorial
What's NewHymns of the Greek Church and Hymns from the EastTranslated with introduction and notes by John Brownlie Published in 1900 True hymns are sacred lyrics, and a lyric to be lyrical and heart appealing, must be inevitable. It must be the spontaneous expression of the heart of the author—an expression which had to come. It is the latent secret of the power of true hymns, for what must be uttered will assuredly, sooner or later, find its way to some heart. Such jets of living poetry must be awaited: they cannot be forced. But a translator must deliberately sit down at his desk and work—manufacture, if you will—and endeavour to turn on the lathe of graceful culture, elegancies which readers may admire, but will never feel. Read this introduction at the CCEL
Meet the CCEL EmployeesAndy Hanson Andy Hanson joined the CCEL team in December 2008. His duties include implementing user-suggested edits, as well as scanning, digitizing, and uploading books to the CCEL website. Andy is a husband, father of two young boys, and a graduate of Grand Valley State University, where he received his bachelor's degree in Computer Science. He worked for the last six years as a software engineer for GE Aviation. Currently, Andy is seeking his Master's of Divinity degree from Calvin Theological Seminary and attends Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he is a member of the preaching team. Learn more about the vision and people behind the CCEL. Classic SermonsLeo the Great (c. 400-461), on Christ's Ascension: Since then Christ's Ascension is our uplifting, and the hope of the Body is raised, whither the glory of the Head has gone before, let us exult, dearly-beloved, with worthy joy and delight in the loyal paying of thanks. For to-day not only are we confirmed as possessors of paradise, but have also in Christ penetrated the heights of heaven, and have gained still greater things through Christ’s unspeakable grace than we had lost through the devil’s malice. For us, whom our virulent enemy had driven out from the bliss of our first abode, the Son of God has made members of Himself and placed at the right hand of the Father, with Whom He lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. Read this sermon at the CCEL
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The CCEL Times 4.5 (May 1, 2009)
Submitted by bdv4 on Tue, 2009-04-28 08:21.
