Unlikely Catholic Poets and God's strange ways.

[Andrew Moody]

I am starting this just cos I agree with Andrew B and Matt that it would be nice to talk about something else. (Though if you want to, you can connect it to Jono's 3 Bs thread and also to discussion about God using sub-optimal churches).

It's the story of two major American poets and how they became (I'm pretty sure) Christians. There's the audio which is very good and transcript for the those of you who read stuff (but the poetry is really well read on the audio).

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/encounter/stories/2008/2272952.htm

Check it out. Might make you cry.

[Matt Williams]

I think it would be trivial and disrespectful connect this to any of our little debates!

It's beautiful to hear of God's work gradually bringing some tortured souls to find healing in Christ, and gifting them to express it so powerfully.

Thanks Andrew.

[Jono Smith]

Thanks for posting the link Andrew.

There's something particularly fascinating about the stories of literary figures who have been saved by God. Perhaps its because they have the descriptive acumen to tell their story so well.

If anyone is interested in looking deeper, Joseph Pearce has written an interesting book titled "Literary Converts, Spiritual Inspiration in an Age of Unbelief" (HarperCollins, 1999).

It chronicles the stories of many important twentieth century literary figures, from G K Chesterton to Evelyn Waugh, Edith Sitwell to Siegfried Sassoon.

If you're really keen, you can get it (used & new) at http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=0898707900&AID=10395353&PID=2687102
(Hope I don't get black-listed for providing a link...!)

Jono.

[Andrew Moody]

Matt wrote:  I think it would be trivial and disrespectful connect this to any of our little debates!

Good man. That's what I thought too.

Staring-boy wrote:
If anyone is interested in looking deeper, Joseph Pearce has written an interesting book titled "Literary Converts, Spiritual Inspiration in an Age of Unbelief" (HarperCollins, 1999).

Looks like a great book, Jono. Have to check it out. Thanks.

[Paul Barker]

Thanks for the link, Andrew. Very moving, edifying and encouraging. I hadn't heard of Mary Karr but have read, and enjoyed, two or three books by Tobias Wolfe, so encouraging to see his role in reading the gospels with her.

Vaguely related, the Chinese government religious bureau has published many thousands of the gospels in Chinese/English to hand out free at Olympics plus a brand new Chinese translation/ESV full Bible to hand out for free. Amazing! A friend I spent time with last week is a chaplain for the Olympics and gave me a copy. Fascinating to see such 'freedom' in China. Pray for God's strange ways to continue.

[Rachel L]

Praise God, that's fantastic news about the Chinese Govt handing out Bibles! And having Christian chaplains at the Olympics!

It wasn't that long ago that a friend told me she'd been involved in illegally smuggling Bibles into China! What a change! God is powerfully working!

[Matt Williams]

Really??? My head is still spinning trying to imagine how such a reversal by an avowedly atheistic government is possible... I guess God's imagination must have been more powerful than mine. Not surprising in theory, but somehow still astonishing!

I am greatly encouraged again. This humble little thread is really achieving a lot in that department.

Matt

[Paul Barker]

I don't know if it is an Olympic requirement - my friend didn't know. There are 16 Christian chaplains, plus a similar number, I think, who are Catholic (yes, they are separate from Christian), Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist. They have produced a guide to religious places of worship in beijing for visitors and the gospels and Bible mentioned above. The chaplains are voluntary. The Christian ones from the Three-Self Church, most of whom are based in Beijing. Yes, China is a strange mix. You can easily enough buy Bibles here and Three Self Churches are large, open. 1500 people in the service I was in a fortnight ago. Different story for house churches though in that more 'secret' but no less popular. So lots to be encouraged about and pray for.

[Andrew Moody]

Thanks for letting us know about that, Paul.
What astonishing, wonderful and perplexing news.

And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs –
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

(Another Catholic getting it right)

We pray everything is going well with you.