N. D. Wilson

What is this World? What kind of place is it? ôThe round kind. The spinning kind. The moist kind. The inhabited kind. The kind with flamingos (real and artificial). The kind where water in the sky turns into beautifully symmetrical crystal flakes sculpted by artists unable to stop themselves (in both design and quantity). The kind of place with tiny, powerfully jawed mites assigned to the carpets to eat my dead skin as it flakes off . . . The kind with people who kill and people who love and people who do both . . . This world is beautiful but badly broken. ôI love it as it is, because it is a story, and it isnÆt stuck in one place. It is full of conflict and darkness like every good story, a world of surprises and questions to explore. And thereÆs someone behind it; there are uncomfortable answers to the hows and whys and whats. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through Him were all things made . . . Welcome to His poem. His play. His novel. Let the pages flick your thumbs.ö

Wide-Eyed Wonder in God's Spoken World

Notes From The Tilt-A-Whirl

Roger Cobb

But why would any Christian claim that God has stopped talking? Did He speak the world into existence? Does matter exist apart from Him? Is it still here? Are you still here? Then He is still speaking. Step outside your front door and look at today’s stage. Speak. God will reply. He will speak to you. He gave you senses. Use them. He will parade His art. He will give you a scene, a setting for the day. He will give you conflict to overcome, opportunities for your character to grow or fail. 

But do not expect Him to speak in English. And do not expect Him to stay on whatever topic you might choose. His attention is everywhere and no story should be easy, as every reader knows. You are on your porch. Look at the blue sky. 

God, am I going to get this sale today? The commission would pay for a boat. 

Look at this squirrel, He says. Do you understand it? Do you know what it means? What does it tell you about me? Watch its tail snap. You’re the only one watching. You and I are alone in the audience, sharing this scene. What does it remind you of? 

There’s an ant on your shoe. It’s a good ant. Last spring it turned the tide in the great Sidewalk Crack War of D Street. One of its grandfathers traveled half a mile with Lewis and Clark. Did you know that today it dies? That you are its death?

 I wish I had a new car. Hyundais are lame. 

In the time of Noah, there was a small creature, tinier than could be seen. After a long journey and many struggles, today its descendant will be at your office. Even now, it is barely clinging to life on a microwave button, desperate to reproduce before the end. The drama is incredible, actually. The narrative is intricate. You wouldn’t believe all the twists and reversals it took to get it there. Why do I have to work with Roger on this one? Roger’s two tons of no fun. 

The creature will live. Tomorrow you will have pink eye. 

I could never believe in a God that makes eyes itch. And the tear duct goop is an added insult. The apostle Paul: God made your eyes. Can He not make them pink?

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