I became a Christian largely through reading Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk and author of many books. Initially I was attracted to Merton by what a wonderful writer he is, and then to his luminous faith.
Category Archives: Stories and Excerpts
Jesus in the Wilderness: The Mount of Temptation
As we enter into the season of Lent, may I remind you of my book Jesus: His Story In Stone, whose one-page devotional chapters on the life of Christ make a good companion for the journey toward Easter. Here’s a sample chapter, about Jesus’ time in the wilderness.
Prevenient Grace: A Visit to Brockville
In my mid-40’s I returned for the first time, after 25 years away, to my hometown of Brockville, Ontario.
The Three Fools: An Epiphany Story
It’s easy to forget that the wise men did not visit Jesus in the manger as a baby. No, according to the information they gave to King Herod, they must have found the Christ child some two years later living in a house on the outskirts of Bethlehem. This is important.
Romanos the Melodist: A Christmas Eve Poem
Christmas Eve, Constantinople, 505 AD
The Night of the Choragus: My New Christmas Story!
I am Pharos, a being from Planet Luxor beyond the Light Horizon.
A Kiss is Just a Kiss—or is it More?
Imagine the biblical Song of Songs written as a contemporary novel. If that notion appeals to you, you’ll love Evangeline of Sky Valley by Andrew Case. Ebullient, scintillating, tintinnabulous—what words can capture the crackling freshness of language and the chaste, holy feelings unleashed in this novel?
A Light Has Dawned: Meditations on Advent and Christmas
As we approach December, you might wish to know about a new publication by Christianity Today magazine: A Light Has Dawned: Meditations on Advent and Christmas. This is an anthology of the best Advent/Christmas articles that the magazine has published over the past 50 years.
The Cellular Waltz: Reflections on Sex from The Mystery of Marriage
Just a reminder that the audiobook edition of The Mystery of Marriage is now available, wonderfully read by Simon Vance. What follows is a selection from the somewhat notorious chapter on Sex …
The Host: A Parable
Over thirty years ago I published a book of parables called The Furniture of Heaven. Since then I’ve written a number of other parables, which some day I’ll gather into a second collection. Here’s one of the new ones.