A New Tolkien Book: The Children of Hurin

Today, I got my (early) birthday present...The Children of Hurin. Ever since J.R.R. Tolkien's death in 1973, his son, Christopher, has done a remarkable job editing and publishing his father's unfinished (or better said, unpublished) writings. The earliest versions of The Children of Hurin go back about 90 years, to the end of WWI, when Tolkien began writing his most beloved epic, much of which was published posthumously as The Silmarillion. Although a portion of the tale was told in The Silmarillion, this new book is the most complete, readable version. I can't wait to dig into this story, and the timing couldn't be any better because I'm currently reading John Garth's biography, Tolkien and the Great War.

A Boston Fan Already!

Because we don't have NESN, it's nearly impossible to catch a Red Sox game on TV these days. When I was kid, I used to love Saturday games on WSBK, but somewhere along the line the nasty FOX monster bought the rights and now I'm left to the radio most of the time. Which is what made this past Saturday all the more special. Zechariah and I lounged on the couch for the entire afternoon, witnessing the Angels get hammered by our beloved Sox! Schilling was so close to pitching a shutout...oh, well, at least he came out on top. It was a day of good baseball, well-excuted pitching and bats that were alive--it was Zechariah's first Red Sox game!

Hopin' for a good game.

Ortiz drove in a run!

My Little Slugger

"What a game!"

My beautiful wife and son...after taking a walk

Pray with me

So much in the media and even in my heart suggest that God should fulfill my every desire, my every whim. But that's an upside-down universe, and every day we see it crashing all around us: injustice, broken marriages, addiction, rage, racism, depression, genocide, deception, pride, etc.

As a follower of Jesus, I've been encouraged lately that God has really changed the world in and through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And that as I gladly submit to his re-creating work in me through his Holy Spirit, new creation continues to spring up in this wilderness-world. This prayer has been on my mind and heart lately.

Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity: give your people grace so to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, among the many changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

--from the Book of Common Prayer, the collect for the fifth Sunday before Lent.