Take a look at my article on divine simplicity on Theolook if you have a second.

I was inspired to write some dating thoughts down on my Sartorial Man blog, "The First Date."  leave me your comments!

I wrote an article on Sunday called "The Million Dollar Degree."  I would love some feedback.  Let me know what you think!  Elephants on Parade

"He (St. Anthony) subjected himself in sincerity to the good men whom he visited, and learned thoroughly where each surpassed him in zeal and discipline. He observed the graciousness of one; the unceasing prayer of another; he took knowledge of another's freedom from anger and another's loving-kindness; he gave heed to one as he watched, to another as he studied; one he admired for his endurance, another for his fasting and sleeping on the ground; the meekness of one and the long-suffering of another he watched with care, while he took note of the piety towards Christ and the mutual love which animated all. Thus filled, he returned to his own place of discipline, and henceforth would strive to unite the qualities of each, and was eager to show in himself the virtues of all." - Athanasius the Great of Alexandria "Life of St. Anthony"

I was absolutely rattled to the core by what Athanasius said of St. Anthony.  Anthony was a man that longed, both in word and action, to live the life of the kingdom.  He dedicated himself to assimilating all of those Christian practices that might bring him higher and closer to God.  He formed the man that he was to become by being a man of infinitate learning. 

Athanasius himself was an incredible man.  Educated at Alexandria and was only 35 when he became the patriarch of the same. 

I am overcome in this moment with the shear volume of character between these great men and my own life.  What does it look like to live a life of deep, life changing love.  The kind of love that transforms our actions, and beckons us to the heart of God. 

What prayer, what longing, can change the heart of a man?  For how long must he pray for change? 

O Lord, may you change my heart.  May you help me to take on those disciplines that will draw me into your heart!  Help me to opperate out of holy love.

Take a look at my post to Theolook titled "On Infinity and Aseity"  

"In the same manner, many persons clothe themselves with certain outward actions connected with holy devotion, and the world believes that they are truly devout and spiritual whereas they are in fact nothing but copies and phantoms of devotion."  -Francis de Sales

I see it as no coincidence that I have been reading the story "Tartuffe" by Moliere for my World Literature course when I happened upon Francis de Sales' "One True Devotion."  While I am very slow to see happenstance as divine intervention, I truly do believe in a God that is active in the lives and hearts of people.  Those people that are closest to me know my heart, and they can sense my sincerity, yet I have been very convicted lately of acts of false piety.  

The Scriptures encourage a life of communal solitude.  Somehow there is a way that a person can be in a crowded room and maintain profound personal solitude.  We see this in Christ's exhortation to not let our hands know what the other is doing, or to "put oil on our foreheads" while fasting, and to lock ourselves away in prayer.  These thread together in the idea that if we receive affirmation in our earthly lives "we have received our reward in full."  The true depth of spirituality is met in the tension of reckless praise of the God of the Universe, and sober humility in acts of piety.  A Christian must strive to never be guilty of the nomer Pharisee.  I must labor to be in no way similar to Tartuffe.

O Lord, may I never be guilty of being a copy or phantom of devotion!

Check out my latest "Theolook" post on the revelation and power of Scripture.