That's why I'm thankful for Pastor John's recent analysis of B16's encyclical. His insight directed me back to conceiving of God more faithfully, as the creator and sustainer. Remembering that reason is not an a priori tool upon which better societies should be built but a gift from God to be utilized as we participate in God's inbreaking Kingdom helps me know why I am here at Columbia in the first place. While the world, and regrettably often the church, place reason against faith, I hope to move past such an error. Tempting as science and the academy are to me, I pray I remember to view them as part of God's good creation, not that which merely exists.

Those sympathetic to radical orthodoxy will also be pleased to hear that most of my struggles have likely been linked to the difficulty Brenda and I have experienced finding a new church home. Admittedly, the fault lies with us, but I hope we have found our new Christian home in Riverside. In fact, much of these thoughts I am jootting down here came to me last Sunday as we worshipped and Rev. Forbes spoke of Isaiah 54 and its message that brought me back to Pastor John's treatise on the false soteriology of the state after hurricane Katrina last summer--basically salvation can't come from your government, intellect, ect., only from God. Thanks be to God for faithfulness of such saints that spreads across this diverse country and throughout the world and reminds people like me of our place within God's creation.