reading – Pete's words on the way

Interesting exercise

I couldn’t have imagined how many words in Dante’s Inferno could be misunderstood, those mildly or moderately complex and very complicated words that requires a dictionary. I came up with about 300 difficult words which I randomly scribbled on a card to look up later. It became a very interesting exercise.

Dante makes me think

Six parts to read of Dante’s Inferno, having read a further five parts today, so am closing in on the target.

The main thing I gathered from today’s reading is how evil distorts humanity, bends it out of shape, manifests in all sorts of contortions from what is good.

The reading today brings into focus the existence of evil and the origin of evil being Satan himself.

Dante has made me think. I have heard the question before. Why did God allow evil? But when one is affected by the distortions of sin, the question is how does one get back into shape? Therefore, spiritual need outweighs theological questions.

I keep on thinking because of Dante. When in need there must be an answer for that need, not ever spiraling out of control questions that may breed dissatisfaction to the needy.

I think again. In the end, God gives us what we need to overcome evil and the theological questions pale in significance. Spirituality should deal with the basic needs of humanity because humanity can be bent out of shape. But God has provided the way out if we take that path.

Half-finished

At the end of this week I read less of Dante’s Inferno and am listening to music. Inferno is still on my radar to finish because I just want to. I don’t like to say that I finished the book half-way through. That’s not even finishing it. If I stopped reading it, I would become a statistic, the half finishes statistic. Following through on reading the book is a must, but at my leisure.

My articles: Pete's articles

Rebuilding cyclone-damaged Niue

This article was published in Challenge Weekly in 2004. : Christian World Service (CWS) is raising money to contribute to the rebuilding of cyclone-damaged Niue. Cyclone Heta devastated Alofi and the only hospital on the island on January 6. The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand the Right Rev Michael Thawley approached […]

Student numbers steady

This article was published in 2007 in Challenge Weekly : Bible College of New Zealand Current enrollments are holding steady. But they were well down on those of the early 2000’s. Figures have declined in the past two years because of a drop in the number of international students. The college expects 650 full time […]

New ways of learning the Bible

This article was published in 2004. : Scripture Union is making fundamental changes to their range of published resources. The old range of Scripture Union Bible materials will be replaced in September. Terry Clutterham, Head of Resource Development for Scripture Union in England and Wales, will be coming to New Zealand for an April launch […]

My inspiration: Pete's musings

Convictions

Some days strong, some days weak, but conviction will pull us through. The strong days are clear and everything falls into place. The weak days are self-doubt and confusion. We hate the weak days. The strong days are when we are on top. We think we should be there every day. However, the weak days […]

You don’t have to be “successful”

Relax. You don’t have to be successful. If you feel the pressure to succeed, with goals and ambitions, you don’t have to go there. All that people require is to do something productive and that contributes to other people and society. Our Creator is not putting the pressure on us to succeed. Our Creator simply […]

Love grows

Love for Jesus is not necessarily spontaneous, but it can be. We just need to look at some of Peter’s responses to Jesus which were enthusiastic, but then he denied Jesus. What happened to Peter’s love for Jesus? It needed to grow. Looking at what happened later for Peter, his love must have grown for […]

My reviews: Pete's movies and music

Bitter Harvest

Joseph Stalin’s power over the Ukraine in the 1930’s was bound to be framed as tragic and that it does. This low budget film from Canada is not a massive production of scale, but is well-meaning and quite effective. Death by starvation in the Ukraine, which was only revealed after the dismantling of communist Russia […]

Laputa Castle in the Sky

A specialized animated film that’s well-told about a girl with a crystal necklace that pirates and the government want. The girl falls from the sky and into the arms of a boy which sends them on an adventure to the mythical castle in the sky. In the English language version of this Japanese production, Mark […]

Silence

Silence is intended for a Christian audience and those interested in the subject matter, but as for the Christians, Silence is a misfire. Silence hinges on some pretty brutal subject matter and a response to it, the persecution of people of faith. Jesuit priests from Portugal and with the Christian locals face unrelenting persecution in […]

My also-rans: Also-rans of a writer

A Dog’s Purpose

This dramedy (comedy/drama) is worth a look. A Dog’s Purpose is a playful comedy and a touching drama. However, the middle section loses some steam. A purpose of a dog is explored over a dog’s several lives from the 1960’s. Josh Gad provides the dog’s thoughts throughout the film by voice over. The themes of […]

Heidi (1937)

Heidi is for classic film aficionados and Shirley Temple fans, when Shirley was in her youthful heyday at the movies. It’s a pleasant, lovely film. Based on the Johann Spyri children’s book, published in the late 1800’s, the story of Heidi has since been adapted for television and the movie screen many times. In ten […]

Smurfs The Lost Village

In family animation Smurfs The Lost Village (2017), Smurfette, the only girl in the Smurf village, was created by an evil sorcerer. But Papa Smurf changed her to good. Then she is wondering who she is in a world of male Smurfs. The movie acknowledges the existence of good and evil and the search for […]

My songs: One song every day

Wind Beneath My Wings

Bette Midler’s lovely Wind Beneath My Wings (1988) touches the heart strings with a song about being there for someone as a strength and helper. It’s got emotional truth and sincerity and warmth.

From a Distance

Sentimental, peaceful, uplifting Bette Midler song From a Distance (1990) could be regarded as beautiful and the ebb and flow gently nudges one to a higher and nobler place. “From a distance you look like my friend, though we are at war…From a distance I cannot comprehend what all this fighting’s for.” This exhortation song […]

Put a Little Love in Your Heart

Al Green’s and Annie Lennox’s Put a Little Love in Your Heart (1988) from the movie Scrooged makes sense if you have seen the movie. In the movie, the key character comes around to being generous after being greedy. As a standalone song, you may think that the song’s preaching at you. Happy song, though, […]