[“Lightning is God taking pictures of the victims. – Mark Cox] ... the victims of lightning. But there are other godly afflictions that are not as dramatic, as incendiary. > [Click Random Post above – re-astonish yourself] … [Read more...]
“The Image” / Memorable Fancies #1734
15 January, 2017 by Leave a Comment
[“We can comprehend only a world we ourselves have made.” – Nietzsche] Then why can’t I understand the world – did I not create it? In my image, in my likeness? [Click ‘Random Post’ above – be astonished] … [Read more...]
“There Was No Yesterday” / Memorable Fancies #1145
18 March, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Yesterday, there was no yesterday. It should have been a Tuesday, but there was no Tuesday. We were confused, alarmed. Had God taken Tuesday off just to show us our need for Him? Critical power loads, water levels, had nearly reached crisis by early today, but desperate hard work finally restored events to their customary disorder. It had been close. Now we’re in a rush to prepare, just in case God takes another day off. We worry about the approaching weekend. <END> Buy it on … [Read more...]
“Purpose” / A Memorable Fancy #332
5 May, 2013 by Leave a Comment
“Life has no purpose,” said A, in despair. “Life has no purpose,” said B, with deep rejoicing. One of them could be right or both wrong, observed God, thinking of His own purpose, and how He might unriddle exactly what that purpose might be. <END> … See www.terencekuch.net for a profile of the author, publications, reviews, etc. His book, At All Adventure: An Alternative Gospel may be purchased via his Amazon author page, www.amazon.com/author/terencekuch … [Read more...]
“The Signs” / A Memorable Fancy #311
14 April, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Signs appeared on a vacant lot proclaiming that a new development would soon arise there, no trespassing (signed) God. But then nothing happened. The signs grew old, rusted. We dared not build in that place, in hope or fear that God would return. Now, as to the signs God has placed in us as well: We dare not appropriate these either, even though we grow old, rust. <END> … See www.terencekuch.net for a profile of the author, publications, reviews, etc. His book, At All Adventure: An … [Read more...]
“The Harrowing of Hell” / A Memorable Fancy #304
7 April, 2013 by Leave a Comment
When all the breathers of this world are dead …” [Shakespeare, Sonnet LXXXI] Satan sat on his burning throne, face hard with flame and eyes gleaming white, last-born of the dead and everlasting Force! The forked tongue writhing from his mouth pierced the damned like awls: admonishing, rebuking, transfixing them with Responsible Comment. Jesus stood before Satan. “Come, follow me,” said Satan, “and I will show you the damned.” He went with Satan and beheld a pit … [Read more...]
“The Prophet – I” / A Memorable Fancy #102
27 January, 2013 by 3 Comments
The prophet tries to recall the source of his inspiration so many years ago. He mumbles the same old words when the Movement asks him to. But now, the words don’t seem so urgent. What does his teaching really mean? He doesn’t remember. His followers treat him as a beautiful relic whose wisdom is often quoted and ignored. He is local color, a living treasure, a brief stop for tour buses. Tourists take his picture. The Movement provides a pleasant room where his every word is monitored, at … [Read more...]
“Our Books” / A Memorable Fancy #202
2 January, 2013 by Leave a Comment
“We Twelve were sitting together, recollecting what Jesus had said to each of us, secretly or openly, and organizing our recollections into books and epistles. I, for my part, was also writing my book, I must admit. “Suddenly the Lord appeared to us. He looked over the evidence of our busy activity: the scrolls, the scribes, the ink, the lists of agents and publishers, the cover designs, the marketing plans. The cock crowed a fourth time.” … [Read more...]
“Another Book” / A Memorable Fancy #184
8 December, 2012 by Leave a Comment
“Isn’t there another Book? I can’t seem to find it, now. The one Jesus wrote that answered all our questions, I mean. I’ve looked everywhere; thumbed through all the pages from Matthew back to Revelation. I’m sure it’s here somewhere. — Isn’t it?” … [Read more...]
“The Judas Chronicles – IV” / A Memorable Fancy #176
30 November, 2012 by Leave a Comment
I leave it all to mother, dear heart, who never did approve of her accountant son. She wanted me to do with grain or fruit, with growing something in the earth and sun, wheat or lemons, mandarines. Well now, I’ve bought a field I’ve never seen, supposed to be good earth, well settled in citrus and shaded with cedar, good for growing trees; bought for a song – about a man. What will it grow for me? # The farmers’ custom calls for prayer upon a planting field. “Hosanna for things of the … [Read more...]
“The Judas Chronicles – III” / A Memorable Fancy #174
28 November, 2012 by Leave a Comment
He said, “One of you will betray me.” And as he spoke I heard the dark wind gather my soul and curl words inside my ear. He looked at me and I expected sadness, maybe wrath, not what I saw. I lunged from the room, stumbling over chairs and pushing past the others, upset a bowl. Fools always, they thought I had some hurried errand for the poor; but I went to see the priests, and said, “I know where you can take him without the crowd.” And they said, “Lead us to him.” They asked my price … [Read more...]
“The Judas Chronicles – II” / A Memorable Fancy #172
26 November, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The others prayed for strength to raise the dead, not I that stupid game of corpses warm and stinking life. The others learned to cast out devils’ nasty souls, not I that stupid game of chasing ghosts as slow to catch as slugs. But I, I knew his Power could grip the earth when angry masses shout for bread. No emperor could stand against that strength. # “Judas was an easy one to take; that kind always is. I had not so much to turn him, no, as merely let him be.” [To be continued … [Read more...]
“The Judas Chronicles – I” / A Memorable Fancy #170
24 November, 2012 by Leave a Comment
He called the Twelve to their professions: apostles, teachers; and to some he gave new names: “Petrus” (stone) or “Boanerges” (thunder); for the glory of natural Force was in them. And some he gave names from the ancient wisdom, as “Didymus” (twin), for the mystery of Heaven was in them. But to one he gave the name “Iscariot”: knife-man. # # # There were persistent rumors of Judas, Accountant Gone Bad, the grist of myth for sure. This man was found to count the cash … [Read more...]
“Theology Lesson” / A Memorable Fancy #146
30 October, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Once upon a time there were long and passionate arguments over whether the stones the holy men had set up were images of the gods, or were gods themselves. Two groups gradually formed, the Image-ists and the Themselv-ists. Image-ists were implacably opposed to Themselv-ists, and vice versa. Contests were held in which priests of both sides prayed to the stones and waited to see if the stones would favor their group or the despised others. The stones, however, perhaps wisely, revealed no … [Read more...]
“Question – I” / A Memorable Fancy #133
14 October, 2012 by Leave a Comment
“Where do the multitude of Gods dwell?” – Marcus Tullius Cicero A scroll has come down from the Emperor’s pet eunuchs: a list of the gods worshipped by the tribes the empire has conquered this year. In a fond wish for civic tranquility, we must now respect these gods, allow and encourage their parades and holy days, tolerate their cruel celebrations and wretched food: the Emperor will have it so. In this way we turn savages into citizens. Perhaps. It’s a beginning, anyway. Each tribe, … [Read more...]
“All the sad relics” / A Memorable Fancy #056
22 July, 2012 by Leave a Comment
“Saint Anthony’s tongue,” the priest said; “there it is preserved behind the altar, under glass. At the moment the saint died, they say, he had opened his mouth to speak, but too late. Several of us have examined the tongue’s configuration to understand that last holy message, measured its width, its curvature, its weight both in the humid season and in the dry. We have published papers and given scholarly talks; we have uttered brilliant profundities; we have prayed. And now, finally, we have … [Read more...]
“Anselm’s Dream” / A Memorable Fancy #031
14 October, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A Christian Nightmare: A final refutation of the ontological proof, and the world suddenly … [Read more...]
“Talk-Show” / A Memorable Fancy #026
29 September, 2011 by Leave a Comment
It was an honor to be a guest on his show. They waited off-stage during the monologue, gauging the response of the crowd. They passed a few quiet, unnecessary words. They knew they wouldn’t get the best of him in conversation, he, the master of debate, sometimes a master of abuse as well; but someone had to speak out for the old ways, for righteousness and faith. After a short commercial break they were escorted to the stage: the scribe, then the Pharisee. <END> … [Read more...]
Memorable Fancies 