Links for 2012-05-23 [del.icio.us]

Why Christians, not pantheists, are the ones out in the Gardens:

... Jonathan Edwards and John Piper: "That is, we see the glory of God, not just the glory of the heavens. We don’t just stand outside and analyze the natural world as a beam, but let the beam fall on the eyes of our heart, so that we see the source of the beauty – the original Beauty, God himself... All of God’s creation becomes a beam to be ‘looked along’ or a sound to be ‘heard along’ or a fragrance to be ‘smelled along’... All our senses become partners with the eyes of the heart in perceiving the glory of God through the physical world” ... a compelling must read to encourage you to get out for more walks this summer.
A Mystic In The Garden?

@Shaun Groves ... I wonder if Shaun's post actually reads more like Jonathan Edwards: “God’s excellency, his wisdom, his purity and love, seemed to appear in everything: in the sun, moon, and stars; in the clouds, and blue sky; in the grass, flowers, trees; in the water, and all nature; which used greatly to fix my mind.

I often used to sit and view the moon, for a long time; and so in the daytime, spent much time in viewing the clouds and sky, to behold the sweet glory of God in these things: in the meantime, singing forth with a low voice, my contemplations of the Creator and Redeemer.” ... I think you are in good company, sir...