Category Archives: Faith

What does it mean to be Christian? How does the Spirit move? Where is redemption taking place now? What do I do when I am one of Christ’s followers but I want to put the bumper sticker “Jesus, save me from your followers” on my car?

Gerard Manley Hopkins: A Life

You would think that after 35 years of reading, I would know not to pay attention to marketing copy on dust jackets. You would think that after numerous instances of having perfectly good books ruined by ostentatious review blurbs, I would learn simply to read the book and let the book be itself. I would

2010 Christmas Pageant

I know it’s a little late, but here’s some photos from the 12/19/2010 Old Trinity Christmas Pageant.

Be patient. Be patient. Don’t be in such a hurry.

Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receive the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another,

Ox in the Ditch Sunday

Growing up, we were taught to “remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” I didn’t always know what that meant. Usually, it meant that you weren’t supposed to do work; you were supposed to rest. That was cool. But then there would be those Sundays where we DID do work on Sunday. At that point,

Sweet By and By

In her last years with us, Granny used talk about the Sweet By and By. Today, I was listening to a collection of old American gospel tunes when I caught the phrase. I looked up the whole song to see the context. Here are comforting words: There’s a land that is fairer than day, And

What will the King’s Son Do?

Today’s Daily Office includes reading Psalm 72. It’s only 19 verses, but the repetition of a certain theme in 5 of those verses is unmistakeable: 1 Give the King your justice, O God, * and your righteousness to the King’s son; 2 That he may rule your people righteously * and the poor with justice.

Seven Must-Listen This American Life Episodes :: List of the Day :: Paste

Seven Must-Listen This American Life Episodes :: List of the Day :: Paste. I’ve heard TAL stories off and on since their inception, and I’ve always been intrigued with the radio feature story format. No one does it better than Ira & company, and Maddux’s top seven are certainly gems. I started trying to make

Happy Christmas

Barely getting the the family gifts wrapped on time this year, so the cards will have to wait. If you don’t think I have your correct address, go to www.truffin.com, click on “Email Mr. Truffin” and update me. In the meantime, I give you this message from G.K. Chesterton: “People are losing the power to

Are you now, or have you ever been…

Not only am I proud to be a college professor, I’m also proud to be friends with college professors. None more so than my good friend Ken Morefield. Having had to deal personally this semester with the negative stereotype the Evangelical sub-culture has of my profession, I’ve also had to deal with the more general

Awake, My Soul: The Story of the Sacred Harp

Thanks to Jeffrey Overstreet for pointing the way to this wonderful film on Sacred Harp, or shape note, Singing. You can watch it for free this week by going to this link.