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One of the most infamous characters in all of literature is, without a doubt, Ebenezer Scrooge. From A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. In it he paints a picture of a man who is the very definition of mean-spirited.

But the beauty of that story is the ending. It concludes with a radical transformation. The skinflint becomes a gentle, kind soul.

But here is the question that prompts us in the real world: Is that actually possible? Can a greedy, stingy person really be transformed into a generous one? Or is that just a nice Christmas story, almost a fairy tale we tell ourselves at Christmas?

Today, I want to take you to a desperate moment in the Old Testament—tucked away in 1 Samuel Chapter 30—that answers that question. It shows us not just what generosity looks like, but the intense pressure cooker required to produce it….

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Scripture repeatedly assures us that God protects those who trust Him. That truth is woven all through the Bible. But here’s a question that may surprise you. Does God ever protect people when they are not really trusting in Him very?

The answer, remarkably, is yes.

There is an episode in the life of David where God protects him in precisely that way—quietly, unexpectedly, and without David asking for it. And that episode is found in 1 Samuel chapter 29.

What makes this passage so striking is not just that God protects David, but how He does it, and why He does it.

To get my latest book, "The Renewed Mind - A Spiritual Path to Overcoming Depression and Anxiety". https://amzn.eu/d/dL4oIYq

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This episode was originally released as a Patreon-only special episode on the 10th May 2025.

Mindfulness The 1970’s Buddhist appropriation of Prayer and Reflection.

Thích Nhất Hạnh, the Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, and prolific author, stands as one of the most influential contemporary figures in introducing Buddhist thought, particularly mindfulness meditation, to Western audiences. His 1975 work, "The Miracle of Mindfulness," offered an introduction to mindfulness, not merely as a spiritual technique but as an encompassing way of life. Hạnh’s message, deeply rooted in Mahayana Buddhism and Vietnamese Zen traditions, is characterized by gentleness and commitment to nonviolence.

While these teachings on presence and compassion have resonated with individuals across various religious and secular paths, their underlying metaphysical assumptions present significant divergences when viewed from a Christian worldview.

Themes:

1. The Nature of the Self: Created Dignity vs. Illusory Ego

2. The Problem of Suffering: Moral Transgression vs. Karmic Ignorance

3. The Path to Liberation: Divine Redemption vs. Self-Realization

4. Temporal Presence and Eternal Hope: The Trajectory of Time

5. The Nature of the Divine: Personal God vs. Non-Theistic Interbeing

Conclusion: Christians must be anchored in a Different Narrative

Thích Nhất Hạnh’s "The Miracle of Mindfulness" offers some insights into the idea of living in the moment, but in my opinion, not adding anything to what the Stoics taught 2000+ years ago. However, from a Christian theological perspective, its foundational assumptions about the self, suffering, salvation, time, and the nature of ultimate reality diverge significantly from the Christian worldview.

Christianity anchors its understanding of life and its spiritual practices in a revealed narrative: the story of creation by a personal God, the tragic fall of humanity into sin, the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, and the promised hope of future restoration and eternal communion with God. This narrative provides a framework where the self is not an illusion to be overcome but a creation to be redeemed, where suffering finds its ultimate answer not in mindful detachment alone but in the sacrificial love of God, and where the present moment, while sacred, points towards an eternal future in relationship with a personal, loving Creator.

A full essay presenting my views to an entirely secular readership/audience can be found on my Substack. Sign up and follow me there for access to future posts in blog and essay format.

https://open.substack.com/pub/jeremymccandless/p/a-christian-reflection-on-thich-nhat?r=2r7o2c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

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To listen to my monthly church history podcast, subscribe at; https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

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Support me to continue making great content for listeners everywhere.
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