In hierdie Kerstyd wil ek een van Francis Schaeffer se treffende gedagtes met jou deel. Dit het betrekking op Maria se reaksie op die aankondiging van die engel. Die konteks waarin Schaeffer oor Maria skryf, handel oor die gesindheid van “aktiewe-passiwiteit” wat in ‘n gelowige se verhouding met die Here moet wees – ‘n begrip wat vir die eerste keer deur Schaeffer bekend gemaak is. Dit is ‘n gedagte wat hy redelik aan die begin van sy boek “True Spirituality” beskryf, en dan herhaaldelik deur die loop van die boek daarna terugverwys. Dit is dus nogal ‘n belangrike konsep vir hom – en ek het self ook baie by dit…

Once upon a time there were two brothers. Both of them had their own businesses. Both of them were hard workers. And both of them were in deep financial trouble. The economic recession had a horrendous impact on their companies. Neither of them had the ability anymore, to pay staff members or creditors. Finally the one brother came to a place where he had to make the most difficult decision of his life: He decided to file for bankruptcy. Though the other brother’s situation did not look any better, he made the decision to keep on trying. He enrolled for a debt-counseling program, and his creditors gave him reprieve for…