The Wall

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“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

The "Salad Bar" approach

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Does anyone know who made this statement?

"When you go out for a meal served as a buffet you're given the invitation to serve yourself, perhaps a salad. There's quite a range of dishes to choose from according to your taste. There's quite a range of dishes to choose from according to your taste. This is fine for eating but it doesn't work in Christian terms. One of the reasons why there's spiritual poverty is that believers have taken the 'salad bar' approach to scripture. Can we really pick the teachings we're comfortable with and ignore the rest? The answer, of course, is 'no.' When we take the 'salad bar' approach to scripture to justify your own prejudices or personal comfort, the result is a stunted spiritual life."

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