I'm a huge JRR Tolkien fan. If you don't believe me just drop by my office and have a look at the huge Middle-Earth map hanging on my wall (a gift from Autumn!). His books are in my all-time favorite category. I'm also a JI Packer fan. His writings have shaped my theology deeply. I still remember reading Knowing God for the first time. This is why when I came across an article from World Magazine that mentioned both Tolkien and Packer - I just had to share it:
When theologian, teacher, and writer Dr. J.I. Packer reached his 80th birthday on July 22, 2006, his home church in Vancouver, British Columbia—St. John's Shaughnessy Anglican Church—honored him with a special celebration.
One after the other, friends from church and colleagues from nearby Regent College, where he has taught for three decades, spoke of Packer's impact on the evangelical movement and themselves. Several, referring to the great mentor in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, called Packer their own Gandalf.
But Packer, when it came his time to speak, gently protested. "I am no Gandalf," he said, his normally strong and clear voice choked with emotion. "I'm much closer to the lowly Sam."
This is just one more reason why I appreciate Packer - he is brilliant and very humble.
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