Hi, Professor Theophilus. I was wondering whether you'd finished assigning grades for the Civilization course. It's a big class, so maybe you don't remember me. I'm the girl at the end of the third row who fell asleep during the final exam, and I've been a little worried about how I did. Also I might have another question. Thanks, Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: question

Dear Rachel: I gave your final exam a B-, which earned you a straight B for the course. Pretty good, considering that you slept through questions five and six. I hope you haven't been ill. What's your other question? Sincerely, Professor Theophilus

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: other question

Dear Professor Theophilus: That's a relief. I thought I might have bombed the exam. No, I'm not sick. It's just that a lot has been going on and I didn't get much sleep during finals week. My question is about the Q&A after your final lecture. A guy in the front row asked a question about the Job reading and your answer quoted a religious policeman. What was it that you said? Thanks, Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: other question

Dear Rachel: You'll have to help me out here, because I remember several questions about the reading selection from the book of Job, but don't remember saying anything like that. Are you sure it was a religious policeman? Sincerely, Professor Theophilus

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: religious policeman

Dear Professor Theophilus: Could he have been a detective? Anyway, he was religious, and he said something about a tapestry. Thanks, Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: religious policeman

Dear Rachel: I understand now. The famous journalist and Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton wrote a series of stories and novels about a priest named Father Brown, who was also an amateur detective. In The Sins of Prince Saradine, the characters are discussing the mystery of injustice and unpunished evil, and one of them asks whether Father Brown believes in "doom," meaning fate. Father Brown says no, he believes in "Doomsday," meaning the day of judgment. Because the other fellow doesn't understand, he tells him what he means:

"I mean that we here are on the wrong side of the tapestry," answered Father Brown. "The things that happen here do not seem to mean anything; they mean something somewhere else. Somewhere else retribution will come on the real offender. Here it often seems to fall on the wrong person."

In class I might have stated the lines inaccurately because I was quoting from memory. Is this what you were asking about? Sincerely, Professor Theophilus

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: re: re: religious policeman

Dear Professor Theophilus: Yes, that was the quotation, thanks. I wish I could believe it. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: "wish I could believe it"

Dear Rachel: Do you want to discuss it? Sincerely, Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: re: "wish I could believe it"

Dear Professor Theophilus: I don't know. I guess I must, because I asked you about it. But my father died last year, my brother just announced that he's gay, my other brother is all messed up on drugs, and none of this looks like Eternal Justice to me. I don't have much use for God right now. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: re: "wish I could believe it"

Dear Rachel: What do you want Him to do? Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: obvious

Dear Professor Theophilus: Isn't that obvious? I want Him to change my brothers and bring my father back to life. And if He can't or won't do that, I want Him to leave me alone. Please tell me what you really think, not what you're supposed to say as a professor. I've got my grades and I'm graduating anyway. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: What I really think

Dear Rachel: What I really think is that you're right -- a God who couldn't change your brothers and bring your father back to life would hardly be worth the name. But the God I worship does change people; He brings all the dead back to life, whether to unending joy or unending sorrow; and I don't think you would ask Him to leave you alone if you knew what you were asking. Getting one's way on that point is the condition we call hell. Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: excuses

Dear Professor Theophilus: Then that must be where I am, because He sure is leaving me alone. I'd expected you to make excuses for Him. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: excuses

Dear Rachel: No, a God who takes upon Himself the death that we deserve doesn't need us to make excuses for Him. But I don't think He has really left you alone. That would be much worse. Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: where?

Dear Professor Theophilus: If He hasn't left me alone, then where is He? He must have an odd way of making His presence known. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: where?

Dear Rachel: Not so odd. He has sent messengers to you and provoked you to ask them for news of Him. Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: re: re: where?

Dear Professor Theophilus: That statement strikes me as even odder. I haven't met anyone lately with a halo or wings, and I certainly haven't had any conversations with such a person. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: re: re: where?

Dear Rachel: Not that kind of messenger. People. What do you call the conversation we're having now? If you didn't recognize me as a newsbringer, it's not surprising that you haven't recognized other newsbringers. That doesn't mean there haven't been any. Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: mother

Dear Professor Theophilus: My mother has been after me about going back to church. I got really angry with her one day because she's not angry enough about my father dying. When she's sad she sings the Psalms. It really burns me. I suppose you would consider her another messenger. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: mother

Dear Rachel: I couldn't say, but it seems likely. She comes from the place of solace to tell you that you don't need to be angry, but you're angry because she comes from the place of solace. Is it possible that you've got it turned around? Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: brothers

Dear Professor Theophilus: What about my brothers? Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: brothers

Dear Rachel: What about them? Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: re: re: brothers

Dear Professor Theophilus: I told you. One has decided that he's gay, and let me tell you, his life isn't "gay" in the happy sense at all. The other is all messed up on drugs. Are they messengers too? Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: re: re: brothers

Dear Rachel: No. But they might be messages. "This is what happens when you tell God to leave you alone." How much do you want God to change them, Rachel? Professor T.

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: how much?????

Dear Professor Theophilus: What kind of question is that????? Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: how much?????

Dear Rachel: I asked because God may already have a plan to change them, but it may cost more than you're willing to spend. I don't mean money. Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: re: re: how much?????

Dear Professor Theophilus: What do you mean? Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: re: re: how much?????

Dear Rachel: What if God, in His sovereign mercy, has chosen you as the instrument of His grace to your brothers? What if you’re the only messenger He can send to them about Himself? Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: don't get it

Dear Professor Theophilus: I don't get it. Explain. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject: re: don't get it

Dear Rachel: If God has no one else to send to your brothers, then your unwillingness to be reconciled with Him because He hasn't changed your brothers might be the very thing that keeps Him from changing them. If He wants to use you that way, you might have to let go of your anger against Him before He can do anything about the things that are making you angry. That's why I say His plan may cost more than you're willing to spend. Professor T.

To: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
From: rachel@sullen.com
Subject: how much I'm willing to spend

Dear Professor Theophilus: So you're saying that I have to decide whether it's more important to me to see my brothers change, or to stay angry with God because they haven't. Rachel

To: rachel@sullen.com
From: m.e.theophilus@posteverything.state.edu
Subject re: counting the cost

Dear Rachel: Now you’ve got it. Which way will you decide? Professor T.

If you have questions you’d like to Ask Theo, send us an email and we'll pass it along to him.