My Precious Ones....

Earlier this week, a postman knocked on the door and presented me with a box containing the fruit of my annual book-spending account. Grandma and Mike were home with me, so together we unpacked the box and worked out where we were going to place the contents in my book shelf.

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Preliminary thoughts on the books I most recently bought:
1. While I haven't yet read it (and so can't judge the quality), I am impressed by the sheer quantity of "The Spirit of Hinduism" by David Burnett. For what I paid, it's actually quite a hefty volume. I'm looking forward to reading it.
2. It seems that I shall have to do some very careful thinking through what constitutes "compromise" and what constitutes "bridge-building" in evangelism. The author of the book From Buddha to Jesus takes quite a different tack to most people I have read before. While he makes it quite clear that syncretism is to be avoided like the plague, I still wonder if his approach may confuse more than inform those Buddhists to whom we present the gospel. As I said, I shall have to do some careful thinking.
3. "Nothing in my Hand I Bring" by Ray Galea has an amazing cover. No, really. It's just so clever. All books should have such a thought-provoking cover. The reviews that I read did encourage me to buy it...but it was the cover that hooked me.
4. "The First Ninety Days of Marriage" by Eric and Leslie Ludy (from a brief skim-through) looks very sensible...and also dignified/clean...which is refreshing.
5. I am pleased to note that the book on Islam is not about how we must tighten our grip on America so that the Muslims don't take over.
6. All the other books I bought look quite helpful and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the book on back-order.

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Felicity: Yes, I am getting around to "broadening my reading horizons". :-) My library actually has all of the authors you suggested....and I'll see about getting some out this Saturday. Actually, the authors of some of the books I just bought are Pentecostal. So, there you go. :-)

An article on C.S. Lewis

One of the greatest joys in the world is finding something that sums up what I have been thinking more beautifully and eloquently than I ever could. For example, I just found this afternoon (via this blog), an article about C.S. Lewis.

This sentence made me smile: "...even those who are troubled with much of Lewis’ theology can hardly resist quoting him." How true! I often find myself "thinking deep thoughts" and vaguely remembering a quote that I read "somewhere" that explains what I have just thought so nicely...only to realize to my utter annoyance that it's from Mere Christianity. How dare it be in Mere Christianity! (Tongue firmly in cheek, here.)

Even if I don't like to admit it, I really do enjoy a lot of C.S. Lewis' stuff. I've read and (with some heavy disclaimer) enjoyed "The Four Loves", "Mere Christianity", "The Screwtape Letters", "A Grief Observed", "Prayers: Letters to Malcom", "God in the Dock", "Christian Reflections", "Miracles" and (of course!) Narnia. In fact, I've read more books by him than by some people I have no qualms in recommending. But...well, you'd best read the article to understand what I am concerned about. To quote the conclusion:

So how should we view Mr. Lewis? His ability to cut through the intellectual clouds and offer insightful analysis of human nature and our relationship with God perhaps has no equal. Most of us have gained much because of the writings of C. S. Lewis. On the other hand, he was no evangelical. His theology is deficient at best in the key areas of Scripture and salvation. He believed in neither sola fide nor sola scriptura, the two battle cries of the Reformation. Those who read him must keep these things in mind, filter his teaching through the grid of Scripture and hold him to the same standards that we are to hold all others. Because Lewis was a man with an incredible ability to package his insights in thought-provoking ways does not mean that what he writes always aligns with God’s Word. He was a man who had keen analytical abilities and incredible writing gifts. But he was a man who rejected or minimized many of the most important truths given to us by God.

C.S. Lewis wrote many likable books, but frankly, he "has a habit" of slamming the gospel upon which my life depends. And that's bad.
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I am partly posting this because I think it's an excellent article and am interested in your opinion. (Incidentally, I'm not directing this post to any particular person. That said just in case the person/s whom I talked to the other day think that I am trying to hit them over the head or anything. ;-)) However, I also needed something relatively sensible to which I could append a link to my brothers' blog....which he insisted I do. So...

Lloyd Q is my 14 year old brother who is a rather maniacal (in the nicest sense of the word) individual. The purpose of his blog, entitled "Random Boy Stuff" is as follows (I quote):

This blog Is about cars starwars and other things and i type as fast as i can with no full stops or empty stops and i will make speling errers pupesly

*gentle cough*

His first post is a long list of Star Wars trivia - beautifully un-punctuated. (He claims you don't have to read it if you don't want to.)

May God bless and keep you all.

Autumn Term (A poignant haiku by Anika Q)

Frost covers the ground

Assignments cover the desk -

Tears cover the face

Notes:

1. Want to write your own poignant haiku? Try here.

2. American users substitute "Frost covers" with "Leaves cover".

3. No, I know that I am not a great poet. This is my first attempt at haiku since Grade 7.

4. Through Him who gives me strength, I will learn to be content. (see Philippians 4:11-13)

5. I have (more) internet access again. Long story...but it's (temporarily) fixed. :-)