Faith Well Grounded

Yes... I'm back into the writings of Richard Morris. If you've followed my blog posts, you'll know that I love his writings. To say that I respect the late Mr. Morris would be a huge understatement.

This week, it's "The Evolutionists: The Struggle for Darwin's Soul" (Freeman, 2001). This posts isn't necessarily about evolution, though I added it as a category since this is an associated subject and the blog is fueled by reading on such. This post, as usual, is about the Naturalistic philosophy being paraded as science.

Sometimes, the little things you do affect people in a big way.

A wonderful lady in our church makes baby carriers and slings. She doesn't think much about it, but she does think enough that every new mother in our church ends up with one. They are beautiful, and seeing the mothers in our church is a constant reminder of a wonderful talent pointed outward.

NOTE! Faith Well Grounded is absolutely and diametrically opposed to the "God Hates Fags" message and movement

Thanks

...Video removed... You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/v/3MRWqlf_8M8...

I've looked into this just enough to assure myself that it is a joke. I'm not exactly sure what their intent is, but I'm leaning toward the idea that it is an effort to show just how stupid groups like Fred Phelps' are.

The Vatican released a document stating that any church apart from the Roman Catholic Church is not a true church. Protestants everywhere are outraged. Story here...

Why?

All that the Vatican has done is restate the tautology that they have always held. If Protestants look to the Roman Catholic Church for assurances that we are the Body and Bride of Christ, then there are bigger problems here than mere perception and theological ego.

I've made some changes to the site. The old look and feel just looked and felt too "blah" after I lived with it for a few months. The decision to do so was a bit of a leap. On one hand, I don't want to mess with those of you who have gotten used to the site as it was. But on the other, I figured I had better make some changes and get it closer to what I like before more people come in and get accustomed to it.

Let me know what you think about the changes. I'd love the input.

Some of my most prized possessions are the pretty pictures that my kids have drawn for me. My son draws pictures of us on the golf course or a picture of himself on the ball field. They all end up on my wall even though none of them look exactly like their objects—at least I hope not. (If they do, then I am extremely overweight, have a tiny head, and only three fingers per hand.)

What makes them important is two-fold. He cares enough to want me to have them, and he cares enough about the object (us together, playing golf) to memorialize them.

Why is it so easy to fall into the "us against them" mentality? I see this a lot in Christianity-- especially apologetics. We see those who oppose the gospel as infidels, enemies to God, those who we must refute! Why is it so against our human nature to see them as those most in need of God? Why is it that so many refuse to show God's love to those who most need to see it?

Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Theo-fiction. A collection of letters from a demon overlord (Screwtape) to his underling demon nephew (Wormwood), in which he is apprenticing the nephew on how to best opress his "patient". The literary agent of the fictitious letters is used to highlight many supernatural principles.

Author:

C.S. Lewis

Publisher:

HarperSanFrancisco; New Ed edition (February 5, 2001)

ISBN:

0060652934

Pages:

224

Price:

$11.95

Rating:

9

Synopsis:

Theo-fiction. A collection of letters from a demon overlord (Screwtape) to his underling demon nephew (Wormwood), in which he is apprenticing the nephew on how to best opress his "patient". The literary agent of the fictitious letters is used to highlight many supernatural principles.

Table of contents:

NA

Review:

Don't get the misunderstanding that this book is some dry, dusty theology manual in disguise. It is quite the literary accomplishemnt, and stands on its own as a work of brilliant fiction. As a matter of fact, it ranks right up there with his Narnia collection, though it is much different in genre, style and subject matter.

But then again, it is much more than a work of fiction. It is a brilliant satire of human nature. It is also a brilliant insight into the unseen forces that shape our societies and personal beliefs. As a Christian philosopher, I thoroughly enjoyed the principles of the natural and supernatural-- sometimes blatant, sometimes subtle-- that were knitted throughout the letters.

Lewis was a brilliant philosopher, though some neglect to give him this due. His keen insight into human nature and the core of Christianity just sweat their way out of the pages. He emphasizes the important things in the religion (things underemphasized by most), and satires the unimportant (which too many overemphasize). Of most notable, Lewis uses this work as a way to remind us that Christianity is about getting outside of ourselves. It is about loving God and heeding totally that relationship. It is also about loving others. Only when we turn out attention outward do we live up to our calling into His Kingsom.

I gave it a 9-- not necessarily because I could find anything wrong with it, but maybe merely because I can't bring myself to call anything perfect. If I must quote a failure of the book, I guess I'll just mark it for being 224 pages. I could have spied on the "enemy camp" for weeks on end.

I guess a reread is in order...

Now, if you raised your eyebrows at my foray into the supernatural, if you filter everything through naturalistic presuppositions, read the book anyway. Take it as a satire of the human condition and enjoy it. Or, read with an open mind. Then pick up a copy of "Miracles" by the same author. I can think of no one better than Lewis to point out the confines and self-refuting nature of your presuppositions. :)

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I don't think this is what Peter had in mind...

1Pe 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.