Derek Hess > Recent Status Updates

Just finished the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. It was great. I had known the story was taken from points of the Christian gospel, and only having seen the movie a dozen times, I had decided to read the book to see how exactly C.S. Lewis did so. Remembering this is only a fairytale meant for his goddaughter, there is obvious things in the story that I don't see in relation to Christian doctrine. Good read though

“Within the Church, Jesus Christ the Lord is central. The old writers used to say that Christ is to the Church what the spirit is to the body – it is that which gives it life. Once the spirit leaves the body, there is nothing that can keep the body alive.”

This was a few chapters back but still a great quote:

"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king I tell you.”

“Your man may be untroubled
about the Future, not because he is concerned with the
Present, but because he has persuaded himself that the
Future is going to be agreeable. As long as that is the real
cause of his tranquillity, his tranquillity will do us good,
because it is only piling up more disappointment, and
therefore more impatience, for him when his false hopes
are dashed.”

“ Even in his sins the Enemy does not want him to think too much: one they are repented , the sooner the man turns his attention outward, the better the Enemy is pleased,

your affectionate Uncle
Screwtape.”

“"Paul's exhortation to do ‘all to the glory of God’ is more than pious idealism. It is an integral part of the sacred revelation and is to be accepted as the very Word of Truth.”

“The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing but repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One.”

““He was always sweet to my soul; but since I suffered for Him, His breath hath a sweeter smell than before.”.

“ Life is worth as much as it is spent for the Lord‘s service.”

“ come near to the holy men and women of the past and you will soon feel the heat of their desire after God“

“The solution for today’s church is simply Jesus Christ.” - James L. Snyder (introduction)

"If we were to lean upon man, we would surely be disappointed; but in leaning upon the living God alone, we are beyond disappointment and beyond being forsaken for any reason."

This is beautiful. To see a man leaning on God’s guidance like a child on his dad. To see his eagerness is encouraging.
“After evening prayer, my communion with God was so sweet that I would continue praying until after midnight… go to a brother’s room…pray… until one or two in the morning. Even then, I was… so full of joy that I could not sleep.”

This chapter is on the importance of solitude. Our life can tend to be so loud and busy. He points out that even when no one is talking, we habit covering our ears with “radios” lest we be condemned to silence. Jesus spent time in solitude. So should we.

I’m a slow reader. But it’s a good book. To see faith in action is very encouraging. To see someone lay aside all worldly passions just to get the gospel out is just beautiful.

“How much help, blessing, and joy we lose every day, because we do not take all to Jesus as we ought! Often since have I wept over His love and mercy and the deliverance, and prayed that every moment of my remaining life may be consecrated to the service of my precious Friend and Savior!” How encouraging.