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Part 2 of 2In this two-part series, Matt talks with Dr. Louis Markos about C. S. Lewis, his conversion to Christianity, and how his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, influenced his decision to become a believer in Christ. By way of conversation with Tolkien, Lewis came to the conclusion that Christianity was myth that was true. This realization helped Lewis not only make sense of the stories of the past (and the core human longing), but it also had a profound effect upon the books and stories he would go on to write himself. Markos also takes listeners for a deep dive into Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. He shows how they reflect Tolkien's Christian faith and highlights classical virtues. Visit Louis Markos' Amazon Page: link here+++Pre-order Matt's newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies, and How Christians Can Make Sense of the Unknown Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedMatthew's blog: www.matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
There are at least three wrong ways to write about heaven, and Brian Zahnd spent his new book carefully avoiding all of them — too sentimental, too sensational, too escapist to bother caring about the world right in front of us.In this conversation, Brian and Michael talk about why heaven isn't a far-off destination but a realm woven through the space between every atom of this one, and why love and wonder might be the most reliable hints we get of its nearness. Brian shares the mystical moment in Rocky Mountain National Park that reshaped his understanding of the incarnation and makes the case that a faith stripped of transcendence eventually collapses into mere politics — however well-intentioned.They also talk about pilgrimage, the discipline of praying written prayers, and why so many people are having real spiritual experiences with no idea where it's safe to talk about them.Brian Zahnd is a pastor of forty-four years and author of Unseen Existences: Of Heaven, Earth, and the Divine Mystery in All Things.Find Brian Zahnd online here.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!
When Hallow CEO Alex Jones told Ashley Lenz he wanted to feature The Brothers Karamazov in the app's annual Pray40 Lenten challenge, she had one condition: a weeklong retreat at Notre Dame. The retreat became the foundation for what would become Hallow's most successful Pray40 campaign ever. More importantly, it confirmed a conviction at the heart of her work—that a truly good and beautiful book can open hearts to Jesus Christ. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)
Click here for the SermonClicking here will take you to our webpageClick here to contact usWelcome to the Westside church's special Monday Morning Coffee podcast with Mark Roberts. Mark is a disciple, a husband, father and grand dad, as well as a certified coffee geek, fan of CS Lewis' writings and he loves his big red Jeep. He's also the preacher for Westside church.
Today Richard's guest is Norman Jetmundsen, retired attorney and active member of The Center's Bible Studies.The faith of C.S. Lewis can be summed up in his own words: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ― C.S. LewisNorman Jetmundsen is a retired attorney and graduate of the University of the South (classmate of Richard E. Simmons), University of Alabama Law School, and Oxford University (Magdalen College). He practiced law with Bradley Arant and Vulcan Materials Company. Norman is married to Kelli, and they have triplet sons, Taylor, Nelson and Jonathan. He is also an active member of Bible studies at The Center. >>Watch on YouTube
Surprise release! Clive Staples Lewis was a Christian apologist, Oxford don and spanking enthusiast. The Screwtape Letters is one of his many books, an epistolary novel published serially in the (now-defunct) Anglican weekly newspaper The Guardian during the Second World War. The letters are written by Uncle Screwtape, a demon administrator in the bureaucracy of Hell, and addressed to his young nephew Wormwood, an inexperienced tempter. Screwtape offers Wormwood advice on how to lead his 'patient' away from God, so that when he dies he can serve as food for demons. Hell as a gigantic, noisy bureaucracy in which subordinates are eaten by their superiors? Lovely stuff.Joining us for this episode are friends of the show Kevin and Matt from the wonderful Art of Darkness podcast (and There Will Be Books, Matt's other podcast, also wonderful!) For more info on Lewis' spanking enthusiasms, listen to the Art of Darkness episode on C.S. Lewis (https://artofdarkpod.com/c-s-lewis-a-jack-in-the-wardrobe)!Art of Darkness: https://artofdarkpod.comArt of Darkness on X: X.com/artofdarkpodThere Will Be Books: X.com/TherewillbbooksKevin on X: X.com/kautzmaniaMatt's new book: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=az0Zsh8Ol7BjqsK8S6M4XHoJlnrHvYZSQMjh4VUlBZL VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATIONContact: jack.bcfh@gmail.comJack has an upcoming novel called 'Audience Capture', out October 2026 through Bonfire Books!Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/bookclubfromhellOur Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheBookClubfromHellJack's Substack: jackbc.substack.comJoin our Discord (the best place to interact with us): discord.gg/ZMtDJ9HscrWatch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0n7r1ZTpsUw5exoYxb4aKA/featuredX: @bookclubhell666Jack on X: @supersquat1Capitalisimo on X: @thecapitalisimoArt by moog
Lewis never meant these books to be just for children.
Together is Better June 21, 2026Pastor Kent LandhuisTHEME - We seek out Spirit-led connections of deeper belonging. TEXT - Acts 2:37-471. Embrace deeper belonging.• Resist isolation, alienation, and division.• Find a family.2. Pursue deeper connection.• See and be seen.• Know and be known.• Love and be loved.3. Risk deeper relationships. • A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:34-35• To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. CS LewisNEXT STEPSJournal: What keeps me from going deeper in community?Pray: God, where do you want me to go deeper?
We talk about C.S. Lewis' great epistolary Christian apologetic novel: The Screwtape Letters. Get ad-free Core Episodes, the After Dark episode, and more at patreon.com/artofdarkpod or substack.com/@artofdarkpod. bookclubfromhell.substack.com x.com/artofdarkpod x.com/therewillbbooks x.com/kautzmania Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Most people who grew up in church have never actually met the real Jesus — not the real one.They've met Therapist Jesus. Political Jesus. Mascot Jesus. In this episode, we set those substitutes aside and go back to the Gospels to meet the real Jesus — the one who emptied rooms with his words, claimed to be God to his own people's faces, and ate dinner with everyone the religious establishment had written off.This is the final episode in our 3-part series:Pride Month → Hell & Judgment → The Real Jesus.In this video:
Part 1 of 2In this two part series, Matt talks with Dr. Louis Markos about C. S. Lewis, his conversion to Christianity, and how his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, influenced his decision to become a believer in Christ. By way of conversation with Tolkien, Lewis came to the conclusion that Christianity was myth that was true. This realization helped Lewis not only make sense of the stories of the past (and the core human longing), but it also had a profound effect upon the books and stories he would go on to write himself. Markos also takes listeners for a deep dive into Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion. He shows how they reflect Tolkien's Christian faith and highlights classical virtues. Visit Louis Markos' Amazon Page: Link here+++Pre-order Matt's newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies, and How Christians Can Make Sense of the UnknownSupport The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheBibleUnmutedMatthew's blog: www.matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
In this episode, Katie talks with Marcie Stokman and Colleen Hutt, co-founders of Well-Read Mom, a nationwide book club for women seeking deeper friendships and meaningful conversations through great literature. Marcie and Colleen share how reading good books transformed their own lives, making them a better person, wife, and mother. In a culture increasingly shaped by constant screens and distractions, they argue that literature helps us recover the lost arts of thinking, reading, and speaking well. For many women, finding time to read can feel impossible. Marcie offers a simple answer: read together. Through book clubs and shared conversations, women discover a space to wrestle with the questions that matter most—the joys and sorrows, hopes and fears, and challenges of everyday life. These friendships provide the connection, encouragement, and sense of belonging that every person longs for. Marcie and Colleen also explain the Well-Read Mom four-step process: Read: Let go of the guilt and simply begin. Compare: Connect the themes of the book to your own life. Share: Engage in authentic conversations with others, ideally face-to-face. Accompany: Support one another through life's struggles with compassion and confidentiality. Three Takeaways: Reading fosters friendship, and friendship inspires us to keep reading. Every person has a deep desire to be seen, known, loved, and connected in authentic community. The Well-Read Mom four-step process offers a practical path to deeper relationships and a richer intellectual and spiritual life. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)
Episode 174 - The Silver Chair by C. S. LewisFor years, The Silver Chair was Tim's favorite Narnia book.But was it actually the book or was it his dad's absolutely legendary voice for Puddleglum doing all the work?Sam and Tim revisit one of the most beloved entries in the Narnia series and ask a dangerous question: does childhood nostalgia hold up under adult scrutiny?We discuss:• Why The Silver Chair became Tim's favorite as a kid• The unforgettable Puddleglum voice that defined the story for him• How the book reads differently as an adult• Whether the themes and characters still work• If nostalgia enhanced the experience or completely carried itAnd, of course, we spend plenty of time talking about one of Narnia's most unique and memorable characters.New episodes every Monday at 8 AM EST ✨Next week: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson⏱️ Time Stamps00:00 Intro00:54 Background02:06 Age Level & Content Warning02:56 Judge a Book by Its Cover04:30 Discussion44:54 General Thoughts47:00 One Question for the Author49:14 Rating50:52 Read Again?51:13 Favorite of the Series so Far52:51 Outro
In this conversation, Carl Trueman joins me and Scott Rae for one of the most wide-ranging episodes we've recorded. We get into CS Lewis, Nietzsche's madman, the anthropological question at the heart of every cultural debate, the sexual revolution, pornography, contraception (where Trueman calls himself "a work in progress"), IVF, surrogacy, end-of-life decisions, and how Christians sometimes mirror the secular world's trivialization of death. READ: The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity by Carl Trueman (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DW3LVXQW?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_HNU2TW9LP6RXFBSTXY5M) *Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf) *USE Discount Code [smdcertdisc] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM) *See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK) FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://x.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sean_mcdowell?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/ Website: https://seanmcdowell.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Click here for the SermonClicking here will take you to our webpageClick here to contact usWelcome to the Westside church's special Monday Morning Coffee podcast with Mark Roberts. Mark is a disciple, a husband, father and grand dad, as well as a certified coffee geek, fan of CS Lewis' writings and he loves his big red Jeep. He's also the preacher for Westside church.
From the Director of the C.S. Lewis Institute - Dallas. "But someday you may be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."
CS Lewis is mainly seen as either a purveyor of goopy children's literature or a Christian moralist fuddy-duddy. But Lewis' Space Trilogy—fantastic literature for adults, or "philosophical science fiction"—also reveals him as a dystopian prophet in the tradition of Orwell. The first two books in the series, Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra, are a critique of space imperialism that anticipated the Avatar movies. But the final one, That Hideous Strength, is particularly relevant for our historical moment, as it anticipated rule by fascist tech bros with hubristic visions of remaking (or abolishing) humanity. In Episode 332 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg makes the case that Lewis offered a vital critique of technocracy and "transhumanism" that is now urgently needed, as humanity stands at the cusp of his worst nightmares. Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/countervortex Production by Chris Rywalt We ask listeners to donate just $1 per weekly podcast via Patreon -- or $2 for our new special offer! We now have 60 subscribers. If you appreciate our work, please become Number 61!
••• The Battle Over Unforgiveness, Ep 433b ••• Bible Study Verses: Matthew 18, Matthew 16, Matthew 6, Ephesians 4.26, John 14:30, Romans 5:8, Genesis 45-50, Isaiah 43:18-19 . Part-A Bible Verses: Genesis 24-27:41 . ••• "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." Mark Twain † “He who has not forgiven an enemy has never yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life. Love may forgive all infirmities and love still in spite of them: but Love cannot cease to will their removal”, CS Lewis, "The Problem of Pain" † ••• “I wish, brothers and sisters, that we could all imitate "the pearl oyster"--A hurtful particle intrudes itself into its shell, and this vexes and grieves it. It cannot reject the evil, but what does it do but "cover" it with a precious substance extracted out of its own life, by which it turns the intruder into a pearl! Oh, that we could do so with the provocations we receive from our fellow Christians, so that pearls of patience, gentleness, and forgiveness might be bred within us by that which otherwise would have harmed us”, Charles ‘the "Prince of Preachers' Spurgeon, 1834-1892, Pastor, the Metropolitan Tabernacle, England † ••• “When boiled down to its essence, unforgiveness is hatred”, John R. Rice, 1896-1980 † ••• “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love”, Martin Luther King, Jr. † ••• "I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; forgiveness without repentance; salvation without regeneration; politics without God; and Heaven without Hell" † ••• “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you” Ephesians 4:32, RKJV . ••• What are the 5-negative consequences of unforgiveness? ••• What are the 3-life actions for winning the battle of unforgiveness? ••• What are the 4-things that are not part of forgiving someone? ••• What are 2-aspects of forgiveness? ••• What are 4-characteristics of those who can forgive others? ••• Are you going to ask your small group to pray that you will be more intentional about forgiving others in your life through the power of Holy Spirit? Part-A Study Questions: ••• What are 3-aspects of unforgiveness? ••• What are 6-reasons why some find it so hard to forgive others? ••• Pastor Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounter Radio Podcast originally aired on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcast to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible . ••• This Discipleship Teaching Podcast is a listener supported production by all the beloved of God who believe in its mission through prayer and support. Thank you . ••• † http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/ . ••• Broadcaster's Website - https://www.lifelonganointing.com . ••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/ep433b-winning-the-battle-of-for-the-mind-pt6b••• Exceeding Thanks to Universe Creator Christ Jesus AND photo by Etty Fidele Photography, Paris France, https://www.fideletty.com/, https://www.instagram.com/fideletty/, https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/FideleEtty, Art Direction by gil on his mac with free mac layout software . ••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/ep433b-winning-the-battle-of-for-the-mind-pt6b••• RESOURCE - Prayer Requests: PRAYER@SWRC.COM . ••• Study Guides at - https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/episodes . ••• RESOURCE: FREE Max McLean Chronological Audio Bible! https://tinyurl.com/godspeaks777 . ••• RESOURCE - Amazing Stories: https://www.soundcloud.com/thewaytogod . ••• FERP250613 Episode#433b GOT 250613 Ep433b . ••• Winning The Battle Of The Mind, Part-6b of 9: The Battle Over Unforgiveness, Ep 433b . ††† . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dr. John Lennox has lived one of the most remarkable lives in modern Christian thought. From sitting in on CS Lewis's final lectures at Cambridge in 1962, earning his PhD and teaching at Oxford as Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, debating Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, and authoring best-selling books on faith, science, suffering, AI, and Revelation. In this conversation, Dr. Lennox joins me to discuss his new autobiography, My Story. We talk about his encounter with CS Lewis, what he considers the hardest objection to Christianity (suffering and evil), and how his mind is increasingly filled with the hope of heaven. READ: My Story: A spiritual and intellectual autobiography by John C. Lennox (https://a.co/d/0acz3D0D) *Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf) *USE Discount Code [smdcertdisc] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM) *See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK) FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://x.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sean_mcdowell?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/ Website: https://seanmcdowell.org Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Alan's Soap https://AlansSoaps.com/Todd Honor John's memory and the legacy he created for Ian and Alan with Alan's Artisan Soaps “John's Favorites” bundle. Get one bar of each of his favorites for only $28.99. Bulwark Capital https://KnowYourRiskPodcast.comBe confident in your portfolio with Bulwark! Schedule your free Know Your Risk Portfolio review. Go to KnowYourRiskPodcast.com today. Renue Healthcare https://Renue.Healthcare/ToddYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare. Visit https://Renue.Healthcare/Todd Bonefrog https://BonefrogCoffee.com/ToddGet the new limited release, The Sisterhood, created to honor the extraordinary women behind the heroes. Use code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE at:The Todd Herman Show - Podcast - Apple PodcastsThe Todd Herman Show | Podcast on SpotifyWATCH and SUBSCRIBE at: Todd Herman - The Todd Herman Show - YouTubeC.S. Lewis, writing in the Screwtape Letters, predicted what would happen in the aftermath of the Belfast stabbing…Episode links:Dr Philip Kiszely: Cultural Historian. Academic, author & political commentator."We've seen police officers and firefighters having to actually rescue families from those buildings, bringing them out through the flames." Dan Johnson, BBC News correspondent, describes the violent disorder taking place in Belfast this evening.“I wish people didn't see that video” - The Minister of Northern Ireland blames Tommy Robinson and Elon for what happened in Belfast last night…Look at the reaction of people in Ireland when they are told the top boys name in Galway is Mohamed Mohamed one of the most frequently used male names among Sudanese people, including those in Ireland. Yesterday a Sudanese migrant tried to behead a man in Belfast! Wake up! "Very poor white people” are being convinced that “very poor, hard-working brown or Black people” are responsible for the “problems caused by billionaire white men”, Allison Morris, Crime Correspondent at the Belfast Telegraph, says in the wake of the riots that spread through the capital of Northern Ireland overnight.“What you're seeing is a race based pogrom, we are seeing men going door to door asking to 'get the foreigners out' based exclusively on the colour of their skin.” SDLP leader Claire Hannah criticises the unrest taking place in Belfast. - Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Belfast and Mid DownThis woman posted this video after the horrific Belfast attack, defending the migrant. In a video last week, she states white Irish men don't like immigrants because they “feel sexually inferior to them”. This is who we let vote. She does not and will never speak for us'It's not a colour problem. It's a culture problem.' @beattie2_dougie speaks to a Belfast resident who explains how Protestant and Catholic communities met 'as concerned parents' to protest in wake of the knife attack carried out by a Sudanese migrantDoes the Northern Ireland Secretary really not think that attempting to behead someone in the street is alien to our culture? Why do they insist on not seeing what is plain as day to the rest of us?
In this episode, Douglas Wilson talks about the strong evidence that links cannabis use to psychotic events, the filthiness of the flesh and spirit in 2 Corinthians, and C.S. Lewis's Narrative Poems, especially "Dymer" and the value of writers whose phrases are sticky. For more from Doug, subscribe to Canon+: https://canonplus.com/
C.S. Lewis once said, "We read to know that we are not alone”. Let's spend the year reading with the most reluctant convert and one of the world's most beloved authors and theologians. In this episode, Carrie shares the year-long unit study she did with her family on the life and works of C.S. Lewis. The first part of the unit study is perfect for the whole family- from 1st graders to high schoolers. The second part of the literature study is perfect for older students and teens. Carrie shares conversation starters, writing activities, research topics, projects, and even "Inkling" Tea Talks you can use as you read the works of C.S. Lewis. Pour yourself a cup of hot tea, put your feet up, and join Carrie for a little coffee and conversation about C.S. Lewis and reading.Books Mentioned in this Episode:The Chronicles of NariaMere ChristianityThe Screwtape LettersThe Great DivorceThe Abolition of Man The Four LovesA Year with Aslan: Daily Reflections from The Chronicles of Narnia C. S. Lewis' Little Book of Wisdom: Meditations on Faith, Life, Love, and Literature Finding Narnia: The Story of C. S. Lewis and His Brother by Caroline McAlister C.S. Lewis: The Writer Who Found Joy (part of the Here I Am! biography series) by Dan DeWittC.S. Lewis: Master Storyteller Part of: Christian Heroes: Then & NowAll My Road Before Me: The Diary of C. S. Lewis, 1922-1927 by C. S. LewisSurprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C. S. LewisA Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-1918 by Joseph Loconte The Most Reluctant Convert: C. S. Lewis's Journey to Faith Support the showSupport the ShowPurchase A Home Education Handbook: 9 Questions to Ask for Simple & Balanced Home-Based LearningPurchase Homeschool High School: A Handbook for Christian EducationPurchase Just Breathe (and Take a Sip of Coffee): Homeschool Simply & Enjoyably. Schedule a Coffee Date (One-on-One Personalized Coaching Session: Coffee With Carrie Subscribe to Coffee With Carrie email newsletter for FREE Morning Time Plans and monthly tips https://coffeewithcarrie.org Follow on Instagram @coffeewithcarrieconsultant.
In this episode of Ave Explores: Catholicism in Literature, Katie sits down with Kaitlyn Facista and Andrew Swafford to discuss the enduring legacy of two of Christianity's greatest storytellers, C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. Facista, author of _Into the Heart of Middle-earth and founder of Tea with Tolkien, shares how Tolkien's works played a significant role in her conversion to Catholicism. Drawn into Middle-earth by its unforgettable heroes and villains, she discovered profound lessons about virtue, vice, courage, and sacrifice. In a culture hungry for authentic examples of goodness and bravery, Tolkien's stories continue to awaken the heart and point readers toward truth. Swafford reflects on encountering Tolkien later in life while reading The Lord of the Rings with his children. Those family readings sparked rich conversations, nurtured their spiritual imaginations, and created opportunities for catechesis. He also discusses introducing students at Benedictine College to Lewis's Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, and The Great Divorce, marveling at Lewis's ability to reach students of every background and faith. Through imagination and story, Lewis demonstrates how art and literature can communicate truths that might otherwise remain hidden. Journey through the wardrobe and wander into the Shire for an inspiring conversation about faith, imagination, and the transformative power of great stories. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)
This video explores the life, legacy, and theological significance of C.S. Lewis, emphasizing his journey from atheism to Christian faith, shaped by personal loss, intellectual inquiry, and the influence of friends like J.R.R. Tolkien. It highlights Lewis's masterful use of imagination, storytelling, and reason to communicate Christian truth, exemplified in works like Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and Till We Have Faces. The narrative underscores his role as a modern apologist who made faith accessible through allegory, philosophical argument, and vivid narrative, bridging the gap between intellect and heart. His enduring impact is rooted in his ability to engage audiences shoulder-to-shoulder, using clarity, reason, and imaginative depiction to convey timeless spiritual truths. The sermon also corrects a myth about Lewis's relationship with Tolkien, affirming their deep friendship until Lewis's final days. Ultimately, Lewis's life and writings remain a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith, reason, and story in the modern world.
This video explores the life, legacy, and theological significance of C.S. Lewis, emphasizing his journey from atheism to Christian faith, shaped by personal loss, intellectual inquiry, and the influence of friends like J.R.R. Tolkien. It highlights Lewis's masterful use of imagination, storytelling, and reason to communicate Christian truth, exemplified in works like Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, and Till We Have Faces. The narrative underscores his role as a modern apologist who made faith accessible through allegory, philosophical argument, and vivid narrative, bridging the gap between intellect and heart. His enduring impact is rooted in his ability to engage audiences shoulder-to-shoulder, using clarity, reason, and imaginative depiction to convey timeless spiritual truths. The sermon also corrects a myth about Lewis's relationship with Tolkien, affirming their deep friendship until Lewis's final days. Ultimately, Lewis's life and writings remain a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith, reason, and story in the modern world.
For decades, John Lennox has been one of Christianity's most respected voices in the worlds of science and academia. In this conversation from Oxford, we discuss his new autobiography, the influence of C.S. Lewis, the challenges of living openly as a Christian in elite academic circles, and the experiences that shaped his life and faith.
Click here for the SermonClicking here will take you to our webpageClick here to contact usWelcome to the Westside church's special Monday Morning Coffee podcast with Mark Roberts. Mark is a disciple, a husband, father and grand dad, as well as a certified coffee geek, fan of CS Lewis' writings and he loves his big red Jeep. He's also the preacher for Westside church.
•• The Battle Over Unforgiveness••• Bible Study Verses: Genesis 24-27:41 . Part-B Study Questions: Proverbs 23:7, Isaiah 48:18, Hebrews 12:14-16 . ••• "Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." Mark Twain † ••• “He who has not forgiven an enemy has never yet tasted one of the most sublime enjoyments of life. Love may forgive all infirmities and love still in spite of them: but Love cannot cease to will their removal.”, CS Lewis, "The Problem of Pain" † ••• “I wish, brothers and sisters, that we could all imitate "the pearl oyster"--A hurtful particle intrudes itself into its shell, and this vexes and grieves it. It cannot reject the evil, but what does it do but "cover" it with a precious substance extracted out of its own life, by which it turns the intruder into a pearl! Oh, that we could do so with the provocations we receive from our fellow Christians, so that pearls of patience, gentleness, and forgiveness might be bred within us by that which otherwise would have harmed us.”, Charles Spurgeon. † ••• “When boiled down to its essence, unforgiveness is hatred.”, John R. Rice, 1896-1980 † ••• “He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love”, Martin Luther King, Jr.† ••• "Peace comes when ther is no cloud between us and God. Peace is the consequence of forgiveness, God's removal of that which obscures His face and so breaks union with Him.", Charles H. Brent †††••• I consider that the chief dangers which confront the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost; Christianity without Christ; forgiveness without repentance; salvation without regeneration; politics without God; and Heaven without Hell.", William Booth †††••• “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you” Ephesians 4:32, RKJV . ••• What are 3-aspects of unforgiveness? ••• What are 6-reasons why some find it so hard to forgive others? ••• Are you going to ask your small group to pray that you will be more intentional about forgiving others in your life through the power of Holy Spirit? ••• Part-B Study Questions: What are the 5-negative consequences of unforgiveness? ••• Pastor Otuno expounds on this and much more on the exciting journey of Fresh Encounter Radio Podcast originally aired on WNQM, Nashville Quality Ministries and WWCR World Wide Christian Radio broadcast to all 7-continents on this big beautiful blue marble, earth, floating through space. Please be prayerful before studying The Word of God so that you will receive the most inspiration possible . ••• This Discipleship Teaching Podcast is a listener supported production by all the beloved of God who believe in its mission through prayer and support. Thank you . ••• Broadcaster's Website - https://www.lifelonganointing.com . ••• Exceeding Thanks to Universe Creator Christ Jesus AND photo by Etty Fidele Photography, Paris France, https://www.fideletty.com/, https://www.instagram.com/fideletty/, https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/FideleEtty, Art Direction by gil on his mac with free mac layout software . ••• † http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/••• †† http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Charles-Spurgeon-Quotes/ . ••• ††† http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/John-R.-Rice-Quotes/ . ••• SHARING LINK: https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/ep432-winning-the-battle-of-for-the-mind-pt6a••• RESOURCE - Prayer Requests: PRAYER@SWRC.COM . ••• Study Guides at - https://shows.acast.com/fresh-encounter-radio-podcast/episodes . ••• RESOURCE: FREE Max McLean Chronological Audio Bible! https://tinyurl.com/godspeaks777 . ••• RESOURCE - Amazing Stories: https://www.soundcloud.com/thewaytogod . ••• FERP250606 Episode#432a GOT 250606 Ep432a . ••• Winning The Battle Of The Mind, Part-6a of 9: The Battle Over Unforgiveness, Ep 432 . ††† . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We calm ourselves with the thoughts of C.S. Lewis on how to lead our lives in these troubled times. Johnny Heidt with guitar news. Patrick Reusse with his weekly sports report. Heard On The Show:FBI offers $150K reward for Minneapolis man involved in Feeding Our Future fraudCase advances for man charged with murdering Loring Park shopkeeperSenate OKs $70B immigration bill after rejecting efforts to permanently ban Trump's settlement fundSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Matthew talks with biblical scholar, Dr. Leslie Baynes—Professor of Religious Studies at Missouri State University—about her new book on C.S. Lewis. In this episode, Dr. Baynes discusses specifically Lewis' views on Scripture, as well as his use and interpretation of biblical texts in both his fiction and his non-fiction. Dr. Baynes' website: www.lesliebaynes.comLink to book: Between Interpretation and Imagination: C. S. Lewis and the Bible+++Pre-order Matt's newest book: Sightings and Secrets: UFOs, Eyewitness Testimonies, and How Christians Can Make Sense of the Unknown: https://a.co/d/0eD0cGtz Support The Bible (Unmuted) via Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheBibleUnmutedMatthew's blog: https://matthewhalsted.substack.comDon't forget to subscribe to The Bible (Unmuted)!
Chris chats with Liz Zenger, program manager of The Inklings Project, which provides resources for professors, teachers, and other groups developing Inklings-related courses. Also, by way of update, this just in from Liz herself: This is currently live for 6-12 teachers! Goes along with your second to last question of the podcast :-) Call for Proposals Inklings Project Fellowship for 6-12 Teachers Applications can be submitted via this link until Aug 1, 2026. For the first time in its history, the Inklings Project, under the University of Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life, is opening its fellowship to middle school and high school educators. Previous cohorts have drawn from college and university faculty; this new two-year cohort, beginning in Fall 2026, will be made up of those who educate in grades 6–12. Middle and high school is when many readers first encounter C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien—and where an educator's love for these authors can ripple outward to students, parents, and an entire school community. View the Call for Proposals or visit www.inklingsproject.org/apply for more information on the fellowship and application requirements. Applications can be submitted via this link until August 1, 2026. Among other things, we discuss: What The Inklings Project is (~0:53) — Liz explains the initiative: supporting faculty to create Inklings courses, providing grants, and building fellowship through a cohort model. The Wade Center at Wheaton College (~4:10) — The in-person annual gathering for fellows, housing original manuscripts, Tolkien's desk, Lewis's wardrobe, etc. Diverse faculty backgrounds (~6:30) — How professors from biology, business, public relations, and other non-literary fields are teaching Inklings courses, and why that breadth matters. The origin story of the project (~10:20) — Liz traces it from a CS Lewis course she took as a freshman at Brown, to founding a student society, to pitching the idea to Notre Dame's McGrath Institute. The challenge of reading loads & expanding to high schools (~17:30) — How professors handle the sheer volume of Inklings material, and the project's potential future cohort for high school and homeschool teachers. Next Week: At long last, The Silver Trumpet!
Sr. Allison Gliot, FSP, and Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, both set out to write fiction, only to find their stories taking unexpected turns. One created a tale involving a priest entangled with the mafia; the other imagined a world where young adults navigate the mysteries of vampires. Unlikely stories from a priest and a religious sister—but perhaps all the more compelling because of their vocations. In this episode, we bring Sr. Allison and Fr. Michael together for the first time to discuss creativity, storytelling, and the surprising paths their novels have taken. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)
Humility. The term "humility" comes from the Latin word humilitas, a noun related to the adjective humilis, which can be translated as "humble", but also as "grounded", or "from the earth", since it derives from HUmus (earth). The greatest leaders, including our Lord have it. CS Lewis said: "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of YOURSELF LESS." What if TODAY, you and I, thought of ourselves less at work, and started to think MORE about others. James 4:10 says it best: Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. And how about Psalm 149:4 For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. How will YOU work from a place of humility today?
Tell me what 'cha want, what ya really, really want... But... do you really know? In his 1941 essay titled, The Weight of Glory, author CS Lewis writes, "It would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us; like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." We're working our way through a series we've titled, Gravity: Breaking Free From the Weight of Sin. This week, we're looking at desire... a gift from God that has been deeply misunderstood in the Church. And as a result, we've learned to settle for and even pursue, that which is much less than God's best for our lives. Join us this Sunday at 11 AM as we begin our series on sin. You'll find us online by clicking the "Join Us Sunday" button on our website, or connect with us via our YouTube channel. Or come worship with us in person! Arrive early and enjoy coffee, cookies and conversation in the Lobby. We do know that 11 AM on Sunday doesn't work for everyone. If that's you, the service will be available on-demand, so you can watch at a time that works better for your schedule. We look forward to worshipping with you! ----------------------------------- TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP ----------------------------------- Let us know that you were watching with us and you will be entered to receive a free prize by completing our Connection Card: http://dsf.church/ecard Give Online: https://www.simplechurchgiving.net/App/Giving/dsf Message Notes: https://www.dayspringfellowship.com/messages Like, comment & subscribe to stay updated! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dayspringkeizer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DayspringKeizer YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dayspringfellowship Website: http://dsf.church #dayspringkeizer #dayspringfellowship #2026sermon ___________________ Thanks for watching Dayspring Fellowship's worship service! At Dayspring Fellowship, we believe there is nothing more important than your spiritual growth.
Noah's flood, was it universal?A new interview with Zack Grafman covering the Charismatic Movement, a spectral Jeffrey Epstein, miraculous healings and the real C.S. Lewis.Links:Make Clive Lewis weird again SubstackSupport the showMore Linkswww.MAPSOC.orgFollow Sumo on TwitterAlternate Current RadioMAPSOC back on YouTube Again!Support the Show!Become a True FanBecome a Micronation CitizenSubscribe to the Podcast on GumroadSubscribe to the Podcast on PatreonSubscribe to the Podcast on BuzzsproutSubscribe to the Podcast on SubstackBuy Us a Tibetan Herbal TeaSumo's SubstacksHoly is He Who WrestlesModern Pulp
Click here for the SermonClicking here will take you to our webpageClick here to contact usWelcome to the Westside church's special Monday Morning Coffee podcast with Mark Roberts. Mark is a disciple, a husband, father and grand dad, as well as a certified coffee geek, fan of CS Lewis' writings and he loves his big red Jeep. He's also the preacher for Westside church.
Three giants of the 20th Century. Thank you to everyone subscribing to Somehow UN-Related! Get it here, on Apple Podcasts or go to Nearly.com.au Thinking Music Make Believe! Link to the answer Eureka Street Support the podcasts you enjoy - check out Lenny.fm More about the show - www.nearly.com.au/somehow-related-podcast-with-glenn-robbins-and-dave-oneil/ Somehow Related is produced by Nearly Media. Original theme music by Kit Warhurst. Artwork created by Stacy Gougoulis. Looking for another podcast? The Debrief with Dave O'Neil - Dave's other podcasts with comedians after gigs. The Junkees with Dave O'Neil & Kitty Flanagan - The sweet and salty roundabout! Junk food abounds!Support on Lenny.fm: https://www.lenny.fm/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Audio Transcript How are we this morning? Excellent. All right. It's my privilege to bring the word to you this morning, so let's get into it. Recently I read a story about a young man who never wanted to be a soldier. He had no visions of fame or ambitions of glory. When his father announced that he'd secured him an appointment to West Point, the boy protested. He wanted to be a farmer or perhaps work the river trade. But his father was not a man to be argued with, and so the 17 year old boarded a coach east. Sick with dread, he got off to a rough start. Through a clerical error, his name was copied incorrectly and it would stick permanently. He hated the academy. He finished 21st of 39 cadets, distinguished only in horsemanship and mathematics. The Mexican War found him a reluctant quartermaster, competent, but unnoticed afterward posted to lonely garrisons on the Pacific coast. Far from his wife Julia and the children he barely knew, he began to drink. In 1854, facing either court martial or resignation over his drinking, he resigned his commission in disgrace and went home with empty pockets. What followed were the worst years of his life. He tried farming on land his father in law gave him outside St. Louis, and the crops failed. He hauled firewood through the city streets in a worn army overcoat, occasionally passing former West Point classmates who looked away embarrassment. He pawned his gold watch one Christmas to buy presents for his children. He tried bill collecting and was terrible at it. He tried real estate and failed at that, too. By 1860, at 38 years old, he was working at a clerk in his younger brother's leather goods store in Galena, Illinois, earning $800 a year. He was a man whose life, by every visible measure, had failed. Then Fort Sumter fell. The quiet clerk who couldn't sell harnesses turned out to understand something that most West Point polished generals did not. The war was not about elegant maneuvers or reputation, but about pressing forward relentlessly, accepting losses and refusing to stop. Donaldson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Chattanooga, the Wilderness, Appomattox. The failures had taught him things that successful men never learned. What it was to be underestimated, to be written off, to keep moving even when the odds looked long. The boy who didn't want to be a soldier, the the lieutenant who resigned in shame, the farmer who failed, and his brother's store. Hiram Ulysses Grant, or as the West Point Clerk mistakenly wrote, U.S. grant, ended the war as General of the armies, the man who had saved the Union and later President of the United States. It turned out that the long road had been the training. Weeks before his death, Grant wrote the preface to his personal memoirs, saying, man proposes and God disposes. There are but few important events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice. Most of us at some point will know what it is to be in our own wilderness. We will know what it is to wait, to wait through years that seem to lead nowhere, to feel forgotten by God, to look out at a landscape that gives no sign that he is at work. And we will be tempted in those years to conclude that nothing is happening, that God has misplaced us, that our life is being spent in vain. This morning, as we come to a passage in the Book of Exodus that speaks directly into that experience. It is the story of 40 silent years in the life of Moses and 400 silent years in the life of Israel. It is the story of a God who appears to all human eyes to be doing nothing. And it is the story of how, beneath that silence, he was doing everything. So if you would with me open your Bibles, please, to the Book of Exodus. And this morning we're going to finish chapter two, verses 11 to 25. One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, why do you strike your companion? He answered, who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? Then Moses was afraid and thought, surely the thing is known. When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well. Now, the priest of Midian had seven daughters. And they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away. But Moses stood up and saved them and watered their flock. When he came home to their father, Reuel, he said, how is it that you have come home so soon today? They said, an Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and even drew water for us and watered the flock. He said to his daughters, then where is he? Why have you left the man? Call him that he may eat bread. And Moses was content to dwell with the man. And he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah. She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he Said I have been a sojourner in a foreign land. During those many days. The king of Egypt died and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God, and God heard their groaning. And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel and God knew. Let's pray. Father. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts this morning be acceptable in your presence. Lord, I pray, after my words are long forgotten, that your word would be remembered. Jesus name. Amen. Exodus is an epic of God's love and redemption of his people. Every scene reads like an action novel. The baby in the basket, the burning bush, the plagues, the angel of death. The parting of the Red Sea, the thunder and lightning around Mount Sinai, the covenant with the Almighty. Before we dive into our text, we must read Exodus rightly. We have to read it Christologically, that is, in relation to Jesus Christ, who is our perfect sacrifice, who saved us out of our bondage to sin and delivered us into a right relationship with God. When Jesus appeared to his disciples on the road to emmaus in Luke 24:27 Records beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. If Jesus started with Moses when describing himself, perhaps we can also we also read it historically. Scholars debate whether the Exodus took place around 1446 BC or around 1260. Good evidence exists for both dates and ancient Israel did not work with an absolute calendar the way we do. But what matters for us this morning is not the precise year, but the fact that it is history, not myth. The renowned Old Testament scholar Nahum Sarna observed that no nation would invent for itself and then faithfully transmit for thousands of years an inglorious origin story of slavery, grumbling and and idolatry. Israel did not flatter itself into existence. This happened. Exodus 2:11 to 25 sits at 1 of the great hinge moments of redemptive history. The book opens with the sons of Jacob settling in Egypt under the protection of Joseph. But there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. What begins as refuge becomes bonding. Hebrews multiplied, and Pharaoh, fearing them, enslaved them and decreed that every male child be cast into the Nile. Into that decree Moses is born. Wes laid out for us last week that Moses mother hides him, his sister watches over him, and then Pharaoh's daughter draws him out of the water. He grows up in the palace, Stephen tells us in Acts 7:22 that he was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in his words and deeds. And that is where our passage begins. The structure that we will use this morning breaks down into four movements. Verses 11 to 14 Moses takes matters into his own hands. Verses 15 to 17 Moses flees and is shaped at a well. 18:22 Moses is welcomed and becomes a sojourner. 23 To 25 While Moses tends sheep, Israel groans and God acts. Start with 11 to 14. Moses has grown. Now the infant in the basket has become a man in Pharaoh's court, raised as Egyptian royalty. How much did he know about his true background growing up? Wes mentioned last week that Moses mother was allowed to nurse him. So did they still have a relationship? Certainly possible. There are so many unanswered questions. Did he live with a divided heart for years? Did he spend endless nights pleading with Pharaoh? Was he embarrassed by his background and didn't want to believe it? We have no idea. What we do know is that he was raised to be a prince of Egypt. But by the time he was 40, he knew exactly who he was and who his brothers and sisters truly were. Were. One day he goes out to his brothers, the Hebrews, and he looks on their burdens. And what he sees he cannot unsee. An Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own. He looks this way and that, and when he sees no one watching, he strikes. Strikes the Egyptian down and buries him in the sand. Now this raises a nagging question for me. If Moses was a member of Pharaoh's household in the royal family, so to speak, why would he have feared killing someone? Wouldn't a royal be able to kill a lowly Egyptian taskmaster with little to no reprisal? This goes into the historical context at the time. Exodus 1:8 says, now there arose a new king over Egypt who did not know Joseph. Commentators note that this likely indicates a dynastic change. A new royal house with no political or familial loyalty to the previous regime. In fact, during either time period, you believe royal houses at that time were very politically unstable, with different factions having different claims to the crown. The princess who had adopted him was almost certainly aging or dead. And the reigning pharaoh would have viewed an adopted Hebrew with suspicion, not affection. And the man Moses killed was not a slave. He was an Egyptian official, a representative of Pharaoh's economic and political authority. This is crucial. In ancient Egypt, killing a Hebrew slave was something an Egyptian could do with little consequence. But a member of the royal household killing one of Pharaoh's taskmasters. This probably would not have looked so much like murder. It would have looked like the potential beginning of an insurrection. The next day, Moses goes out and this time he finds two Hebrews fighting each other. He steps in to make peace, and the man in the wrong rounds on him with words that must have cut deeply. Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill us as you killed the Egyptian? And Moses is afraid. The secret is out. Beneath these interactions is something deeper that the New Testament helps us understand. The writer of Hebrews tells us this whole episode began in faith. By faith. Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the Reward. That's Hebrews 11:24-26. When Moses walked out of the palace, he was not slumming, he was choosing. He looked at the gold of Egypt on the one hand and the suffering of God's people in the other. And he chose the suffering. That is faith. So what went wrong? Well, it can be summed up in the next phrase. He looked this way. That a long line of preachers have lingered over those words and noticed what was missing. As Chuck Swindoll says, he looked east, he looked west, he looked over his shoulder, but he didn't look up, did he? He looked in both directions horizontally, but he left the vertical completely out of it. Moses was a man with a true call, but a glance still fixed on the ground. Here is the heart of the problem. Moses tried to bring about by his own hand what God had promised to bring about by his covenant. The deliverer was right, the cause was right, the method was wrong, and the time was not yet. And the proof is what he is in what he does next. He hides the body in the sand, as if sand could keep a secret from God. Within a day, the rumor was loose. Within a week, Pharaoh wants him dead. Three things to take from these opening verses. First, a true call from God does not exempt a man from from the discipline of God's timing. Moses had the right cause and the right collar. But he ran ahead. And it will take 40 years in the desert to refine him. Second, hidden sin is a poor investment. Sand is a thin grave. What God means to expose, no man can keep buried. Third, there is mercy for those with juvenile or immature faith. John Calvin's pastoral word on this passage is really helpful. Even the obedience of the saints, stained as it is by sin, is still sometimes acceptable to God through his mercy. So Moses runs, but God was not finished with him. He was only beginning verses 15 through 17. Verse 15 begins with collapse. However noble Moses motives may have been, when he took matters into his own hands, he was outside the will of God. And yet God still had a plan for him. This is one of the great promises of Scripture. God uses sinners for his glory. It's the only kind he has to work with. When you read the heroes of the faith, they read a lot more like a Alcoholics Anonymous meeting than a catalog of superheroes. I can almost see them in a church basement, sitting in a circle on folding chairs, sipping bad coffee, introducing themselves. Hi, I'm Abraham and I'm a liar who pimped out my wife. Hi, I'm Jacob. I'm a deceiver and I'm a thief. How? Hi, I'm Samson and I'm a lust addicted vow breaker. Hi, I'm David. I'm an adulterer and a murderer. Hi, I'm Jonah and I'm a racist runaway. Hi, I'm Peter and I'm a coward who denied my Savior. Hi, I'm Moses and I'm a murderer. When Janet and I lived in Atlanta, we had a pastor who was fond of saying that God doesn't look for ability, he looks for availability. God uses broken people because it's his strength, it's his wisdom, it's his power, and it's for his glory. God would be using Moses, but he had some seasoning yet to experience. Verse 15. When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. There's no firm consensus on where exactly Midian was, but the traditional and most widely accepted location is in northwest Arabia, east of the Gulf of Agapa, in what is now northwestern Saudi Arabia. The Midianites appear to have been a semi nomadic people, so Midian may refer to an area where the tribe ranged rather than a specific location. Calvin, commenting here, sees in Moses flight not cowardice, but the sovereign hand of God, breaking a man down before he builds him up. Calvin's instinct is that the Lord put his servant through a long banishment precisely so that he would learn humility and dependence, because the work for which he was designed was greater than human strength could compass. 40 Years of palace training had to be matched by 40 years of desert undoing. Augustine, in a different connection, spoke of being in the region of unlikeness that far country, where the soul learns who it is by losing what it had. Moses, sitting by that well is in the region of unlikeness. Verse 15 ends noting that Moses, obviously exhausted, sat down by a well. One of the beauties of Scripture is the inclusion of what so often to us seems like pointless details. But wells, as it turns out, is an important location in the Bible, specifically, if you are looking for a wife. In Genesis 24, Abraham's servant meets Rebekah, Isaac's future wife, at a well. In Genesis 29, Jacob meets Rachel at a well. This time, who is Moses going to meet? Verses 16 and 17. Now, the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and drew water and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. The shepherds came and drove them away, but Moses stood up to save them and watered their flock. Moses is once again faced with injustice. Has he learned anything? A group of young women have come to the well to draw water, and a group of shepherds is going to give them a hard time. Moses, again courageously rises to their defense. Already we see clues that he is learning from his past mistakes. The text does not record that he killed the shepherds, and not only that he served the young women by watering their flock. For the first time, he was learning what it was to be a deliverer. He stands firm for what is just and begins to practice true leadership, which is born out of service. It would have been unthinkable at the time for a man to perform a menial task for women. But Moses stooped to serve. And by learning to serve, he was learning to lead. For all God's leaders are servants. He, in time, the one who is the true and better. Moses would himself kneel and wash 12 pairs of dirty feet and tell his disciples that whoever wants to be great must be a servant of all. Service is always one of the first courses in God's leadership training. Anyone who aspires to spiritual leadership, especially in the church, should begin by finding a place of humble service. If you travel to my alma mater, Wheaton College, one of the most striking little buildings on campus is the Marion E. Wade center, which houses the largest collection of C.S. Lewis writings in the world. Its namesake, Marian Wade, was an American businessman and founder of the large company Servicemaster. Wade was a man of deep faith who established a tradition called six weeks on the front lines. Every future executive at the company would spend six weeks scrubbing floors on hands and knees, doing the work of those they would later lead. Wade believed that those who refused to serve had no business leading. One of the other blessings of servant leadership is that when kids watch authentic service from their parents, it has a tendency to be passed down through the generations. The other founder of Service Master was a gentleman by the name of Ken Hanson. Ken's son, Walter Hanson, when he grew up, would move to Cleveland. He started a little church in his living room. And it grew, and it grew to about a thousand. In 10 years, the church would grow into what is now called Parkside Church. And if that name rings a bell, it would be because it's the church that Alistair Begg just retired from. It's amazing how these things pass down. Moses is being molded. Though he must feel lost and alone, God is right there, directing the most salient detail, refining his champion. God creates this dress rehearsal. The stage is a backwater. Well, the cast is seven anonymous girls, but the script is the same script that would one day be played out at the Red Sea. This is how God so often works. CS Lewis, in his collected letters, wrote that the great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's own or real life. The truth is, of course, that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life, the life God is sending one day by day, Moses thought his real life had ended at the border of Egypt. In fact, his real life was just beginning in Midian. There are seasons of our lives where it seems to have been derailed, where the calling we thought we had has collapsed and we find ourselves sitting by a well in some unfamiliar place. The temptation is to read those seasons as God's absence. But this text invites us to read them as God's curriculum. The God who is going to deliver Israel is at this very moment teaching his deliverer how to stand up for seven helpless women at a watering trough. Nothing in your wilderness is wasted. Turn to verses 18 to 22. The daughters return home and their father called Ruel here or Jethro elsewhere, most likely the same man. So don't get confused. Very common at the time for there to be multiple names for somebody. And he asked why they're early, and they say, an Egyptian delivered us. It's a quietly ironic line. Moses has gone out to deliver Hebrews and was rejected as a meddling Egyptian. He flees to Midian and is received as a generous Egyptian. The man cannot escape his identity, and yet his identity is not what God will make of it. Ruel rebukes his daughters for leaving the man unhosted. Call him that. He may eat bread and Moses is brought in. Verse 21 simply says Moses was content to dwell with the man. The Hebrew verb here ya all carries the sense of consenting, of being willing, even of resigning oneself. Moses is not striving anymore. He has come to the end of his striving. He sits down and he stays. The Book of Acts tells us that 40 years passed between Moses flight to Midian and his encounter with God at the burning bush. D.L. Moody is often quoted as saying Moses spent 40 years in Egypt learning to be something. 40 Years in the desert learning to be nothing. And 40 years in the wilderness proving God to be everything. Philip Reichen notes that whenever we are tempted to grow impatient with God's timetable for our lives, we should remember Moses, who spent two years of preparation for every year of ministry. Zipporah is given to Moses as a wife and a son is born. Moses names him Gershom new meaning I have become an alien in a foreign land. The name comes from the Hebrew verb garash, which means to drive out or expel. It may refer to Moses own experience of being driven out of Egypt. It also sounds like the Hebrew words ger and sham, which is a pun that means an alien there. Every time Moses speaks his son's name, he confesses that he does not belong. Midian is not home. Egypt is not home. He is a man between worlds. The Puritans loved this theme of sojourning. John Owen described the believer as a stranger and a pilgrim traveling through a country not his own, with his heart fixed on a city whose builder and maker is God. Jonathan Edwards preached a famous sermon called the Christian Pilgrim, in which he said that the true Christian travels on through this world as a wayfaring man and looks not upon any of the enjoyments of this world as his own. GK Chesterton, with his usual paradox, put it this way. How can we contrive to be at once astonished at the world and and yet at home in it? The answer of Scripture is that we cannot. Not fully, not yet. We are pilgrims. Gershom is the name of every saint. But notice Moses, sojourning is not a punishment, it is a preparation. RC Sproul emphasized that the entire 40 year sojourn in Midian was God's way of thinking. Moses for leadership, a man trained only in Pharaoh's court could not lead Israel through Pharaoh's wilderness. But a man who had himself become a shepherd of sheep in that very wilderness could one day shepherd God's people through it. The geography of Midian is the geography of the Exodus. Route. The skills Moses learned watering Reuel's flock are the skills he would use leading Israel's flock. God was not killing time. God was forging an instrument. And Moses doesn't know he names his son after his displacement. He doesn't name him soon to be deliverer or heir of promise. He names him Sojourner. The man cannot see what God is doing. Alistair Begg has spoken movingly of how God's people are very often in the dark about the brightness of God's plan for them. Moses is in the dark, but the brightness is gathering. If you are a Christian, you are a Gershom. You are a sojourner in a foreign land. The disquiet you feel, the restlessness, the sense that this world is not home is not a defect of your discipleship. It is a feature of it. CS Lewis spoke of this often when he talked about the pilgrim longing in Mere Christianity. He wrote, if we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. The long ordinary years in which it seems nothing of eternal weight is happening to you are very likely the years in which God is doing his deepest work. Verses 23 and 20 through 25. And now the camera pulls back, just like in a movie. We get a break from the action in Midian and the screen flashes. Meanwhile, back in Egypt. Verse 23. During those many days, the king of Egypt died and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. 40 Years have passed. A Pharaoh has died, another has come. Nothing has changed for Israel. They are still in chains. Bricks still must be made, whips still fall. And from those brick fields raises a sound. The text uses the strongest words in Hebrew for it. A groaning, a crying, a shrieking that goes up out of the dust. Where does the cry go? To all human eyes, the cry goes nowhere. Pharaoh doesn't hear it. The Egyptians don't hear it. Moses doesn't hear it. And then come four of the most precious verbs in the Old Testament. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God, and God heard their groaning. And God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel, and God knew. God heard. God remembered. God saw. God knew. John Piper has called these four verbs the Gospel before the Gospel, the announcement hundreds of years before Bethlehem that the God of heaven is not a deistic clock maker, but a covenant father who hears the groaning of his enslaved children. Each verb carries a war world. God heard, not merely overheard, the Hebrew implies attentive, responsive, hearing the cry that no human ear answered, the cry that seemed to die in the air over the Egyptian sky. The cry arrived at the throne of heaven. The silence of God is never the deafness of God. When his people cry, he hears with the ears of a father. God remembered. This does not mean that God had forgotten and now recalled. To remember in the covenantal sense is to act upon a prior commitment. When Scripture says God remembered Noah, the next thing is that the waters subside. When it says he remembered Hannah, the next thing is that she conceives. When it says he remembered his covenant with Abraham, the next thing is the Exodus. God's remembrance is the prelude to his deliverance, the covenant he made 400 years before. I will be a God to you and to your offspring after you has not faded. He was about to honor it. God saw. The verb is the same verb used in Genesis 1. And God saw that it was good. It is the verb of attentive, evaluating, sight. He saw the bruises, he saw the broken backs. He saw the widows, the unburied babies. There is no suffering of his people that is hidden from him. The Scottish divine Samuel Rutherford, writing from his imprisonment in Aberdeen, often returned to the image of God as the watchman over Israel, who never slumbers, whose people's tears are gathered in heaven long before they fall to the ground. God sees and God knew. Interestingly, the verb stands alone in the Hebrew. There is no object God knew. Some translations may supply one. God knew their condition, but the Hebrew leaves it bare. Why? Perhaps because what God knows here is larger than any object can contain. He knows their pain, he knows their bondage, he knows their names, and he knows what he is about to do. Jonathan Edwards taught that every act of God in history is the unfolding of a purpose conceived before time began. God knew. While Moses sits in Midian thinking he had been forgotten, and while Israel cries in Egypt, thinking that they have been forgotten, neither has been forgotten. God is doing two things at once. In Midian, he is shaping his deliverer. In Egypt, he is hearing their cries. The two threads are converging towards a burning bush in the next chapter. But neither Moses nor Israel can see it. Yet Augustine in his Confessions, wrote this sentence. Thou, O Lord, wert more inward to me than my most inward part and higher than my highest. That is the God of Exodus 2. He is closer to Israel's groaning than the chains on their wrists. He is closer to Moses weariness than the dust on his sandals. He is not far off. He is not distracted, he is at work. Four thoughts to close. First, be still and know that he is God. What we are very often is people who run ahead of God. Moses is not alone in this. Abraham had the promise of a son and and couldn't wait until he took Hagar. And the household of faith has lived with the consequences ever since. Jacob had the blessing already promised to him, but couldn't wait, and so he stole it with a goatskin and a lie. Peter had a lord he loved and couldn't bear to see him arrested. So he drew a sword in Gethsemane and cut off a man's ear. The pattern is older than Moses, and it is as new as this morning. The right cause can be pursued in the wrong way and the wrong time. Bradley Gray puts it bluntly. Nothing good happens when you get ahead of God and take matters into your own hands. Second, the silence of God is not the absence of God. 40 Years passed in Midian and 400 years in Egypt before God spoke from the bush. But not one of those years was empty. God was hearing, he was remembering. He was seeing, he was knowing. If your life feels like a wilderness right now, if you have been sitting by your own well in Midian waiting for a word from heaven that just doesn't come, take this passage and press it to your heart. The silence is not absence. The God who shaped Moses in obscurity is shaping you now. In his 1967 book Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders quoted this anonymous poem. When God wants to drill a man and thrill a man, and skill a man. When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part, when he yearns with all his heart to create so great and bold a man that all the world shall be amazed. Watch his methods, watch his ways, how he ruthlessly perfects whom he royally elects. How his hammer he hammers him and hurts him and with mighty blows converts him into trial shapes of clay which only God understands. While his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands, how he bends but never breaks when his good he undertakes, how he uses whom he chooses and with every purpose him by every act induces him to try his splendor out. God knows what he's about. Third, your sojourning has a destination. Moses named his son Gershom because he felt the foreignness of his life. But the foreignness was not the end of the story. It was the prelude to a calling. The writer of Hebrews tells us that all the saints acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. They desired a better country. That is a heavenly one. Your pilgrimage is not a pointless one wandering. It is a movement towards a country God has prepared for you. Fourth, and most importantly, the God who heard Israel has heard you in a fuller way still. The end of Exodus 2 is a foreshadowing. The four verbs heard, remembered, saw new, find their final fulfillment not at Sinai, but at Calvary. There the Father heard the cries of his people. There he remembered the covenant he had made before the foundations of the world. There he saw his Son lifted up between heaven and earth, bearing the groaning of every enslaved soul in his own body. And there he knew in a way only the triune God could know the cost of redeeming a people for himself. If God heard Israel groaning under Pharaoh and he sent Moses, how much more has he heard your groaning and sent his son? The exodus from Egypt is the shadow. The exodus from sin and death is the substance. And the same four verbs hover over the cross. Today God hears your cries that come up from the dust of this fallen world. God remembers his covenant with you. God sees you right now in this room, in your struggle, in your brokenness. And God knows exactly what he's doing. Let's pray. Father, thank you for this text. Father, thank you for your covenant with us. That you know us, that you love us, that you see us, that no prayer goes unheard, no silence is a waste. And that wherever we are in our life, whatever burdens we are carrying, that you're right here. That you are molding us and you are creating us in just the way that you had planned for us before the creation of the world. Thank you for who you are. In Jesus name, amen. The post Moses Flees to Midian – Exodus 2: 11-25 appeared first on Red Village Church.
Hello to you listening in Mohali, Punjab, India! Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk with 60 Seconds for Story Prompt Friday and your host, Diane Wyzga. My friend Gene was mulling whether stuff he knows should be passed on in stories to his grandchildren. Nah. The best way for children to learn is to experience the ups and downs of Life themselves. So, no shared stories. I see it differently: You are not now nor will you ever be the only person who wonders if their experiences, trials, tribulations, mistakes, misgivings, victories, and so on are of use to someone else. Here me when I say, stories are the best teachers. I craft these episodes in the hope that someone needs and wants them, will be helped by them, maybe even have a better life because something I said answered the question: “What! You, too? I thought I was the only one!” [C.S. Lewis] People are people; they will still touch fire to see if it's hot. Our stories might just keep them from being burned alive. Story Prompt: When have you shared a Life experience of yours in a story that helped another person? How do you know? Write that story and share it out loud! You're always welcome: "Come for the stories - Stay for the magic!" Speaking of magic, I hope you'll subscribe, share a 5-star rating and nice review on your social media or podcast channel of choice, bring your friends and rellies, and join us! You will have wonderful company as we continue to walk our lives together. AND! Stop by my Quarter Moon Story Arts website during reconstruction, email me [info@quartermoonstoryarts.net] to arrange a no-obligation Discovery Call, and stay current with me as Quarter Moon Story Arts on Substack. Stories From Women Who Walk Production Team Podcaster: Diane F Wyzga & Quarter Moon Story Arts Music: Mer's Waltz from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music ALL content and image © 2019 to Present Quarter Moon Story Arts. All rights reserved. If you found this podcast episode helpful, please consider sharing and attributing it to Diane Wyzga of Stories From Women Who Walk podcast with a link back to the original source.
Matt and Michael dive deep into the meaning of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Starting from last week's cliffhanger about whether Jesus had to die, they explore the story of Cain and Abel, the problem of human sin, and why God chose to meet humanity in its darkest place rather than simply forgive from a distance. The conversation weaves through Job, the cross as the ultimate expression of love, and why this story demands a response that other worldviews don't. They discuss Carl Jung's Answer to Job, CS Lewis's analogy of God outside of time, and why Christianity's claim of divine self-sacrifice is unique among world religions. Michael shares his experiential journey through multiple religions and why Jesus was the one that actually changed him. Matt reflects on seeing a Rothko painting at the Met and how biblical stories are interactive in a way art cannot be. The episode grapples with troubling questions: What kind of God commands slaughter? What does it mean that God justifies himself to Job? Why did God choose to die rather than simply forgive? And what does it mean that we are all Cain? Cheers y'all
Authors Haley Stewart and Claire Swinarski reflect on how a lifelong love of reading sparked their writing careers, helped cultivate a rich reading culture in their homes, and continues to open the door to deeper, more meaningful connections with others. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)
Join the Challenge and share with a friend! Our first challenge for the summer is “trust.” Summer is a time that I struggle to trust, and I've heard it is for you too. Our schedule is off, and we have to pack and plan for trips. Everything feels a bit more out of control Often, though, we forget that and think we have to solve the world's problems or our own for everything to work out. We spend nights lying awake, brainstorming solutions to our problems or safeguarding ourselves from pain, or trying to plan our words so we can convince others to do what we know would be right for them. Start a text thread with your “summer challenge besties” and ask them to tell you about a time in the past God relieved them of anxiety. Take those stories to encourage you this week. Then check in at the end of the week to share how you thrived or were challenged. I've been quoting this a lot, so people who know me are probably sick of hearing me refer to it, but CS Lewis in Screwtape Letters has a line that has become so real to me hesaid, “It's not as important for (Satan) to convince people that God isn't real as much as it is for them to just forget he exists at all.”Using our anxious feelings as a trigger to point us back to God allows us to take something that was meant for evil and turn it into something good that grows us closer to God.
Dr. Luke Mills joins me to talk about his article "His Dark Materials," as well as C.S. Lewis' nightmare imagery across his fiction. Among other things, we discuss: [2:08] – Welcome & guest introduction: Dr. Luke Mills, Associate Professor of English at Wingate University [2:57] – Dr. Mills's article: "His Dark Materials: C.S. Lewis's Nightmares as Inspiration" [4:10] – What drew Mills to the topic: Lewis's dreams of lions and the writing of Narnia [5:09] – Lewis's diary (All My Road Before Me) and the wolf-and-sheep nightmare (April 27, 1923) [6:13] – Reading of the wolf-and-sheep nightmare [7:07] – Lewis as an author of both heavenly beauty and horror [7:41] – The Unman in Perelandra and Lewis's vivid portrayal of evil [8:39] – How common were nightmares for Lewis? Insects, specters, and a lifelong pattern [10:29] – Lewis near death: vivid dreams and beautiful visions [11:38] – Etymology of "dream" and "nightmare" (Old English roots) [12:07] – Did Lewis think his dreams were spiritually significant? [12:46] – The Dark Tower and J.W. Dunne's Experiment with Time: precognitive dreams [15:21] – Lewis, Tolkien, and their shared interest in time and dreams [16:29] – Lewis's belief in precognitive dreams and his complicated relationship with Dunne's theories [17:22] – The Dark Tower: the chronoscope and alternate timelines [20:01] – Dreams as portals to other realities; Lewis's strong belief in the supernatural [22:07] – Lewis's imaginative receptivity; running toward and away from something [24:09] – Preface to Paradise Lost, letting the "leash slip," and Lewis's portrayal of evil [26:13] – Other nightmare imagery in Lewis: The Last Battle, Perelandra, That Hideous Strength [27:31] – Ransom's strange dream in Perelandra; the Unman as absurdist horror [30:17] – Lewis and the word "un-man": dreams about his dead father and Perelandra's antagonist [32:24] – Lewis's horror of corpses; childhood trauma of seeing his mother's body [34:10] – Zombie squirrels and a digression to Grove City College [37:11] – Are Lewis's nightmares demonic? Dreams of lions before Narnia [38:24] – Lewis, modernism, surrealism, and the via negativa [40:21] – Till We Have Faces: modernist technique and divinely sent nightmares [43:03] – Aslan as terrifying: the scratch in The Horse and His Boy [46:09] – Mark in the Objective Room at N.I.C.E.: nightmarish images turning him toward the good [47:12] – Closing thoughts; terror and the uncanny as paths toward the good [50:07] – Where to follow Dr. Mills; current research on Lewis's library at UNC (including Lewis's marginalia) As always, if you want to get in touch, email me at inklingsvarietyhour@gmail.com Rate the show if you like it and haven't rated it yet.
Beloved novelist Clive Staples Lewis (Jack to his friends)(?) went through an atheist phase in his life. But that didn't last, and when he came back to Christianity, he came back HARD! Everyone who knows his work beyond life in a wardrobe is well aware of his obsession with the Bible and Christianity. But though he was an academic, Lewis was careful to remind people he was not a Bible scholar. He relied on the scholarship of others when he wanted to explore biblical topics. Yet he wrote extensively. So how'd he do? Were his conclusions and explorations undergirded by good data, or was he just flying by the seat of his theological pants? This week, we brought on Leslie Baynes, author of Between Interpretation and Imagination: C. S. Lewis and the Bible to help us get a handle on Lewis and his particular brand of apologetics. She'll guide us through his view of the Bible, his explorations of Christianity, and the places he snuck it all in, even when he wasn't explicitly writing about it. For early access to an ad-free version of every episode of Data Over Dogma, exclusive content, and the opportunity to support our work, please consider becoming a monthly patron at: https://www.patreon.com/DataOverDogma Follow us on the various social media places: https://www.facebook.com/DataOverDogmaPod https://www.twitter.com/data_over_dogma Have you ordered Dan McClellan's New York Times bestselling book The Bible Says So yet??? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Click here for the reading materialClicking here will take you to our webpageClick here to contact usWelcome to the Westside church's special Monday Morning Coffee podcast with Mark Roberts. Mark is a disciple, a husband, father and grand dad, as well as a certified coffee geek, fan of CS Lewis' writings and he loves his big red Jeep. He's also the preacher for Westside church.
To kick off the new series of Ave Explores on Catholicism in Literature, Fr. Jonah Teller, OP, shares how a lifelong love of reading shaped his faith, imagination, and vocation. In an age dominated by scrolling and screens, he reflects on why great books still matter and how the classics form us in wisdom, virtue, and attentiveness to God and the world around us. Fr. Jonah also offers practical ways to build reading into everyday life and cultivate habits that make space for deeper reflection, even amid busy schedules. We would love it if you could leave a written review on Apple and share with your friends! Editing provided by Forte Catholic (https://www.fortecatholic.com/)
Good morning. As the sun finally begins to coax flowers into bloom, the Chelsea Flower Show will open its gates today. The Royal Horticultural Society's annual event sees organisations create beautiful planted spaces, which inspire and educate visitors. With our news headlines full of unremitting contempt and calamity, millions of us will tune into coverage of Chelsea this week for relief. I'd like to think this is more than just a comforting distraction.Christian writer CS Lewis wrote about his vision of hell in the novella ‘the great divorce'. Hell was a place of continual twilight where people moved further and further apart into infinite space, driven by mutual suspicion and a sense of time ticking down. Paradise, by contrast was a place of colour, fruitfulness, and sunshine – open to anyone bold enough to stay. In paradise, people were unafraid of each other or the future. They sought out newcomers, working to convince them to remain.The show gardens at Chelsea may be sanctuaries of beauty, but they are also about shared spaces and living well together. Many, like the Trussell ‘together' garden, are inspired specifically by the way communities deal with hardship – the Trussel Trust's foodbanks tackle food poverty. Like Lewis' paradise, communal gardens like this one combat the notion that safety and solace can only be had by building walls and retreating from the world.John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote a collection of health remedies based on what people could grow or source themselves. Titled ‘Primitive Physick' and published in 1747 it would run to 23 editions during his life. Although his remedies were of their day, his commitment to people's access to healthcare and use of what was readily available still bears weight. Today, the rooftop garden of the national Methodist offices in London is planted with herbs and flowers used in Primitive Physick, recognising the importance of gardens to our collective mental and physical well-being.A reality of life in Britain today is that access to outdoor space is not equal: many do not have gardens. A Christian vision for good community still resists the notion that beautiful outdoor spaces are only the preserve of private wealth. After the show, all of the Chelsea gardens will find their way out into communities around the country – plants will go to balconies, windowsills and neglected urban spaces, gardens to hospices, schools, and the verges of motorways. They will join many other community gardens schemes, allowing even those of us who live surrounded by pavement, to put our hands in soil and see something grow. These gardens are places of retreat, yes: but also places of truth telling about the quiet work of living peacefully together.
Click here for the SermonClicking here will take you to our webpageClick here to contact usWelcome to the Westside church's special Monday Morning Coffee podcast with Mark Roberts. Mark is a disciple, a husband, father and grand dad, as well as a certified coffee geek, fan of CS Lewis' writings and he loves his big red Jeep. He's also the preacher for Westside church.
While it is certain that any number of things may be "really going on," it is not difficult to make the case that the modern internet-saturated culture is plagued by unhealthy conspiratorial thinking.What drives these tendencies?How can C.S. Lewis help us to stay grounded in reality and responsibility?In this episode, I seek answers to these questions with the help of Stephen Kent, who is a political TV commentator and columnist, author of How the Force can Fix the World, and host of Geeky Stoics.Watch the video of this episode and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/ACUz4222oEABecome a patron of Mythic Mind at patreon.com/mythicmindListen to all THREE Mythic Mind podcasts:Mythic MindMythic Mind GamesMythic Mind Movies & Shows(or become a patron to get all three shows in one ad-free feed)Once we hit 100 paid patrons, C.S. Lewis and the News will become a regular show!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mythic-mind--5808321/support.
Gavin Ortlund's mission is to help bring the confidence and joy of the Gospel to as many people as possible. Today, Gavin and I sit down to discuss all things Christianity: whether CS Lewis would use YouTube, whether the Bible is the sole authority for Christians, and how to bring a spirit of unity to all theological conversations. Gavin's channel: @TruthUnites Gavin's Website: https://truthunites.org/about-gavin-ortlund/Gavin X: https://x.com/gavinortlundNEW: Check out our Merch store! https://shop.lilaroseshow.com/Join our new Patreon community! https://patreon.com/lilaroseshow - We'll have BTS footage, ad-free episodes, and early access to our upcoming guests.A big thanks to our partner, EWTN, the world's leading Catholic network! Discover news, entertainment and more at https://www.ewtn.com/ Check out our Sponsors:-Brave+: Screen Time Made Good - Get a week free trial at https://braveplus.com/lila-Hallow: https://www.hallow.com/lila Enter into prayer more deeply this season with the Hallow App, get 3 months free by using this link to sign up! -Patriot Mobile: Get 1 month of free service at https://patriotmobile.com/lila or call 972-PATRIOT w/ code LILA-EveryLife Women: https://www.everylife.com/lila Buy diapers and women's health products from an amazing company and use code LILA10 to get 10% off!