Monday, June 20, 2005
READ C.S. LEWIS
Author Unknown
A newspaper article about C.S. Lewis described the tremendous influence that his writings have had on the lives of believers. When C.S. Lewis died 33 years ago, few noted his passing because it happened the same day that John F. Kennedy was killed, but this month, which marks the centenary of Lewis's birth, the world will celebrate the legacy of the gentle Oxford don.
Children love Lewis for his "Chronicles of Narnia", especially "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". Classical scholars laud him for his brilliant grasp of literature. Romantics remember his depiction by Anthony Hopkins in the film, 'Shadowlands'".
The Christian world reveres Lewis for his ability to make persuasive and practical sense of its 2,000-year-old faith. The New York Times called Lewis, "the ideal persuader for the half convinced good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way…"
Such a good man is Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino Pizza, who recently sold his company for one billion dollars and is giving all the proceeds to build Christian schools across America. In 1988, having just read Lewis's book "Mere Christianity," Monaghan lay awake all night, pondering the great sin of pride. "I realized I had more pride than any other person I know," he confided.
The next morning, he resolved to change his life in what The Wall Street Journal called "an extraordinary renunciation of material assets." On the sale block went Monaghan's helicopter, Bentley and Rolls Royce autos, 190-foot sailboat and his collection of original Frank Lloyd Wright furniture. Nine years later came Domino's itself. At one point, the tycoon began living on bread and water two days a week and stopped working in his $2 million dollar luxury office because it reeked of self importance.
Monaghan is not Lewis's only notable disciple. Two hundred societies have sprung up to celebrate and study him. Hilary Clinton is an enthusiastic admirer, Tom Philips, the former president of Raytheon, still leads a prayer group he founded 25 years ago that he based on Lewis's writings. Charles Colson, the White House aide who was jailed because of his role in the Watergate scandal, credits Lewis for his decision to found The Prison Fellowship Ministry which helps to rehabilitate tens of thousands of inmates every year in prisons worldwide.
What do you think is your next step in the spiritual life? What attitude, habit sin, self-indulgence, pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, sloth, resentment, and unforgiving stance do we need to let go of? In the spirit of Lent, let us ask ourselves in what part of our life is God calling us to go further than we have before. God has something in store for you. Are you up for it? Perhaps, "Mere Christianity," "The Devil's Advocate," "Surprised by Joy," or another of Lewis's writings will motivate us to take the next step.
A newspaper article about C.S. Lewis described the tremendous influence that his writings have had on the lives of believers. When C.S. Lewis died 33 years ago, few noted his passing because it happened the same day that John F. Kennedy was killed, but this month, which marks the centenary of Lewis's birth, the world will celebrate the legacy of the gentle Oxford don.
Children love Lewis for his "Chronicles of Narnia", especially "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe". Classical scholars laud him for his brilliant grasp of literature. Romantics remember his depiction by Anthony Hopkins in the film, 'Shadowlands'".
The Christian world reveres Lewis for his ability to make persuasive and practical sense of its 2,000-year-old faith. The New York Times called Lewis, "the ideal persuader for the half convinced good man who would like to be a Christian but finds his intellect getting in the way…"
Such a good man is Thomas Monaghan, the founder of Domino Pizza, who recently sold his company for one billion dollars and is giving all the proceeds to build Christian schools across America. In 1988, having just read Lewis's book "Mere Christianity," Monaghan lay awake all night, pondering the great sin of pride. "I realized I had more pride than any other person I know," he confided.
The next morning, he resolved to change his life in what The Wall Street Journal called "an extraordinary renunciation of material assets." On the sale block went Monaghan's helicopter, Bentley and Rolls Royce autos, 190-foot sailboat and his collection of original Frank Lloyd Wright furniture. Nine years later came Domino's itself. At one point, the tycoon began living on bread and water two days a week and stopped working in his $2 million dollar luxury office because it reeked of self importance.
Monaghan is not Lewis's only notable disciple. Two hundred societies have sprung up to celebrate and study him. Hilary Clinton is an enthusiastic admirer, Tom Philips, the former president of Raytheon, still leads a prayer group he founded 25 years ago that he based on Lewis's writings. Charles Colson, the White House aide who was jailed because of his role in the Watergate scandal, credits Lewis for his decision to found The Prison Fellowship Ministry which helps to rehabilitate tens of thousands of inmates every year in prisons worldwide.
What do you think is your next step in the spiritual life? What attitude, habit sin, self-indulgence, pride, covetousness, lust, envy, gluttony, sloth, resentment, and unforgiving stance do we need to let go of? In the spirit of Lent, let us ask ourselves in what part of our life is God calling us to go further than we have before. God has something in store for you. Are you up for it? Perhaps, "Mere Christianity," "The Devil's Advocate," "Surprised by Joy," or another of Lewis's writings will motivate us to take the next step.
# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 6:08 PM 
