Too funny

I just had to physically hold my hand in front of my face to prevent laughing at this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/sep/20/charlie-brooker-fast-food

Enjoy.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (audio)

There are some books you relish the thought of reviewing, and this has to be one of them. Mere Christianity is one of the books that has impacted me more than any other, and this audio version is excellent – I particularly rate that it’s read by a Brit – thank you!

This is effectively the edited transcript of a series of radio sessions C.S. Lewis gave on his journey through faith, and it reads very naturally. Some of the language is a bit dated now but it’s certainly not difficult to understand, and at the end of the day everything he says is just as relevant now as it was when he first spoke it. If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time there’s a good chance you’ve heard this book quoted on more than one occasion.

C.S. Lewis is profoundly logical. His analogies are absolutely spot-on, and I can’t imagine coming to the end of a chapter with him and thinking ‘I just don’t get how he’s come to that conclusion’. One or two parts of his thinking may come across as a bit ‘traditional’ to some modern readers/listeners, but if I were you I’d hold my tongue, take a swift dose of humility, and let C.S. Lewis do the speaking.

I really would recommend this to anyone. New Christians, non-Christians, people who have been Christians for decades – this book will encourage and challenge you.

I got this audiobook for free from christianaudio.com. I’m not required to give a positive review.

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper (audio)

I greatly respect John Piper’s ministry, and one of his key mottos which has impacted me has been ‘Don’t waste your life’. The idea that I could sit on my deathbed and regret my time here is a thought that plagues me, and I think Piper’s theology hits the nail squarely on the head. Through a variety of carefully picked chapters John Piper puts forward the idea that we will be most fulfilled, and most satisfied, when we are living every ounce of our lives to the glory of God.

The writing style is extremely logical, but includes many well-told stories so to my mind anyone would enjoy reading this book, and the audio presentation is also good. I have heard many tell me before that their lives have been radically changed through reading this book, and I have to say I join those ranks.

My only concern with this book would be that a reader/listener could take the message ‘too far’, so I’d thoroughly recommend this book with a ‘chill out’ warning. That said, Piper is well aware of this tendency so a careful read of this would be a good thing for absolutely anyone.

In short, I’d recommend this to every Christian regardless of spiritual maturity, and every seeker. In particular I think this would be invaluable to someone whose faith had started to become stale. If you’re not sure, check out the free version of this available online for download: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/online-books/dont-waste-your-life

I got this audiobook for free from christianaudio.com. I’m not required to give a positive review.

How doctrine’s like sex

Put ‘sex’ in a blog post title and increase traffic by 39%.  Fact.

I started reading a book the other day.  One of the things it said is that doctrine has become like a demigod to some branches of Christianity, and like a curse word for others.

The author very cleverly compares doctrine to sex. Satan has no creative ability, so the only way he can be mean is to take something good, and twist it until it’s so deformed it’s difficult to see past it to the original beautiful thing it was created to be. The perfect example of this is sex, and here are his own words:

What could be more life-affirming, life-enhancing, life-producing, more fun, joyful, freeing, and exciting? Now think of how the enemy has bent it into a grotesque caricature in the sex shows, peep shows, and prostitution markets – how it perverts and debases the pornography-bound, the sadomasochist, and the child abuser. Life bent into death. The same can be said for any aspect of reality, and that includes the intellectual, the philosophical, the biblical, the theological. What God intended for blessing as been – but need not continue to be – a curse. Sex is still really good, despite its ugly distortions.

So is theology.

I encourage you to try it. You’ll like it.

Good theology, like good sex, is not optional for the survival of the human race. It is not just for the religious/philosophical Geek Squad. It is essential.

Spot on, I think.