Good Omens

Background

The book Good Omens apparently became a mini-series which aired a couple of months ago. The book details the end of the world and is seen through the eyes of an angel and a devil. These two have been around since the beginning. The literal beginning…

Good Omens
Good Omens

My Thoughts

Even though it has “Now a Prime Original Series” I had no idea it was on. Apparently, it aired a couple months back which makes more sense of why it was a popular book. I miss out on so much not watching TV…

The book was funny. It read a lot like the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in some of the dry humored ridiculous events. I very much enjoyed it.

Recommendations

It’s a good read. I would recommend it.

Ezra

Background

Ezra is found in the Old Testament of King James Bible. Originally Ezra was combined with Nehemiah and is the last book(s) of the Hebrew Bible. Cyrus and later Darius (kings of Persia) allow the Jews to go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Ezra prays and gets the people back on track…

Ezra
Ezra

My Thoughts

As this is the first time I’ve included scripture in this blog, I wanted to give a quick reference as to why. I read scripture daily though it is only a chapter or 2. There are times I jump around but I’ve been plowing through the Old Testament recently. My current intent is to finish it but I’ve been known to be distracted…

The book of Ezra is hard to keep straight because it isn’t in chronological order. Lots of genealogy is listed (“Of the sons of…”) and it really doesn’t flow. This is definitely a book that it was helpful to do a little background reading while I was reading.

Recommendations

Find yourself a good Bible study guide and have fun!

The Lion the Witch and Wardrobe

Background

CS Lewis’s classic “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe” came out in 1950 and has been a classic and required reading in schools all over the world. It has reached every medium (written, video, audio, theater) and has even sunk into the mainstream culture.

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

My thoughts

Loved it! It was even better than I remembered though it has been a number of years. I listened to it as an audiobook read by Michael York which was fantastic. Particularly after the last read I was so happy to have a short fun novel.

The first time I read this story was in 3rd grade which would put me at about 8 to 9 years old. I didn’t understand the strong Christian overtones or really even think about what was being said. It was a good story and that’s all I cared about.

It is still a good story but the allegories are very apparent. The sinless sacrifice, the humiliation before such, the rumor of his return and so on. It is my understanding that CS Lewis denied it being intentional but it seems pretty heavy handed when you read it.

Recommendation

I really enjoyed the story and will be coming back. I would recommend it to just about anyone. In fact, it is on the shelf in my living room if you need a copy….

The City of God

Background

Yet another of the Great Courses lectures. This one was by Charles Mathewes, Ph.D. from the University of Virginia.

To steal from the Great Courses page “Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition—so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.”

Books that Matter: The City of God
Books that Matter: The City of God

My Thoughts

This was a pretty time consuming listen though I feel it was worth it. Pretty much most of the “ah hah” moments I’d had were discussed by Augustine of Hippo or “Saint Augustine” as we’ve likely heard of him. This lecture points out that not much is “new under the sun”. The ancients were pretty bright and most of the drama that we take on a daily basis had all been done before.

Recommendations

This work left my mind reeling a few times. If you can understand it all then you should start your own church. (You won’t be alone out there…)

The Screwtape Letters

Background

C.S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters well before I was born. They are a collection of letters from Screwtape (a demon in hell’s administration office) to his wayward nephew Wormwood. Wormwood is given charge of a man on earth and despite Screwtape’s ‘advice’, loses him to salvation.

The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters

My thoughts

I first read this about 25 years ago. I remember it putting me in a bad mood. I felt very carnal minded after I read it. I think I wasn’t quite up the challenge of understanding what was really being said by Lewis. (Perhaps I needed a few years behind me…)

I really enjoyed the read this time. Of course, much of Screwtape’s advice is meant to be taken opposite from what he said but there were some real truths given. So much of this world is taken for granted. So much of my comforts and relative ease come so easily as to be forgotten where they came from.

I came away from this book wanting to be a better man. There isn’t much more I can ask for…

Recommendation

Even if you are a hormone stricken teenager (like I was the first time I’d read this), I would encourage everyone to read this book. It is not only witty and contains a good story, it will also given you things to think about for years to come.