"God is going to make all things good, no matter what choices we make....no matter what we do. He made things beautiful anyway and we should rejoice in that beauty instead of wishing something else had happened."
A good friend of mine once told me that "The glory of God's economy is that He takes our mistakes and turns them into spiritual riches". Meaning that, God is sovereign. Our lives are going to be filled with mistakes, with pain, with heartache- often the consequences of our sin, often the consequences of other's sin. But that pain WILL NOT return void in God's economy. God will use it for OUR GOOD and HIS GLORY. He will use those mistakes to further His kingdom.
That is the promise, the hope that we have, as God's elect.
Monday, June 30, 2008
perelandra
howdy there...
i read out of the silent planet, and the couldn't help myself and went ahead and read perelandra. i had never read perelandra before and i think i liked it even more than the first one! i tried to start that hideous strength, but i think i'm going to take a break and read one of the books i bought at my holocaust convention. if anyone wants to read it...i'm reading suite francaise by irene nemirovsky. irene was a jew who was working on this novel when she was deported and died at auschwitz. this novel was hidden for sixty-four years before it was discovered and published! it is, i think, going to be an interesting perspective because its about locals in france who have to deal with the german invaders during wwii.
perelandra was really thought provoking as the main character-ransom-has to intervene in a very genesis-type situation and stop "eve" from being tempted by the devil. it was very like the screwtape letters in that lewis showed evil's very logical way of reasoning and bringing us to it's side. what was startling to me was the thought that evil is not always blatantly obvious. true evil is very like the truth, but with some simple, fundamental differences. that kind of evil is the hardest to get away from because, if you aren't really clear on what you believe, it's easy to think you've made the right choice.
several parts of this book were touching to me. one of these was ransom's conclusion that God is going to make all things good, no matter what choices we make....no matter what we do. adam and eve made a choice for our world and, even though it was followed by a lot of pain and hardships, it was because of this choice that Christ put on the body of a man and came to be a part of our world. and what would have happened if eve hadn't eaten the fruit? it still would have been good--we still would have been in communion with God. one is not better than the other, just different GOODs. it is an interesting thought to me to consider that God is not sorry that we ate the fruit, but that he made things beautiful anyway and we should rejoice in that beauty instead of wishing something else had happened. this is also the book where Greg gets his quote "sweet poison of a false infinite" :D. that was fun to run across!
i read out of the silent planet, and the couldn't help myself and went ahead and read perelandra. i had never read perelandra before and i think i liked it even more than the first one! i tried to start that hideous strength, but i think i'm going to take a break and read one of the books i bought at my holocaust convention. if anyone wants to read it...i'm reading suite francaise by irene nemirovsky. irene was a jew who was working on this novel when she was deported and died at auschwitz. this novel was hidden for sixty-four years before it was discovered and published! it is, i think, going to be an interesting perspective because its about locals in france who have to deal with the german invaders during wwii.
perelandra was really thought provoking as the main character-ransom-has to intervene in a very genesis-type situation and stop "eve" from being tempted by the devil. it was very like the screwtape letters in that lewis showed evil's very logical way of reasoning and bringing us to it's side. what was startling to me was the thought that evil is not always blatantly obvious. true evil is very like the truth, but with some simple, fundamental differences. that kind of evil is the hardest to get away from because, if you aren't really clear on what you believe, it's easy to think you've made the right choice.
several parts of this book were touching to me. one of these was ransom's conclusion that God is going to make all things good, no matter what choices we make....no matter what we do. adam and eve made a choice for our world and, even though it was followed by a lot of pain and hardships, it was because of this choice that Christ put on the body of a man and came to be a part of our world. and what would have happened if eve hadn't eaten the fruit? it still would have been good--we still would have been in communion with God. one is not better than the other, just different GOODs. it is an interesting thought to me to consider that God is not sorry that we ate the fruit, but that he made things beautiful anyway and we should rejoice in that beauty instead of wishing something else had happened. this is also the book where Greg gets his quote "sweet poison of a false infinite" :D. that was fun to run across!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
in agreement with veronica...
hey veronica!
thanks for posting--i love how eloquently you expressed the thoughts i was struggling to get from head to paper; well done :). HUMANITARIAN--that was the word i couldn't think of!
you know, i never considered that he might be a Christian. there are missionaries all over the place in closed countries that work in normal jobs--schools and such--but can't mention God, right? that is an interesting thought--how do people spread the gospel there? it seems hard for me to imagine because our evangelism here is so vocal. who was it that said "go out and preach the gospel--use words if you have to?" maybe evangelizing is not about how well you can talk about God after all. maybe its about service through love? hm.
i feel the same way about mortenson's viewpoint of the culture and the people. i read kite runner and a thousand splendid suns (outstanding books) last year as well and those books were also instrumental in changing my view of people in the southern part of Asia. i am finding it really hard, though, to shift my point of view because it is so colored by the stereotypes prevalent in the united states. i am currently living in an apartment complex that we've dubbed "little India" because of the high percentage of south Asians here and it has been hard for me to cross the culture barrier to connect to them on a human level. consequently, i just got back from a conference on the holocaust (which was amazing!) in DC at the holocaust museum and it is scary to think that the hate crimes against Jews started with seemingly "harmless" stereotypes and that such stereotypes about south Asians are reinforce here in the u.s. since 911.
i have a desire to grow in my compassion for people that make me "uncomfortable," beginning with the truth that they are created in the image of God.
thanks for posting--i love how eloquently you expressed the thoughts i was struggling to get from head to paper; well done :). HUMANITARIAN--that was the word i couldn't think of!
you know, i never considered that he might be a Christian. there are missionaries all over the place in closed countries that work in normal jobs--schools and such--but can't mention God, right? that is an interesting thought--how do people spread the gospel there? it seems hard for me to imagine because our evangelism here is so vocal. who was it that said "go out and preach the gospel--use words if you have to?" maybe evangelizing is not about how well you can talk about God after all. maybe its about service through love? hm.
i feel the same way about mortenson's viewpoint of the culture and the people. i read kite runner and a thousand splendid suns (outstanding books) last year as well and those books were also instrumental in changing my view of people in the southern part of Asia. i am finding it really hard, though, to shift my point of view because it is so colored by the stereotypes prevalent in the united states. i am currently living in an apartment complex that we've dubbed "little India" because of the high percentage of south Asians here and it has been hard for me to cross the culture barrier to connect to them on a human level. consequently, i just got back from a conference on the holocaust (which was amazing!) in DC at the holocaust museum and it is scary to think that the hate crimes against Jews started with seemingly "harmless" stereotypes and that such stereotypes about south Asians are reinforce here in the u.s. since 911.
i have a desire to grow in my compassion for people that make me "uncomfortable," beginning with the truth that they are created in the image of God.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Thoughts on Three Cups of Tea
I'm almost done with Three Cups of Tea (just a couple more chapters) but I thought I would share some of my thoughts so far.
1. One thing that was somewhat hard for me to get through at first was all the climbing description but as I was reading it I was really impressed. Right now I'm certified to belay at the camp rock wall and I do that for campers one morning a week. I see people struggle on a man-made wall and then I compare it to Mortenson and others who climb God's rock walls. Wow! That takes so much determination and courage.
2. I was also really interested at the parts where it describes the opposition between Mortenson and the Taliban. I read Kite Runner last month (it talks about the Taliban in Afghanistan) and also recently read The Lost Boys of Sudan where there are also a lot of fundamentalist Muslims. Even though the Middle Eastern area of the world has such a terrible reputation in the West, there is still a lot of good going on there and there are real people who struggle through things much greater than I will ever go through. I'm really becoming a lot more interested in the area and what the real pictures of those places and people are.
3. I am thinking also (like Laura) about the difference between a missionary and a humanitarian (not saying that they can't be the same but there is a subtle difference). I believe that God uses people who don't always work in His name. For instance, since Christians aren't welcome in some Islamic areas of the world, God uses a humanitarian who genuinely cares for the people, learns the language, and respects the culture/religion. I guess I'm struggling right now with the fact that Mortenson has been/is extremely effective in helping the poor and oppressed (especially women) and I believe his heart for the people of the area mirrors Christ's heart. But he does it all within an Islamic context-even going to mosque and praying toward Mecca five times a day. If Mortenson isn't a Christian I'm amazed at his selfessness and I would love to see what his potential could be if he had Christ working through him. If he is, I wonder how he reconciles what he is doing in the Muslim communities within the context of his own faith? I'm not sure that I've reached an answer but those are my thoughts right now.
I can't wait to finish it!
1. One thing that was somewhat hard for me to get through at first was all the climbing description but as I was reading it I was really impressed. Right now I'm certified to belay at the camp rock wall and I do that for campers one morning a week. I see people struggle on a man-made wall and then I compare it to Mortenson and others who climb God's rock walls. Wow! That takes so much determination and courage.
2. I was also really interested at the parts where it describes the opposition between Mortenson and the Taliban. I read Kite Runner last month (it talks about the Taliban in Afghanistan) and also recently read The Lost Boys of Sudan where there are also a lot of fundamentalist Muslims. Even though the Middle Eastern area of the world has such a terrible reputation in the West, there is still a lot of good going on there and there are real people who struggle through things much greater than I will ever go through. I'm really becoming a lot more interested in the area and what the real pictures of those places and people are.
3. I am thinking also (like Laura) about the difference between a missionary and a humanitarian (not saying that they can't be the same but there is a subtle difference). I believe that God uses people who don't always work in His name. For instance, since Christians aren't welcome in some Islamic areas of the world, God uses a humanitarian who genuinely cares for the people, learns the language, and respects the culture/religion. I guess I'm struggling right now with the fact that Mortenson has been/is extremely effective in helping the poor and oppressed (especially women) and I believe his heart for the people of the area mirrors Christ's heart. But he does it all within an Islamic context-even going to mosque and praying toward Mecca five times a day. If Mortenson isn't a Christian I'm amazed at his selfessness and I would love to see what his potential could be if he had Christ working through him. If he is, I wonder how he reconciles what he is doing in the Muslim communities within the context of his own faith? I'm not sure that I've reached an answer but those are my thoughts right now.
I can't wait to finish it!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Sci-fi thoughts, part two
Laura, I am your fellow science fiction nerd. The thing I love the most about the genre (and I'm talking the good stuff, not you know, Star Wars dime novels) is the opportunity that it gives you to take a step back from the world that you live in and view it from a different angle. I suppose that's true of all great books, but there are just ridiculous amounts of freedom available to a science fiction writer. Douglas Adams can have a whale spontaneously appear out of nowhere high in some alien atmosphere and plummet towards the ground while having a stream-of-consciousness monologue with a pot of petunias, and not only do you somehow believe in it while he's writing this, it's also a kind of profound (and VERY morbidly funny) take on mortality and the human condition. Come on! That's great!
Rediscovered Ursula LeGuin this past week. What an amazing writer! Elegant, intelligent, extremely thoughtful and creative writings that affirm life without glossing over the problems and struggles of being human. Plus, they're just great, incredibly readable stories. :)
Rediscovered Ursula LeGuin this past week. What an amazing writer! Elegant, intelligent, extremely thoughtful and creative writings that affirm life without glossing over the problems and struggles of being human. Plus, they're just great, incredibly readable stories. :)
science fiction
Lewis often astounds me with the way he can spend time on a description without reducing me to snoring. instead of skipping over it in chunks, i find myself slowing down to allow his language to paint the picture before me. he, and other geniuses like him, are the reason why i never take a crack at writing science fiction, a genre i have always secretly loved (Ender's Game is the literary love of my life). you cannot write science fiction without inviting your readers into a new world, with unique colors, shapes, objects, languages, etc. and when i try to write such a setting, i am reduced to feeling like Ransom when he arrives at Malacandra: nearly paralyzed in the realization that everything is different, you cannot function like you used to in your comfortable reality, and where do you possibly begin to adjust yourself?
i realized three chapters in that ive read Out of the Silent Planet before, but i am as eagerly into the text as i was the first time. what an enchanting read!
p.s: somebody else post please please please please?!?
i realized three chapters in that ive read Out of the Silent Planet before, but i am as eagerly into the text as i was the first time. what an enchanting read!
p.s: somebody else post please please please please?!?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
adding to yesterday's post...
tues:
i just finished three cups of tea!
on to before we were free.
wed:
i just finished before we were free!
on to out of the silent planet, book 1 of the cosmic trilogy.
i am also reading a book about wine and it is very interesting--its a sort of how-to guide.
i just finished three cups of tea!
on to before we were free.
wed:
i just finished before we were free!
on to out of the silent planet, book 1 of the cosmic trilogy.
i am also reading a book about wine and it is very interesting--its a sort of how-to guide.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
the religion question
so, the concepts of Islam, Christianity, helping the poor, being a good person etc, etc were all floating about in my head as i read chapters 15 & 16 in Three Cups of Tea. i was thinking about all the truly amazing things Mortenson was/is doing in South Asia and pondering how much more concern and care he and his organization have for the poor than many Christians (including myself) that i know. i got excited as i thought: what would happen if someone involved themselves in a movement like that who was doing it because they wanted to love others as Christ loved them first? would it be effective? how could it not be? then i read the chapter in which that one village chief was trying to get Mortenson kicked out of Pakistan and then they investigated his schools to make sure he was truly trying to help the people with no hidden agenda; he was really nervous that he'd be kicked out. not that a Christian has to have an "agenda" with doing good for the poor and neglected, but surely someone with that foundation or basic belief would be kicked out if such an investigation occurred and they inevitably heard that the gospel was being offered or received to any extent.
i know that my God is big enough to reach anyone and everyone, in any situation, in any country. maybe that should be enough, but it was discouraging to me to think that i might not ever be able to be a part of a movement so beautiful and be able to share the reason why i could love so greatly.
another thought: i dont know if Mortenson is a Christian or not, but if he's not...how is he able to be so selfless and loving, receiving really nothing substantial in return for his work, and not do it from an outpouring of God's love??? seems like a pretty sound argument sometimes when people talk about how people can be good without being a Christian and why shouldnt they go to heaven for that?
what comes to mind is how C.S Lewis responded to that thought "can't a person be good/happy and not be a Christian?" he said that what the REAL issue was is not can't i be good/happy but is this Christianity thing TRUE or not? in the end, doesnt it just matter what is true and not what i am able to be or feel in this world?
this probably seems really scattered...just some things i was thinking about.
the book was tough for me to begin but it's picked up considerably and im enjoying it. i am really impressed with Mortenson's work and how he is going beyond the school thing to help in other needed areas as well. i think it would be really cool to visit his school in Korphe or be a part of his work in some way. it's pretty inspiring even though i feel that i dont have the drive, determination and discipline to the extent that Mortenson does.
i know that my God is big enough to reach anyone and everyone, in any situation, in any country. maybe that should be enough, but it was discouraging to me to think that i might not ever be able to be a part of a movement so beautiful and be able to share the reason why i could love so greatly.
another thought: i dont know if Mortenson is a Christian or not, but if he's not...how is he able to be so selfless and loving, receiving really nothing substantial in return for his work, and not do it from an outpouring of God's love??? seems like a pretty sound argument sometimes when people talk about how people can be good without being a Christian and why shouldnt they go to heaven for that?
what comes to mind is how C.S Lewis responded to that thought "can't a person be good/happy and not be a Christian?" he said that what the REAL issue was is not can't i be good/happy but is this Christianity thing TRUE or not? in the end, doesnt it just matter what is true and not what i am able to be or feel in this world?
this probably seems really scattered...just some things i was thinking about.
the book was tough for me to begin but it's picked up considerably and im enjoying it. i am really impressed with Mortenson's work and how he is going beyond the school thing to help in other needed areas as well. i think it would be really cool to visit his school in Korphe or be a part of his work in some way. it's pretty inspiring even though i feel that i dont have the drive, determination and discipline to the extent that Mortenson does.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
the evolution of our "book club"
so, basically i have come to joyous terms that this book club does not fall within the parameters that normal book clubs do. this is really a place where people can comment on books, give recommendations, exchange information, let us know what you are reading and what you have read, etc...
in ADDITION, there are some who are reading the SAME books so that we can talk about them specifically, but there is no time line, no necessary reading list or anything of the sorts. i hope we can share our literary passions through this blog and i hope i get to expand my repertoire of literature through your recommendations!
sooo, three cups of tea...
i am about half way through but it has been a struggle to get through it! i enjoy reading the parts about mortenson's life and his challenges to build the school, but the way that relin writes can be difficult for me to read. every time they cross a bridge, pass a mountain etc, etc, he has to go into a long spiel about someone else who has seen that mountain or crossed that bridge. i guess it just slows me down and i want to see what happens next...it kind of reminds me of reading hugo. i LOVE les miserables and i really enjoy reading Hugo, who has such a talent with language, but to be quite honest, i dont care to know the history of the battle of waterloo, i just want to know what happens to jean valjean!!! anyway, speaking of les miserables, i am about 750 pgs into it and maybe i will get to the full 1000+ by the end of the summer...
any comments on three cups so far?
in ADDITION, there are some who are reading the SAME books so that we can talk about them specifically, but there is no time line, no necessary reading list or anything of the sorts. i hope we can share our literary passions through this blog and i hope i get to expand my repertoire of literature through your recommendations!
sooo, three cups of tea...
i am about half way through but it has been a struggle to get through it! i enjoy reading the parts about mortenson's life and his challenges to build the school, but the way that relin writes can be difficult for me to read. every time they cross a bridge, pass a mountain etc, etc, he has to go into a long spiel about someone else who has seen that mountain or crossed that bridge. i guess it just slows me down and i want to see what happens next...it kind of reminds me of reading hugo. i LOVE les miserables and i really enjoy reading Hugo, who has such a talent with language, but to be quite honest, i dont care to know the history of the battle of waterloo, i just want to know what happens to jean valjean!!! anyway, speaking of les miserables, i am about 750 pgs into it and maybe i will get to the full 1000+ by the end of the summer...
any comments on three cups so far?
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Timeline
So, I am just curious....since I am out of work and, you know, having nothing to do, are we on any kind of time line with reading Three Cups of Tea? Are we waiting for everyone to get a book and then start reading as a group?
Saturday, June 7, 2008
something else to add?
Hi everyone!
So... I don't actually know all of you yet, but I'm looking forward to getting to know you via our mutual bookwormish ways. :) I just ordered "Three Cups of Tea" from Amazon this week (woo-hoo for $6!) and can't wait to get it in the mail soon! I went through a "19th c. classics" phase this winter and spring, reading incredible stuff like Dracula, The Invisible Man, 20,000 Leagues, Solomon's Mines, Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde, and Dorian Grey... also fell in love with Alexandre Dumas' stuff... in my opinion, he is a genius. I had this brilliant idea to read ALL of his novels (thinking there were just a few), but after getting through four, I realized Barnes and Nobles stocks like three shelves of his stuff, so I am taking a break. :)
Anyway, I'm up for reading anything you all want to at this point... From the list, I think my top preferences would be "Zorro" and "Northanger Abbey." Haven't read either one, and would love a good excuse to!
One book that I read last year that really stands out as excellent, and that I would recommend to add to the list is "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman.
So... I don't actually know all of you yet, but I'm looking forward to getting to know you via our mutual bookwormish ways. :) I just ordered "Three Cups of Tea" from Amazon this week (woo-hoo for $6!) and can't wait to get it in the mail soon! I went through a "19th c. classics" phase this winter and spring, reading incredible stuff like Dracula, The Invisible Man, 20,000 Leagues, Solomon's Mines, Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde, and Dorian Grey... also fell in love with Alexandre Dumas' stuff... in my opinion, he is a genius. I had this brilliant idea to read ALL of his novels (thinking there were just a few), but after getting through four, I realized Barnes and Nobles stocks like three shelves of his stuff, so I am taking a break. :)
Anyway, I'm up for reading anything you all want to at this point... From the list, I think my top preferences would be "Zorro" and "Northanger Abbey." Haven't read either one, and would love a good excuse to!
One book that I read last year that really stands out as excellent, and that I would recommend to add to the list is "Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Three Cups of Tea
I just started Three Cups of Tea, finishing the Introduction and first chapter. So far, so good.
Also, Carol! Hi!
I don't mind re-reading any of these books, as they are all great choices. But, for the record, I have already read:
Cosmic Trilogy, C.S. Lewis
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, Julia Alvarez
When We Were Free, Julia Alvarez
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards
I think if I were to re-read any of them, I would prefer one of Jane Austen's books. So, that's it for me. I have to PACK!
~mer
Also, Carol! Hi!
I don't mind re-reading any of these books, as they are all great choices. But, for the record, I have already read:
Cosmic Trilogy, C.S. Lewis
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, Julia Alvarez
When We Were Free, Julia Alvarez
Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
The Memory Keeper's Daughter, Kim Edwards
I think if I were to re-read any of them, I would prefer one of Jane Austen's books. So, that's it for me. I have to PACK!
~mer
The Stranger
...was a very strange book. those French authors! i'd love to hear some opinions about it if anyone wants to pick it up. it was really short, and i read it chiefly in a day. but...well, i like to switch from one book to another sometimes so i might just be weird like that.
there was a ton of sunlight imagery in the book, and a lot of attention paid to time of day, weather, temperature. the man spends his life basically living in reaction to physical needs or wants and has almost no emotional responses...until he is facing his death, and even then it is questionable how "normal" he really is (meredith--a prepositional verb!). he is an incredibly strange, almost eerie character. it is a picture of a life when nothing matters, nothing holds any weight accept eating, sleeping etc...
there was a ton of sunlight imagery in the book, and a lot of attention paid to time of day, weather, temperature. the man spends his life basically living in reaction to physical needs or wants and has almost no emotional responses...until he is facing his death, and even then it is questionable how "normal" he really is (meredith--a prepositional verb!). he is an incredibly strange, almost eerie character. it is a picture of a life when nothing matters, nothing holds any weight accept eating, sleeping etc...
Thursday, June 5, 2008
War and Peace invades my reading life....
I love reading so much, especially really good stories. I'm currently reading War and Peace, and I'm amazed at Tolstoy's ability to reflect characters in such a real way, struggling with humanity as we all do. I'm almost half way through! If I can finish this summer, I will be a happy girl.
I just finished East of Eden on Sunday and I think I'm finally going to read Love, Stargirl next. Well, that's so far as fiction goes, anyway. I also want to re-read Quicksand (I read it a year or two ago for a class).
In the non-fiction realm, I'm reading some "social justice" type books... Being White and Theirs is the Kingdom.
In the non-fiction realm, I'm reading some "social justice" type books... Being White and Theirs is the Kingdom.
And it begins...
This is hopefully the beginning of our book discussions!
As a test, everyone post once this week and simply say what book you're currently reading and which on the list you've already read.
Also, if you have other book recommendations to add to the list, let me know and I'll add them.
I am currently reading Three Cups of Tea and The Stranger and I'm going to read
Before We Were Free next!
<3 laura
As a test, everyone post once this week and simply say what book you're currently reading and which on the list you've already read.
Also, if you have other book recommendations to add to the list, let me know and I'll add them.
I am currently reading Three Cups of Tea and The Stranger and I'm going to read
Before We Were Free next!
<3 laura
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