On Loan From God

As we work and achieve, we accumulate influence, titles, assets, and money. As they say, we build a life. Our life comprises our reputation, our job, our house, our car, and our relationships. Looking at the results of our effort – to what we’ve committed so much sweat and blood – is an immensely rewarding…

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Screwtape Letters – Week 1, Letters 1 – 3

Letter 1 Themes: Complacent and smug thinking; evaluation of truth, reality, and materialism; temptations when draw the patient away from universal (eternal) issues. Letter 2 Themes: Reality verses expectations; disappointment & disillusionment with church; genuine humility. Letter 3 Themes: Sanctification; relationships as a Christian; humility, judgmental attitudes; personal blind spots; danger of speech; the focus…

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Screwtape Letters – Week 6, Letters 16 – 18

Letter 16 Themes: Church shopping and criticism; being teachable; humility and love on secondary doctrinal issues. Letter 17 Themes: Different facets of gluttony; greed related to sensuality (sins of the senses); selfishness; fasting. Letter 18 Themes: Nature and the role of love; physical intimacy and oneness in marriage; feelings of being “in love”.

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Screwtape Letters – Week 8, Letters 22 – 24

Letter 22 Themes: Spiritual dossiers; hedonism; pleasures of God; power of Christian influence; music and silence. Letter 23 Themes: Value of intelligent Christian community; corrupted spirituality; “historical Jesus;” social justice. Letter 24 Themes: Spiritual ignorance and pride; need for social validation; humility; arrogance; the inner ring.

Brotherhood

“Anything I can be in prayer for you?” My friend and I had just finished our discipleship time and after asking him what I could pray for him he asked me the same question. My initial response was, “I’m good” but before I could say the words, I was convicted that I really wasn’t “good.”…