My take on “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
One week ago – I had never heard of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I decided to read the book while in transit and I finished it in two sittings. As you’ll probably be hearing a lot more about it over the next few days as it opened as the number one movie in Australia – here are my thoughts on it.* The Hunger Games is a dystopia set in North America and told from the first person perspective (the last book I read in this voice was Robinson Crusoe for what it’s worth). The political world is heavily influenced by 1984 and (I suspect) Kurt Russell’s Escape from New York. The story is based on an annual event where two teenagers from each district are chosen at lottery to represent their district in mortal combat in a televised arena. The main character is redemptive choosing at key po... Read more
Tony Payne on Church Programs
My brother sent me an article from Tony Payne (Publishing Editor for Matthias Media) that went off like a bomb in my mind. Take five minutes and read it here. Here's a quote to wet your appetite: "But what if our mental image of the congregation was not a network of departments or structures or ‘ministries’, but a list of people. That’s all. Just a list of people. And next to everyone’s name on the list was two things: to the right of their name, there was a spectrum or set of columns that showed where they were up to in their growth and maturity in Christ (from rank non-Christian outsider to fairly mature Christian), and a couple of ideas about what they needed to do next in order to grow (whether to hear the gospel, or grow in doctrinal understanding, or be trained in how to follow up... Read more
Literary views on death from a Christian worldview
This week I have a question for the hive mind. What is the most powerful description of death that you have read in literature from a Christian perspective? I would love for you to post the quote or the reference in the comment section. Here’s a few to get the discussion started: CS Lewis wrote about death for his character Reepicheep in the Chronicles of Narnia: “This,” said Reepicheep, “is where I go on alone.” They did not even try to stop him, for everything now felt as if it had been fated or had happened before. They helped him to lower his little coracle. Then he took off his sword (“I shall need it no more,” he said) and flung it far away across the lilied sea...” Voyage of the Dawn Treader (185) CS Lewis in The Last Battle: “But for them it was only the beginning of the rea... Read more
Feeling Rejected?
Charles Simeon is a fascinating character study in rejection. Six years before Captain Cook sailed into Port Jackson, Simeon was an unloved English minister placed in a church where the people wanted someone else and they weren’t afraid to show it. Over a ten year period the congregation tried various things including locking the doors of the church and the family pews. His evangelical heart never resounded with his established audience and there is evidence showing that conflict continued until his death. Here are some thoughts for people who are feeling rejected: You can forgive because you are forgiven. The parable of the forgiven servant resonates during times of rejection. When you are forgiven in Christ – how much more can you forgive someone who is rejecting you? You can fortif... Read more
Reading through the 95 Theses (Part 2)
There is no doubt that the posting of the 95 Theses on the church door is one of the iconic moments of the Reformation. However, a contemporary reading these words would have trouble predicting the role that Luther would play in the years ahead. Two lesson here: 1) Understanding takes time. A flash of lightning convinced Luther that he should enter the laity – Over five years of Bible study brought him to the revelation that salvation is by faith alone. 2) People can change. How often do we denounce someone because of what they said at one time in the past? If John MacArthur wrote the 95 Theses – there would be Christians who would never forgive him for it. Food for thought eh? On to the reading: Point 40 – Sole Fide anyone? (Also Point 69) Point 48 -50– Luther visited Rome seven ye... Read more
