Divorce

A few days ago I bought the book, The Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis. I read most of it last night and finished it. I couldn't put it down. I don't know how he came up with the images he wrote about in general. Not just this book, but his science fiction series. The man was extremely creative.
What struck me about the book, which I'm assuming would strike anyone since it's what the book is about, are the various things that keep us from desiring God and real joy. It's amazing thinking about the things that we struggle to hold on to. He was making the point that we have to divorce ourselves from the world and all worldly desires COMPLETELY. It reminds me of Jim Elliot's quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." I'd recommend reading it. The book is very helpful.
It seems for a bit that Lewis believes in Purgatory but if you read further he seems to go away from that idea. In the preface to the book he says that he is in no way suggesting that what he writes describes what Heaven and Hell will truly be like. It's a man's dream.
Now usually I don't like to get too too personal on my blog. But I feel like the following might be a bit helpful to some people. (Not that most reading this haven't probably thought of this before.) C.S. Lewis brought up many things that we see as the ends in life instead of the means to what our true end should be. Things that may not be considered sinful things or sinful desires are sinful if they are the "end" to you. Our true end is Christ. "To live is Christ."
One of the things I desire most for my own future on earth is to be married and have a family. I have never been a huge career person. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I love Kindergarten, but I could still give it up tomorrow. Now this is not a bad desire in itself, but if I start viewing it as the end, the goal in life, it will be to my detriment. It will kill my affections for Christ. Marriage can be a wonderful means to our true end. Giving glory to God. Most Christians that I talk to that are married say it's one of the most sanctifying relationships on earth. I believe that a man and woman should only get married if they know that together they can help each other to love and serve God better than being apart. It just scared me to think that I could want anything else more than Christ. Something temporal, nonetheless. Anyway, just something I've been thinking about.

Tagged, I'm It (Not another post about Kindergarteners)

The rules are:


-Link to the person who tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
-Share 7 random and or weird facts about yourself.
-Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
-Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

My friend Deidre tagged me, so here goes:

1. When I was five years old, my top front four permanent teeth grew in behind my baby teeth, so for a short while, I had two rows of four teeth! Apparently it's pretty rare.

2. I write left-handed but I do everything else with my right hand.

3. I took accordion lessons for a month or two in fourth grade with a rented accordion and I received an accordion trophy at the end of it. Sadly, I threw the trophy away. It would have made the PERFECT white elephant gift.

4. I hate bacon. Maybe hate is too strong of a word. I really do not care for bacon.

5. Emily was scheduled to be born on my birthday. This would have not been cool since we already get asked if we are twins.

6. I only have one first cousin and he has always lived only a mile away from me. So he's more like a brother.

7. My favorite songs are The Prodigal Son Suite by Keith Green and Dream On by Aerosmith...if you're going for one Christian and one secular.



I tag Hayley, Marietjie, Amber, Melissa, Nicole, Monica, and Cassia.