Here's another great book by C.S. Lewis, one of the greatest authors
of our time. Also, we've got more comin'

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MERE CHRISTIANITY - C.S. LEWIS (1952)
by Josh M. Shepherd

At the height of World War II, a British air raid warden watched
young men be led to their deaths daily. Shell-shocked and
despairing, their lives started to look meaningless even to
themselves. Prompted one day to address the Royal Air Force, this
man didn't patronize the soldiers, but rather spoke of healing in
spite of suffering, and assurance in the face of attacks. He was
C.S. Lewis. A decade later, he condensed his talks into Mere
Christianity, a book that examines the meaning of it all through word-
pictures and common language.

Fast forward fifty years. With the passing of an old millennium, man
was supposed to finally achieve betterment. Yet today more than
ever, religious beliefs are bought like grocery store items, for sale
prices or trendy commercials. Our ever-sophisticated technologies
deliver ever-repulsive entertainment. And while gunplay in suburban
schools has become one battleground, ours is mostly an invisible war
with casualties unaware of their eternal fate. The only advantage to
such a stagnant culture? Old answers, like those of a professor to
frightened servicemen, still have immediate relevance.

Mere Christianity is actually an anthology of four short,
interconnected books. The first, titled "Right and Wrong as a Clue
to the Meaning of the Universe," lays the groundwork. "Likely, this
very day, we have failed to practise ourselves the kind of behaviour
we expect from other people," observes Lewis, leading up to some easy-
to-swallow truths on human nature and moral conscience. His plain
speaking style unravels society's double-talk in a way that compels
one to read on. Never assuming and always thinking through, it
progresses from nailing down a Moral Law to some Author of that code,
and ultimately a "not soft, but good" God. Lewis sees simpletons as
both atheists and those who subscribe to "Christianity-and-water...
leaving out all the difficult and terrible doctrines."

The value of other religions, a driver's ideal gear-changing--not
what one expects in Christianity 101, but philosophy and
conversational examples are all part of the package with C.S. Lewis.
Christ-life, something neither mental nor moral, is presented as the
superbiological evolution by which Jesus operates through believers.
Living this inspired life with moral directions doesn't stop one from
steering oneself, but keeps the human "vessel" in formation with
those around him, and on the course intended by a Higher
Authority. "A silly idea is current," says Lewis in a chapter
titled 'Faith,' "that good people do not know what temptation
means... a man who gives into temptation after five minutes simply
does not know what it would have been like an hour later." Other
virtues are examined with equal practicality and eye-opening
revelation, including balanced sexual desire (dealt with in a tell-it-
straight manner), forgiveness (even to those unlovable), humility
(opposite of "The Great Sin"--pride), and even alert intelligence (or
prudence). How the author manages any depth covering such broad
subject matter is inconceivable, yet every chapter cites specifics
and approaches the topic from different angles.

To conclude the writing, a "science of God" comes to head in an 11-
part theology introduction titled "Beyond Personality or First Steps
in the Doctrine of the Trinity." It turns out to be a full-blown
outline on spiritual dimensions and paradoxes (not a mere preface).
As the author states freely, he is a "mere" layman-the premise here
isn't to complicate or confuse, only to compel new Christians past
their own limited experience. Though an uncreated God defies
conventions, theology systems underscore proven, Biblical ways to
approach God when one's feelings and surroundings shift. Wonder
permeates Mere Christianity, a classic from which Christians will
learn as much as atheists.

Find out more about C.S. Lewis at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/books/cslewis


AVAILABLE YESTERDAY, JUNE 26 (at cMusicWeb.com or at your local store)

LIVE - P.O.D.
Not much info is available on this release, but we believe it is a
release from way back when, before they were signed to a major-label
Atlantic Records.

If you're looking for a great PICK OF THE WEEK, check out any release
from last week, or wait until some great ones next week.


AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER (on cMusicWeb.com)

ROCK: http://cMusicWeb.com/rock
Empty - Tait [7/03]
Disappear - PFR [7/17]

POP: http://cMusicWeb.com/pop
Invitation to Eavesdrop - Shaun Groves [7/17]
Let's Fly - Cheri Keaggy [7/17]

WORSHIP: http://cMusicWeb.com/worship
Created to Worship - Rita Springer [7/03]
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever 2 - Various [7/31]

Click on the album titles on the genre page to order them and recieve
them on the release date.


I know the content of cMusicMail is getting kinda slim, but not too
much is goin' down in the Christian music business, besides all the
festivals/tours, and you can find one near you at iTickets.com.
We'll have a report from the Creation Festival, which is going on
NOW, next week, so check it out! If you have any comments or
questions, please reply to this e-mail or send them to
webmaster@... We'd love to hear from you!

Dan Ficker
http://cMusicWeb.com/
a different approach to music
ICQ - 43224317 AOL IM - dMusicWeb