If you enjoy listening to audiobooks, you might want to check out this deal. Each month, ChristianAudio.com offers a free audiobook download. This month’s free selection is Martin Luther: In His Own Words, by Martin Luther (run time 2 hours, 45 minutes; normally $12.98). Use the coupon code MAY2008 to download the book for free this month only.

Here is a description from the site:

Most all Christians know the name Martin Luther. Less familiar, however, are his words. This compilation of many of Luther’s most important writings serves as an excellent introduction to those new to Luther. It also provides a fresh medium for people familiar with his writing.

Included in this volume is:

• The Small Catechism
• 95 Theses
• On Faith and Coming to Christ
• On Confession and the Lord’s Supper
• Of the Office of Preaching
• Excerpt from Luther’s Tower Experience
• The Last Written Words of Luther

You can listen to a free audio sample from Martin Luther: In His Own Words here.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters on Friday, May 16. In order to whet your appetite, I am counting down the fifteen days to the movie by sharing a favorite selection from each of the fifteen chapters of C. S. Lewis’ masterful book, Prince Caspian. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead! But if you haven’t read the book, you should really read it before going to see the movie anyways!) Here goes — let’s count down to Caspian!

From Chapter 14: How All Were Very Busy

They came to a little cottage where a child stood in the doorway crying. “Why are you crying my love?” asked Aslan. The child, who had never even seen a picture of a lion, was not afraid of him. “Auntie’s very ill,” she said. “She’s going to die.” Then Aslan went to go in at the door of the cottage, but it was too small for him. So, when he had got his head through, he pushed with his shoulders (Lucy and Susan fell off when he did this) and lifted the whole house up and it all fell backwards and apart. And there, still in her bed, though the bed was now in the open air, lay a little old woman who looked as if she had Dwarf blood in her. She was at death’s door, but when she opened her eyes and saw the bright, hairy head of the lion staring into her face, she did not scream or faint. She said, “Oh, Aslan! I knew it was true. I’ve been waiting for this all my life. Have you come to take me away?”

“Yes, dearest,” said Aslan. “But not the long journey yet.” And as he spoke, like the flush creeping along the underside of a cloud at sunrise, the colour came back to her white face and her eyes grew bright and she sat up and said, “Why I do declare I feel that better. I think I could take a little breakfast this morning.”

Thoughts:  Aslan, like Jesus, is a healer. Lewis alludes to several healing stories from the gospels in this account. There are hints of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-15), the four friends lowering the paralytic through the roof (Mark 2:4), and Jesus raising the young girl from the dead all mixed in here (Luke 8:54-55). Eventually, Jesus will take us on the long journey where we will be healed from all pain and sorrow forever. If you are in Christ, death is not something you need fear; rather it is something you can be waiting for all your life. (Thoughts? Comments? Do you have a favorite scene or quote from chapter fourteen?)

All the Countdown Posts:  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters on Friday, May 16. In order to whet your appetite, I am counting down the fifteen days to the movie by sharing a favorite selection from each of the fifteen chapters of C. S. Lewis’ masterful book, Prince Caspian. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead! But if you haven’t read the book, you should really read it before going to see the movie anyways!) Here goes — let’s count down to Caspian!

From Chapter 13: The High King in Command

“Your Majesty, please.” Peter turned and there stood the eldest of the Bulgy Bears. “If you please, your Majesty,” it said, “I’m a bear, I am … It was always a right of the bears to supply one marshal of the lists.”

“Don’t let him,” whispered Trumpkin to Peter. “He’s a good creature, but he’ll shame us all. He’ll go to sleep and he will suck his paws. In front of the enemy too.”

“I can’t help that,” said Peter. “Because he’s right. The Bears had that privilege. I can’t imagine how it has been remembered all these years, when so many other things have been forgotten.”

“Please, your Majesty,” said the Bear.

“It is your right,” said Peter. “And you shall be one of the marshals. But you must remember not to suck your paws.”

“Of course not,” said the Bear in a very shocked voice.”

“Why, you’re doing it this minute!” bellowed Trumpkin.

The Bear whipped its paw out of its mouth and pretended it hadn’t heard.

Thoughts:  The Bible says, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (1 Corinthians 1:27) The Bulgy Bears remind me that most of us who belong to God are just simple folk. God uses the simple to confound the wise; the weak to shame the strong. There is a lot of talk about excellence in the church today. Although we should certainly give God our best, we must not forget that the church is primarily a family. Families operate out of love and relationships rather than the professional standards of the business world. So let us give each other opportunities to serve in the church, even if we’re not perfect at what we do, even if we end up sucking our paws and embarrassing each other along the way. God doesn’t mind. After all, serving is our privilege and our right. (Thoughts? Comments? Do you have a favorite scene or quote from chapter thirteen?)

All the Countdown Posts:  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters on Friday, May 16. In order to whet your appetite, I am counting down the fifteen days to the movie by sharing a favorite selection from each of the fifteen chapters of C. S. Lewis’ masterful book, Prince Caspian. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead! But if you haven’t read the book, you should really read it before going to see the movie anyways!) Here goes — let’s count down to Caspian!

From Chapter 12: Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance

Tell that tale your own way for all I care,” answered Nikabrik. “But whether it was that the Horn was blown too late, or whether there was no magic in it, no help has come. You, you great clerk, you master magician, you know-all; are you still asking us to hang our hopes on Aslan and King Peter and all the rest of it?”

“I must confess — I cannot deny it — that I am deeply disappointed in the result of the operation,” came the answer [from Doctor Cornelius].

“To speak plainly,” said Nikabrik,” your wallet’s empty, your eggs addled, your fish un-caught, your promises broken.” Stand aside then and let others work. And that is why — ”

“The help will come,” said Trufflehunter. “I stand by Aslan. Have patience, like us beasts. The help will come. It may even now be at the door.”

Thoughts:  This section is a good illustration of waiting upon the Lord. Caspian has blown the horn, and they have called upon Aslan for help, but Nikabrik grows impatient and wants to take matters into his own hands. There are many Biblical examples of people running ahead of the Lord, not least Abraham and Sarah who seek to build a family through Hagar rather than wait for God’s promise. Trufflehunter has it right. “Have patience … The help will come. It may even now be at the door.” Little does he know that as he speaks these words, Peter, Edmund and Trumpkin are literally just outside the door listening quietly to the whole conversation. Are you going through a difficult time? Have you called out to God? Then have patience and wait upon the Lord. Help may be nearer than you think. (Thoughts? Comments? Do you have a favorite scene or quote from chapter twelve?)

All the Countdown Posts:  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

Yesterday’s message in the Life of Samuel series was called Dedicated to God, taken from 1 Samuel 1:21-28. The main idea of the message was that we should dedicate our children and our lives to the Lord. Here is a brief outline of the message:

I. Balancing your responsibilities (21-23)

Hannah and Elkanah had conflicting responsibilities before the Lord. We must seek to fulfill our Biblical responsibilities in various areas without neglecting other areas. This requires balance.

II. Sacrificing what is dear. (24)

Hannah and Elkanah brought more than was required to Samuel’s dedication. They also willingly gave up their son at a young age to service to the Lord. True dedication involves sacrificing that which is dear to you. It is not an easy thing to do.

III. Following through (25-28)

It does no good to dedicate something to God unless you actually follow through with it. Hannah followed through on her vow at great cost to herself.

Note: Click on the Sermons tab at the top of the blog for this and other messages.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters on Friday, May 16. In order to whet your appetite, I am counting down the fifteen days to the movie by sharing a favorite selection from each of the fifteen chapters of C. S. Lewis’ masterful book, Prince Caspian. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead! But if you haven’t read the book, you should really read it before going to see the movie anyways!) Here goes — let’s count down to Caspian!

From Chapter 11: The Lion Roars

“Hush!” said the other four, for now Aslan had stopped and turned and stood facing them, looking so majestic that they felt as glad as anyone can who feels afraid, and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad …

“Oh, Aslan,” said King Peter, dropping on one knee and raising the Lion’s heavy paw to his face, “I’m so glad. And I’m so sorry. I’ve been leading them wrong ever since we started and especially yesterday morning.”

“My dear son,” said Aslan.

Then he turned and welcomed Edmund. “Well done,” were his words …

“And now!” said Aslan in a much louder voice with just a hint of a roar in it, while his tail lashed his flanks. “And now, where is this little Dwarf, this famous swordsman and archer, who doesn’t believe in lions? Come here, Son of Earth, come HERE!” and the last word was no longer the hint of a roar but almost the real thing.

“Wraiths and wreckage,” gasped Trumpkin in the ghost of a voice.

Thoughts:  “Let those who fear the LORD say: ‘His love endures forever.’” (Psalm 118:4) There is an irony in this verse. How do we fear the Lord and proclaim his love at the same time? By recognizing both his awesome power and authority as well as his mercy and grace. I like Lewis’ phrase here: “they felt as glad as anyone can who feels afraid, and as afraid as anyone can who feels glad.” The children approach Aslan humbly and reverently, confessing their wrongs. Aslan gently welcomes and forgives them. Trumpkin, on the other hand, has not believed in Aslan. He must first meet Aslan as the Lion who roars before he is ready to proclaim Aslan’s love and kindness. “Wraiths and wreckage!” (Thoughts? Comments? Do you have a favorite scene or quote from chapter eleven?)

All the Countdown Posts:  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

Andrée Seu shares some thoughts on writing. “Dirty little secrets of the trade: Writers don’t know where they’re going till they get there; first drafts are always pathetic; there is no such thing as an original thought.”

Rick Phillips provides a nice look at the Lord’s Prayer. “Let me encourage you to look to the Lord’s Prayer for a well-balanced, rightly prioritized prayer life. And let me encourage you to pray. What a difference it makes to our lives when we spend time with the Lord, and what a pleasure it is for Him to fellowship with our trusting hearts.” (HT: ekklesia)

Adrian Warnock shares about three women who were healed in different ways. “God does heal today. Sometimes, like for my friend, it is a mysterious process that some observers might simply put down to the body somehow curing itself … Others are healed dramatically as Maggie Parker has been. But a final group are healed through the God-given skills of the doctors. We should rejoice and thank God no matter which method he uses to heal.”

Author L. B. Graham talks about the difference between science fiction and fantasy. “Fantasy revolves mostly around stories displaced in time that use “magic” or powers like magic to do things not ordinarily possible in reality. Science fiction, however, refers more to stories displaced in space, using technology to do things not ordinarily possible in reality … As I was developing my story, I kept thinking about blending these conceptions … So, I set out to build a world with an alternative technological basis that could approximate some aspects of a more modern world, even if fantastical powers were being also wielded and fantastical creatures were roaming the land and sea.”

Mortimer Adler explains what it means to own a book. “There are three kinds of book owners. The first has all the standard sets and best sellers — unread, untouched. (This deluded individual owns woodpulp and ink, not books.) The second has a great many books — a few of them read through, most of them dipped into, but all of them as clean and shiny as the day they were bought. (This person would probably like to make books his own, but is restrained by a false respect for their physical appearance.) The third has a few books or many — every one of them dog-eared and dilapidated, shaken and loosened by continual use, marked and scribbled in from front to back. (This man owns books.)”

David Wayne (the Jolly Blogger) comments on how only extremists in the church seem to get noticed by the press. “I wish these folks would send an undercover journalist to follow the folks at one of the ordinary, run of the mill, smallish churches of America, like mine. And I wish they would follow the folks for a few days in their normal everyday lives. What they would find is that most evangelical Christendom is made up of ordinary people, living ordinary lives, doing their best and trying to please God in the midst of it. I have no doubt a reporter would probably uncover some sin and some greatness, but for the most part he wouldn’t uncover much weirdness. Then again, I guess such a story would probably be too boring to sell.”

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters on Friday, May 16. In order to whet your appetite, I am counting down the fifteen days to the movie by sharing a favorite selection from each of the fifteen chapters of C. S. Lewis’ masterful book, Prince Caspian. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead! But if you haven’t read the book, you should really read it before going to see the movie anyways!) Here goes — let’s count down to Caspian!

From Chapter 10: The Return of the Lion

She never stopped to think whether he was a friendly lion or not. She rushed to him. She felt her heart would burst if she lost a moment. And the next thing she knew was that she was kissing him and putting her arms as far around his neck as she could and burying her face in the beautiful rich silkiness of his mane.

“Aslan, Aslan. Dear Aslan,” sobbed Lucy. “At last.”

The great beast rolled over on his side so that Lucy fell, half sitting and half lying between his front paws. He bent forward and just touched her nose with his tongue. His warm breath came all around her. She gazed up into the large wise face.

“Welcome, child,” he said.

“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”

“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.

“Not because you are?”

“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”

“You mean,” said Lucy rather faintly, “that it would have turned out all right — somehow? But how? Please, Aslan! Am I not to know?”

“To know what would have happened, child?” said Aslan. “No. Nobody is ever told that.”

“Oh dear,” said Lucy.

“But anyone can find out what will happen,” said Aslan.

Thoughts:  Our great hope as believers in Jesus Christ is to be united with our Lord when he returns (Titus 2:13; 1 John 3:2-3). Lewis captures some of the beauty of that moment in this scene where Lucy meets Aslan upon his return. The scene also gives us some helpful insight into Christian growth. Aslan seems bigger to Lucy not because he has aged but because she has. Although God never changes, we learn more of him as we grow older in our faith. Finally, Lucy learns that she made the wrong decision back at the gorge when she followed the others instead of Aslan. She asks Aslan what would have happened if she had obeyed, but Aslan will not tell her. How many times have we wanted to know what would have happened if we had made one decision rather than the other? No one can find out what would have happened, but as Aslan says, “Anyone can find out what will happen.” Don’t waste time on the might-have-beens. You can pick up right where you are now and follow Christ in obedience today. (Philippians 3:13-14) (Thoughts? Comments? Do you have a favorite scene or quote from chapter ten?)

All the Countdown Posts:  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

Chuck Swindoll’s Insight for Living ministry presents Insight’s Archaeology Handbook: The Key Finds and Why They Matter. This 120-page handbook highlights the top ten archaeological discoveries relating to the Bible. Complete with photographs, the book covers the Temple Mount, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Merneptah Stele, the Tel Dan Inscription, the Sea of Galilee boat and more. You can view a video about the book here.

HT: BiblePlaces Blog

Last year I noticed that the official prayer Chuck Swindoll composed as Honorary Chairperson for the National Day of Prayer left out Jesus’ name. I was surprised because the National Day of Prayer Task Force is specifically Christian in outlook. I called their office but no one was able to explain why the prayer was not offered in Jesus’ name.

This year Dr. Ravi Zacharias was Honorary Chairperson, and again the official prayer did not contain Jesus’ name. I was still curious but did not call as I hadn’t got an answer before. However, Paul Edwards had Ravi on his radio program yesterday and asked him about it. Here is what Ravi said:

When the National Day of Prayer was formed, Yvonette Bright struggled with bringing this in, and after President Reagan got it through — barely got it through in time, Evangelical leaders got together and realized that the ONE prayer that had limitations, just the one prayer of the Honorary Chairperson, would be limited because it goes into the Congressional Record; that no distinctive name could be used that would make it appear that Congress is supporting one religion over against the other, face a law suit and it would be finished.

Hurrah! After a year of waiting I finally have an answer. Now I wonder why no one could tell me that last year?

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian opens in theaters on Friday, May 16. In order to whet your appetite, I am counting down the fifteen days to the movie by sharing a favorite selection from each of the fifteen chapters of C. S. Lewis’ masterful book, Prince Caspian. (Warning: Plot spoilers ahead! But if you haven’t read the book, you should really read it before going to see the movie anyways!) Here goes — let’s count down to Caspian!

From Chapter 9: What Lucy Saw

“Look! Look! Look! cried Lucy.

“Where? What?” asked everyone.

“The Lion,” said Lucy. “Aslan himself. Didn’t you see?” Her face had changed completely and her eyes shone.

“Do you really mean — ” began Peter.

“Where did you think you saw him? asked Susan.

“Don’t talk like a grown-up,” said Lucy, stamping her foot. I didn’t think I saw him. I saw him.”

“Where, Lu? asked Peter.

“Right up there between those mountain ashes. No, this side of the gorge. And up, not down. Just the opposite of the way you want to go. And he wanted us to go where he was — up there.”

“How do you know that was what he wanted?” asked Edmund.

“He — I — I just know,” said Lucy, “by his face.”

The others all looked at each other in puzzled silence.

Thoughts:  The children get lost on their way to the Stone Table. They come to a precipice by a gorge and have to decide whether to go up or down. Just as they are about to go down, Lucy spots Aslan. She is convinced that Aslan wants them to go up, but the others are not so sure. How do you know when God is speaking to you? How do you know when God is speaking to someone else? You don’t always know. Using wisdom from God’s Word as your guide, sometimes the best you can do is pray about it and then make your decision in faith moving forward. Don’t worry, God will take care of you. It is more important to trust God than your ability to discern his will in a particular situation. (Thoughts? Comments? Do you have a favorite scene or quote from chapter nine?)

All the Countdown Posts:  Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

Click here for more Narnia and Caspian related posts.
Click here for Narnia sermon series.

Survival Tip #47:

Never buy your wife vacuum cleaner bags for Mother’s Day.