The Daily Detour

Screwtape's warning to all of us

If you've ever read any of C.S. Lewis' works, you are presumably familiar with his classic, The Screwtape Letters. The book consists of a series of letters by the devilish mentor, Screwtape, to his young protege, Wormwood, attempting to teach him the art of temptation. His admonitions to Wormwood serve as a warning to us to maintain our own vigilance where temptations are concerned. Screwtape writes,

...do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you are separate the man from the Enemy [God]. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one--the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

Rarely is temptation so obvious and imposing as to identify itself as such. That is why the apostle Peter tells Christians to be alert, because "your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 4:8). Likewise, Paul warns that Satan himself "masquerades as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The question is, what are you doing to avoid the pull of temptation down that "gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts"?

10 books to read before you die

I recently came across this list of "10 Books to Read Before You Die". I've seen similar lists before and am always intrigued to see why people include certain books over others. I wonder, if you were to create a list (even if it had books that you hadn't actually read...yet), what would be on it? (I'll need to put some more thought into my list and I'll post it on the comment board.)

Feel free to offer your list below, and if you're especially ambitious, include some simple rationale for your choice. I'm always look for more books to add to my collection (though Jean might not agree :).

The end of summer reading challenge: Trying to understand Obama

Introducing the "End of Summer Reading Challenge"...

Just a little background here, I put a post up a week or so ago which emphasized Obama's efforts to connect with the Evangelicals, particularly those who represent the younger generation. In response to that post, Chris, one of our faithful TDD readers, strongly suggested that if I were to read Obama's bestselling book, The Audacity of Hope, I would recognize that our convictions aren't really that far apart. As he put it, "John...i'm guessing his convictions are closer to yours than you've been led to believe." He even graciously offered to let me borrow his copy of the book. (I'm opposed to borrowing the book, not because I don't want to--after all, it is cheaper--but more pragmatically because anyone who lets me borrow a book runs the great risk of its getting lost in the vortex that is my "books to read" library.)

I must confess, my first response to Chris's comment was to post a response and let it be, something along the lines that it would take more than reading a book to convince me that Obama and I share similar convictions. (which I do believe) For example, his willingness to vote against, and speak out against, the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act" while a member of the Illinois State Senate is merely one evidence that we come down very differently on culture of life issues. The fact that he is the most liberal Senator in the U.S. Senate (surpassing even liberal stalwarts like Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton) also gives an indication that we are looking at the world through very different lens. And there are certainly other considerations.

My intent was to move on, but I couldn't. Chris's suggestion got me thinking. I realized that my dismissive approach was premature. I needed to consider this whole issue more carefully. I realized that I hadn't actually read The Audacity of Hope, and doing so would at least give me a more informed understanding of Obama. As a proponent of informed voting here at The Daily Detour it's the least I could do, right?

 So, I've determined to read The Audacity of Hope and attempt (as much as is possible) to do so with an open-minded, yet critical (in the sense of critiquing, not merely castigating), approach.

But that's only half of the endeavor. I recognized that as with most autobiographical works of literature, particularly those published in the days leading up to one's own presidential campaign, the possibility for considerable bias and attempts to put the best face forward are very possible, even probable. And naturally, it is difficult to assume that Obama (particularly given the timing of this book's publication) did not factor his presidential aspirations into the equation.

So, I've also decided to read a book that is less biased toward Obama in order to help balance the evaluation. After looking around I've discovered that the media's love affair with Obama has left a vacuum of books which criticize him in any way. However, I was listening to a local talk radio show here in Indianapolis earlier this week in which they interviewed David Freddoso, who has just come out with his book, The Case Against Barack Obama. His book is attempting to put Obama under the microscope more closely than most media agencies have. As the jacket cover teases, "Has any major candidate for president of the United States ever received less critical examination than Barack Obama? Who is this man who was only elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004? How did someone with is meager record of accomplishment become the Democratic nominee for president?"

The question of his lack of critical examination is a fair one. And it, combined with Chris's prompting, has compelled me to do just that--examine Barack Obama, not just for what he says, but more importantly, for who he is (based on his associations, voting record, and history, among other factors).

And here's my challenge to you, Chris, but also to each of you if you're so inclined: Get a copy of both of these books and if you haven't already read them, read each one with the same attempt at fair-minded examination. My promise to you, the blog audience, is to do the same. At the end of my reading of each (and, Lord willing, before the election--just kidding!) I will bring a response to the blog about each book. (If need be, you can find them at your local bookstore, or simply the follow the above links to Amazon.)

A final word, so often we gravitate toward those people and perspectives which reinforced our own pre-conceived ideas about life. Thus, we are reluctant to genuinely consider the opposition's perspective. (And I'm certainly guilty of such an approach at times.) Only when we are willing to thoughtfully consider another person's perspective will we be able to better understand them and where we may have points of agreement and disagreement. I've often preached here on the blog about the importance of reasonable evaluation in our critique of anyone or anything. I've also preached about the importance of really getting to know our presidential candidates in order to make an informed decision in the fall about who will be the next leader of the free world. It's a heavy responsibility and one to take very seriously. That is why I've decided to engage in this effort (to demonstrate that I'm not always just full of hot air.) Feel free to join me. It should be quite the reading adventure.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: the death of a modern prophet

In the midst of our modern chaos people die and often go unnoticed. Consider the deaths of C.S. Lewis and Brave New World author Aldous Huxley, both of whom died on November 22, 1963. As history would have it, that also happened to be the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated, forever relegating Lewis and Huxley's contributions to a minor role in the larger drama of that day.

Let us not allow the death of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to go similarly unnoticed. This past Sunday, August 3, there died a man who rose from obscurity to become one of the 20th century's modern literary prophets. It was the power of his pen which eventually contributed to the crumbling of the Soviet empire, through such books as One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, The First Circle, Cancer Ward and The Gulag Archipelago, among many others. As The New York Times obituary tribute says, it was of the The Gulag Archipelago that American diplomat George F. Kennan said, it was “the greatest and most powerful single indictment of a political regime ever to be leveled in modern times.”

Dr. Albert Mohler on his blog cites a section of The Gulag Archipelago which gets to the heart of the struggle in which Solzhenitsyn was engaged:

In The Gulag Archipelago, Solzhenitsyn explained why the story had to be told:

"We have to condemn publicly the very idea that some people have the right to repress others. In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations."

Solzhenitsyn went on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1970, but along with such honors for his work came eventual explusion from his native Russia in 1974. Only in 1994 did he return after the fall of the regime he sought to dismantle. For it was his life experiences in the Russian gulag which put to death the notion that the godless regimes in Communist Russia had humanity's best interests at heart.

Do not underestimate the greatness of this man, nor the pervasive effect his literary epochs continue to have. (The sheer size of the obituary tribute in The New York Times should give us a slight indication of his influence)  His contributions to modern history are significant. Again quoting the NYT article:

David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, who has written extensively about the Soviet Union and visited Mr. Solzhenitsyn, wrote in 2001: “In terms of the effect he has had on history, Solzhenitsyn is the dominant writer of the 20th century. Who else compares? Orwell? Koestler? And yet when his name comes up now, it is more often than not as a freak, a monarchist, an anti-Semite, a crank, a has been.”

The literary force that was Solzhenitsyn will continue to be reckoned with, because it was driven by his continual effort to promote truth and transparency concerning Communism. Thus, we can echo the famous proverb that defined Solzhenitsyn himself (and which he presented in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech): "One word of truth shall outweigh the whole world." And so it has.

Conservative colossus William F. Buckley Jr. dead at 82

William F. Buckley Jr. died this morning at his home in Stamford, CT. He was found at his desk, a place where he has spent countless hours over the years expounding the conservative ideals which have shaped the political landscape of our nation.

In 1955, William Buckley founded National Review magazine, the flagship publication for modern conservative thought and opinion. His career involved a prolific volume of writing--primarily editorial columns and books--along with his hosting responsibilities of the public affairs television series, Firing Line.

As one recognizes throughout the pages of his autobiographical book, Miles Gone By, Buckley epitomized the renaissance man, who established expertise in a myriad of areas. For he was not only a writer, but also a pianist, an accomplished sailor, a former CIA agent and a master of languages.

Buckley's conservative influence cannot be overstated. In fact, like conservative icon, Dr. Russell Kirk, it was the weight of Buckley's intellect, combined with his foundational conservative principles, which shaped the thinking of the masses.

William F. Buckley has been a friend of the unknown and famous alike, and to those of all political persuasions and positions. And it is his immeasurable influence as the recognized founder of the modern conservative movement which will define his legacy. Mr. Buckley will be missed but will not be forgotten.

UPDATE: Dinesh D'Souza writes his tribute to Buckley, and Gary Varvel draws his as well.

A great Christmas present!

Normally, I don't elaborate on my Christmas presents. For anyone who knows me, you can probably guess that much of what I get at Christmas, birthdays, and other assorted holidays, centers around books. And while I am the consummate book nerd, my bookshelves are burgeoning with more books than even I am able to handle (although I am certainly up to the challenge). As I often share with people who ask whether I've read them all, "It's not whether you've read the books, what matters it that they're on your bookshelf." :)

That is why a few months ago I convinced Caleb and Andrew to join me on what we called, "The Great Bookshelf Adventure", where we went "antiquing" all day in pursuit of a bookshelf. After six hours, we happened upon just the right one, which has since found a cozy home right next to my bed. And the best part of "The Great Bookshelf Adventure" for my two little sidekicks? They each got to buy a new Matchbox car to go with the 2,347 they already have. Go figure! (Of course, they thought because everything in the antique store was old, that their still-in-the-box-from-last-year's-Christmas-sale Matchbox cars were just as old. To think that antiquers would prey on innocent little children like that! :)

Anyway, lest I travel much farther down that rabbit trail, my intent is to pass along to you a book recommendation that needs to find its way to your bookshelf. I did receive a Christmas present this year that is one of the best, most helpful, presents I have received since my Daisy BB gun back when I was thirteen. My wonderful wife Jean gave me The Apologetics Study Bible. This particular Bible comes from the Holman Bible Publishers and is written in a updated, and reliable, translation--the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

This Bible not only contains the usual biblical texts with accompanying study notes, but it also is filled with relevant articles on ethics, evolution, cults, archeology, the environment, etc... by many of the leading Christian thinkers of our day--Chuck Colson, J. P. Moreland, Philip Johnson, Ravi Zacharias and others. This Bible also includes a variety of other features that are specifically included to help those of you who are Christians better understand why you believe. It is a phenomenal resource!

For a resource of this caliber, it is also very reasonably priced. (You can get it at any local Christian bookstore, or at Amazon for as little as $26.39.)

I would highly recommend this Bible to anyone (Christian or non-Christian alike) who is interested in knowing more about Christianity--how the Christian worldview addresses the critical issues of our day, and the foundational context it provides for considering all other worldview belief systems. It is a must-have resource for any earnest Christian who is desiring to more effectively engage with the issues of our day. That is why it has not only found a permanent place on my new bookshelf, but it will get a lot of mileage in the years to come.

Kid Nation: "Lord of the Flies" redux?

If you've been watching TV for the last few months, you've surely seen the previews for the new reality TV show, "Kid Nation" (aptly set to the Tears For Fears hit, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"). This modern day rendition of William Golding's classic novel, Lord of the Flies, is set to air on Wednesday, September 19th at 8 p.m. EST on CBS. The setting for the show is Bonanza City, New Mexico, a ghost town in which 40 kids ages 8-15 are sent to live on their own without adult supervision for 40 days.

The premise for the show has already created controversy, and suggestions of abuse. (Here's some additional video coverage of the reaction to the show.) Significant debate continues as it is learned that parents gave the show "free reign" with their children.

I've been keeping tabs on this show, because I've always been fascinating by the satirical thesis William Golding put out on this idea back in the 50's. As the show evolves (assuming it isn't pulled after only a few weeks), be looking for some additional commentary here on The Daily Detour. Stay tuned...

The reality of Communism in Solzhenitsyn's Russia

As I mentioned in a previous post about our recent anniversary trip to the Caribbean back in May, I got a lot of much-needed reading done. One of the books I finished during that reading marathon was the seminal book by Russian dissident, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

In it, Solzhenitsyn uses the fictitious character, Ivan Denisovich, to describe a typical day in the Russian labor camp system. Ivan is no one of importance really. He is an everyman of sorts with a life as ordinary as any other citizen, and that is what makes this story so compelling. From the frigid temperatures of Siberia to the monotonous, back-breaking days of hard labor which started before sunrise and ended after sunset, Solzhenitsyn provides an intimate look into the life and mind of Ivan. This day in the life of Ivan Denisovich is representative of the oppression in the prison camps. For, as Ivan himself recognizes, "Even a prisoner's thoughts weren't free."

This narrative is a relatively easy read, and I highly recommend it for anyone exploring Solzhenitsyn's writings for the first time. As with the majority of his writings, he writes out of his own personal experience. Thus, his descriptions of life in the prison system leap from the pages as a testimony to the harsh realities of Marxism in practice.

In fact, during one of my doctoral classes a year ago, I heard my professor continually extol what he termed, "the genius of Marxism". So on a whim, I decided to put my grade to the test and write a paper critiquing Marxism as a real theory from an unstated, yet underlying, Christian worldview perspective. Because the sinful human condition is universal, I argued, the failure of Marxism was proportional to the basic misunderstanding of this reality. (In touching on this idea at times here at The Daily Detour, it has been received with mixed reaction. In fact, stay tuned. In a series of upcoming posts I will be responding directly to some recent comments made by our Resident Atheist on the "Summer of Love" post. It promises to be interesting. :)

From the sterile confines of the typical public university here in 21st century America, it is easy to preach the genius of Marxism. Tragically, Solzhenitsyn and the forgotten others who disappeared along Russia's Gulag archipelago have a different story to share, assuming they have even lived to share it. A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich opens a revealing portal to that experience that should not be missed.

A Mind for God

One of our regular TDD readers, Ben, recently gave me a little book to read. At first he was going to let me borrow it, but upon giving it a cursory glance, I immediately returned it, because I knew I couldn't just borrow it. I had to get a copy of my own (which has since been covered in blue ink from the overflow of handwritten notes which now saturate the pages). It is a wonderful little gem called, A Mind for God, by James Emery White.

The premise of White's book is that Christians need to be intentional about cultivating their minds in order to be able to "think Christianly" about the world around us. In fact, he puts it this way:

The peril of our day is that when a Christian mind is most needed, Christians express little need for the mind, and as a result, even less resolve to develop it…And even if we do not lose our own minds, we will certainly lose the minds of others. This is the double-edged threat of our day; apart from a Christian mind we will either be taken captive by the myriad of worldviews contending for our attention, or we will fail to make the Christian voice heard and considered above the din. Either way, we either begin to think or lose the fight. (pp. 14, 16)

One of the great observations/complaints from those on the outside looking in at Christianity is the perceived inability to reason. While the truth of this observation may not be as widespread as one might be lead to believe, there are certainly enough examples of unthinking Christians as to warrant White's call for correction. Too many times we embrace a Christian faith to the exclusion of a Christian mind, allowing others (be it, the media, our politicians, the latest books, or television programs...) to do our thinking for us. And, the credibility of the Christian message has suffered for it. White makes a very compelling case that the cultivation of the mind is not an option for the earnest Christian. It is, in fact, a spiritual responsibility. For it flows out of a desire to fulfill the Greatest Commandment in the Bible--loving God with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:29-30).

The appeal of A Mind for God extends far beyond the content itself. It is a relatively short book (approximately 100 pages in length), and White has included some extremely helpful resource appendices in the back for further reading and study.

I would wholeheartedly encourage every one of our TDD readers to obtain a copy and read through it, and pass it along to other family and friends. If you are a Christian, this little treasure will significantly further your understanding of what it means to think and live as a Christian. For those of your who do not share the Christian faith, this book offers an invaluable look into the heart of the Christian faith that is solidly built on reason.

James Emery White's clarion call should reverberate in the minds of all Christians. There is a pressing need for thoughtful Christian engagement in these times in which we live. Let this book be your first step toward preparing to engage in that effort.

UPDATE: For another excellent review of this book, check out this Kingdom People post.

Battle Cry

A couple of weeks ago I finished a lengthy novel by the late Leon Uris entitled, Battle Cry. He is a phenomenal author of modern history. As one description of Uris suggested, he was known for his "panoramic, action-filled novels which depict determined individuals during the dramatic upheavals of modern history." Battle Cry is no exception, with Uris using his own experiences in the Marines as the real-life context from which to draw his description of the exploits of the Sixth Marines during World War II.

I could try to describe the richness of Uris's depiction, but the description on the back of the book expresses it better than I ever could:

They came from America’s cities and farms and reservations—boys who became men under the withering fire of a bold and terrible enemy. In Pacific killing zones called Tarawa and Guadalcanal, they stared into the savage face of war and did not flinch. In their country’s most desperate hour—in the blood, anguish, and terror of combat—they would grow to be comrades, soldiers, heroes, Marines…This is their story.

A military-oriented novel may not be your first choice in leisure reading. But I always find it sobering to gain some much-needed perspective both on the nature of war and more importantly, on the gallant sacrifices made by those who choose to face the horrors of war in order to ensure our freedoms in this country. The Marines fictionalized in Battle Cry are not necessarily real people, but they represent the faceless names of those who have been forgotten by all but their families and closest friends. They represent the quest of the everyman who took up arms and faced downed the forces of evil threatening liberty's existence during World War II.

The thread of heroism epitomized by those in our Greatest Generation is similarly woven through the lives and sacrifice of our soldiers today around the world. Let us never forget the generations of valor who "have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom."

UPDATE: Lest we forget, here's a moving video tribute sent along to The Daily Detour by Pete Eicher. We've referenced this video before, but it's always worth seeing again.