Chapter IX
Why do our “trough periods” make us so vulnerable (43)? Is this applicable to you?
I believe that “trough periods” make us so vulnerable because, being at such a low and depressing time, we crave pleasure and want a break from all of the stress and sadness. Yes, I think that this quote is very applicable to me. When something bad happens or I become overly stressed, I can easily fall to the point of just wanting to give up and indulging in something pleasurable. A simple example in my life is when I find myself rushing to finish a big project. Sometimes, it can become so late, and I can become so tired; but, I know that I personally have to focus and get things done before I can finally sprawl out on my bed.
What beautiful truth about pleasure does Screwtape share? Make a list of pleasures.
Screwtape shares that God made pleasure.
My Pleasures:
• Relaxing in a warm bath at night
• Sleeping in my comfy bed
• Walking with my dogs
• Hanging out with friends
• Drawing/Art
Chapter X
What are your thoughts regarding “parallel lives” (51)? What does this mean to you?
I believe that parallel lives are something that can almost be subconscious at times. It’s a bit scary to think about, but I think that I do act differently and can put different fronts as I interact with different people. I think that, for me personally, I act very differently when I’m with my parents than when I’m in a classroom. I can find myself back talking to my parents when they ask me to do some chores at home, but I can find myself voluntarily doing the same chores at school. I think that parallel lives can be a serious issue, especially when it comes to faith. If I were to be a picturesque Christian in a school or church setting, but not be the same at home, I think that would be a big signal to evaluate my life and what I really believe.
Chapter XI
What are your thoughts on music and joy after reading this chapter?
After reading the chapter, I feel as if music and joy can indeed cause a reaction that the devil should be weary of; but, at the same time, I also believe that certain forms of music and joy can be very harmful to Christians. I agree with Screwtape and believe that music is somewhat of a sensual experience; however, I think that certain forms of music can hurt a Christian’s walk. Lyrics, in my opinion, can be especially harmful. Some songs can be very appealing to the ear but have lyrics that are very corrupt when looked at alone. I truly believe that what you put into your eyes and ears will eventually be reflected in the way you act and the things you say; therefore, if you constantly listen to music with immoral lyrics, I believe that you will be appealing to the devil and what he wants. As for joy, I also believe that certain forms of joy can hurt a Christian’s walk. Sometimes I can be joyful for the wrong reasons. If something bad happens to a person that I dislike, I can find myself being joyful as a result. In that sense, I think that both music and joy can actually be appealing to the devil.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Chapters V-VIII Questions
Chapter V
What is Screwtape’s idea on the best way for humans to die? Why?
Screwtape mentions that it would be so much better if all humans died in nursing homes among lying doctors, nurses, and friends who promise life. In Screwtape’s mind, it would be best if everyone died when they least expected it. When a person thinks about death, one of the most important questions he thinks about is where he is going to go after he dies. If a person were to die whilst still believing that he had a long life ahead of him, he would probably never have had a reason for thinking about his destination after death.
Chapter VI
How does “...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary” (28)? How does this apply to your life?
Screwtape wants the malice inside of us to be shown to the people we have direct contact with; however, he wants any benevolence within us to be used in a way that can’t be seen by the people around us. One example is when I pray for and participate in events to support disasters such as the earthquake in Japan. I can seemingly be actively participating and sending out my heartfelt prayers and messages to all of those people I do not even know; however, the same night, I may backtalk to my parents or complain about dinner. Screwtape wants me to use any good will I have on people that I do not personally know, and then reveal the malice inside of me to those I do know in real life.
Chapter VII
How do you picture the devil? What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?
When I truly think about the devil, I picture a fallen angel. He is still beautiful as an angel, but he is tainted with sin; however, unconsciously, I know that I can think of him as a yet untainted angel. If I truly thought of him as a sinful creature all of the time, I would not be able to fall into his temptations as easily. I would realize how sinful he really is, and how I need to always be on my guard. This chapter challenges me to always remember Satan and his goal to cause me to fall into sin. I truly need to always think on whether an action is sinful or not. There are certain sins such as complaining that can already be subconscious that I also need to remember. Satan is a master tempter and I can get often caught off guard.
Chapter VIII
What is the “law of Undulation” (37)? Give an example of this in your life.
The law of Undulation says that human life will constantly be changing and going through periods of ups and downs. It says that human life will never be just one continuous peak of good or bad times. An example in my life would be when I am having a great day at school, only to realize that I forgot a piece of homework at home. Something small like that can make me forget the wonderful day I was having and put me into a bad mood for the rest of the day.
“Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys” (40). What are your thoughts on this?
I believe that this quote is very accurate. Once a Christian reaches the point where he or she wants to fully trust and obey God in the hardest of times or the lowest of peaks, he or she has reached a point in his faith where it would be very difficult for Satan to cause him or her to fall into temptation. I believe that once a Christian reaches the point where he strives to fully follow God during the hardest of times, he should be able to easily follow Him during the high peaks as well. Satan realizes this, and he strives to entangle new and growing Christians before they can reach this point; however, I think that reaching this point in a Christian walk is extremely challenging. Especially in today's society, it can be easy to forget God's presence during the high peaks in our lives-- only to remember Him once he places us through a trial. Even during trials, it is easy to complain and wonder why these things are happening to me. Overall, I believe that this quote displays a point that all Christians should be striving to reach in their walk with God; although, reaching that point is definitely not an easy feat.
What is Screwtape’s idea on the best way for humans to die? Why?
Screwtape mentions that it would be so much better if all humans died in nursing homes among lying doctors, nurses, and friends who promise life. In Screwtape’s mind, it would be best if everyone died when they least expected it. When a person thinks about death, one of the most important questions he thinks about is where he is going to go after he dies. If a person were to die whilst still believing that he had a long life ahead of him, he would probably never have had a reason for thinking about his destination after death.
Chapter VI
How does “...malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary” (28)? How does this apply to your life?
Screwtape wants the malice inside of us to be shown to the people we have direct contact with; however, he wants any benevolence within us to be used in a way that can’t be seen by the people around us. One example is when I pray for and participate in events to support disasters such as the earthquake in Japan. I can seemingly be actively participating and sending out my heartfelt prayers and messages to all of those people I do not even know; however, the same night, I may backtalk to my parents or complain about dinner. Screwtape wants me to use any good will I have on people that I do not personally know, and then reveal the malice inside of me to those I do know in real life.
Chapter VII
How do you picture the devil? What does this chapter challenge you about regarding the spiritual warfare over your soul?
When I truly think about the devil, I picture a fallen angel. He is still beautiful as an angel, but he is tainted with sin; however, unconsciously, I know that I can think of him as a yet untainted angel. If I truly thought of him as a sinful creature all of the time, I would not be able to fall into his temptations as easily. I would realize how sinful he really is, and how I need to always be on my guard. This chapter challenges me to always remember Satan and his goal to cause me to fall into sin. I truly need to always think on whether an action is sinful or not. There are certain sins such as complaining that can already be subconscious that I also need to remember. Satan is a master tempter and I can get often caught off guard.
Chapter VIII
What is the “law of Undulation” (37)? Give an example of this in your life.
The law of Undulation says that human life will constantly be changing and going through periods of ups and downs. It says that human life will never be just one continuous peak of good or bad times. An example in my life would be when I am having a great day at school, only to realize that I forgot a piece of homework at home. Something small like that can make me forget the wonderful day I was having and put me into a bad mood for the rest of the day.
“Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do our Enemy's will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys” (40). What are your thoughts on this?
I believe that this quote is very accurate. Once a Christian reaches the point where he or she wants to fully trust and obey God in the hardest of times or the lowest of peaks, he or she has reached a point in his faith where it would be very difficult for Satan to cause him or her to fall into temptation. I believe that once a Christian reaches the point where he strives to fully follow God during the hardest of times, he should be able to easily follow Him during the high peaks as well. Satan realizes this, and he strives to entangle new and growing Christians before they can reach this point; however, I think that reaching this point in a Christian walk is extremely challenging. Especially in today's society, it can be easy to forget God's presence during the high peaks in our lives-- only to remember Him once he places us through a trial. Even during trials, it is easy to complain and wonder why these things are happening to me. Overall, I believe that this quote displays a point that all Christians should be striving to reach in their walk with God; although, reaching that point is definitely not an easy feat.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Chapters I-IV Questions
Chapter I
Give an example or two about situations in which you are "...attending to universal issues and withdrawing...attention from the stream of immediate sense experiences" (2).
One recent example that I can think of is when I decided to clean my room before school started. I was doing very well and making good progress until I reached the last third of my room where my computer is located. I noticed that I had received a message from a friend and decided to respond. Unfortunately, I quickly found myself engrossed with my computer and spending nearly an hour on trivial things such as Youtube videos. Two-thirds of my room had been cleaned efficiently, but the last third had to wait until the following morning to be cleaned.
What does Lewis mean by “real life” throughout the chapter?
“Real life” in this chapter is talking about the tangible features and events that we experience each day. It is the immediate world around us that does not involve voluntary, deep, or spiritual thoughts. Real life is what we can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. It is what the devil can use in any situation to distract us and keep us from more important thoughts or actions. It can be as simple as the sound of a phone vibrating while reading a daily devotion.
Chapter II
What do you think about the following quote? "The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour" (7).
I think that this quote is very true, and that God does allow trials to be placed into our lives. I believe that God places these disappointments in our lives in the hopes of giving us instructions and ultimately bringing us closer to Him; however, when we forget that God is always good and knows our own individual limits and capabilities, it can also be a risky time and provide the devil with a perfect opportunity to attack our hearts and lead us astray. I believe that Screwtape understands this detail very well and knows that it will become harder to tempt a person once he or she has overcome these trials.
Chapter III
What are your "daily pinpricks" (11)?
For myself, spiral paper eats at something deep inside me. My biggest daily pinprick is when I see people outside of the supermarket bringing a cart full of groceries to their vehicle and then carelessly leaving the emptied cart in the middle of the sidewalk or on the grass somewhere in the middle of the parking lot. I wonder why they can’t take one extra minute of their time to return the cart to a dedicated spot. Much of the time, these designated spots are less than ten seconds away. The laziness and lack of thought that some people have, especially on windy days, is something that has always bothered me. Another daily pinprick is when I go walking with my dog and see or smell another dog’s droppings left in the grass off to the side of the sidewalk. If I have to be a responsible dog owner and pick up my dog’s droppings during walks, I believe that other people should have to do the same. I find it both disgusting and irresponsible.
Give an example or two of situations in which you have neglected the obvious (12).
One situation in which I neglected the obvious is when I forgot to move my wallet from my school bag to my purse. I had just gotten home from school one day and needed to go to the supermarket with my mom to buy some school supplies. I put down my bag and grabbed my purse, but I had completely forgotten that I put my wallet in my school bag in case I needed to buy something at school.
Chapter IV
What does Lewis suggest when he says “...whatever their bodies do affects their souls” (16)?
I believe that Lewis is suggesting that, even though God doesn’t require some type of robotic position or ritual when we pray, we can take the fact that we can pray at any time, place, or in any position for granted. One problem that I faced for many years was praying as I lay on my bed and falling asleep in the middle of what I believed to be a heartfelt prayer. Thinking back, I do not believe that those prayers were indeed focused and heartfelt like God desires. Even now, I need to take care that I do not put myself in situations that would interfere with my prayers. It is still possible to pray at any time, place, or in any position; however, those variables can still drastically affect one’s prayer.
What are your thoughts on prayer? Compare your prayer life to this chapter.
I believe that prayer plays a vital part of any Christian’s life and that it is a means of communication that God has provided us with to talk directly with Him. Just like God can speak to us through the Bible, we can use prayer to talk with God. I think that prayer is a key part of a sort of invisible “lifeline” connecting us with God. As I read through this chapter, I realized that I am guilty of some of the things Screwtape mentions. At times, I can pray in the hopes of producing a “feeling” that I have been forgiven or a “feeling” that I can indeed pass a test that I have not properly prepared for. I am also guilty of praying to God whilst creating some sort of image or representation I created with my own mind. Instead of praying to the true God that IS, I end up focusing too much on simply what I think He is.
Give an example or two about situations in which you are "...attending to universal issues and withdrawing...attention from the stream of immediate sense experiences" (2).
One recent example that I can think of is when I decided to clean my room before school started. I was doing very well and making good progress until I reached the last third of my room where my computer is located. I noticed that I had received a message from a friend and decided to respond. Unfortunately, I quickly found myself engrossed with my computer and spending nearly an hour on trivial things such as Youtube videos. Two-thirds of my room had been cleaned efficiently, but the last third had to wait until the following morning to be cleaned.
What does Lewis mean by “real life” throughout the chapter?
“Real life” in this chapter is talking about the tangible features and events that we experience each day. It is the immediate world around us that does not involve voluntary, deep, or spiritual thoughts. Real life is what we can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. It is what the devil can use in any situation to distract us and keep us from more important thoughts or actions. It can be as simple as the sound of a phone vibrating while reading a daily devotion.
Chapter II
What do you think about the following quote? "The Enemy allows this disappointment to occur on the threshold of every human endeavour" (7).
I think that this quote is very true, and that God does allow trials to be placed into our lives. I believe that God places these disappointments in our lives in the hopes of giving us instructions and ultimately bringing us closer to Him; however, when we forget that God is always good and knows our own individual limits and capabilities, it can also be a risky time and provide the devil with a perfect opportunity to attack our hearts and lead us astray. I believe that Screwtape understands this detail very well and knows that it will become harder to tempt a person once he or she has overcome these trials.
Chapter III
What are your "daily pinpricks" (11)?
For myself, spiral paper eats at something deep inside me. My biggest daily pinprick is when I see people outside of the supermarket bringing a cart full of groceries to their vehicle and then carelessly leaving the emptied cart in the middle of the sidewalk or on the grass somewhere in the middle of the parking lot. I wonder why they can’t take one extra minute of their time to return the cart to a dedicated spot. Much of the time, these designated spots are less than ten seconds away. The laziness and lack of thought that some people have, especially on windy days, is something that has always bothered me. Another daily pinprick is when I go walking with my dog and see or smell another dog’s droppings left in the grass off to the side of the sidewalk. If I have to be a responsible dog owner and pick up my dog’s droppings during walks, I believe that other people should have to do the same. I find it both disgusting and irresponsible.
Give an example or two of situations in which you have neglected the obvious (12).
One situation in which I neglected the obvious is when I forgot to move my wallet from my school bag to my purse. I had just gotten home from school one day and needed to go to the supermarket with my mom to buy some school supplies. I put down my bag and grabbed my purse, but I had completely forgotten that I put my wallet in my school bag in case I needed to buy something at school.
Chapter IV
What does Lewis suggest when he says “...whatever their bodies do affects their souls” (16)?
I believe that Lewis is suggesting that, even though God doesn’t require some type of robotic position or ritual when we pray, we can take the fact that we can pray at any time, place, or in any position for granted. One problem that I faced for many years was praying as I lay on my bed and falling asleep in the middle of what I believed to be a heartfelt prayer. Thinking back, I do not believe that those prayers were indeed focused and heartfelt like God desires. Even now, I need to take care that I do not put myself in situations that would interfere with my prayers. It is still possible to pray at any time, place, or in any position; however, those variables can still drastically affect one’s prayer.
What are your thoughts on prayer? Compare your prayer life to this chapter.
I believe that prayer plays a vital part of any Christian’s life and that it is a means of communication that God has provided us with to talk directly with Him. Just like God can speak to us through the Bible, we can use prayer to talk with God. I think that prayer is a key part of a sort of invisible “lifeline” connecting us with God. As I read through this chapter, I realized that I am guilty of some of the things Screwtape mentions. At times, I can pray in the hopes of producing a “feeling” that I have been forgiven or a “feeling” that I can indeed pass a test that I have not properly prepared for. I am also guilty of praying to God whilst creating some sort of image or representation I created with my own mind. Instead of praying to the true God that IS, I end up focusing too much on simply what I think He is.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Monday, August 20, 2012
Personal Introductory Video
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Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Some Thoughts on the Second Day
1. I believe that writing is one of the many tools that
a person can use to express himself. I used to be very active in writing
various fictional stories when I was in junior high school. I used to write
because it was enjoyable. I enjoyed being able to create my own unique
characters and stories. At the time, I would also find myself creating drawings
to go along with my stories. Once I hit high school, however, I leaned more
towards expressing myself through visual arts such as sketching and painting. I
do still feel the urge to type small journal-like entries on my iPod every so
often nowadays, though.
2. I believe that reading is a great way of gaining insight
into nearly any place, time, or emotion. I think that it provides access to an
inconceivable amount of knowledge, and that it can greatly affect one’s
learning. The last book I have read would be a book on Japanese Art. I spent a
good amount of my summer reading about different aspects of Japanese culture in
the hopes of doing well for the Japan Wizards team this year.
As a child, I didn’t take many trips to the library
on my own time; however, I was required to go the school’s library every so
often. Whenever I went to the library as a child, I would always go to either
the animal or mystery sections.
My favorite novel would have
to be The Call of the Wild by Jack London. I can still clearly remember the
first time I picked up the book at the library of the school my dad worked at.
I used to have to pick a book from the library and read it while my dad worked
on things. After reading, I also clearly remember having to write small book
reports on whatever I had just finished reading.
3. I believe that technology is an amazing and advanced
tool that can be used for innumerable amounts of different purposes, both good
and bad. I tend to lean more towards PCs and Windows due to their enhanced
ability to be customized; however, my family owns both Macs and PCs. I am an
avid gamer, and I tend to spend a good amount of my free time playing a wide
range of different online games. I am not active in social networking sites
right now, because I currently do not have an interest or see a need for them.
Another reason I am not active in social networking sites would definitely have
to be the security issues. Even though technology can be an amazing tool, I
hear all too often how dangerous it can be on the news or even from my friends.
4. I am most definitely a kinesthetic learner. I have
always had a love of puzzles, and I used to always play with
things such as Legos as a kid. I love to put things together, and I am also the go-to
person when it comes to repairing various things around the house. I tend to
enjoy and perform better on projects and book reports where I can take my time
and work on things at my own pace. I really dislike tests and quizzes.
Though they provide a person with a glimpse of where they are at, I personally
find them very stressful.
5. I want to take this class for a couple of reasons. First, I really like the idea of an online class. It's definitely has a different feel to it because you don't physically have to go to a classroom, and you can access all of the class information and work from pretty much anywhere. Second, I wanted to take a more challenging English course this year and develop a renewed respect for reading. The classic books that this class goes through definitely interested me too. Overall, I believe that this class will prove to be very beneficial to me and help me work on my technological, organizational, and time management skills.
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