Chinese civil war – begins, 10/11/1945

Chinese civil war begins, 1945.  Chiang Kai-Shek vs Mao Tse-Tung.  Chiang Kai-Shek had clear leanings toward (if not in fact was) real Christianity.   The museum in Taipei, Taiwan exhited both his Bible and his copy of Lettie Cowman’s Streams in the Desert (in the fall of 1991). 

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C S Lewis – wrote, Jul. 21, 1958

…He shows much more of Himself to some people than to others—not because He has favourites but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong direction.  Just as sunlight though it has no favourites can’t be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as in a clean one.  

                – C S Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: The Macmillan Co, 1945), 12.

If you picture Time as a straight line along which we have to travel then you must picture God as the whole page on which the line is drawn.

                – C S Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: The Macmillan Co, 1945), 16.

…God has no history.  He is too completely and utterly real to have one.        

                – C S Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: The Macmillan Co, 1945), 17.

Christ says “Give me All…I want You. I have no come to torment your natural self, but to kill it…” 

                – C S Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: The Macmillan Co, 1945), 40.

We are like eggs at present.  And you cannot go in indefinitely being just an ordinary decent egg.  We must be hatched or go bad.

                – C S Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: The Macmillan Co, 1945), 42.

C.S. (Clive Staples) Lewis is said to have written on this date, 7/21/1958,  

“What the devil loves is that vague cloud of unspecified guilt or unspecified virtue,

by which he lures us into despair or presumption.”

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George C Stebbins – birth, Feb. 26, 1846

“Holiness” (tune name)

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

George Coles Stebbins was born this date (2/26/1846) in Carlton, NY.  He is credited with composing some 1500 song tunes among which are such well-known sounds as: “I’ve Found a Friend” “Take Time to Be Holy” (above)  “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” “Jesus is Tenderly Calling Thee Home” “Jesus I Come” and “Saved by Grace” 

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Eric Liddell – death, Feb. 21, 1945

“I believe that God made me for a purpose…(the mission) but He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.”

 

A quote by Eric Henry Liddell (pronounced Lĭd’l) who died this date (2/21/1945) closing a missionary career, in a prison in China. 

 

In college he became known as a runner and was chosen to represent Britain at the Paris Olympics in 1924.  When the schedule was published his race was slated for the Lord’s Day.  Liddell (to the consternation and disgust of many Englishman) withdrew from that race.  He was a devout Christian and put keeping God’s Day holy, above any national interest.   He later ran (on a week day) the 200 meter, getting a bronze metal. 

 

On the way to the start of the 400 meter, an unknown man handed Eric a paper with a portion of 1 Samuel 2.30 on it, “Them that honour Me I will honour.”  Liddell, also known as the “Flying Scotsman,” won the 400 meter race, breaking the world record, and giving England a gold metal. 

 

He returned to China, not as an MK, but as a missionary himself.  Eric was born 1/16/1902 in Tientsin, China to Minister and Mrs. James Liddell, Scottish missionaries.

 

Note: this post is uncharacteristic of eab (as those who know me can testify).  It is included because of the sterling character Liddell displayed – God give us more men who place God ahead of nation and/or ambition.

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C. S. Lewis – death, Nov. 22, 1963

What God begets is God…What God creates is not God.

            – C. S. Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: Macmillan, 1945), 5.

 

…God has no history.  He is too completely and utterly real to have one.        

            – C. S. Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: Macmillan, 1945), 17.

 

When He said, “Be perfect,” He meant it…It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg.  We are like eggs at present.  And you cannot go in indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg.  We must be hatched or go bad.

             – C. S. Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: Macmillan, 1945), 42.

 

It cost God nothing, as far as we know, to create nice things: but to convert rebellious wills cost Him the crucifixion.

            – C. S. Lewis, Beyond Personality (NY: Macmillan, 1945), 55.

 

Clive Staples Lewis died this date. He had taught at Oxford (1924-1954) and Cambridge (1954-1963) universities. In his early thirties, Lewis was converted to Jesus Christ. He is best known for his children’s classic The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956), and for Screwtape Letters, Miracles,and Mere Christianity.  Lewis was born 11/29/1898, Belfast, Ireland.

 

 

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