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Dear Friends:

This is the third message in a series on fretting and worry. I am blessed by the many responses. May the Lord use these words to bring you peace.

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Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers
For they will soon fade like the grass.
and wither like the green herb.
.
Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Ps 37:1-4)

The instruction to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself. . .” that was discussed in the first two messages of this series (Ps 37.7). It may be as difficult to obey as anything prescribed in Scripture. The old saying, “The Lord helps those who help themselves” rings in our ears. The guilt-inducing platitude, “You do your part, then the Lord will do his part” presses on our insecurities to goad us into action.

Another cliche fuels our fretting, “You don’t want to be too heavenly minded to be no earthly good.”  It can seem inexcusably lazy, presumptuous and sinful to sit still and wait patiently for God to do something.

Every one of those popular admonishments is a temptation to pride and self-righteousness. These are particularly deceptive temptations because they appeal to our good intentions and best efforts. The “wicked” are bad guys. Someone needs to set them straight and call sin by its right name and is that not our calling? But who is the fretter setting straight? No one. Fretting tears one up on the inside with fear and worry, but it is ineffective to accomplish anything Jesus said (Mt 6:27).

The Psalmist indicates that the interior harm of worry is caused by an interior sin. We may not be an idolater, blasphemer, murderer, adulterer, liar or slanderer, but who of us hasn’t envied someone. Envy is simply a synonym for “covetousness” proscribed by the Tenth Commandment (Ex 20:17). People are doing the wrong thing and getting away with it, maybe even getting wealthy. That irritates us no end, and irritation is one of the symptoms of fretting. It is a form of envy to become irritated at the success of another. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: A Word of Grace, Kent Hansen

Note: the following blog post is a repost from our 2009 Southwest Regional Retreat Writers Workshop blog page. Click here for the main 2009 C.S. Lewis Southwest Regional Retreat page.

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Tolkien calls the name [Inklings] “a pleasantly ingenious pun ,” referring to those who “dabble in ink.” C.S. Lewis

Hi, this is Nan Rinella, and I, along with Laura Sullivan, will be coordinating this event under the direction of Stan Mattson, President of the C.S. Lewis Foundation.

I’m a native Californian transplanted in Amarillo, Texas. It was in 2001 that Lewis and Tolkien captured my interest and I became an enthusiastic student of their lives and works, attending my first foundation event in 2004. It is indeed a pleasure to be on the volunteer team. I’m a writer, speaker, freelance journalist, and have directed Frontiers in Writing, Panhandle Professional Writers annual conference, as well as attending a myriad of conferences.

Laura is a probation clerk in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and administrative marvel. She found C.S. Lewis by accident and was smitten. She has attended events for five years and coordinated the retreat for the last two years. We’ve joined forces and are excited about launching our pilot writers workshop.

In this series of blog posts, we’ll be giving you “inklings” about our program, hopefully answering questions like: “Why should I attend?” “What’s special or different about this workshop?” “What will you offer that’s worth my time and treasure?” “Who are these speakers, and what will I learn from them?”

Our website lists our presenters’ bios and credits. However, on this blog, we’ll introduce you to personal snapshots, interviews, Q&A’s, and reviews of their books. I’ve found that reading at least one book by each speaker in preparation for a conference makes the experience richer, and gives you a head start in connecting with faculty members. Diana Pavlac Gyler’s tome on the “Inklings” was the inspiration for this workshop. Just reading Joy Jordan-Lake’s novel was an education in exceptional writing. Frank Ball writes an “eyewitness” story that makes a believer out of you. Terry Glaspey’s book on Lewis leaves you wanting more.

We challenge you to read Lewis, if you haven’t already. And if you haven’t time to digest Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, read The Hobbit. They’re not just for children, nor are The Chronicles of Narnia.

Why a C.S. Lewis conference? What can two older English professors at Oxford and Cambridge-who wrote a half century ago-teach us today? Just how relevant are the Inklings and their experiences? Oh, will you be surprised, delighted, encouraged-and you’ll be a better writer for it. I promise. Because, you see, I was. I am. You will too.

Whether you are a fiction or nonfiction writer, a published professional, accomplished yet unpublished, or maybe in print but not paid, a novice with aspirations, or a church or community volunteer desiring more expertise -this is the opportunity for you.

The program was designed to satisfy both those desiring advanced teaching, those who’ve just begun to learn the craft, and those just wanting to improve their skills. Then, of course, there are all important private appointments with our editor, agent, media tech expert, and authors.

All this and the retreat, too-devotions, praise and worship, special breakout sessions, Sunday service, song and inspired dance artistry. It’s self-contained, nestled in the piney woods of the Camp Allen Conference Center. Rustic, but comfortable. Telephones, WiFi-but no TV. The meals are yummy with variety for different tastes. Save room for cobbler a la mode. And tea with our Lady Diana.

Make this a vacation with purpose. There are outdoor activities that can occupy a spouse, and are available for attendees who want to take Saturday afternoon off. The children’s program for ages 7-12 is a voyage on the Dawn Treader.

Are you ready to “go further up and further in?

Tags: C.S. Lewis, Camp Allen, Diana Glyer, J.R.R. Tolkien, Joy Jordan-Lake, Laura Sullivan, Nan Rinella, Southwest Regional Retreat, Terry Glaspey