Please note that the content and viewpoints of Mr. Hansen are his own and are not necessarily those of the C.S. Lewis Foundation. We have not edited his writing in any substantial way and have permission from him to post his content.
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Dear Friends:
Thursday morning, I stopped by a friend’s office. He was preparing for an important meeting on institutional finances in less than two hours.
The times are stressful. The stacks of spreadsheets and financial statements on his desk tell the story of a community with entrenched, high unemployment. By nightfall the State of California, financially insolvent and in legislative paralysis, will cut off payments to our physicians and hospital for caring for state-insured patients. The specter of cut-backs, lay-offs and reorganization lurk in the muddy, roiling waters of uncertainty. My friend was visibly tense and frustrated with competing demands for data and information while preparing books for an annual audit.
I went on my way to another appointment, but my heart stayed with my friend in silent prayer. The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the opening stanza of my Grandmother Jenny’s favorite hymn:
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
– William Walford, 1845
I text-paged those lines to my friend with this message: “You don’t have an hour, but take a minute. Close your door. Look out the window and breathe. He will receive it as a prayer and extend grace and mercy.”
In a few minutes, I received this text page in response. Read the rest of this entry »
Our dear friend and event speaker Malcolm Guite just invited me to link to a post on his blog related to this year’s Summer Seminar at The Kilns. Malcolm spent an afternoon with a group of seminar participants at the Orchard in Granchester. After receiving an unexpected and very welcome gift from Jerry Root, Malcolm was inspired to post a poem he wrote called “Tree and Leaf.” Read about it on his blog.
And don’t miss out on Malcolm speaking at the 2010 Southwest Regional Retreat! He’ll be joined by Louis Markos, Randy Alcorn, David McKechnie, and several others. Performing will be Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul, & Mary fame) and Ad Deum Dance Company.
Posted by: cslewisfoundation Tags: Andrew Lazo, C.S. Lewis College, Campus America, Jonathan Friz, July 2010, Kevin Belmonte, Leslie Fairfield, Massachusetts, Michael Kelly Blanchard, Noel Paul Stookey, Northfield, Peter Paul & Mary, Stan Mattson, Trent Sheppard, Vacation with a Purpose, Volunteer
Now Announcing the speakers and performers for Vacation With a Purpose! We are especially excited to report that Noel Paul Stookey, of Peter, Paul, and Mary fame, will be joining us there. Along with him, other performers will include:
Featured speakers for the event will be:
- Stan Mattson - “The Vision of C.S. Lewis College”
- Jonathan Friz - Morning Worship Coordinator
- Kevin Belmonte - “William Wilberforce and the film Amazing Grace” and “Dwight L. Moody”
- Andrew Lazo - “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader“
- Rev. Dr. Leslie Fairfield - “The Spirit and the Pioneer Valley”
- Trent Sheppard - “Prayer, Moody, and the Future”
Please click here to see the schedule for Vacation With a Purpose.
The following is a press release from the Westside Theatre production of The Screwtape Letters:
C.S. Lewis’ Stepson & Producer of Narnia films Douglas Gresham will have a Post Show Talk Back after June 11 performance of The Screwtape Letters at Westside Theatre
New York - THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view, will feature an exclusive one-night-only performance and post-show talk-back discussion with Douglas Gresham, the stepson of C.S. Lewis, well-known author and Chronicles of Narnia producer; and star Max McLean at the Westside Theatre, 407 West 43rd Street, New York on Friday, June 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets to the not-to-be-missed event are available by calling 212.239.6200 or visiting www.telecharge.com. THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS is currently on sale through September 5. Read the rest of this entry »
Save the Date for Oxbridge 2011!
Paradigms of Hope: Transcending Chaos & Transforming Culture
July 26 - August 4, 2011
Every three years the C.S. Lewis Foundation sponsors large conferences in Oxford and Cambridge where renowned Christian leaders, intellectuals, and musicians gather together to talk about the relation of their faith to the theme of the conference. Next year Oxbridge will be held again, and we encourage you to start planning now to attend!
