The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer is scheduled as a devotional read in Ambleside Year 7. I started reading it so I could discuss it with Nougat who isn't doing year 7 but he's reading it this year as he hadn't read it previously.

Tozer became a Christian at the age of 15. He'd had a life of hardship and because of his impoverished home situation, not much of an education, but by dint of diligent study and good books he started a process of self-education and became skilled in the use of the English language. It is said that when he felt he needed an understanding of Shakespeare's works that he read them on his knees and asked God to give him an understanding of their meaning. He believed that seeking God and seeking truth were the same thing.

The Pursuit of God was written to help those who were hungry for the things of God. Tozer said that his fire, if not large, was real, and he invited others to light their candle at its flame.

We had some good conversations about what Tozer wrote in this book.

Some of my favourite quotes are:

It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do no common act......For such a man, living itself will be sacramental and the whole world a sanctuary. 

The Bible will never be a living book to us until we are convinced that God is articulate in His universe......It is the nature of God to speak. The second person of the Holy Trinity is called the Word. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God's continuous speech.

One of Nougat's favourite quotes was about honour. Tozer uses the opposite behaviours of Eli the priest (who epically failed to honour God) and the Biblical characters (who honestly tried to glorify God in their lives) and says:

See how God winked at weakness and overlooked failures as He poured upon His servants grace and blessing untold. Let it be Abraham, Jacob, David, Daniel, Elijah or whom you will; honour followed honour as harvest the seed. The man of God set his heart to exalt God above all; God accepted his intention as fact and acted accordingly. Not perfection, but holy intention made the difference.

We talked about holy intention, weakness and failure. We talked about how God looks at the heart and our motivation and the freedom that comes from knowing God's heart towards us in these things. We talked through how everything we do can be sacramental, that is, an outward expression of an inward grace.

An altogether worthwhile and encouraging read which opened up some good discussions between my 16 year old son and me.

The book is available free at Gutenberg.

Hymn Study - The Love of God

There's an interesting background to this song. It's attributed to Frederick Lehman (1917) but it has its roots in a Jewish poem written in the 11th century - the words to the third verse were actually found after the inmate of a mental asylum died; they were found pencilled on the walls of his room. For more information see the blog posts I found here and here (this one has a free download of the song but it's a different tune to the one I've got here).

The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

O love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints’ and angels’ song.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Shakespeare's Theatre by C.Walter Hodges

C. Walter Hodges (1909-2004) was a writer, illustrator, an eminent Shakespearean scholar and an authority on The Globe Theatre and other Elizabethan playhouses.

His background included the study of art and the designing of stage scenery and costumes and he was credited with playing an important role in the resurgence of literature for children from 1946 onward. 

 

In Shakespeare's Theatre, published in 1964, the author describes how the theatre in Shakespeare's day had developed over time. In words and with his unique, whimsical artwork, he describes the gradual transition from pagan festivals and morality plays to the Elizabethan style theatres of Shakespeare's time and takes the reader through a typical performance of Julius Caesar at The Globe Theatre. He shows how Elizabethan theatres were designed and used and conveys the passion of his lifelong interest in the work of Shakespeare as he does so.

 

 A 'theatre' is a 'place where action goes on,' as in an operating theatre or a 'theatre of war.' In Burbage's Theatre the action was acting. It was the first time in England a building had been called this, for that purpose.

 It was customary to shoot off guns as a sign of high spirits in Shakespeare's time, and they were much used in the theatres, not only to simulate battle scenes but also to bump up the background of festivity. This had an unfortunate result at The Globe, for eventually it burnt the theatre down.

 

This book was awarded the Kate Greenaway Medal in 1964 and is a simple, interesting and lively introduction for children to the world of Shakespeare, morality plays and The Globe Theatre.

Greenmantle by John Buchan

John Buchan  (1875-1940) is one of my favourite authors. I enjoy his dry humour, the sense of mystery in his stories, his exotic characters and the many allusions to Biblical characters and places throughout his books which add a richness and depth not found in more recent books.

Greenmantle is the second book which features Richard Hannay as the main character. In this book the First World War is in progress and Hannay is asked by Sir Walter Bullivant to undertake a dangerous assignment in the Middle East: to destroy a German plot planned to incite an Islamic Holy War which ultimately threatened the course of the war. The feel of the book has an uncanny resemblance to our modern day situation in some respects.

One of the most likeable characters in this story is Blenkiron, a large sedentary American who suffers with duodenal dyspepsia and who is suggested by Sir Walter as a possible colleague. Hannay, meeting him for the first time asks:

'Have you talked to Sir Walter?'

'I have talked to him......you can count me in.'

'You know that it's uncommonly dangerous?'

'I judged so. But it won't do to begin counting risks. I believe in an all-wise and beneficent Providence, but you have got to trust Him and give Him a chance. What's life anyhow? For me, it's living on a strict diet and having frequent pains in my stomach. It isn't such an almighty lot to give up, provided you get a good price on the deal.'

As the story reaches a climax, Hannay and his fellow agents escape over the rooftops from their German captors......

'Hussin gave one glance behind and then hurried us on at a breakneck pace, with old Blenkiron gasping and stumbling......It was very evident that if they kept up the chase we should be caught, for Blenkiron was about as useful on a roof as a hippo......But I had quite enough to think of in getting Blenkiron along that ledge. He was pretty nearly foundered, he was in a sweat of terror, and as a matter of fact he was taking one of the biggest risks of his life, for we had no rope and his neck depended on himself. I could hear him invoking some unknown deity called Holy Mike.'

Trapped and ready to fight to the death Hannay and his men drew lots for two of them to shelter in a nearby cave. When one of the lots fell to Blenkiron he responded,

'I'd prefer, if you don't mind, to stay here. I've made my peace with my Maker, and I'd like to wait quietly on His call. I'll play a game of Patience to pass the time.'

Blenkiron is such an improbable hero who adds so much to the enjoyment  of this novel, which is a mystery, spy thriller and a good quality piece of literature all in one.

For information on John Buchan and his books see the John Buchan Society.

Linking up with Wednesday with Words.