books – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:49:45 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-LaVistaBanner-Copy-1-32x32.png books – La Vista Church of Christ https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms 32 32 157465916 Bring the Books https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/bring-the-books/ Thu, 03 Sep 2026 19:49:08 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=97696

by Edwin Crozier

Text: II Timothy 4

Paul concludes his letter with a series of requests connected with “Do your best to come to me soon.” Paul knows his time is limited, but he doesn’t know the exact day he will depart. “Come soon, Timothy,” Paul tells him, and he tells him about the other workers. Some have departed, in love with the present world. Paul has sent some on assignment. Paul wants Timothy to bring Mark.

But one statement stands out. It’s easy to understand why Paul wants Timothy and Mark to come. He wants support. He also wants to give some final face-to-face encouragement. The need for the cloak is obvious. Winter is coming, and he’ll need some protection from the elements. The Roman soldiers won’t give him any.

Then he asks for something odd–“also the books, and above all the parchments.” What? Why on earth would he need books? He’s about to die. Hasn’t he done enough reading and learning?

Apparently not.

What an incredible example Paul sets. He is in prison. He is going to be executed. He isn’t going to get out and do more traveling work. His next stop is the heavenly kingdom itself. But what does he want to do? He wants to keep reading and rereading. He wants to learn and remember.

I want to be like that. I hope that even when I know death is knocking on my door, I’ll want to keep growing. I want to keep learning. I fear I’ll just want to watch TV. But Paul sets the example for me.

Bring the books. Let me read. Let me learn. To the very end.

Of course, if I want that kind of commitment in my final days, I need that kind of commitment in my present days. Do I want to learn now? Do I want to be reminded now? Do I want to grow now? Or am I satisfied?

How about you?

]]> 97696 Would it be wrong to make up a mythology for a fantasy story? https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/would-it-be-wrong-to-make-up-a-mythology-for-a-fantasy-story/ Tue, 19 Oct 2010 01:44:00 +0000 https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/?p=24788

Question:

Would it be bad to make up a mythology for a fantasy story? I have thought hard about it, and realize that I could try and make the story cleaner (no pre-marital sex, no details of sex, no extreme violence, no profanity), but because it is a different universe, it will have a set of gods and goddesses similar to that of Greek mythology. I have been outlining this story for several years, but have not written it yet. Should I write it or just dump the ideas?

Answer:

The problem with Greek mythology is that it saw gods as nothing more than superhumans. They had all the flaws of humans and their sins, but it was justified because they were supposedly deity. "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man -- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things" (Romans 1:20-23). Ultimately Greek mythology promoted and glorified immorality and, worse, attributed such to the divine.

I don't know how key these characters are to your story but have you considered the writings of C. S. Lews, J. R. Tolkein, or Stephan Lawhead? Each created fantasy worlds without stooping to a concept of gods who weren't divine in the true sense of the word. More, they managed to create worlds in which Christian principles and ideas, even those about God, were promoted.

The question to ask yourself is whether someone reading your story would be inspired to seek out righteousness or understand Christianity better, or would it give doubts that perhaps the idolatry of old was actually right.

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