3 Things I Like This Week- May 29

1) Through the Eyes of C.H. Spurgeon edited by Stephen McCaskell

Charles Spurgeon is one of the most oft quoted preachers in history, and for good reason. He is so quotable, in fact, that so me of his lines have been credited to Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln, those old internet fall back sources for every pithy line. Being quotable means being cleaver, but Spurgeon was so much more than that. He was deep–deeply in tune with the heart of Christ, deeply in awe of the work of Jesus, deeply passionate for the souls of the lost, deeply joyful in the Lord. And this depth (along with prolific reading habits and a uniquely absorbent mind) is where he drew his brilliant quotes and verbiage from. You can find any number of excellent Spurgeon quote collections, but I particularly appreciate this one because of the thoughtfulness that Stephen McCaskell put into it with his selection and organization. Tis book can serve as encouragement for your soul, preaching illustration, or writing inspiration. It’s a wonderful resource to have by your desk or your bedside.

2) The Quotable Lewis edited by Wayne Martindale and Jerry Root

Nearly everything I wrote about Charles Spurgeon above could be said about C.S. Lewis too, except that Lewis wasn’t a preacher and he is likely even more widely quoted. Lewis was an academic, an essayist, an apologist, a novelist, and so much more. He was both prescient and timeless in his writing about human nature. He was massively curious, studying widely and deeply. And he was one of the greatest wordsmiths to ever twirl a pen. What is more, this collection of Lewis’s quotes was compiled and arranged by two professors of mine at Wheaton College, both of whom are brilliant scholars and deep men of God. Both Martindale and Root are the kind of men who have been shaped by Lewis rather than just being scholars of Lewis. In the same way he would gather with students, enjoy their company, and pour into their lives so do these two men. So yes, they “edited” this volume, but much more than that they reflet this volume, and that makes them the ideal compilers because they understand the heart of C.S. Lewis, not merely his arguments and prose.

3) Gin and Tonic

As the weather turns warm and the humidity ensconces like sweaty gauze, one needs an evening beverage that is properly refreshing. Something crisp, something with a bit of bite, something aromatic. A gin and tonic is just the thing. I am a bourbon man most of the time, but sometimes whiskey just looks like the thing that will gown down the gullet and straight out the pores. It is a warming beverage, and the last thing I need is to be any warmer. So I look elsewhere for my libations and quickly settle on the g&t. It is simple to make. It requires no special equipment. And it can be doctored to be strong, weak, citrusy, or herbal to your hearts content. And if you want to get creative, you can flavor it with fruit or syrups to your palates preference. While the g&t is not specifically a summer beverage, it is an ideal summer beverage.