This article orginally appeared in the Et Cetera, Regent College's student newspaper, on September 6, 2022. Sometimes you’re asked to name those who’ve inspired you. I’m going to start answering: people who fill up notebooks. The pile of my unfinished notebooks is (I’ve measured) waist-high, though I just realized that I’ve forgotten to add my … Continue reading On Notebooks
Author: Steven Gomez
Even As We Are Fully Known: C.S. Lewis’ “Letters to Malcolm”
In the spring of 1963, C.S. Lewis found himself confined by heart trouble to an armchair in his living room, wearing a catheter, and unable to go upstairs. Despite this forced inactivity—or possibly because of it—he had the chance to finally get his thoughts straight about a project he'd contemplated for some time, but had … Continue reading Even As We Are Fully Known: C.S. Lewis’ “Letters to Malcolm”
The Love That Gives Life
A week ago I preached for the first time at my new church, on the Gospel reading for that week. The service is neither livestreamed nor recorded, so I thought I would put the text up here. I'm not a very 'scholarly' preacher, even though I find a lot of scholarly issues and certainly the … Continue reading The Love That Gives Life
On Manhood
In the summer of 2020, when the pandemic still had an air of novelty and our interest in redefining ourselves was at its peak, I bought a new razor. I dumped the old plastic Mach 3 with its overpriced cartridge blades and ordered a solid, wood-handled safety razor; the kind where you unscrew the head … Continue reading On Manhood
Flowers
Spring is in evidence in this little corner of the planet. For most of my life I've been less than wild about the wild outdoors; hiking or camping are not my cups of tea, although I can enjoy a walk through the woods. But it is foolish to deny the life-brightening capacity of things that … Continue reading Flowers
Crossroads
As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26) Like every journey, it had unexpected crossroads and unpredictable turnings. I took the road in stride, my faith rewarded with safe … Continue reading Crossroads
Inheriting More Than Language
When the architects and craftsmen of medieval Europe built their churches—stone, wood, and stained glass—they designed them with names for the various areas and parts and structures. The area that was reserved for the congregation to gather in worship was called the ship. They didn't think it a strange name. For centuries, Christian writers had … Continue reading Inheriting More Than Language
Tears In A Bottle: C.S. Lewis’ “A Grief Observed”
You record my lamentation; put my tears into your bottle. Are not these things noted in your book? —Psalm 56 In April of 1956, C.S. Lewis was married to Joy Davidman in a registry office. On Lewis' part, it was largely meant as an act of charity, allowing Davidman and her two sons to escape … Continue reading Tears In A Bottle: C.S. Lewis’ “A Grief Observed”
You Are All My Friends: C.S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves”
In 1958, C.S. Lewis was asked by an American Christian radio station to record a series of talks. The subject he chose was Love. The talks were duly recorded, but—in an almost farcical irony—the Brit proved too liberal for the Americans; the Episcopalian bishops supervising the project were scandalized at how frankly Lewis had discussed … Continue reading You Are All My Friends: C.S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves”
The Particularity of Poetry
I recently took part in a conversation around the role of aesthetics in faith, and the famous (or infamous) piece "Footprints" came up. While there are people who take genuine comfort from it, most of my friends find it sentimental and cheesy. It's often the butt of jokes. But it's also possible that few of … Continue reading The Particularity of Poetry
Marginalia 