Month: September 2017

A Picture of Sin with No Hope of Grace

September 16, 2017

In the process of adding Albert Camus’ final novel, The Fall, to the literature website, I was struck by the clarity of his perception of the universal sinfulness of man, and in particular his understanding that “all our righteousness is as filthy rags.”  While most humanists view man as essentially good and argue that his problems are the fault of society or some other external influence, Camus discerned that even the most noble acts of man are motivated by a deeply-ingrained selfishness.  Sadly, though, Camus saw the disease, but not the cure.  He leaves the reader with no hope because he refuses to accept the Gospel.  In my opinion, the book could provide a useful jumping-off point for a discussion of the human dilemma and its solution in Christ with a secularist.

Entering the Electronic Age

September 8, 2017

After queries from many people over the last few years, I’ve finally updated the site so all materials can be purchased electronically through Paypal using credit cards.  The books published by Planters Press can be placed in a shopping cart and will be shipped as soon as I receive your order (no cost for postage); if you prefer, you can order them from CreateSpace or Amazon and pay the shipping charges.  As far as the Sunday School curriculum is concerned, you can pay for it by Paypal and download the files from the website immediately after payment.  I only ask that you send me your church information for my records.  I trust this will make purchases from the website more convenient in this increasingly electronic age.

Matchmaker, Matchmaker

September 7, 2017

When Jane Austen wrote Emma, she remarked that she had created “a character whom no one but me will much like.”  Unlike heroines such as Elizabeth Bennet, Elinor Dashwood, and Anne Elliot, Emma Woodhouse is not an immediately likable character; she is self-absorbed, manipulative, and convinced that she is able to run the lives of her friends better than they can themselves.  What this does, of course, is give the author an opportunity to show real, substantial change in her protagonist, and the Emma Woodhouse at the end of the novel, having learned the value of repentance, forgiveness, and humility, is very different from the prideful young woman at the beginning.  Critics over the years have disagreed with the author in her assessment of her own creation, and you can now judge for yourself with this latest addition to the literature study guides.