Will Vaus

Go see it! It's in my Top 5 Best Movies of All Time!!

In a letter to a young correspondent, written on December 29, 1962, C. S. Lewis said, "Time? Wait till you reach my age and you will find that time doesn't go 'fast' but at space speed!... With all hopes for your success, and best wishes for 1963."

BRRR HAPPY NEW YEAR (aka BRR-R BRITAIN ON ICE) <p><p>Your browser does not support iframes.</p></p> This is a fascinating little blast from the past! Video of life in Britain as the year turned from 1961 to 1962, one of the last winters C. S. Lewis experienced in his adopted country. Lewis' brother Warren wrote this about the weather to a correspondent on 4 January 1962: "We haven't any central heating here, but for the moment have plenty of coal fires, and a thermostat in the bathroom; but unless the freeze breaks we shall soon be short of coal. Already fresh vegetables have doubled in price, and the shops warn us that very soon we shall have no veg. except out of tins or packets. Which is a gloomy prospect, for we are normally large consumers of vegetables. "The only person who is enjoying the weather is young Doug. We have a pretty large pond in our garden, frozen solid...

I was impressed by the Queen's expression of personal faith in Jesus Christ at the end of this video. The 1662 Book of Common Prayer invites us to pray for the Queen in the following manner: O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth: Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth; and so replenish her with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that she may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue her plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant her in health and wealth long to live; strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies, and finally after this life she may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And here is an appropriate prayer for the royal family, especially in consideration of Prince Philip's current health condition: Almighty G...

My family and I went to see this movie yesterday. We found it to be a film of incredible beauty and pathos. It shows, in a unique way, the suffering that millions endured during WWI, including, not least, the infantrymen who fought in the trenches of France, like C. S. Lewis. The story is based upon a children’s book, later turned into a stage-play, written by British author, Michael Morpurgo. According to Wikipedia, “After meeting a World War I veteran who drank in his local pub Iddesleigh and who had been in the Devon Yeomanry working with horses, Morpurgo began to think of telling the story of the universal suffering of the Great War through a horse’s viewpoint, but was unsure that he could do it. He also met another villager, Captain Budgett, who had been in the Cavalry in the Great War, and a third villager who remembered the army coming to the village to buy horses. Morpurgo thanks the three men in the dedication of the book, naming them as Albert ...

" I keep thinking about the Christmas scene that Anthony arranged under the altar. This probably is the most meaningful "crib" I have ever seen. Three small woodcarved figures made in India: a poor woman, a poor man, and a small child between them. The carving is simple, nearly primitive. No eyes, no ears, no mouths, just the contours of the faces. The figures are smaller than a human hand - nearly too small to attract attention at all. "But then - a beam of light shines on the three figures and projects large shadows on the wall of the sanctuary. That says it all. The light thrown on the smallness of Mary, Joseph, and the Child projects them as large, hopeful shadows against the walls of our life and our world. "While looking at the intimate scene we already see the first outlines of the majesty and glory they represent. While witnessing the most human of human events, I see the majesty of God appearing on the horizon of my existence. While...

I will be listening to this live on the BBC World Service in a few minutes: A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Merry Christmas!

Yea!

Here is a video of the choir of King's College Chapel Cambridge singing "Once in Royal David's City"--the first hymn of "The Nine Lessons and Carols" performed by the choir every Christmas Eve. C. S. Lewis called King's College Chapel "beautiful beyond belief". I think the same could be said of the service of Nine Lessons & Carols. I hope to visit Cambridge some Christmas in my lifetime to be there for this service....

Many C. S. Lewis enthusiasts become collectors of first editions of his work. Perhaps the foremost private collector of Lewis' work in the world is my friend, Dr. Ed Brown. Ed's book, In Pursuit of C. S. Lewis , is a fascinating compendium of his unique experiences in collecting Lewis' works and his amazing interactions with many who knew Lewis personally. Along with the book, Ed has for some time made available a full color insert with 80 mini photos of the dust covers of practically all the Lewis first editions. Now, signed copies of this intriguing book, as well as the keepsake color insert are made available for purchase more easily than ever before. Just click on the link below for more information: C. S. Lewis First Editions

I am often asked if I read any authors other than C. S. Lewis. The answer is "yes". One of those authors is Henri Nouwen. I receive daily devotional emails from  Henri Nouwen.org . I thought today's devotional thought for the Second Sunday of Advent was outstanding, so I just had to pass it on.... Something Hardly Noticeable Second Sunday of Advent—December 4 "A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him . . ." (Isa.11:1-2). These words from last night's liturgy have stayed with me during the day. Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness. I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God's saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacl...