In C.S. Lewis’ wonderful books The Chronicles of Narnia, readers meet a talking mouse named Reepicheep.  Let me say this about Reepicheep:  he has taught me more about loyalty to King Jesus than virtually any other fictional character I can think of right now.

In one of the Narnia books — The Voyage of the Dawn Treader — the characters are having a debate about whether or not they shall continue sailing east to Aslan’s Country (though there is definite danger in pressing forward into the unknown) or turn back to the safety of a nice voyage home. 

After some back and forth, Queen Lucy leans down to the mouse…

“Aren’t you going to say anything, Reep?” whispered Lucy.

“No.  Why should your Majesty expect it?” answered Reepicheep in a voice that most people heard.  “My own plans are made.  While I can, I sail east in the Dawn Treader.  When she fails me, I paddle east in my coracle.  When she sinks, I shall swim east with my four paws.  And when I can swim no longer, if I have not reached Aslan’s country, or shot over the edge of the world in some vast cataract, I shall sink with my nose to the sunrise and Peepiceek will be head of the talking mice in Narnia.”

If you’ve read the books, you know that this is a vintage Reepicheep moment.  While others are concerned for their lives and well–beings, he is not.  He knows that his life is not his own.  He has been bought with a price.  His life now belongs to his King — King Alsan. 

And of all the characters in Narnia who are loyal to Aslan, Reepicheep’s loyalty is the fiercest.  As a friend of mine has written about Reephicheep:  “Despite his lack of size, ability, and power, he zealously guards the honor of the king.  He sees his honor as being united to the king.  He sees his life only in relationship to the king.  Reepicheep was dead to himself and alive to the king and service to him.”

Beloved people of Cornerstone, we will miss you dearly.  It has been an unspeakable joy to live and serve among you as we have these last 6–15 years (depending on when you want to start counting).  It is with a heavy heart that my family and I say goodbye.  For now.  We’ll be back to visit on occasion, and we look forward to seeing you then.  And in the meantime, if you want to come down south for a visit we would welcome you with out–stretched arms, open hearts, and the joyful laughter of friends reunited.

But our dearest reunion will be when we meet one another again in “Aslan’s Country”… the new world that King Jesus is making for all those who love him. 

In the meantime, let’s encourage one another towards a fierce loyalty to our King — King Jesus.  “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19b,20a).  Your life now belongs to Christ. 

Like Reepicheep, may we be pleased to live and to die unto our King.  May we press on in his service, even when he calls us to venture into the unknown.  May we be willing to risk it all for the honor of King Jesus.

May the Lord keep you walking steadfast in the true faith until life everlasting. 

A few weeks ago Cornerstone had the privilege, honor, and joy of watching King Jesus (working through the hands of the Missouri Presbytery) ordain James Quadrizius as our new Assistant Pastor (1 Timothy 4.14; 2 Timothy 1.6; 1 Thessalonians 5.19). 

Since that occasion I have twice sat down to write a blog post about the significance and the wonder of this event, and twice the blog post has utterly disappeared — never to be seen nor heard from again.  Ah… the wonders of the internet.  The very fact that you’re reading this now is basically either a miracle or a testament to my technological genius. 

So… we’ll call it a miracle.

But enough about vexing computer difficulties that make me want to kick the neighbor’s dog.  Let’s say something worth saying about how King Jesus enlisted James Quadrizius into his service in this wonderful way. 

In the mid–60’s AD an old man named Paul was sitting in a Roman jail, waiting to be executed.  While he waited he dictated a letter to a young friend of his, of whom he was quite fond.  The young friend’s name was Timothy, and Timothy was an ordained pastor as well.

Here’s part of what Paul had to say to Pastor Timothy:

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For a time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  As for you, always be sober–minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
—2 Timothy 4.1–5

James, my prayer for you is that you will preach the Word.  For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the Lord remains forever.* Preach the Word.

“The three qualifications for the ministry are the grace of God, knowledge of the sacred Scriptures, and gumption.” Samuel Johnson

“Our office is a ministry of grace and salvation.  It subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world.  But Christ himself will be our reward if we labor faithfully.” Martin Luther

“Ministers are like trumpets, which make no sound if breath be not breathed into them.  Or like Ezekiel’s wheels, which move not unless the Spirit move them.  Or like Elisha’s servants whose presence does no good unless Elisha’s spirit be there also.” John Flavel

“God makes his ministers a flame of fire.  Am I ignitable?  God, deliver me from the dread asbestos of ‘other things.’ Saturate me with the oil of thy Spirit that I may be a flame.  Make me thy fuel, Flame of God.” Jim Elliot

“To be a true minister to men is always to accept new happiness and new distress.” Phillip Brooks

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober–minded, self–controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” The Apostle Paul

*1 Peter 1.24,25 (quoting from Isaiah 40)

Do you remember this brick wall where Charlie Brown & Linus would occasionally pause to enjoy a conversation about the meaning of life?  Those kind of moments can be very profitable when you’re with a wise friend who really cares about how the world is treating you. 

Simplician & Augustine had that kind of friendship.  In the previous five posts in this mini–series we explored the four simple but profound things that Simplician did to provoke Augustine’s consideration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  But what I haven’t told you about yet is what was going on in Augustine’s life during this time.

Augustine had grown restless with the unfulfilled & broken promises of this fallen world.  His health was deteriorating.  His relationship with his “interim mistress” was frustrating him because he knew it was immoral but he could not bring himself to end it.  Even his vocation (for which he was extremely gifted & well compensated) seemed to be a constant exercise in utter futility. 

Augustine worked for the government, and one of his chief duties was literally to flatter people while at court.  This is how he described his professional life:  “The more my lies, the more I was appplauded by the connoisseurs of lying.” He was growing more & more disgusted with his life as “a phrase salesman” (his words).

It was against that backdrop (the common struggles of life in this reduced world) that a faithful Christian named Simplician began to spend time with Augustine, building a friendship.  He began to offer Augustine specific reading recommendations in the Scriptures.  He began to introduce Augustine to a healthy group of Christian friends who were interested in some of the same things that interested Augustine.  He began to tell Augustine stories of a living & active Christ who was powerfully at work in the lives of his people.

And you know what?  Those are things that any Christian can do.

So… what do we learn from this six–part exploration into this moment of church history?  We learn that the grace of conversion doesn’t just happen. People don’t suddenly become Christians in their sleep.  God uses means to bring people to repentance of their sins & faith in Christ. 

And the means that he is pleased to use is his people.  People like Simplician.  People like you, Christian.

“…we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
—2 Corinthians 5.20,21

This post continues the mini–series on The Wisdom of Simplician. The first four installments can be found below the beautiful picture of Suzanna as you scroll down the page…

Have you seen the movie Secondhand Lions, pictured above?  Aside from being one more vehicle by which to enjoy the greatness of Robert Duvall, it’s also a wonderful reflection on the power of story to shape one’s character, give direction to one’s life, and awaken one’s imagination. 

Which brings us to the fourth simple but profound thing that Simplician did to encourage Augustine’s interest in the idea of following Christ:  he told Augustine stories. He told stories of Christians, how they were converted, how it changed their lives, and what it meant for them to follow Christ.  He told stories of Christians who were figuring out how to live and grow in the reality of the Christian faith.  He told stories of people who were faithfully following the King, regardless of the consequences.

Now you have to understand something… it’s not like Simplician was pulling one over on Augustine.  Augustine completely recognized Simplician’s strategy for what it was — he saw right through it!  And he appreciated it very much.  Augustine once wrote, “After Simplician recounted the life of Victorinus, I was on fire to follow his example — which is why he had told me the story!”

But the story of Victorinus was merely the first in a series of conversion accounts that became something like a drumbeat leading up to Augustine’s own conversion. 

So that was the fourth kindness Simplician did to Augustine.  And in the providence of God, the effect of these kindnesses was amazing.

In the next post, we’ll review these four simple but profound things Simplician did & wrap up with a few final thoughts. 

to be continued…

Cornerstone rejoices with Ryan and Sharon as they welcome Baby Suzanna into their family!  She’s beautiful!  What a blessing!

I think it must have been a similar occasion that inspired the writing of Psalms 127 & 128. 

Behold… Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase/translation of those two great Psalms:

“If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.

Enjoy the good life of Jerusalem
every day of your life.
And enjoy your grandchildren.
Peace to Israel!”