I found Aramis (the priest-Musketeer) a particularly interesting character, with his struggles between following the way of the cloth (which he ultimately does, in the end) and being a Musketeer, and the dichotomy that this presents him with. (These would be struggles I can relate to in my day-to-day life). I thought his intended thesis, which followed the lines of "nothing is worth sacrificing if it is not accompanied by regret" to be particularly profound.
From what I gathered, this Musketeer "sacrificed" the head of his girlfriend in the sight of the rest of the band at the end of the book. That's just the opposite of what Jesus, the perfect Man, did for His Beloved. Rather than killing her for her sins, He dies in her place!
it *is* a wee bit of a rollicking read: I suppose I had just filtered that, much like I have to filter what's on the telly and what I encounter in the streets. I'd find it difficult to live my life if I were easily scandalized: over the years I have developed a very thick skin. (That said, I try to hold myself to a high personal standard of morality and ethic and conduct.) I guess I forgot that not everybody would find The Three Musketeers entertaining,
I am not easily scandalized: oh, if you knew my life before Christ, or the true life stories I hear at the pregnancy center!
I am not entertained by what was in the book or even what is on television these days, just as I do not find my sinful past at all entertaining and the stories I deal with in crisis pregnancy center ministry are far from entertaining.
I don't own or watch TV because it is so incredibly violent and pornographic. Scripture commands me to guard my heart and like Job I make a covenant with my eyes--windows to my very soul.
It was not entertaining for me to read about grown men not working for a living, using women as sex objects, using women as sugar-mamas, and killing for fun and sport. As I said, the last straw for me was that line on page 105: "Love is the most selfish of all the emotions." That is a horrible lie: It was love that held Jesus to the cross. What this book referred to as love was not what the Bible refers to as love, and the Bible is my source of truth.
It is because I have been soaking up the Truth for twelve years that my tastes were so unaccustomed to what your tastes found "entertaining" in The Three Musketeers or what you can put up with on TV. What you find entertaining--something to do in your down time--I use (in REAL life) as cause to fall on my face before the living God and plead His blood over, so that men may be set free! This is why Jesus, the God/Man came, and why He died: Because He lives it is possible to be in this world but not of it; dead to sin and alive unto God!
I thank you that the reading you recommended out of your pleasure was a way for me to see how little this world pleases me and how eager I am to please my Father in heaven and to be like unto Him in all things. It is a miracle of His Spirit in me that has so transformed my mind that even The Three Musketeers, a classic in this world's sight, is such rubbish to me.
Hosepipe, if you have been in churches that fit my description of The Three Musketeers I am very sorry for you. I hope you have found a biblical, loving, true family with which to worship our Lord and Savior and in which to serve His interests here on earth until He comes! Amen!
Ma'am
I did not intend to attract flame by recommending a book I found inspirational in a practical sense (albeit will full filters on).
I felt that the section of "The Three Musketeers" that talked about Aramis' Thesis on personal sacrifice would help you quit smoking (as it did for me).
His dichotomy between being a Musketeer and a man of religion is the same dichotomy I feel as a Guardian Angel and a committed Christian.
I live a life not too different to the book I recommended to you, in all innocence and with the best of intention. Very few things in this life shock me. Seen it all, 'tis filtered, and I don't mind. There's good work yet to be done...
I intended you no offense. And I have (in my view) amply apologized for causing you any hurt. Be it far, far from me to cause you to be offended!
I could relate to the book: my life's experience and what I'd seen to date pushed me toward a greater understanding of how Life is, from its pages. All of which contributed to my current World View: which is based upon a deep and practical Christian Spirituality.
This may or may not coincide with yours: I can do nothing about that.
I reiterate: I meant you no offense. I apologize for any offense I've caused you. I am sorry. Truly and profoundly and deeply sorry. For I treasure you as a FRiend.
I shall lurk for quite a while and not post on these pages anytime soon. Time in the wilderness will do me good.
Love in Christ
"DieHard"
It must had to have been my experience.. to be where I am now.. I am grateful.. painfully grateful.. The book about the Frenchmen was on a worldly/fleshly level and should be expected.. what was not expected was finding the "world" so firmly entrenched and established in the "church".. Albeit the words to identify the "worldly things" were changed to mask so-called "spiritual things", it was the same as the book about the Frenchmen..
I won't go into "those" things for fear some here might deem them "spiritual".. but for me they not good enough.. many so-called "charasmatic" things are not.. and some non "charasmatic" things are.. in the proper rendering of charasmatic meaning "spiritual".. that "I" see..
Amazing what some deem or think or consider spiritual are merely fleshly props.. in a spiritual act.. My agenda is not to stop all that, but simply to be in spiritual reality myself.. After all the book of Revelation, or Vision of Jesus(Rev ch1;1) displays "those" things must be, will be, and are.. i.e. 7 churchs of asia.. That is to say some must go thru all seven types of churchs (like ME) to get to Philidelphia.. and know where you are.. like that.. Denominations are not important, the 7 churchs of asia ARE important though.. extremely important and the eyes to see them, I think, are a spiritual gift.. i.e. blessing.
As Jesus said, "its not what comes into a man that defiles him, but that which comes out"..(paraphrased)..