Book Reading

So, with 2008 upon us, I asked a friend of mine what recommendations he had for books to read next year. I know that he is an avid reader, so I thought his suggestions would be good. Anyway, this is what he replied to me with, and it is worth sharing with others, so I decided to just copy it as my blog post for the day :) I hope it is profitable to all... (this email has been edited from its original format to fit your computer screen).

Andy, your question regarding books is a good one. I fear oftentimes that people have no plan for their reading, and end up not reading anything at all. So, I am glad that you are pursuing this area. Here are my recommendations for you:

Start by deciding on what areas in your life that are either most important to you, you want to grow in or improve upon. Maybe you start with a list like:

Relationship with God/Devotional
Marriage
Prayer
Children
Missions / Evangelism

Obviously judging by how much time you will be able to read will depend on how big the list is. With Institute and other obligations, maybe you shorten the list by combining Marriage and children to one book on the family, etc. Once you think of the areas of like you want to improve on, select a book for each area. For example:

Relationship with God/Devotional – The Mortification of Sin by John Owen
Marriage – His Needs Her Needs by Willard F. Harley Jr.
Prayer – Praying Backwards by Bryan Chapell
Children – What a Daughter Needs from Her Dad by Michael Farris
Missions – Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret or Peace Child by Don Richardson
Evangelism – Seek and to Save by Paul Chappell

This plan also helps me guard against always just reading books from one genre like “missions” and neglecting the other ministries in my life that God has given me stewardship over and wants me to continue to grow in.

Andy, we all know these are important ministries in our lives that we all wish we were better at, however it amazes me that many of us have no plan on improving in these areas. I think if you read a book each year on particular areas of your life you want to improve in, you will be “forward a year ago” in these areas.

Once you do this, if you want recommendations on a particular area, let me know and I will be happy to help you.

Take
care,

Michael

Just a friend's thoughts...

Cursed Alarm Clocks

(Proverbs 27:14) He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

I think this verse proves without a shadow of a doubt that alarm clocks are of the devil! Loud voice... early in the morning... A CURSE!

If you haven't figured it out yet, I don't like waking up early in the morning. Though, I think Sarah thinks that alarm clocks are more of a curse than I do. But, if alarm clocks are of the devil, and I am still supposed to wake up early, then I've still got a long way to go! I envy those people that wake up early in the morning without alarm clocks ready to meet with God.

Anyway, it is also possible that I am misapplying this verse. Kind of like when you go to take a test, and you tell the teacher (after being sent to the principle's office), but the Bible says, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

Just a thought...

Would you please stop sharing?

Did you know that the Bible doesn't talk about sharing? We all have our Christmas presents now, and we like to teach our kids how to share. But, that's really not what the Bible teaches us.

Luke 6:35: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Verse 38 of the same chapter says to: Give. When it says, "lend" it is suggested, commanded, to lend with no expectation of return. Lend, hoping for nothing again.

I think maybe when it's time to "share" our toys, we should "give" our toys. The Bible promises that we will receive reward for doing it.

So, that being said, Can I borrow your iPod?

Just a thought...

Given to Change

(Proverbs 24:21) My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

There are many applications of this verse to our lives, but I have noticed one these past couple weeks. "Given to change" is presented in this verse as being a negative thing. How about with regards to schedule? My schedule has not been very consistent for a couple weeks: working some strange shifts; not having to work for a couple days... it has just thrown my schedule off a bit.

Now, I'm not saying that I am "given to change" because of that, but I see some ways in which change, for change's sake, can be detrimental:

1) It becomes even harder for me to wake up in the morning - The past couple days I was able to sleep in as long as the kids did. So, when it was time to wake up for work this morning... not so good.

2) Normally family time gets interrupted - There was a 24 hour period there last week, where I did not see my kids. I didn't like that. Spending time with the family is obviously important, and kids need a dad around.

3) Lunch-Time thoughts get interrupted - Do I have to say any more about this?

Those that are given to change -
Will likely end up out on the range.

There, three points and a poem.

Just a thought...

Answer... no, Don't Answer

This can be one of the most confusing parts of the Bible. Right behind, God was made man.

Proverbs 26:4-5 says, "Answer not a fool according to his folly... Answer a fool according to his folly..." Which is it? Answer or not? I was reminded of this passage when reading the comments on my post from yesterday.

Anyway, should I answer it, or not? The rest of those verses help us out.

Don't answer a fool "according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him." This is saying, if someone says, "I am the judgment seat of Christ" or something like that, then I would be like him if I were to say some smart-allecy response back to him. If I 'played along' with him, then I would be like him. I would be answering him in the same way that he was - according to his folly.

Answer a fool "according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit." This is saying that if someone is speaking foolishly, that we ought not to just ignore it and pretend everything is ok. Mr., you are not the things you say you are. The Bible describes things differently.

Ok, so, to answer a fool, don't answer him foolishly, but at the same time, and answer is needed or he'll think everything's ok.

Just a thought...

Daily Exhortation

One of the verses in the Bible that has motivated me to stay consistent daily with this blog is Hebrews 3:13: "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." We are told to daily incite fellow believers to good works (that's the definition of: exhort). So, I have been daily trying to incite my readers to good works by my different posts.

Well, these past couple of days, I have seen the importance of having good Christian friends around you, to do the same, to help encourage and incite me to do good works. And I am very appreciative of it.

For example, these past two days I have failed to post on my blog. The reason? Slothfulness, and too much work. That makes sense??? Slothful in that in my free time that I did have, I didn't do it, and too much work in that I couldn't get away from my job enough to do it either.

Anyway, I have learned different methods of encouragment though from the comments that were made here too. For example (no names given to protect the innocent and guilty):

Method Number 1: REBUKE
"Lunch time thoughts Andy! Lunch time. Not dinner time thoughts. Sigh." This method is used to point out the fault. Some may notice that this rebuke actually came when I had not even missed a blog post, just was a bit late on it. But, apparently it was prophetic as I missed the next two. And I did appreciate the reply comment saying that the previous comment came from someone who hadn't posted in a week, but I will let that go.

Method Number 2: CONCERN and COMPASSION
"Now I'm afraid - this is the longest you've ever gone without posting! Did you get what Sarah had?!" This method of exhortation can also be called, Grace. There is notice that there is a flaw, but rather than rebuke, a show of concern over my well-being and compassion is made. This encourages me in a positive way to continue on doing right.

Method Number 3: FLATTERY
"Has anyone seen this blogs author? He's not answering his e-mail, he's not blogging...did I miss the Rapture?" This method of inciting me to good works would be flattery (streeetching here...). The commenter is saying, Andy, it may be you're the only one saved around here, and so a plausible explanation for your absence is that you were raptured up, and we were left behind. This method of exhortation encourages me in thinking that people actually care about what I write. That there is a reason to go on... :)

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you all for the exhortation!

(Hebrews 10:24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:(Hebrews 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Just a thought...

The Waters Were Afraid!

As I was preparing for Home Bible Study today, these verses struck me... The waters were afraid! What a God!

(Psalms 77:16) The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.
(Psalms 77:17) The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.
(Psalms 77:18) The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.