Let's see ... today I finished reading Job. I wish you could have seen me reading the last four chapters when the Lord speaks to Job and his 3 "friends." I was really marveling at those chapters as God questioned Job by asking Job about nature. Really cool stuff. I totally got it when Job replied to the Lord this way:
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know. -- Job 42:3
Wow! Reminds me of something my friend Joni recalled from when we read through The Shack late last year. When we judge things, from whose standard do we judge? In the case of music or movies or even food, what you might judge as good, I may believe to be terrible. So things happening which I deem as "bad" may, in reality, be eternally good for me if I saw them from God's perspective. So I was glad Joni reminded me of that.
My grandmother had a pacemaker put in yesterday, and she was able to go home today. I just wanted to thank the Lord for a successful surgery for Mema.
If you read this post, please stop and say a prayer for a friend whose family is going through a troubling time. I actually have several friends in this situation. So many troubling times. I'm glad God is in control and that He can handle all these things. They overwhelm me.
Michael came over this evening for a couple of hours. Stephanie was going out with friends so we watched him until Will could pick him up after work. He ate a pepperoni pizza Hot Pocket and some chocolate ice cream while we watched Looney Tunes on video. I love to hear him cackle at things. He's a sweetheart. Yesterday I took him to the park and it started thundering while we were on a trail. He immediately started heading for the car and said things like, "I hope that's only a guy rolling a garbage can" and "that sounds like a stampede of Road Runners." He doesn't care much for storms since a few weeks ago there was a really bad one while he and his dad were at Wal-mart. I think it made the power go out and so he is now fearful of them.
I think this is enough for now. I am so sleepy. Good night.
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Thursday, June 4, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Books I Read in 2008
I checked just this morning. List started in January 1999. This means for ten years now I have kept a list of books I finished throughout the year! Most years I read 99.9% fiction -- usually of the historical, Christian or mystery varieties. But this year I only read 2 fiction books and 35 non-fiction ones! Quite the change! I wrote reviews for each book throughout the year. Some are just short things, others more extensive. Click on the titles below if you are interested. Hopefully I did the links correctly. :-)
List of Books Read in 2008
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese
The Destiny of Muslims in the End Times by Faisal Malick
To My Muslim Friends by Anise Behnam
The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Nabeel Jabbour
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
Does My Head Look Too Big in This by Randa Abdel Fattah
Meeting Islam: A Guide for Christians by George Dardess
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun & Paul Hattaway
The New Answers Book by Ken Ham, general editor
The Shack by William P. Young
Being Arab by Samir Kassir
The Bible Exposition Commentary Vol. I by Warren Weirsbe
Scratch Beginnings: Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepherd
Victory for Us Is to See You Suffer by Philip Winslow
Too Christian Too Pagan by Dick Staub
The Faith by Charles Colson
The Attentive Life by Leighton Ford
Called to Die by Steve Estes
Mary Louise's Opus by Mary Louise Mason
Unshackled & Growing by Nabeel Jabbour
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan
Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker
Muslims, Christians, Jesus by Carl Medearis
Standing with Israel by David Brog
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
Once an Arafat Man by Taysir Saada
& Dean Merrill
Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg
The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen Miller
Christianity Today study series on Islam
Children of Hope by Vernon Brewer & Noel Brewer Yeatts
Mission Al Jazeera by Josh Rushing
Rethinking Holy Land by Marlin Jeschke
Defining Moments by Vernon Brewer
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
23 Minutes in Hell by Bill Wiese
The Destiny of Muslims in the End Times by Faisal Malick
To My Muslim Friends by Anise Behnam
The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross by Nabeel Jabbour
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
Does My Head Look Too Big in This by Randa Abdel Fattah
Meeting Islam: A Guide for Christians by George Dardess
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun & Paul Hattaway
The New Answers Book by Ken Ham, general editor
The Shack by William P. Young
Being Arab by Samir Kassir
The Bible Exposition Commentary Vol. I by Warren Weirsbe
Scratch Beginnings: Search for the American Dream by Adam Shepherd
Victory for Us Is to See You Suffer by Philip Winslow
Too Christian Too Pagan by Dick Staub
The Faith by Charles Colson
The Attentive Life by Leighton Ford
Called to Die by Steve Estes
Mary Louise's Opus by Mary Louise Mason
Unshackled & Growing by Nabeel Jabbour
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby
The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan
Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker
Muslims, Christians, Jesus by Carl Medearis
Standing with Israel by David Brog
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
Once an Arafat Man by Taysir Saada
& Dean Merrill
Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg
The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen Miller
Christianity Today study series on Islam
Children of Hope by Vernon Brewer & Noel Brewer Yeatts
Mission Al Jazeera by Josh Rushing
Rethinking Holy Land by Marlin Jeschke
Defining Moments by Vernon Brewer
Saturday, July 26, 2008
a book review on The Shack
The Shack by William P. Young -- This book really made me consider my idea of God and what is important to Him. It challenged my perspectives on politics, hierarchy, relationships and -- one especially flaunted by most Americans -- independence. Who would have thought independence was such a bad thing? However I see that viewing it from God's perspective, independence -- that is, wanting to live in our own ways -- is what keeps us separated from the precious fellowship that He desired from mankind when He created Adam and Eve in the garden.
The author included quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and this particular one by A.W. Tozer struck a chord with me because I have thought of this same idea in years past. It is: "An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others." How wonderful that God doesn't have to divide Himself and each of us is given only a-millionth of a part of Him during our lives. I have thought in the past how it is that there are billions of people in the world each with various trials and sufferings in their lives. Most are suffering MUCH worse than I have ever suffered, however, I feel the sweet presence of God in MY life even when my "little" problems are weighing me down. Even when I feel heartbroken over something, I know He cares and He makes me feel as if I am of the greatest concern to Him. It reminds me how a mother will dote over her child when he fears the pain of just a tiny splinter in his finger. How even though that splinter is no grave concern in the grand scheme of things, she cares for that little child and comforts him as if he'd cut off a finger. I am touched that He cares for me that way.
A lesson I was reminded from this book is "the Truth will set you free" not to our human notions of "independence" but to true freedom. Truth sets us free and Truth has a name. The Bible says when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. (see p. 95)
Another wonderful reminder was that often when we think of the future, we worry about what will happen and our thoughts are motivated by our fear and worry. Seldom when we imagine those worrisome scenarios do we picture Jesus there with us. Instead we picture ourselves scared, suffering, anxious, crying as if we had been abandoned by the One who promised to never leave or forsake us. (see p. 142)
Pages I noted that really spoke to me include these: 95, 100, 101 (love and relationship are possible on earth only because it exists already in God through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit's relationship and love for one another), 123 (choosing independence over relationship makes people manipulate and manage one another for their own happiness), 136, 137, 142 (we have fear in our lives because we don't fully trust God and we don't realize His love for us), 162, 163 (found worthy of love even if it costs everything), 178, 179 (institutions vs. relationships), 181 (freedom to love without an agenda), 192 (love doesn't force relationships, but it opens the way for them), 206-7 (God doesn't want part of our time; He wants to be involved in all of our days & He wants all of us).
Very thought-provoking book.
The author included quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and this particular one by A.W. Tozer struck a chord with me because I have thought of this same idea in years past. It is: "An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others." How wonderful that God doesn't have to divide Himself and each of us is given only a-millionth of a part of Him during our lives. I have thought in the past how it is that there are billions of people in the world each with various trials and sufferings in their lives. Most are suffering MUCH worse than I have ever suffered, however, I feel the sweet presence of God in MY life even when my "little" problems are weighing me down. Even when I feel heartbroken over something, I know He cares and He makes me feel as if I am of the greatest concern to Him. It reminds me how a mother will dote over her child when he fears the pain of just a tiny splinter in his finger. How even though that splinter is no grave concern in the grand scheme of things, she cares for that little child and comforts him as if he'd cut off a finger. I am touched that He cares for me that way.
A lesson I was reminded from this book is "the Truth will set you free" not to our human notions of "independence" but to true freedom. Truth sets us free and Truth has a name. The Bible says when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. (see p. 95)
Another wonderful reminder was that often when we think of the future, we worry about what will happen and our thoughts are motivated by our fear and worry. Seldom when we imagine those worrisome scenarios do we picture Jesus there with us. Instead we picture ourselves scared, suffering, anxious, crying as if we had been abandoned by the One who promised to never leave or forsake us. (see p. 142)
Pages I noted that really spoke to me include these: 95, 100, 101 (love and relationship are possible on earth only because it exists already in God through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit's relationship and love for one another), 123 (choosing independence over relationship makes people manipulate and manage one another for their own happiness), 136, 137, 142 (we have fear in our lives because we don't fully trust God and we don't realize His love for us), 162, 163 (found worthy of love even if it costs everything), 178, 179 (institutions vs. relationships), 181 (freedom to love without an agenda), 192 (love doesn't force relationships, but it opens the way for them), 206-7 (God doesn't want part of our time; He wants to be involved in all of our days & He wants all of us).
Very thought-provoking book.
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