Tag Archives: Immersed

My Top Ten Books

My wife recently posted her 10 most influential books. (She put my books on her list. Danger of nepotism?) So, here is my stab at my most influential. (Not counting my own. Danger of ridicule?) And, I’ve doubled and trebled up to get in some more. And, I’m leaving out some books that ought to get me banned from libraries and sitting rooms as penance.

1. The Bible. I read through the bible every year at least once and have for many years. It is more thrilling to me every year and is the foundation for my faith and my life. It is really 66 books, of course, but I’ll count it as one for this. If you haven’t read it yet, try starting with John and then Acts. Finish the New Testament a couple of times and then read the entire book.

2. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. This is a 7 book set. It is lots of fun to get lost in them. Very easy reading. I love the spiritual connection and the fun. I read them to my children and look forward to reading them to my grandchildren. And, add to this Mere Christianity (Lewis’s best non-fiction, I think) and The Screwtape Letters (tremendous insights into our spiritual battles) by Lewis. A serious Christian thinker not reading Mere Christianity is sort of like a serious student of English novels never reading A Tale of Two Cities–these things ought not to be done.

3. Trilogy of the Civil War by Shelby Foote. These three Continue reading

The Heart of the Matter

I have treasured Your Word in my heart so that I may not sin against You.   Psalm 119:11

Your heart is critical…

…A friend of mine told me about preaching on the back of a flatbed truck next to Red Square in Moscow some years ago.  The communist government had just fallen and many people there were searching for meaning and purpose.  My friend was put on the back of the truck, given a microphone, and told to preach to the walking masses through a translator. Continue reading

Consistency (in praise of)

   Our church just started a new sermon series called “Immersed: 40 Days to a Deeper Faith”.  We are using the devotional book I wrote by the same title in conjunction with it.  The idea is to read a devotional each day for 40 days and the 2 chapters of the bible each day as it suggests.  By the end of the 40 days we will have read the books of John, Acts and Proverbs.

   Christians often look for a mountaintop experience- and I like mountaintops.  But less often do believers buckle down to the harder work of consistent bible study, prayer and reflection.  May I put in a good word for consistency?

   There is something beneficial in a steady, long walk with God.  Wonderful experiences are, well, wonderful.  Emotional experiences have some merit.  But a consistent walk day by day is not to be overlooked or discounted.  In fact, I suggest that some of the greatest gains of discipleship are made in the consistency of a devotional life each day.

   Feelings come and go; rise and fall.  Emotional responses can be worked up or worked out.  But a consistent walk with the Lord will get you somewhere.  It will get you closer, deeper and stronger. 

  And that is a good destination.