August Reading

• Integrative Preaching - William H. Willimon
• The Red Pyramid - Rick Riordan
• Think - John Piper
• The Secret of Wildcat Swamp - Franklin W. Dixon

Think

Those who have visited me, or have been in my office, quickly make the following observation:  "You have a lot of books!"  I usually respond with something like, "Well, I used to have more."  Over the years I have given away, sold, or loaned (permanently it seems) many books.  On occasion, someone will ask, "Why do you read so much?"  I've even been asked, "Why do you read?"  Of course, I'm tempted to respond with, "Why don't you read (so much)?"

Obviously, reading a lot takes a lot of time, but I believe it is well worth the time, effort, and mental energy.  Why do I believe this is so?  In Matthew 22:37, Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, states, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."  Jesus said that this is the greatest commandment.  The heart and soul are always being emphasized in the church, but when it comes to the part about the mind, it often receives little emphasis.  Even worse, learning and thinking is viewed as being suspect, and the pursuit of knowledge is rejected altogether.

I recently read a book by John Piper entitled Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God.  What Piper articulated in that book is something I also feel quite strongly about, both in my mind and deep down in my heart.  Here is one quote from the book which resonates within me:  "I have never been one of those who found the heart shrivel as God and His Word are known better.  Putting more knowledge in my head about God and His ways was like throwing wood in the furnace of my worship" (Think, 26).  That's it!  That is why I like to read so much.  Through reading and thinking, I'm keeping the fires of my mind and heart burning brightly to the glory of God.

This past Sunday, I preached from Matthew 5:13 about being salt in our world.  You know, as Christians we are to have  preserving and flavorful qualities about us as we seek to have an influence for Christ in this present darkness.  Reading, and then thinking about and evaluating what I've read, provides an avenue for loving God with my mind.  It aids me in renewing my mind and keeping it fresh.  It helps to prevent staleness and apathy in my thinking.  I don't want to get stuck in one of life's ruts.  I want to have some saltiness about me.

Of course, I never intend to be pedantic or prideful in the knowledge I have gained.  My desire is to use it for loving purposes and not arrogance.  I'm also well aware of Solomon's warning in Ecclesiastes 12:12: "The writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body."  Yes, indeed, it is wearying and tiresome, but it is worth the effort.  To not think, which is the alternative adopted by so many, is to me unbearable.  When it comes to God, His Word, His world, and His plan, ignorance is not bliss!

Cold Jolt!

When I was a teenager, I would spend a week of my summer break on a mission trip somewhere.  More times than not, that week would be spent in Helen, a quaint little German touristy village in the foothills of North Georgia.  In the midst of doing ministry (puppet shows, clowns, dramas, etc), the team would usually make its way down to the local grocer where that sweet nectar, Jolt Cola, could be bought.  Jolt Cola claims to have twice the caffeine content as a regular cup of coffee.  Now that may not sound like a whole lot compared to all the wacky drinks that are available today, but for us, it hit the spot--cold, refreshing, and it kept us awake.  In fact, late one night, Ms. Sandy Cliett threatened to remove all the Jolt in the house and ban us from buying anymore if we didn't quiet down and go to sleep.

Jared Pickard and I kept the bottle caps, and I'm sure if you look on Wesley Ryals' shelf, you may just see a Jolt cola bottle.  We had fun with it.  That bottle of cold Jolt kept us going.

Going to church is like that because it keeps me going.  Ever since I became a Christian at the age of twelve, I have loved being with my church family--whether that was in Milledgeville, Sparta, Fort Worth, Warthen, or Malta.  Jared Pickard and I used to sit on the back row (as teenagers mind you) and talk about "good old church life."  Well, that good old life is still going to this day.  I can't get enough!  The reason I can't get enough, I believe, is that all I can really have is a taste of what the reality will be like for all eternity in heaven.  And so, I want to be in corporate worship every time the doors are open.

The writer of Hebrews exhorts, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB).

It is absolutely crucial for Christians to get together for worship, instruction, encouragement, service, and fellowship.  A believer can't go solo; there are no "Lone Ranger" Christians.  Dr. David Allen, Dean of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, says that you're either growing in Christ or you're drifting away; the passage of years don't mean anything.

If you go to one service a week, perhaps Sunday morning, then try going back on Sunday night.  If you already go Sunday morning and evening, then go on Wednesday night too.  If you say, "Well, I attend all those things," then stop just attending and get involved with ministry.  Try something new.  Get to know the other believers where you worship.  Let us consider how we can spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Will you be in church this Sunday?  How about a cold jolt for your life?!

July Reading

• The Last Olympian - Rick Riordan
• The Lost Hero - Rick Riordan
• Perelandra - C. S. Lewis
• Keys to Becoming an Effective Worship Leader - Tom Kraeuter
• The Son of Neptune - Rick Riordan
• VELCRO Church - Ken Hemphill and Mike James
• Taking Back the Good Book - Woodrow Kroll
• Jesus Manifesto - Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola
• How to Listen to God - Charles Stanley
• Ten Power Principles for Christian Service - Warren W. and David W. Wiersbe
• Worship - John MacArthur
• The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne