- An Experiment in Criticism - C. S. Lewis
- A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
- The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
- Clive Staples Lewis: A Dramatic Life - William Griffin
- The Southern Poets - William Lander Weber
- The Chimes - Charles Dickens
- Glorifying God: A Yearlong Collection of Classical Devotional Writings - Thomas Watson
- Holy Bible: English Standard Version
- A Severe Mercy - Sheldon Vanauken
- The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
- That Hideous Strength - C. S. Lewis
- Walking with Bilbo - Sarah Arthur
- Diary of a Jackwagon - Tim Hawkins
- C. S. Lewis, My Godfather: Letters, Photos and Recollections - Laurence Harwood
Showing posts with label spiritual disciplines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual disciplines. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
December Reading
Monday, December 05, 2016
Top Seven Books for Pastors
I read over 130 books this year. Of those, a good portion were about Christian ministry in particular, or Christian living in general. Here's a list of seven of those that I would definitely recommend. Of course, this list is not limited to pastors. All Christians would benefit from reading these books. Blessings!
7. Lessons from the Ladder - Neil Joiner
6. Jesus Swagger: Break Free from Poser Christianity - Jarrid Wilson
5. The Power of Positive Praying - John Bisagno
4. Pastors in the Classics - Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken, and Todd Wilson
3. The Book on Leadership - John MacArthur
2. Who Moved My Pulpit? - Thom S. Rainer
1. Praying the Bible - Donald S. Whitney
7. Lessons from the Ladder - Neil Joiner
6. Jesus Swagger: Break Free from Poser Christianity - Jarrid Wilson
5. The Power of Positive Praying - John Bisagno
4. Pastors in the Classics - Leland Ryken, Philip Ryken, and Todd Wilson
3. The Book on Leadership - John MacArthur
2. Who Moved My Pulpit? - Thom S. Rainer
1. Praying the Bible - Donald S. Whitney
Sunday, July 31, 2016
July Reading
- The Book on Leadership - John MacArthur
- Henry XIII - Frank Dwyer
- The Blackstone Chronicles - John Saul
- Ephesus - Anita Gillett
- The Sacred Journey - Charles Foster
- Jack: C. S. Lewis and His Times - George Sayer
Sunday, January 03, 2016
3 Recommended Devotionals
It's that time again. Each new year welcomes a great opportunity to start fresh with quiet times and devotions. Here's three devotional books that you might want to check out this year.
- Glorifying God: A Yearlong Collection of Classic Devotional Writings by Thomas Watson - Compiled by Patti M. Hummel (365)
- A Sherlock Holmes Devotional: Uncovering the Mysteries of God - Trisha White Priebe (60)
- A Hobbit Devotional - Ed Strauss (60)
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Store It Up
There is great value in knowing God's Word.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
So often, people fail to memorize Scripture because they fail to try. Excuses abound. However, memorizing Scripture doesn't have to be an overwhelming, daunting task. Anyone, young or old, can do it.
There are many strategic methods for learning Scripture by heart, but perhaps the simplest is to use 3" x 5" index cards. Index cards are advantageous for a few reasons. First, they are lined. That helps with writing part. Second, index cards are easy to hold (in small quantities anyway). They are handy, if you will. Third, because of their size, they are portable. You can easily take them anywhere. Last, because they are made of paper, a little piece of tape will allow you to attach one just about anywhere: on the mirror, on the dash of your car, in your locker, on the refrigerator, by the door, etc.
Over time, learning one verse by heart each week, you will have learned 52 verses in a year. Of course, that would be the minimum. You can learn as much as you set your heart and mind to memorize.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17
"I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
So often, people fail to memorize Scripture because they fail to try. Excuses abound. However, memorizing Scripture doesn't have to be an overwhelming, daunting task. Anyone, young or old, can do it.
There are many strategic methods for learning Scripture by heart, but perhaps the simplest is to use 3" x 5" index cards. Index cards are advantageous for a few reasons. First, they are lined. That helps with writing part. Second, index cards are easy to hold (in small quantities anyway). They are handy, if you will. Third, because of their size, they are portable. You can easily take them anywhere. Last, because they are made of paper, a little piece of tape will allow you to attach one just about anywhere: on the mirror, on the dash of your car, in your locker, on the refrigerator, by the door, etc.
Over time, learning one verse by heart each week, you will have learned 52 verses in a year. Of course, that would be the minimum. You can learn as much as you set your heart and mind to memorize.
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Does Prayer Posture Matter?
On the other hand, prayer posture matters a great deal. This is especially true in your regularly scheduled times of prayer. You know, when it comes time to go into your prayer closet, or even in a corporate worship service. It all comes down our attitude as we approach the throne of God in prayer. What the body does affects the soul.
Listen to what C. S. Lewis had to say about it through his infamously devilish character--Uncle Screwtape.
"At the very least, they (Christians) can be persuaded that the bodily position makes no difference to their prayers; for they constantly forget, what you (Wormwood) must always remember, that they are animals and that whatever their bodies do affects their souls."*
Bowing the head, kneeling, prostrating, hands lifted up, etc. are all actions of surrender and submission. Submission is a wonderful idea when you're talking to God. Through these actions, you're telling your body something, and in turn your bodily position will affect your mind as you pray.
*C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, The Complete C. S. Lewis Signature Classics (2002), 194-195.
Friday, July 31, 2015
What Is Your Spiritual Disciplines Strategy?
After 21 years of
being a Christian, and after reading many books dealing with spiritual
disciplines, my conclusion is this: you just have to do it.
Although I could talk about several other spiritual disciplines, I will limit this brief answer to Prayer and Bible Reading.
Prayer
I've used all sorts of helpful methods for prayer, but because I have a disposition for variety, I keep changing and modifying my methods. After all, my relationship with Christ is constantly changing and developing, then why should my prayer life not continue to change and develop?
When I first became a Christian, it was stressed to me to have a set time and place for a "quiet time" or a time of devotion to God, and that was very helpful. However, I soon learned that I need to pray more than just once a day or at a certain time each day. The Apostle Paul instructs us to "pray without ceasing." By all means, use whatever method, strategy, outline, etc. that you find helpful and biblically sound, but by all means do it.
Bible Reading
I received a Ryrie Study Bible for Christmas in 1995. That began my regular Bible reading. I think it took me 4-5 years to read through it the first time. Since then, I've tried to have more disciplined approach to reading through the Bible. The one year reading plans are very helpful in this regard. I've made it my goal to read through the Bible once a year. Sometimes I'm slower than that, and sometimes I'm faster. But again, like prayer, whatever method or approach you use, the most important thing is that you are learning what God has said in His Word. Don't just read it; study it, meditate on it, hear it, and practice it.
So do it. One of the saddest things I encounter as a pastor is Christians who simply will not read their Bibles and will not pray. My advice is to do it. Do it when on good days and bad days. Do it when you feel like and when you don't. Commit yourself to it today.
Nothing encourages me more as a pastor than to hear people at church telling me about what they read in the Bible that week, or how they have been praying. Nothing thrills me more than when they share how Christ has used it to change their lives.
So do it. One warning though...if you decide to commit to praying regularly or reading your Bible, just know that you will encounter all sorts of potential distractions. As a husband and father of three, I know very well how crazy life can get. Distractions will come. Push through them. Don't make excuses. Sacrifice everything to spending time with your Heavenly Father. He certainly deserves it, and you need Him.
Although I could talk about several other spiritual disciplines, I will limit this brief answer to Prayer and Bible Reading.
Prayer
I've used all sorts of helpful methods for prayer, but because I have a disposition for variety, I keep changing and modifying my methods. After all, my relationship with Christ is constantly changing and developing, then why should my prayer life not continue to change and develop?
When I first became a Christian, it was stressed to me to have a set time and place for a "quiet time" or a time of devotion to God, and that was very helpful. However, I soon learned that I need to pray more than just once a day or at a certain time each day. The Apostle Paul instructs us to "pray without ceasing." By all means, use whatever method, strategy, outline, etc. that you find helpful and biblically sound, but by all means do it.
Bible Reading
I received a Ryrie Study Bible for Christmas in 1995. That began my regular Bible reading. I think it took me 4-5 years to read through it the first time. Since then, I've tried to have more disciplined approach to reading through the Bible. The one year reading plans are very helpful in this regard. I've made it my goal to read through the Bible once a year. Sometimes I'm slower than that, and sometimes I'm faster. But again, like prayer, whatever method or approach you use, the most important thing is that you are learning what God has said in His Word. Don't just read it; study it, meditate on it, hear it, and practice it.
So do it. One of the saddest things I encounter as a pastor is Christians who simply will not read their Bibles and will not pray. My advice is to do it. Do it when on good days and bad days. Do it when you feel like and when you don't. Commit yourself to it today.
Nothing encourages me more as a pastor than to hear people at church telling me about what they read in the Bible that week, or how they have been praying. Nothing thrills me more than when they share how Christ has used it to change their lives.
So do it. One warning though...if you decide to commit to praying regularly or reading your Bible, just know that you will encounter all sorts of potential distractions. As a husband and father of three, I know very well how crazy life can get. Distractions will come. Push through them. Don't make excuses. Sacrifice everything to spending time with your Heavenly Father. He certainly deserves it, and you need Him.
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