School finally just ended, so I decided it was time to start reading a book for my own personal enjoyment. Plus, my shelf of books to read is getting rather full and I have several that I've been putting off reading for 2 or 3 years now. My goal is to get those finally read this summer.
The first one that I just started on is titled The Rewriting of America's History, by Catherine Millard. In the introduction she writes, "Rewriting a nation's history is frequently one of the first strategies taken by a conquering nation. Why? Because a people who do not know from where they came also do not know where they are going. Thus, they become easy prey for a conquering nation....It's happening through the rewriting and/or reinterpretation of American historical records...In some cases, changes are subtle, and in others, blatant. It's done through removal of key historic pieces that do not support the current ungodly bias."
Millard is founder and president of Christian Heritage Tours in Washington, D.C. Their sole purpose, as you can probably guess, is to teach the Christian history of America that so many do not know about. This is also the purpose of the book. It begins with the sailing of Cristobal Colon (aka, Christopher Columbus) and ends with the founding of the original colonies (I think. I'm only on page 23, but by skimming the last pages it seems that that is where it ends). It's very straight forward, a little dry, but a very good read so far.
I'm sure I'll be posting more interesting facts from the book in the future, but here's a little piece from Columbus' own pen:
[Speaking of his son to whom he has sent some gold that was discovered] "that he shall help to maintain and sustain on the Island Espanola four good teachers of the holy theology with the intention to convert to our holy religion all those people in the Indias.
I said that I would state my reasons [behind my journey]: I hold alone to the sacred and Holy Scriptures, and to the interpretations of prophecy given by certain devout persons.
For the execution of the journey to the Indies I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps....No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for his holy service. The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will even though he gives advice."
Columbus' desire was not to enslave the Indians for the profit of Spain. Much more is said in the book, but it is clear that his intention was to spread the Gospel. Also, he wasn't an idiot who didn't know where he was going. He didn't make use of maps or anything! He knew that, in doing God's work, God would guide him to his destination--even if it wasn't the one he was aiming for.
I am tempted to write more about this last part, but I'll let you make the application/connection between our own aims and God's.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
get your read on
Since I read a butt-load of books each semester, I thought it might be a good idea to let ya'll know some of the better ones I've read:
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ - John Piper
*Short book, just over 120 pages. Nothing like Desiring God.
Master Plan of Evangelism - Robert Coleman
*One of like 4 or 5 books that does an in depth study of Jesus' style of discipleship and evangelism. One of the better books I read this Spring.
Humility - CJ Mahaney
*If you've never read or heard of Mahaney, you should start.
Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life - Donald Whitney
*Southern Professor. Good book talking about the disciplines (eg, fasting, praying, serving). If you've read Dallas Willard's Disciplines, they're a lot alike.
Knowing God - JI Packer
*It's sort of a systematic theology book on who God is, written with the lay minister in mind (aka, common man). I plan on reading this one again when I have some free time. Like in 2 years.
Devotional Classics - Richard Foster
*Although Foster is a little out there, this is a great compilation of some of the greatest minds in the history of the Church. Short list of authors: CS Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, John Calvin, Teresa of Avila, Watchman Nee, Ignatius of Loyola. It's really interesting to see what people from different places and different times thought about God. Some of it, like Julian of Norwich is a little weird. But all of it is good.
Evangelical Ethics - John Jefferson Davis
*A good overview of the major ethical issues (eg, abortion, euthanasia, bioethics) including history of each argument and the evangelical perspective. I may not agree with every point, but Davis gives each issue a fair assessment
The Universe Next Door - James Sire
*Like the ethics book, but an overview of different worldviews (eg, pantheism, nihilism, postmodernism).
Faith and Reason - Ronald Nash
*RTS professor. Like the ethics book, but for philosophy and the Christian perspective.
And that's only like half of the books I read this past semester!
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ - John Piper
*Short book, just over 120 pages. Nothing like Desiring God.
Master Plan of Evangelism - Robert Coleman
*One of like 4 or 5 books that does an in depth study of Jesus' style of discipleship and evangelism. One of the better books I read this Spring.
Humility - CJ Mahaney
*If you've never read or heard of Mahaney, you should start.
Spiritual Disciplines For the Christian Life - Donald Whitney
*Southern Professor. Good book talking about the disciplines (eg, fasting, praying, serving). If you've read Dallas Willard's Disciplines, they're a lot alike.
Knowing God - JI Packer
*It's sort of a systematic theology book on who God is, written with the lay minister in mind (aka, common man). I plan on reading this one again when I have some free time. Like in 2 years.
Devotional Classics - Richard Foster
*Although Foster is a little out there, this is a great compilation of some of the greatest minds in the history of the Church. Short list of authors: CS Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, John Calvin, Teresa of Avila, Watchman Nee, Ignatius of Loyola. It's really interesting to see what people from different places and different times thought about God. Some of it, like Julian of Norwich is a little weird. But all of it is good.
Evangelical Ethics - John Jefferson Davis
*A good overview of the major ethical issues (eg, abortion, euthanasia, bioethics) including history of each argument and the evangelical perspective. I may not agree with every point, but Davis gives each issue a fair assessment
The Universe Next Door - James Sire
*Like the ethics book, but an overview of different worldviews (eg, pantheism, nihilism, postmodernism).
Faith and Reason - Ronald Nash
*RTS professor. Like the ethics book, but for philosophy and the Christian perspective.
And that's only like half of the books I read this past semester!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
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