Books 'n' Stuff

I love books. I haven't read this one, but the title sure is intriguing. From what I gather this book is a compilation of stories about life from people like me. It's about old people and their experiences. One of my favorite experiences is to be in a Borders Book store, with a Cappuccino, at a table perusing books I want and just might buy. I always buy one; Borders isn't a library.


My next favorite place is the nearest used book store - depending, of course, on where I am and the nearness of the book store.

When we were in Australia, last year, the shop Joyce was working in was right across the street from this used book store. Is God good or what? I had a day to myself, so he provided me a way to pursue my favorite pastime.

I have never been able to understand why people do not like to read. As a Christian, my opinion is, reading is almost a command from God. Of course we all read the Bible, or we say we do, but what about reading other literature which broadens the picture of the world as it was when the Bible was written,and will broaden and inform us of the world we live in. We all read important secular books when we were in school. We learned geography, algebra, Latin, and maybe French or Spanish from them.

Doesn't the idea of learning interest people today. I suppose some of those verses we read in the Bible about God being the Word, and gaining wisdom and knowledge, and renewing the mind, etc., just don't soak into the minds of people today like they should. Then again, I wonder if many of the people claiming to be Christian don't read and study, because they aren't what they claim to be so "renewing the mind" isn't of interest.

I remember hearing a so-called "Dr." somebody or other preaching "you don't need a bunch of books about the Bible, all you need is the Bible." I was surprised a PhD, would say such a thing. Moreover, I wonder how he learned enough to gain his degree not having read a "bunch of books about the Bible.

Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin, all required, I assume, for his degree are not taught in the Bible. Therefore, I think he probably read "a bunch of books about the Bible." His message however, was for his audience to remain ignorant and not study as he claimed he had. The underlying thing he wanted us to believe is that he would tell us what to think and we didn't need to question him or verify the truth of what he was preaching.

Oops! Big mistake, because I didn't believe him and I question anyone who repeats his remark. The problem these folks run into with me is, I do read and I'm not stupid. Anyone who tries to keep me ignorant by telling me not to read has a big time problem. When I hear these kinds of things I am almost compelled to begin comparing their message with what the Bible actually says; and guess what? They make it apparent that they quit reading both the books they obviously hate and the Bible they claim to love a long time ago, because so much of what they say doesn't match what the Bible teaches.

So much of what these folks say is jingoistic nonsense. Oh, I know they talk about how they "read God's Word," but what comes out of their mouths just verifies the empty content of their hearts, just as Jesus said it does. [my paraphrase "from the heart comes the words of the mouth. Matt 15:18]

Tony Reinke posted a link to a great article about this very thing. The author says,

...although our fallen world cannot bring us lasting happiness, it is a purposeful place in which God is active, both supernaturally and through providence. Books are a way of exploring this world more deeply. Since God has used language in communicating about the world to us, we believe that the written word is capable of embodying truth about the world. Our studies in theology naturally lead us to an interest in the world and trust that we can learn about it through print.

So, I'm going to end this. I have some new books I haven't read yet, some older ones I want to re-read, and a lot of studying to do. And my young friend from yesterday has challenged me to get busy reading and studying. Where's my Cappuccino?