Recent Reads

Truth is heavy,

therefore few care to carry it.

The Talmud

     Sometimes truth is too simple... it requires a heart that is willing to pause and consider. So, when I noticed a new book on writing my first thought was, "...another one?" Then I read the subtitle- Understanding the Passion That Leads to Meaningful Writing. Hmm- meaningful writing. I read the book quickly, in one sitting. I chewed on it the rest of the day. Then I read it again.

     Goethe said, "Everything has been thought of before, but the difficulty is to think of it again." He was, of course, paraphrasing Solomon's words spoken thousands of years earlier. Missionary Writing by Jeff Calloway is a reminder that words have meaning, words change lives, and Jeff Calloway outlines a course of action for the writer who has been called (he explains being called) to write. For me, the beauty of Missionary Writing is Jeff Calloway's succinct style; he doesn't belabor a point, he begins a conversation. If you are called to write, read Missionary Writing.  

Missionary Writing

Jeff Calloway

 

"For a missionary, a call that doesn't require action is not a call at all. When God calls a missionary, He expects an answer."

Jeff Calloway

     Truth is immutable, and in the house where I grew up, a few other things were immutable as well: church was on Sundays and Wednesdays, dinner was on the table at 5 PM, and the television was tuned to Billy Graham's Crusades, regardless of the night. The name Billy Graham is synonymous with evangelist; I cannot imagine our world without him... 

     At 92 years of age, Billy Graham has written another book- Nearing Home; Life, Faith, and Finishing Well. Nearing Home is written by a man who has walked closely with God in this chapter of life; a man who wants to share a few final thoughts before continuing his walk in the next chapter.

     Billy Graham's life is a picture of Life, Faith, and Finishing Well.   

Nearing Home

Billy Graham

"Growing old has been the greatest surprise of my life. I would never have guessed what God had in store for me, and I know that as I am nearing home, He will not forsake me the last mile of the way."

Billy Graham

A few of my journals

"If you enjoy something in this world without saying a blessing,

it is as if you stole it."

Talmud Berachot 35A

"Remember now thy Creator

in the days of thy youth."

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Thursday evening, Sam, my 16-year-old son shared his heart with his youth group. He spoke about the parable of the talents, the story of a master who, before going on a journey,  entrusted his possessions to his servants.  The crux of his meditation was Matt. 25:25, when upon the master's return, one servant replied, "I was afraid, and I went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours."


'I was afraid...'


My son, Sam, said to a roomful of teenagers, "Alot of people say, 'I can't _____, or, I'm not ______ (fill in the blanks) because of fear. Fear keeps us from doing and being."
My son ministered to me as he spoke. Sam reminded me that fear is the great forgetter, and that a lie repeated and believed begins to sound like truth. He reminded me why I journal, and, why I return to former journals. I need to remember from whence I've come.


The fearful servant in the parable hid his master's possession. Centuries before, another servant spoke of hiding something. He said, "I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You." Psalm 119:11. Eugene Peterson words it this way- "I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt." 


I praise God for my Sam. He has the energy and passion of youth on his side. He is a blessing to me. And, he reminds me that through Christ I can do all things.