I read therefore I grew

Contrary to my growing years, I like to read.

The push to read small books when I was young was more painful to me than my kindergarten teacher pulling my teeth.  Yet, somehow books have snuck in undetected.  I can't give any credit to high school whatsoever, or really most of college.

In all honesty, I might have read just as much in High School as in college.  In college I was the guy who listened, didn't take notes and somehow passed the test.  I did although have a notebook and a pen.  But, truth be told, I was doodling a sketch of the professor or writing lyrics or a general outline of my daily dream to accomplish.  I always 'loved' hearing the saying, "College teaches you not what to learn, but HOW to learn."  Whoever made that up didn't have my professors.  Respectfully, I did have great professors, but to learn is not to read.  To learn is to be applicable.  Or at least in my case.  And I studied social work.  I daily worked socially with everyone around me and found myself able to mimic my class discussions with everyone who didn't study social work and sound like I learned a great deal.  So much that the topics stuck in my head so well I even passed college.

Now I am no philosopher or idealist towards a specific way of thought or preferred educational outline so I'm going to get back to my point.  I can read now!  I learned of this phenomenon recently.  I have been reading books and then picking up another and then finding myself incapsulated by the author for some reason I have yet to find out.

The television has subliminal messages, my coke has high contents of sugar and my fat fast food burger is laden with salt.  All those ingredients can lead me to believe that I am getting something I like, thus, I want more.  So begins an addiction.  But with reading a book there must be invisible words encouraging me to keep reading because I read and never cease.

Well as with everything is a battle of nature vs nurture; as I learned in my SW classes.  And in this case it has to do with neither, I just wanted to throw a term out to familiarize you with my learnings.  Getting to the point, I have found that the truth an author brings by way of imagination and colorful reasonings lights my mind with ease and makes, for a moment, a cocoon of soothing remedies to the fallen world around me.  Not all authors do this though.  Some create a world inside a world, trapped and lonely, dazed into a coma state and feeling desperate for answers.  Those authors are into trickery, self-appraisal and judgmental unbiblical ideologies.

I believe if a book is good it must stem from another, and not it's own. Because no book can create a depth as deep as one author may do and generate enough longing interest and captivate your heart long enough to be considered a good book.  This is in part, and by far, why the Bible has become such a beautiful book to me and never brought close, not physically but mentally, to any other book in preference.  For to many reasons, for which all true Christians know, the Bible is so great that men and women are still brought to tears and curiosity that they dedicate their whole lives to absorbing its message.  Being God inspired, not idea inspired, politically, monetarily or popularity inspired.  It is full of depth and the more you read the more you find the connections of God's will being carried from the old Testament to the New Testament, from Revelation to the Old Testament and from story to story loaded with encouragement and hope.  Most of all a promise.  No author has much to say other than an idea or notion to try and make a buck or two.  Try making a promise with your reader that they could die for and see if they'll listen today.

As I have grown accustom to reading the Bible I've found there are authors outside of the Bible who I have found stem all of their directing points and truths from the Bible, thus they are great authors and books as well.   The books I have read I encourage everyone to read, as we are all asked to instruct and encourage others towards Christ.  I will list them in order of my preference of which generally should be read first to last.

Read all simultaneously while going through the Bible and commentary:
Lighter reading, still very deep and easy to understand
1. The Pilgrims Progress (modern english version) John Bunyan
2. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
4. The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
5. Skrewtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
6. The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

More intense reading and challenge, remember we should challenge ourselves sometimes! :
7. The Four Loves by C.S. lewis
8. The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton
9. The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer
10. Celebration of Discipline by Foster
11. The new Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell
12.  Spiritual Leadership by Sanders

Light, fun, encouraging, Christian and creative
1.  Pilgrims Progress STILL #1, it is easy, awesome and powerful!
2.  The Great Divorce STILL
3.  The Pilgrims Regress by C.S. Lewis
4.  The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Hobbit by Tolkien
5.  Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer by C.S. lewis
6.  A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis (especially in the face or faced the death of a loved one)
7.  Till We have faces by C.S. Lewis
8.  The Singer The Song and the Finale (trilogy) by Miller (really awesome books)
9.  Miracles by C.S. Lewis
10. The Cosmic/Space trilogy by C.S. Lewis

As I read I'll let you know what I've found to be a great book, and let you know what I've learned from it. Until then, if you are wanting to read but haven't read much lately this blog is a great transition to your next reading exercise.

Dan