WHAT ARE YOU READING?

I am asked, at church at the gym and in my neighborhood---"what are you reading?". Hm-m-m---that must mean I'm a reader. A reader whom they can trust. That's a big responsibility.

Here are 2  "real" books on my shelf. My other book is an e-book---not my favorite choice but it
is the only access I had to Dear Mr. Knightley! I'm only 65% through the story but it already is in my 4 star category. It's a "reader's" delight as it has many classic book references in the text!

Timothy Keller is always a good read for me when I'm seeking insight.  Following the Intro of Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering, I have used the Table of Contents a lot.  It's often the way I "read" non-fiction. For me. the third part of the book provided the most practical material. From the crushed in Spirit to those in the fiery furnace, the author offers hope, within the reality of suffering, through Scripture. I appreciate that Keller is a reader and appropriately quotes from a variety of backgrounds, e,g. Shakespeare and Patchett to Lloyd-Jones and C.S. Lewis. 

A few take-aways for me: Suffering puts its fingers on good things that have become too important to us (me). (p.308) Human beings are hoped-shaped creatures. The way you live now is controlled by what you believe about your future. (p.334)

For fiction, Elizabeth Musser's books have long been a favorite. She had me hooked with Swan House, the first on I read.  Hopefully, I will soon be able to borrow her latest one, When I Close My Eyes. Two take-aways from The Long Highway Home deal with courage and faith. The book highlights the terror and horror of refugees as they flee their homelands.   

Courage is fear that has said its prayers. (p. 334)

Faith has changed my perspectives on things. My wants and needs and desires. (p.369)

Books, both fiction and non-fiction, change me as I read with my spiritual insight lenses intact. 

As I age, more and more of my books are audio---hearing those words give me vision as clearly as the printed text.

Sight without vision. Sight beyond vision. Think periscope. Periscopic. Seeing things that are out of sight but spiritually intact. Close by. Sounds like faith to me.

What are you reading?

The Last Dance

10/11/11 ….at least for awhile. It’s just my final “dance” THOTS based on Timothy Keller's book, The Reason for God; Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Believe me, I’m just scratching the surface. According to Keller, we were made to join in the dance. (Naturally, I agree with that!) “If we will center our lives on (H)im, serving (H)im not out of self-interest, but just for the sake of who (H)e is, for the sake of (H)is beauty and glory, we will enter the dance and share in the joy and love (H)e lives in.….we were designed then, not just for belief in God in some general way…..We were made…..to make the purpose and passion of our lives knowing, serving, delighting, and resembling (H)im. Our world was made in joy and therefore is good, in and of itself. The universe is understood as a dance of beings united by energies binding, yet distinct, like orbiting planets, tides and seasons, tones in a chord, like a mother with a baby stirring in her body. ”(Keller p. 219) Rev. Keller says, ,”Creation is a Dance!” I couldn’t agree more.

Yet, somewhere along the way our self-centered world has left many without real relationships. Alienation sets in. There’s no one to join in the dance. Self absorption. Many are concerned with their own needs and building their resume with accomplishments to bolster a sense of pride.

Many need to return to the dance.

I know what it’s like to dance with the Lord---to follow His leading and to share in the joy of a relationship with Him that spills over to others. It’s about Him and His glory but oh how it benefits me. In the first step one can move out of self-centeredness into relationship. The first turn can move you from fear to trust. Just stay close enough that He can whisper His directions in your ear.

Thanks Rev. Keller for the reminder.

A Dance continued...

10/8/11 ... in Timothy Keller's book, The Reason for God; Belief in an Age of Skepticism, as The "Dance of Love." "God really has love as His essence." (Keller p. 216) G. K. Chesterton wrote 'for the Christian it (love) is the purpose of God.' (Keller p. 216) A dance of love is a dance of relationship. If in the pursuit of life, one is drawn to money, power or success/accomplishment over human relationships, that person is "sitting out" the dance of love. Those self-centered pursuits are not about relationships. "Self-centeredness destroys the fabric of what God has made." (Keller p. 217)

In the dance of love, take your place with the Lord. But God....doesn't want one to stay there as a way of shutting others out. The dance of love has an "other orientation." For believers, it's a committed relationship with both Him and each other. Choose to dance the dance of Love. See life as a big dance party, if you will. As the Lee Womack song says, "Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance. I hope you dance. I hope you dance."

But you can't go it alone. The Dance of Love is all about relationships. Him first. Others next....and the dance continues.