Categories
Journal Who Am I Wisdom

Chronicling the reading habit

Reading is an important habit for all of us. Of course, our number one book to read is the Bible.   I have several ways to keep track of my reading.   When I finish a book that I own, I write the date in the front. Since I started blogging, I also try to write a short article for the book review section of my blog for each book that I have read, including the borrowed ones.   I have missed one or two.    My wife keeps notes including actual quotes in her computer from each book that she reads.    This is especially helpful to her as it preserves usable material from books she has read out of the public library. 

Both JoAnne and I always have several books going at once.   Inevitably, some get neglected while others take priority. This is just part of the way it is.   But eventually, most of them get finished.   Summer is a great time for reading.  I always manage to finish several books, as I did this year.   You can catch the three recent reviews in my book review section.

Choosing books to read is the heart of the matter.  I try to choose books that enrich the work that I’m doing.    And I usually have at least three different areas going at once to provide variety.   Often one is for fun or for my health.   I highly recommend the discipline of reading.  Whether it is from physical books or on electronic screens does not matter.

I usually have at least one book that challenges or encourages my spiritual life and/or my prayer life. This is a discipline I have maintained for many years.   The recent biography of Smith Wigglesworth was such a book.    Other books, I read to help me in my various responsibilities like the Gary McIntosh’s book on Taking Your Church to the Next Level.  Currently I am reading a book about college administration that is related to my work as a trustee at Houghton College.   Over the last several years, I have usually had at least one book related to leadership on my shelf with a bookmark part way through it.     For example, I finished a John Maxwell book last winter on being a people person (I haven’t reviewed it for my blog yet).  

 

Categories
Church Leadership Journal

Excited by reception of Just Walk Across the Room study

Tonight I finished reading the book by Bill Hybels, Just Walk Across the Room; wrote my review and posted it in my book review pages.   I have been greatly encourged by the groundswell of interest in reaching out to friends and neighbors for Jesus.    This has been evidenced by the strong attendance at our first equipping class last Saturday, by the number who have already read the book (several finished it even before I did); and by those who are sharing stories of friends with whom they are engaged in possibly life-changing dialogues.

I’m hoping to excite even more interest by sparking a lively online conversation on my blog page concerning the book.   I’ve asked my readers who have also read the book to join the conversation.   To help kick things off, I’ve put out there these questions.  Donna Schermerhorn, our team leader for outreach, plans to join the dialogue too.

  • What would you have highlighted in the review that I didn’t?
  • Which story really stuck with you?
  • What was the greatest single take-home for you from the book?
  • How were you encouraged by it?
  • What provoking questions that it raised will help you grow as a disciple maker (Acts 1:8)? 

If you’ve read the book, please join our conversation.  To keep all the conversattion in one place, please respond to the book review rather than to this post.

Categories
Forward Look

Online book discussion planned

What if we could have several people reading the same book at one time and discuss it together online?   That was the seminal thought that outreach team leader, Donna Schermerhorn, brought into our meeting today.   

To share just the main point, we decided to try it using my blog book reviews and comments as the vehicle.   The first book we have chosen is Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels.    He is an inspiring and practical writer and the book is not long either.   We will make a couple copies available for lending at Eva’s office.   I will read the book over the next few months and write a first review in such a way as to spawn more discussion.   I think it will be fun.