Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled “This could change your life.”  ~Helen Exley

Reading is obviously useful for day-to-day life. I.e. We need to read in order to . . .

• File our taxes
• Fill out a library card application
• Understand the employee handbook
• Check out the sports stats for our favorite hockey team
• Choose an appropriate birthday card or the correct type of oil for the car, and
• Buy the beans, meat and tortillas we need for dinner.

But reading can bring more than ease to daily living or increase our competency at work.

Below are a 13 reasons I’ve found reading to be beneficial. Reading . . .

1. Helps us develop better vocabulary and grammar
2. Exposes us to novel ideas, actions, geography and people so that we become more culturally & historically aware
3. Energizes us for action or de-stresses us after an action-packed day
4. Improves our general knowledge and imagination
5. Clarifies difficult topics (If there is a children’s book on the topic, I always read that first so I can get a simple overview.)
6. Gives us the opportunity to learn from the mistakes and wisdom of others
7. Encourages us to be the best we can be
8. Is a fun way to spend our time and/or learn
9. Enhances our creativity and concentration
10. Shows us how we can do life, work, health, relationships, etc.  better, easier, faster, cheaper
11. Increases family bonding when the reading is done out loud
12. Alleviates loneliness
13. Nourishes our soul and intellect

What would you add to this list? How is reading beneficial to you?

Related Posts

• 10 Read Out Loud Tips for More Enjoyment
• If Books Are Like a Personality Test, What Do My New Year’s Choices Reveal?

Brad Isaac at Persistance Unlimited has two good articles on reading. (1) Click here to read “The 26 Major Advantages to Reading More Books and Why 3 in 4 People Are Being Shut Out of Success.”  (2) Go here to read “5 Sneaky and Underhanded Methods To Add 30% More Time To Your Daily Reading Schedule.

• I usually read one book at a time. But this month, I couldn’t restrain myself. There are six that I am dabbling in at the moment.

Less Clutter , Less Noise: Beyond Bulletins, Brochures and Bake Sales by Kem Meyer. I picked this book because I am always looking for ways to make my ministries relevant. This title suggests the opposite of what I’ve known and done. Go here to read Kem’s blog. Here are some posts to get you started . . . Want to change people’s behavior? Make it fun. . . . Don’t talk about money…. . .  Top 5 places to start reading in the Bible… . . . What I’ve learned in 20 years as a parent…

Sanctification: An Alliance Distinctive by Samuel J Stoesz. This book is required reading for consecration. “This book documents the scriptural understanding of the experience of sanctification and the historical antecedents of the teaching as it concerns The Christian and Missionary Alliance.”

The Prayer That Changes Everything: The Hidden Power of Praising God by Stormie OMartian. Last year I made prayer a primary focus of my time and efforts. That study is continuing. Plus this books talks about praise; that sounds a lot like gratitude. Gratitude is something else I’ve been focusing on.  Combining the two sounds like an awesome and powerful combination.

The Shack by William P. Young. Everybody has read this book. My former roommate Janelle, Theresa, Pastor Mike, one of my seminary profs, Gerry Breshears (here and here), and CNC’s reading club. Time I read it for myself.

Words of Gratitude: For Mind, Body, and Soul by Robert A. Emmans & Joanna Hill. I am continuing on my quest to learn more about gratitude. I want my life to be led by gratitude especially gratitude to God.

How to Make a Journal of Your Life by D. Price. This sounds fun. These 2 books also sound fun: Making Journals by Hand: 20 Creative Projects for Keeping Your Thoughts and How to Be an Explorer of the World.

What do my choices reveal about me?

• I’m interested in improving my ministry and work.
• I want to keep tabs on the culture around me.
• Prayer and gratitude are still very important to me and still need more work and attention in my life.
• I want to have fun.

Your Turn

• What are you reading and why?
• What does your choice reveal about you?
• What book(s) do you recommend?

Related Posts

• 5 Reasons to be Grateful to God
• 10 Read Out Loud Tips for More Enjoyment
• 13 Benefits of Reading
• 40 More Ways to Cultivate Gratitude
• How Do You Spend Your Time?
• If Google Doesn’t Have God’s Phone Number, Try This One
• My Prayer 4 Today

Our time is ours to spend as we choose, wisely or poorly. 

To know how it is spent, it is a good idea to take a time inventory every once in a while. I recently did that at work.

For 2 months I charted how I spent my hours at work. 

I wrote down the amount of time I spent in doing the following: administration, study, pastoral care, women’s ministry, children’s ministry, and small groups. I went over the numbers with my boss. Turns out I’ve been spending my time well.

Dr. C. C. Albertson calculated that the average person spends their life in the following ways:

“There are 168 hours in each week.

• 56  of these we spend in sleep.
• Of the remaining 112 hours, we devote 48 to labor.
• This leaves 64 hours, of which let us assign 12 hours for our daily meals. This allows 30 minutes for each meal, and 1½ hours extra to promote good digestion.
• We have left 52 hours, net, of conscious active life to devote to any purpose to which we are inclined. Is it too much to say that God requires a tithe of this free time?

One tenth of 52 hours is 5.2 hours. How much of this tithe of time do we devote to strictly religious uses?

• If we attend church twice on Sunday, that will take 1 hour.
• If we attend prayer meeting, another hour.
• We have two-tenths of an hour left, our little margin—shall we not stay for the Morning Watch?

But when we review our lives, how few of us attend religious worship thus regularly!” Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications

I’d like to do a time inventory of my personal time as well. I wonder how well it will match up with Dr. Albertson’s calculations? I have a feeling my free time is not balanced. Go to this link to see a chart of possible categories. Just looking at the possibilities makes me fret. I feel like I don’t have time to do it all. I think I don’t have enough time left in my life to do anything else well.

But Edward H. Griggs says, “Fifteen minutes a day devoted to one definite study will make one a master in a dozen years.”  I can do 15 minutes a day. I will most likely live 12 more years.

Question is, what shall I spend those 15 minutes on? I need to remember that my times are not in my hands. God has a plan for my time. So it would be wise to ask for His input.

How will you spend your 15 minutes a day for the next 12 years?

Related Posts

• 6 Tips to Consistent Bible Reading

• Bingo Helps Me Get Things Done

• God is in Control

• How to Hear God’s Voice

• My 6 Word Philosophy of Life Brings Perspective

• Progress is Progress Even When the Steps Are Ridiculously Easy

• Rumoured Death of Fidel Castro Ushers In Personal Questions

• Time is a Mixed Blessing

• Twenty Wishes Can Change Your Life (more than a book report)

• Wondering about Options, Brings Answer

What makes people laugh is an unexact science. What makes you laugh might not make me laugh and visa-versa. I tend to be a serious person and not prone to laughter. I’d like to change that especially after experiencing a day of laughter at our Thanksgiving feast.

“You laugh at me because I am different, but I laugh at you because we are all the same” (anonymous).

Have fun taking this True or False Quiz on Laughter.

1. True or False. The study of humor and laughter is called humology.
2. True or False. People laugh thirty times more often when they are with others compared to when they are alone.
3. True or False. As children go through developmental stages what makes them laugh changes.
4. True or False. Laughter is contagious.
5. True or False. Laughter is physically good for you.  
6. True or False. An adult laughs 400 times a day whereas a child laughs 17  times a day.

Click below on (more…) to read the answers.

1. False. The study of humor and laughter is called  Gelotology.
2. True. Both adults and children laugh primarily during social interactions with others. Click here to read this article on Why Do People Laugh?
3. True. What is funny at one developmental stage just isn’t funny at another. Click here to read this article about what makes young children laugh.
4. True. Laughter certainly is contagious. That’s why sound tracks are used.  Click here to watch my favorite laughing baby youtube viedo. Click here to watch 4 laughing babies. You just can’t help but LAUGH when you watch. 
5. True. Laughter makes an obvious difference on the physical body. Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces pain, boosts the immune system, reduces stress hormones, and releases endorphins. In fact, laughter makes you feel good all over from the physical to the mental.
6. False. Children are the ones with the bigger number of laughs each day (400 compared to the adult number of 17). Read  How often Do You Laugh a Day? for more information.

If you are an adult, what can you do to up your laugh number?

“Lorna and I decided that what the Bible doesn’t cover, Google does.” I recently wrote this as my Twitter/Facebook status. Below are some things I’ve needed to know.

1. Is it okay for my dog to eat raisins? No.  As few as 7 raisins can cause death!

2. What is a Dear Jane Quilt?  It is a Civil War quilt designed, sewed and finished by Jane Stickle in 1863. It has 225 different blocks.

3. How to shorten URLs for Twitter. When I want to link to a blog. fan page, website or news article, I need to shorten the URL in order to fit it and my comment into Twitter’s 140 characters. I am currently using Metamark. 

4. When does advent start in 2009? I am going to decorate the church before Advent and so needed to know when that is. If you want to help, call me. Advent starts Sunday, November 29. BTW – This week I will post an Advent Quiz.

5. Define debauchery. Why do I need/want to know what debauchery means? I’ve been memorizing Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” 

• It means: too much indulgence in pleasures usually considered immoral, especially sexual activity and excessive drinking.
• Debauch means: 1. a. To corrupt morally.b. To lead away from excellence or virtue.2. To reduce the value, quality, or excellence of; debase. See Synonyms at corrupt.

6. Potato Soup. Cooler weather means time to eat soup. Only thing is, I usually cannot make a decent home-made soup. But there are a lot of easy and yummy sounding potato soup recipes out there. I am looking for one that is gluten-, dairy- and egg- free. I think I can modify this cream cheese potato soup recipe quite nicely. (Scroll to the bottom of the post.) I even found a cream cheese alternative (at Whole Foods) that is free from gluten, dairy, and egg.  I’ll let you know how it tastes.

What have you Googled lately?

Related Posts

• If Google Doesn’t Have God’s Phone Number, Try This One
• Hello Elizabeth, This Post Is 4 U; Plus Google Reader Warning
• Creating Folders (Labels) in Gmail
• 27 Posts are on Today’s Gratitude List (27 posts I’ve tagged on my Google reader.)
• One Caution When Using Online Cookbooks (WFMW) These days it is so much easier and faster to Google “pancake recipe for one,” “vanilla pudding recipe,” “perfect gravy,” or “What can I do with sweetened condensed milk, coconut and chocolate chips?“ It may be easier and faster, but the results are not always better

“Have you ever heard God’s voice? How do you know it’s Him who is answering your questions?” A friend recently asked me this.

How would you answer my friend? Below is my answer.

I’ve never heard an audible voice from God. Nor do I have special headphones to detect His voice. But I do hear from Him in several ways.

1.  Intuition, a hunch, a small quiet feeling - it almost seems like it’s me. I.e. I couldn’t find papers I needed to do my taxes and I looked and looked to no avail. I finally calmed down enough to ask God for His help. Then I had this “intuition, a hunch, a small quiet feeling” and looked in a place I hadn’t looked before. There they were. I could have ignored that “voice,” but I didn’t. I’ve had enough of these kinds of experiences to know that the answer was from God and not me. I didn’t know the answer before I prayed.

 Plus, the Apostle John says that we are God’s sheep and the sheep know their Master’s voice. I think this knowing get’s stronger with practice. In general, if the advice leads to peace, joy, unity, and godliness it is from God.

2.  I ask God a question or for help and then I wait for His response. I get God’s response in one of four ways.

• Through His Word – general reading. When I’m waiting for an answer I love reading God’s word. It’s like I’m on a treasure hunt. Sometimes the answer will pop right off the pages. Like it was just written for me today! As I keep a regular Bible reading schedule, the more often God will “talk” to me through this. As a minimum I read a psalm and a proverb a day. The proverb I read corresponds to the date.

I.e. I’ve been fretting a little about my future. I read Proverbs 16 and it tells me (in a nutshell) “Stop worrying. God’s got it under control.” Click here to read it for yourself. What did God “say” to you from this Proverb?

• Through His Word – specific reading. When I need advice/help/guidance I look to see what the Bible has to say about it. A concordance comes in handy here. I also look over the highlighted portions of my Bible. It’s amazing how helpful this has been for me.
• Through other people. The Bible talks about how wise it is to consult with others (who are wise) when I need direction or help. I talk with the pastors and elders from church. I also talk to a few people who know God and value/follow His priorities for their lives. I look for answers that are uniform from all these people. I look to see if their advice agrees with biblical principles. Finally, I listen to hear  if my own “spirit” agrees. All these need to be consistent with each other.
• Through circumstances. This is also called the open door or closed door answer. I.e. When I moved to CA in June 2002 I knew I needed to go back and finish my BA so that I could get a job that would support me. I prayed and asked God to show me which school. I made phone calls to various schools about counseling. Sac State was not taking any more students. The other 5 or 6 places I called didn’t return my call even though I left several messages. Then my sister said she heard an advert on the radio for William Jessup University and maybe I should call them. I did. The next day I went for a campus tour. By the end of the tour I was signed up and ready to start school in October in a Christian leadership/theology program. They didn’t have a counseling program (then).

God wants to communicate with/to you. As you seek Him, He will make Himself known to you.

• Psalm 9:10: Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
• Proverbs 8:17: I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
• Lamentations 3:25
  The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.

Who are am I? When I look in the mirror am I really seeing me? Or some glorified or demonized version of myself? One way I can accurately see myself is through my relationships.

“The people we are in relationship with are always a mirror, reflecting our own beliefs and simultaneously we are mirrors reflecting their beliefs” (Shakti Gawain). “The people with whom you interact show you who you are and ultimately provide you with an opportunity to love yourself” (Dr. John Demartini).

Have you heard that the frustrations we experience with others are really frustrations we have with ourselves? I.e. If I am upset with my mom because (imho) she is a know-it-all , maybe one reason I am upset with her is because I do the same thing. (True story.) Dr. Demartini takes this idea one step further. “There is truth in the statement that what we dislike in others, we haven’t learned to love in ourselves.” Ouch.

“At times it can be difficult to see that we have the qualities and talents we admire in other people. But it can be even more of a challenge to accept that we also possess the traits we don’t like in others” (Dr. John Demartini). Today I will look at the mirror and discover who I am, good and bad. And I will make changes according to this information.

This gratitude thinking is helping me to see that I’d like to make some changes. I’d like to exhibit more patience, goodness and self-control. I want to show the kind of love that looks for more opportunities to give of my time, talent and money. (See “Everyone Can Help One Child,” said Twila Paris.) I echo the words of Michael Jackson in his song Man in the Mirror .

I’m grateful for change, the kind that I can make and for which I am responsible. All this gratitude thinking is helping me see that I really do HAVE lots to acknowledge. And making some godly changes is an appropriate response.

Finally, I’m grateful that making changes is not something I do on my own. In fact, God has custom designed a plan for my life. And He has given me His Holy Spirit so I can change in order to fulfill those plans. “God planned for us to do good things and to live as He has always wanted us to live. That’s why He sent Christ to make us what we are.”

• God started a good work in me and won’t stop.
• God works out everything according to His purpose.
• God gave each of us spiritual gifts “for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

Previous Photos

• Day 1 Photo: Christmas Tree with Broken, Tangled Lights
• Day 2 Photo: Birthday Boy
• Day 3 Photo: Mums at the Church Entrance
• Day 4 Photo: Simple Technology
• Day 5 Photo: Mystery Ice Cream Gift
• Day 6 Photo: Rocking Godson
• Day 7 Photo: Spontaneous Friends
• Day 8 Photo: Children’s Influence
• Day 9 Photo: Shoebox Gifts

Other Related Posts:

• 10 Things I Like About My Best Friend
• My 10 Digits of Gratitude
• 10 Things I’m Grateful 4
• Choosing 2 Express Gratitude During November
• Feeling Full On Gratitude
• We Cannot Be Grateful Without Being Thoughtful

P.S. Ann Tatum is hosting 30 Days of Thanksgiving. She encourages us to daily share our gratitude. Click here and be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post and click on Mister Linky. Then you’ll be able  to read other participants on this thankful journey.

How content are you? Always? Never? Sometimes?

Pastor Mike is doing a series on Generosity in a World of Greed. Sunday’s message was titled, “The Lost Art of Doing Without.” One of the gems from the sermon was how to be content.

The most important step to contentment is . . .

. . . Seek the Lord above all else and you will have what you need

1. How do you fare in this area on a scale of 1-10? 
2. Do you seek God before seeking goods?
3. How will you seek the Lord today…Prayer…Read Scripture…Obey Scripture…Other?
4. Make a list of your needs. Share this list with a friend. Would s/he agree these are needs? Share this list with God in prayer. Compare it to Scripture (I.e. Matthew 6:33). Are they truly needs or are wants mixed in there too?

“At one time or another, we’re all guilty of allowing wants to live in our hearts as needs.” Jim Fay & Charles Fay

Pastor shared 3 more secrets to being content. Read the 3 following statements. Pick the correct answer.

Fight the impulse to . . .

(a) “have it now!” (b) shop. Shopping is evil. (c) share.

Don’t buy things . . .

(a) you can’t afford. (b) ever. (c) that are cheaply made.

Remember your most important needs are . . .

(a) food, clothing and shelter. (b) good quality chocolate. (c) to be put on hold until you tithe.

The correct answer for each statement of truth is letter (a). Delayed gratification and correctly identifying/buying needs versus wants are actions that lead to contentment.

How are you doing with the above secrets? Is there a change you will make today? What is that change?

Pastor based his sermon on 1 Timothy 6: 3-19. Read and ponder these Scriptures. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you from these verses? Share what you learned/heard with at least one person today.

1. Don’t take life/people so seriously.
2. Respect authority.
3. Share your thoughts and heart regularly.
4. It’s okay to ask for help from store clerks, mental health professionals, teachers, family and friends.
5. Life is not fair or predictable.
6. Having a critical spirit damages you more than anyone else.
7. Walking closely and in obedience with/to God is worth it.
8. Embrace people of other cultures: this pleases God and enriches you.
9. Use money wisely.
10. Be generous and wise with your possessions, time, words and love.
11. No one is perfect, not even you, so accept it.
12. Have fun daily.
13. Work harder and give more than asked.
14. Search for the silver lining.
15. Tithe.
16. Be a life-long student of the Bible.
17. Be a good example.
18. Think outside the box.
19. Don’t let fear make your decisions.
20. Chase after your bliss and do it.
21. Get a college degree.
22. Eat dessert first.
23. Being different is okay.

I’m still learning to implement many of these things.  I am a work in progress and so are you my two precious (adult) children! And I have to admit that I’ve learned and am learning much from you two.

What are you hoping your kiddos will learn from you?

The theology one has about God makes all the difference in how one handles the pain of hard times. It is the person with faith, the person who sees God rightly, that can say in the most painful of times, “God is in it and God is good.”

I recently heard John Stumbo’s story from this video. He is the pastor of Salem Alliance Church in Salem, Oregon. At the beginning of the week of October 17, 2008, John thought he had the flu. By the end of the week that was far from the truth. Many months and 100 tests later, the doctors still don’t know why John’s body weakened to the point of death (several times). One of the medications produced delusions some fun, but many dark and eerie.

Overview of John’s Reactions to Pain (Illness)

• John described having a deep peace despite his desperate illness.
• The hope John had in seeing Jesus upon his death helped John get through the dark, delusional times.
• This deep sense of hope helped keep John sane.
• The prayers and encouragement (verbal as in calls and cards, practical as in money and meals) aided John in his journey during the dark times and now in his journey back to health.
• These events have been good for his spiritual journey, marriage and congregation. God has already begun to use it.
• After 100 tests the doctors still don’t know what was/is wrong with John.  But God is still in it and God is good.

 Quotes I especially liked

• I had my hand on death’s doorknob ready to push the door open but I had about 3000 of you pulling back on me not letting me in. I didn’t have a chance to get into heaven with all you people praying for me.
• I’m running a marathon I didn’t plan on running.
• I don’t really like the journey I’m on…but God is in it and God is good.
• Some of you don’t like the journey you’re on either right now. You’re in a tough spot . . . Economically hard times . . . Financially bad news . . . Relationally tough situations . . . Physically struggling. Please know according to Psalm 139, He is the God of the light and the darkness.
• God is in it and God is good.

When I’m going through a painful time in life, I listen more readily to people who have been through their own painful times. John has been through such a painful time. Yet he still clung, and clings, to the truth that God is in it and God is good. I love this example of perseverance and faith, this illustration of a man’s deep love and trust in God.

Many times life doesn’t make sense and in fact its not always a likable journey. But it is also a fact that we, Christians, don’t travel alone. God is with us. And often, often we are surrounded by a faithful group of people who cheer us on with their prayers and encouragement.

Let’s Talk About It. Where are you in this journey?

1. Needing prayers and encouragement? Who will you contact for this? Will you do so today?
2. Able to offer prayers and encouragement? Who has God laid on your heart to help? Will you do one thing today?
3. Do you believe that God is in your painful journey and that God is good? Why or why not.
4. Listen to the video. What are your reactions? Favorite quotes?