Books

Yes, books, plural. The reason is that we are trying something a little different this month. We're all reading a different book and we'll comment on it and let others hear our thoughts about each of the books we're reading. Then we should comment on each others thoughts.

So Doug is reading "The 12th Imam" by Joel Rosenberg. I'm not sure if Patti is reading it too or reading another one. (I'd love to hear your thoughts as well, Patti, you're a good thinker) Adam and Katie are reading "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald Whitney. Or maybe you're not, but that's the one you said BLBC was doing this month with the Outfitters so I am just assuming. Laurie and I will be reading the new Rob Bell book, "Love Wins," and we can't wait to share our thoughts with you about it. And Leigh Anne, I'm not sure. We'd love to hear from you, Leigh Anne. Read anything, and let us know what you think:)

I miss all of you and I check this blog daily to see if any of you posted anything, hoping to stay connected at least in this little way. That's not to make any of you feel guilty, it's to tell you how much y'all mean to me.

Looking forward to hearing about your books. :)

reflection

I don't have much time, but the book was very challenging. Adam and I talked about how if this is the standard for pastors, there aren't too many who are really "qualified", and if only those who lived their lives partially like the book describes (prayerful continually and such) than there would be a lot less churches (since not many pastors seems to live this way) but that those churches would most likely be healthy and thriving. It was convicting to read about praying for our pastors, I am not faithful in that and need to be. The book is a call to pray more, and to pray more deeply and sacrificially. I think I need to wake up a bit earlier so that I have more time to do this, ugg, I am reluctantly asking to be held accountable to this. I know I should be excited to be getting up earlier, but I am not really- hopefully that will come as I realize the awesome opportunity it is..I get so distracted or feel lost when I pray a lot, I need a breakthrough!

WOW

This book is kicking my butt! I am so not ready to be a pastor or a preacher but man my heart longs to be at that place in my prayer life. This seems to be the problem with a lot of churches in the US today. I was sitting in church this last Sunday and just got this overwhelming feeling that this was not the way church was intended to be. Worship was dry, no brokenness, no awe from being in the presence of Holy God. Looking around and seeing people "stone faced" during the message was shocking to me for the first time in a long time. This is not the way this is supposed to be! Where was the moving of the Spirit? Where was the conviction of sin?

Jesus break us! Bring us to the place where everything we do and say in dependent on you and overflows from our "closet time" with you. Help our lives to be lived by the leading of your life giving Spirit and not by the letter that kills.

Power Through Prayer

So the book that you should have gotten by now is actually 8 books by E.M. Bounds put together into one book. The only one we are reading this month is the 7th book in the book called, Power Through Prayer. I so look forward to discussing this book with y'all. You could probably say that this book is to me what the book Heaven is to Doug. It has impacted my life hugely. I hope and pray it does all of yours as well.

One thing to keep in mind as you read, it is written to pastors. So throughout the book, it uses the words pastor, preacher, man, and sermon a lot. I would ask that you proactively decide not to let this distract you and fight the temptation to say this stuff doesn't apply to us because we are not preachers. I believe this book applies to us all. Where it says pastor or preacher, simply insert "messenger of God" or "person of God." We are all preachers/teachers in some way and the truths applied here to preachers are true for us as well. Where it says man or men, simply insert "person" or "men and women." And where it says sermon, simply insert "testimony" or "message." This book is for us.

So I just finished Chapter 1. God is not looking for better methods, He is looking for better men. (men and women) And prayer is the mightiest weapon for us. It gives life and force to all. This is the premise for the rest of the book. Prayer will make us be the men and women God created us to be. It was true for Christ, may it be true for us. What do you think?

OK, if you're done with the book, you must promise me that you will go to marshillchurch.org and select sermons....Luke....Parable of the Great Banquet. It is my new favorite sermon and it is the perfect way to end the book. Mark Driscoll even mentions Randy Alcorn and his book on Heaven. But even better....he uses "my" favorite verse. Is 25:6. Promise me you will listen or watch it and then comment on it. PLEASE!

Have you bought the book yet?

So, have you?

March's Book

Let's get back on track with Adam and Katie and read what they'll be reading. So March's book is "The Complete Works On Prayer" by E.M. Bounds. It's eight books in one. Not sure which one they'll be reading, but I am really looking forward to digging into any of them with y'all. Please order it soon so we can all be on track together. That makes the encouragement work. It's only 7.99 at Christianbook.com.