My wife calls me a “reading machine.” I do love books. And now my Kindle! I tell her this addiction is not as bad as drugs (“it could be worse!” is a noble life-philosophy I fall into now and then). Assuming that feeding our minds is a primary way we grow our lives, I want to pass on a few of the many books, as well as films, that have blessed me in recent days.
YOUVERSION Bible for mobile devices – FREE!
Let me start with the B-I-B-L-E! This is not news to many, but anyone with a smart phone needs to download the free app: “YouVersion” Bible. It gives you quick access to 20 different English translations, as well as several other languages. It’s quite easy to navigate between passages and versions, and offers various reading plans and ways to make notes. This is a wonderful gift to the body of Christ from our Covenant denomination’s largest church – LifeChurch in Oklahoma. You might consider making a donation to this project. And then get the Word into your mind and life!
BOOKS?
After priority mind/life-feeding time in God’s Word, I do appreciate being enriched and challenged through various authors. Here are a few of many worth the time.
• Philip Yancey, What Good is God? In Search of a Faith that Matters
Powerful stories from Yancey’s encounters with people around the world who are living demonstrations of God’s good in the thick of injustice and suffering – e.g. South Africa prisons, urban AA groups, Chinese house churches.
• N.T. Wright, After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters
The great New Testament scholar helps us see what real life transformation from God is all about.
• John Grisham, The Confession
An engaging novel that will get you thinking about capital punishment.
• David Platt, Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Randy Stensgard got me into this powerful challenge that calls us back to basic disciple-making.
• Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer
The newest biography of the great German Pastor/Theologian hanged by the Nazis.
• John Perkins, Welcoming Justice: God’s Movement Toward Beloved Community
A “patriarch” of Christ-following racial reconciliation, and founder of the “Christian Community Development Association” should be known by all. In digital form, this little book is free!
• Michael Ward, The Narnia Code
If you love C.S. Lewis and his famous stories for children of all ages, you need to check out this remarkable breakthrough in seeing a playful and meaningful paradigm imbedded in The Chronicles of Narnia. Darlene and I enjoyed meeting Ward last summer in Oxford. His work, being hailed by virtually all Lewis experts, was introduced in his more scholarly Planet Narnia.
FILMS?
• The King’s Speech deserves Academy Awards and then some. Great acting gives us a true story of strength being drawn out of great struggle.
• Another true story with a similar thrust is Temple Grandin, the brilliant – and autistic! – CSU professor.
• Since I mentioned Michael Ward’s book, I will also commend the second Narnia movie, Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I would even say that its departures from the original story even enrich and further develop Lewis’ parable of a journey through the enemy’s lures into God’s light.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
A Window (on Everything) Called "With" #1
A powerful little word – “with” – has become increasingly important in my life. I call it a “window on everything.” It especially gives at least a glimpse of God as he truly is. And that becomes a way of looking at everything, and even a way of living in “the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19).
It makes a difference. What if our Maker is not a solitary “Force,” but Father-with-Son-with-Spirit in a perpetual communing of joyful love? What if he chose not to be distant and silent, but to come close as one named Jesus and called “Immanuel” – “God-with-us”? What if you and I increasingly entrusted more of ourselves into this holy and loving Presence? What if we ourselves grew into being more “present” – genuinely with God, with all his good gifts, and especially with family and friends, neighbors and colleagues, strangers and enemies? Wouldn’t that make a difference?
It’s needed. Did you know that we can be immersed in beauty, goodness, and truth, and yet not be aware and responsive? I can be with certain people, and yet not be with them: in close proximity, yet not listening, not participating. Just ask my wife. Have you been there? Or should I say not been there? Do you ever want to ask someone: “Are you with me?” Is that ever your question for God? Do you ever sense that is his question for you?
Are you with me?
Now and then this year, I want to let you in on some things I’ve been pondering for a long time, some things getting a bit clearer because they’re settling into my living a bit deeper. I hear a call from God into daily living that’s less about what I “should” do “for” this and “against” that, and more about being present in his Presence. I want to explore some biblical and life-feeding realities where “with” makes all the difference:
Does any of this resonate with you? Stir your curiosity? Bring up some questions or stories you might share with me? At the very least, are you willing to consider (with me) this window called with? You can check out future reflections at this site. If you subscribe HERE, you can get word of new postings (by email, RSS feeds, Facebook, or Twitter). Look too for some other reflections – e.g. good readings and films that have been gifts for me – all with God and with you I pray!
May you know for this day and for this new year: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).
Steve Thulson
It makes a difference. What if our Maker is not a solitary “Force,” but Father-with-Son-with-Spirit in a perpetual communing of joyful love? What if he chose not to be distant and silent, but to come close as one named Jesus and called “Immanuel” – “God-with-us”? What if you and I increasingly entrusted more of ourselves into this holy and loving Presence? What if we ourselves grew into being more “present” – genuinely with God, with all his good gifts, and especially with family and friends, neighbors and colleagues, strangers and enemies? Wouldn’t that make a difference?
It’s needed. Did you know that we can be immersed in beauty, goodness, and truth, and yet not be aware and responsive? I can be with certain people, and yet not be with them: in close proximity, yet not listening, not participating. Just ask my wife. Have you been there? Or should I say not been there? Do you ever want to ask someone: “Are you with me?” Is that ever your question for God? Do you ever sense that is his question for you?
Are you with me?
Now and then this year, I want to let you in on some things I’ve been pondering for a long time, some things getting a bit clearer because they’re settling into my living a bit deeper. I hear a call from God into daily living that’s less about what I “should” do “for” this and “against” that, and more about being present in his Presence. I want to explore some biblical and life-feeding realities where “with” makes all the difference:
- God as Communicating Love – “the Word” who as God was “with God” and who “became flesh” (John 1:1, 14) to be “God with us” (Matthew 1:23)… not some deity “out there” somewhere.
- Salvation through Christ as “participation” in him – dying, rising, seated and reigning with him… not just accepting what Christ did for us as our substitute (see Romans 6:3-8; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:6; 2 Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 20:6).
- Belonging to God as a deeply and widely secured “covenant” with him… not just off and on spiritual interactions (Luke 22:14-20; Hebrews 8).
- The Bible as a way into opening ourselves to its truth with the One who is Truth… not just using it for information about him (see John 5:39-40).
- Praying as communing with the Father, Son and Spirit… not just expressing requests to him, much less at him (see Romans 8:26-27, 34).
- Church as a family with its Father, as a body with its Head… not as events we attend, shows we watch, obligations we perform, or institutions we run (see Colossians 2:16-19).
- And then everything – working and playing, serving and leading, managing time and money, dealing with hopes and fears, opportunities and pressures – as consciously with a risen Jesus and with those people he places in our lives – i.e. “in his name”… not just doing good on our own for him and for them (Colossians 3:17).
Does any of this resonate with you? Stir your curiosity? Bring up some questions or stories you might share with me? At the very least, are you willing to consider (with me) this window called with? You can check out future reflections at this site. If you subscribe HERE, you can get word of new postings (by email, RSS feeds, Facebook, or Twitter). Look too for some other reflections – e.g. good readings and films that have been gifts for me – all with God and with you I pray!
May you know for this day and for this new year: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).
Steve Thulson
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