WATCHWORD:
1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? 5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 1 Corinthians 3:1-5
Meditation:
Really Good Reads
Want a good read? I mean a really good read, one that stretches you, that opens your faith. Oh, I know what some of us read; entertaining, exciting, romantic, racy, sexy, escape, thrillers, etc. Oh, yes, I know, I’m in one of those categories.
I’m talking about really good reads, defined as ‘blessed’. The kind you would not even think about taking to the beach, or wherever you used to go for a get-away, back in the era of the old normal. The really good books recommended by your pastor, maybe when you asked “What are the great classics of Christian literature?”
I asked my then, pastor, Paul Borg, that question once…Got a really good answer, his “Top 10”. I set out to read those classics, and, let me tell you doing that was not a scholarly pursuit, nor an education in that sense, it was a real alteration in my spiritual life, a faith correction that has stayed with me since.
Digging into one of the ‘classics’ is a departure from daily devotionals. It is a different kind of discipline. The classics take you on a unique journey of faith, an applied kind of spiritual food.
Over the years, we have all gotten various answers to that question, in one form or another. Recommended titles, pointed to on spiritual growth retreats, Way of Christ weekends, workshops, Bible studies, etc. All worthy, all important. All good.
I came across a list of good reads that was compiled in 1989 by a group of us attending a retreat at the John 23rd Center in Hartford City. We decided we would compile a list of what we considered Christian classics. In the end, we had 48 titles, the good reads of the group.
In no particular order, here are some of those suggested titles:
Cloud of Unknowing. Author unknown.
Confessions of St. Augustine (Blaiklock translation)
Hinds Feet on High Places. Hannah Hurnard
Francis, the Journey and the Dream. Murray Bodo
If God is in Charge. Stephen Brown
Mere Christianity. C.S. Lewis
New Seeds of Contemplation. Thomas Merton
Taste of New Wine. Keith Miller
Testament of Devotion. Thomas Kelly
The Cost of Discipleship. Detrick Bonhoeffer
The Christian’s Secret to a Happy Life. Hannah Whitehall Smith
The Imitation of Christ. Thomas a’Kempis (Blaiklock translation)
The Pursuit of God. A. W. Tozer
St. Paul versus St. Peter. Michael Goulder
Gentle Thunder. Max Lucado
The Hiding Place. Corrie Ten boom
The Holiness of God. R. C. Sproul
Knowing God. J.I. Packer
The Way of the Pilgrim. Author unknown.
My Utmost for His Highest. Oswald Chambers
I know, there are others you would nominate, that are omitted here. So, think about it, and send your suggestions to be added to the list.
Pastors? I know you are out there, what say you? What title should have made this list?
So, there are some of the good reads. Three of my most favorite good reads are on the list. What about you?
© Stan Escott 2020
Bulletin Board:
Love the muttering theme. We mutter around here — but we always think it’s something that needs to be said out loud to the other person which sometimes causes difficulty. (And sometimes the muttering is the “under the breath” kind.) Beth
Yesterday I played my first round of golf since October, 2018. It was windy and cold, it felt like 37 degrees. I had on a sweater and a coat, gloves on both hands. I was apprehensive, ready for bad golf shots, expected pain! I shot a 38! It was amazing! But that is not the most amazing part of my round. I shot that 38 in ONLY 6 HOLES! Can you believe that? Stan
Observations on Morning Prayers:
The mood with which we begin the day tends to color the entire day. What Francis de Sales understood is that starting the day with God in mind leads to keeping God in mind throughout the day. —Fr. Thomas F. Dailey, OSFS
The moment we awaken, we can choose the tone of our day. We can decide to be tired and negative about the day ahead or we can choose to be the strong, positive man or women God made us to be. As our feet touch the floor, it’s the perfect time to “think positive.”
Place yourself in the Lord’s presence in the first moments of each day. You will discover the whole day improves with that small offering. Talk to him. He waits for you in the stillness, in the silence of your heart. Speak Lord, your servant listens.
Closing Prayer:
Good morning, Lord! I offer to you my day, All of my joys and my sufferings, my cares and my concerns, My accomplishments and my failures. All that I have, all that I do, is yours. Keep me in your care. Guard me in my actions. Teach me to love, and help me to turn to you throughout the day. The world is filled with temptations. As I move through my day, keep me close. May those I encounter feel your loving presence. Lord, be the work of my hands and my heart. Amen.
