I still haven't quite got used to writing 2021 and yesterday I almost published my blog post with the year 2020. Today is the end of the holiday for me. I took down my Christmas Tree this morning which was a little bit depressing. I am not really looking forward to going back to work but it will be good to get back into some kind of routine. Although life is still sub-normal living in Tier 4 with Prime Minister today hinting at tougher restrictions to come.
Today, being a Sunday, I tuned into Christ Church Newcastle. I must be careful not to get too comfy watching church on my couch. This is not normal and certainly not how church should be. We were looking at Matthew 2:13-23 and the preacher explained how this passage is typological. Jesus is the new Moses, he leads people in a new exodus, he formed a new Israel with a new covenant (Jer 31:33-34) and took on a new Image (Isaiah 53:2-3).
I have made a start on my new Tim Challies reading challenge this year. 'Far from the Madding Crowd' by Thomas Hardy under the category 'a classic novel'. I am waiting for Dane Ortland's book 'Gentle and Lowly' to be delivered which will be my first Christian non-fiction book ('a book published in either 2020 or 2021').
10 ways books are a blessing
I am always drawn to blogs and articles when they are about books. This blog by Peter Mead suggests 10 ideas for thinking about books.
Thank God for what I have. Whether I have 20 or 20,000 books, thank God for them. This is really good advice. I have probably 100 or so books packed away in boxes as I haven't anywhere else to keep them as yet. When I do start a new book, how good it would be to take a moment and quietly thank God for the gift of this book.
Join the elite club of book givers! If I have enjoyed a book, rather than put it back on my shelf, consider buying more and pray about who to give them to over the next couple of months.
Books don't have to fill your shelves forever. It is good to have a purge of books every now and again to make space for new books. Be realistic. If a book has been on your shelf untouched for years, it is likely it will remain that way for the foreseeable future. Consider giving to an organisation like Book Aid.
An unfinished book should never make you feel guilty! Don't feel bad about abandoning a book and reading something else.
Organise your books so that when you need a particular book you can easily find it.
Some are worth more than others. "Some books are reference tools that are worth their weight in gold. Others are one-exposure pieces that, once read, are not worth the investment of shelf space."
Make time to read.
Plan how to use each book. This is an interesting idea. I approach non-fiction in almost the same way as fiction. Start at page one and read cover to cover. However Peter Mead suggests a planned approach, spending time on the contents and conclusions etc to make the time productive.
Plan what kinds of books you need to spend time in. i.e. books for relaxation, books targeted at my area of ministry, books to help me understand my culture, books for evangelism, books to increase my knowledge of doctrine, etc.
Who can you share your journey with? While books are great to read on your own, and to bless others by giving away it is also great to read books with others. This has been a real blessing for me over the years, to meet up with a friend for a meal and go through a chapter of a book, and sharing with one another in what ways the book has challenged us.
What a catch!
This is an incredible video of an Osprey catching a fish. Just look at the wingspan of the bird as it takes flight again from the water.
Source: Ocean Magazine, Mark Smith Photography. (For more of Mark Smith's amazing photos and videos check out his instragram and youtube page https://www.instagram.com/mark.smith.photography/?igshid=1jt73c59v8cr7, https://www.youtube.com/c/marksmithphotography)
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