Books and Stuff

I recently picked up a book that I read in the summer of 2005. It is The Divine Conquest by A.J. Tozer from this I will put out few quotes from the preface and then give a few of my thoughts.
"The only book that should ever be written is one that flows up from the heart, force out by the inward pressure. When such a work has gestated within a man it is almost certain it will be written. The man who is thus charged with a message will not be turned back by blase considerations. His book will be to him not only imperative, it will be inevitable."

"As for originlity, has not someone remarked that no one since Adam has been wholly original? 'Every man,' said Emerson, 'Is a quotation from his ancestors.' All I can hope is that this book may be a right emphasis comeing at the right time. If the reader should discover here anything new he is in conscience bound to reject it, for whatever in religion is new is be the same token false."

"Perhaps a word of warning would not be amiss here: It is that we beware the common habit of putting confidence in books, as such. It takes a determined effort of the mind to break free from the error of making books and teachers ends in themselves. The worst thing a book can do for a Christian is to leave him with the impression that he has recienved from it anything really good; The best it can do is to point the way to the Good he is seeking. The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life. That book serves best which early makes itself unneccessary, just as signpost serves best after it is forgotten, after a traveler has arrived safely at his desired haven. The work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eyes toward God and urge him forward. Beyond that it cannot go."

This is some of the most amazing quotes from any book that I have ever read. The most amazing part to me is that this is only the preface. He right off goes on and explains how the book is no good. Too many authors today seem to try and put out the best and greatest new books, full of fun and original ideas. These are all worthless if they do not point the reader to somthing greater. When I read any book it should leave me empty, needing more that just the truth found there. I tend not to do this many times I will look to a human authored book to change my life and neglect the on Book that can truely change me.
I tend also to try and find new things, and ideas in the book I read. Some undiscovered truth that may be revealed for only $9.99. God has not hid anything form his people, like it says in Ecclesiasties nothing is new under the sun. Like Tozer has said, if it is new is also in the same token false.

Resolved: To not trust books, if they seem to offer me anything that does not agree with the Bible. And to trust only the books that only point me to the truth that is found in Gods Word.

The Same Place

Recently I read a book by Mark Driscoll, Confessions of a Reformissionist Rev, which got me to think about a lot of differnt things. In it he goes through the stuggles that he went through in planting his church. This got me really excited and I could hardly put the book away. What excited me the most was that that was exactly what I would love to do, with all the stuggles and pain involved. So many times it is easy for me to let me mind and passions drift in another direction, thinking I could do something else. God then intervenes, causing me to again be in a passionate pursuit of His purposes in my life. He continually brings my mind back to the same place I was before, thinking the right way and looking to act the same.
Resolved: To continually seek with all my heart Gods passion for the church. To do it Gods way and not my own, keep gaurd over things that may ruin His ministry, and love the stuggles involved.

Repentence

Today I again began to think about evangelism. I know I am called to do it but many times am too afraid to do it. This is deeply rooted in the fact that I have a hard time seeing myself as a sinner. I tend to place myself in the catagory of sinners but avoid the issue of identifying and killing specific sins in my life. I find it really easy to find the sins of non-believers and many times they are able to identify these in themselves, yet in my own life I am ale to overlook many of these sam things. If I am truely growing closer and into a greater realtionship with my Savior I would be able to see these so much more clearly. As I see the light of my Savior I should see my great sin reflected so much more.
Resolved: To not think highly of myself, but rather too see myself against the light of my Savior. To be humble in evangelism, looking at men as God sees them.

New at this

I have heard of blogs but never used one. My hope is that through this I can express my thoughts on life in Christ. Whatever catches my ears, eyes, or senses in some way and remind me of my God may appear, to Him be the glory.
Galations 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."