Books I've Read So Far in 2011

I have always been an avid reader. In 2009 I read 49 books and that prompted me to try to read 50 in 2010. I read 59. So once again I am trying to read at least 50 books in 2011. Here is what I've read so far.

Books I’ve Read in 2011

1. God Attachment: Why You Believe, Act, and Feel the Way You Do About God - - Dr. Tim Clinton & Dr. Joshua Straub
2. Scarlet (King Raven Trilogy - Book 2) - Stephen R. Lawhead
3. 10 Great Dates to Energize Your Marriage -- David & Claudia Arp
4. The Evolution of a Creationist: A Layman's Guide to Conflict Between the Bible and Evolutionary Theory -- Jobe Martin, PHD
5. Tuck (King Raven Trilogy - Book 3) -- Stephen R. Lawhead
6. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service -- Ian Fleming
7. Bridge to Terabithia -- Katherine Peterson
8. Love and Respect For a Lifetime -- Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
9. Pirate Latitudes -- Michael Crichton
10. Crocodile Tears -- Anthony Horowitz
11. You Only Live Twice -- Ian Fleming
12. The Gospel According to Starbucks: Living Life With a Grande Passion -- Leonard Sweet
13. The Man With the Golden Gun -- Ian Fleming
14. Inkheart -- Cornelia Funke
15. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM -- Robert C. O’Brien
16. A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant,Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative,Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-Yet Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished Christian -- Brian D. McLaren
17. Into the Wild -- Jon Krakauer
18. Alice in Wonderland -- Lewis Carroll
19. Onward: How Starbucks Fought For It’s Life Without Losing It’s Soul -- Howard Schultz
20. The Associate - John Grisham
21. Read, Think, Pray, Live - Tony Jones (currently reading)
22. A Treasure Deep - Alton Gansky
23. Beneath the Ice - Alton Gansky
24. Submerged - Alton Gansky -- (finished 5-23-11)
25. Scorpia Rising -- Anthony Horowitz (currently reading)

It's the End of the World as We Know It?

I am sure by now you have heard of the religious group that claims that Judgment Day is coming on May 21, 2011. I am also fairly certain that you have also heard that the world as we know it will come to an end on December 21, 2012, according to ancient Mayan Prophecy. One thing I do know for certain is that the world as we know it will someday come to an end. When this will happen I do not know.

The Bible tells us that one day Jesus will return to claim those who believe and at that time the Earth as we know it will be destroyed and replaced with a New Earth. (Isaiah 65:17, Matthew 24:35, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1). When will this happen? God has kept that a mystery. When Jesus was in human form on Earth, even he said, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36) If Jesus, who is God, was not allowed to know when God's Judgement Day will happen, what makes man think that they know when the end of the world will come?

Many people and religions have wrongly "predicted" when the end of the world would occur; Heaven's Gate, Jehovah's Witnesses, and many others have done do. Because of these predictions many people have reacted with fear and have done some very irrational things; including mass suicide. I believe that if you have a true relationship with the Lord God and his son Jesus, then you have nothing to fear from "Judgement Day." In fact you should celebrate it's coming.

As for me I have faith that God really will return one day to claim his own and he will destroy Earth and create a New Earth. God could come within the next 5 minutes for all I care, I am ready to meet God face to face. I wish many others could feel the same way.

The only thing about these groups and their "predictions" is that it just adds one more log onto the fire to be used by those who wish to persecute God's people, to prove that we are crazy and we have no clue what we are talking about. Christians have a hard enough time following the only two rules Jesus has ever asked us to follow; Love the Lord your God, and Love your Neighbors as Yourself. We don't need groups like Family Radio making things worse for those looking for the truth.

Update: 5-24-11, The Family Radio preacher, Harold Camping, has since changed his prediction to October 11, of 2001 as the day of Judgement. Obviously his second prediction of May 21, came and went with no Rapture in sight. He originally predicted the Rapture in 1994. Maybe the third time is a charm?

Lectio Divina

As part of my efforts to better read, understand and live God's will, I have started to read a book called Read, Think, Pray, Live by Tony Jones. In this book Jones teaches how to use a technique called lecto divina. Lectio divina takes scripture and uses four steps to bring the Word of God to life.

Step 1 is called Lectio; in which you select and read a passage.

Step 2 is Meditatio; in which you meditate or think over.

Step 3 is Oratio; in which you speak or pray.

Step 4 is Contemplatio; in which you contemplate.

I have just started reading the book, so I can't give you details (yet) over how each step works. I have heard good things about this technique and I can't wait to try it. Anything that improves my relationship with God and helps me hear His Words more clearly is a good thing. I will let you know more as I read on.

Home Improvements 2011: Part 1

This summer I am committing myself to making a few home improvements. Our home needs several things "fixed" in order to help us love our home more and prepare it for possible sale, if my future new job requires a move.

The first thing I plan to do is remove some bushes that are in the front of our house. My dad is coming over this week and we are going to pull up several bushes and fill in the holes with some good soil so I can plant some flowers in their place.

Later this summer I plan to paint the trim of the house, the garage and the shutters. I also plan to replace some faucets in the bathrooms and kitchen.

Sometime this week I plan to have a contractor or two over to give us estimates on some home repairs that need to be done. I will take these estimates to the local Property Tax Assessor and see if they can lower the value of the home to help ease the ever rising taxes. Our home is not worth the value that is placed on it by the Tax Assessor. We need a new roof, the outdoor door trims need replacing, the floors and carpets need replacing and we need some electrical work done as well. Once I have a complete list of estimates, Jamie and I may look into getting a home improvement loan to fix our house.

Here's to a busy summer!

Angry Birds

A new Internet sensation has captured my attention. It is a new online game called Angry Birds. It is very similar to another game I like to play called Crush the Castle 2. In Crush the Castle 2 you use a catapult to hurl logs, stones, etc...at "castles" in order to kill the people on the inside. In Angry Birds you use a sling shot to hurl birds at "pigs?" who are hiding behind barriers. I like the way the birds go "poof" once they have been launched at their pig foes. Both games are fun ways to use strategic thinking. Have fun!