I remember, in elementary school, our teachers always giving us lists of books to pick up at the public library and read over the summer. The teachers would encourage us to set a goal for ourselves as to how many books we wanted to read over the summer.
As this semester comes to a close, I'm feeling inspired to do this very thing again. I have compiled a little list of books that I would like to read before the end of the summer. My list varies greatly from different books of the Bible to novels to poetry.
I am a very busy guy and often don't have time to read so my list only contains four books. I work full-time, go to school, teach Sunday school, and spend a lot of time with my family. These things are very rewarding but very taxing also. So, I'm going to keep my goal realistic so I have a better chance of actually achieving it.
The first book I'd like to read is the book of Acts in the Bible. Growing up Pentecostal, I have read through this book more times than I can count. However, I have always read it in "study-form" if you will. I have always taken it one verse at a time, dissecting its every word and adding my own commentary as I went along. This summer, I would like to read the book through like a story. No stopping to do research on every other verse and no internet searches for words in the original Greek text. I'm determined to read it all the way through and concentrate on the actual stories the book contains and not just the doctrines and lessons it teaches.
The second book I'd like to read is a book called "Poems for New Orleans". I picked this book of poetry up when I visited New Orleans last summer and I have still to read one poem. The book seems very interesting. It is a compilation of different poems from various artists around the country. Some are from New Orleans and some are not. The poems are all different styles and the artists vary greatly, from high school students to retired poetry professors. The poems focus mostly on the distinct Cajun culture of the city but also focus on famous landmarks, popular events, and the city's history. This book will be a great way to add some great American literature as well as a little culture to my summer.
The third book I plan on reading is called "Kingdom of the Cults". I love religion and I have always been particularly interested in the study of modern cults. ***Disclosure: I am not a cult-member nor do I ever plan to become one! I'm almost normal!*** This book gives a description of almost every known cult of the twenty-first century and tells the history, the culture, and the doctrines of each. I'm excited to read the book and build on my knowledge of world religion its many, many cults. I just hope amazon.com ships it quickly! I'm already tired of waiting!
The final book I plan to read is "Pilgrim's Progress". Again, this book was required reading in school and I must be honest, I did not read it. This particular book I didn't read even one page of. I have a slight idea of what it's about and that is the extent of my knowledge. This book is often considered a classic and it's one of the few "classics" I haven't read. I plan to change that.
I feel that reading keeps people educated. It reminds us of things we learned in school and may have forgotten about, it gives our brain a chance to exercise, and it builds on our knowledge of history, culture, art, and much more! Call me an elementary teacher but I think three months without reading might do our brains too much damage. I've set my goal to see that this does not happen and I plan to achieve it. Call me an under-achiever but 4 books will be a challenge for me! So, bring it on!
Thursday, May 8, 2014
I had to read it...
Believe it or not, I love to read! I actually read quite a bit and I very much enjoy it. For me, it is a stress reliever and a good way to unwind. When I was a kid I would sit and finish an entire chapter book in one sitting. In school, I would sit and eat mints and read hundreds of pages at a time. However, as much I enjoy and always have enjoyed reading for pleasure I have always hated reading for school assignments.
It is one thing to sit and read something that you picked out. The book you choose is probably relevant to the things you are interested in and if you don't like the choice you can put it down and read something else. That is why I've always hated reading for school. You are a prisoner to whatever book you are reading and you have to finish it whether you like it or not.
One of those books that I was imprisoned to this semester is "The Great Gatsby". In high school the book was required reading but I never actually read the book. I fibbed my way through the assignments, watched the movie, and barely passed the course assignments. I was a little surprised and annoyed when this book was one of the selections of this course. In high school I tried so hard not to read it and this semester I had to do it all over again.
I decided that I wasn't going to do the same thing I did in school. I'm in college now and I'm supposed to be smarter, more mature, more responsible. So, I ordered the book online and took it aboard a flight to Europe. I read the first chapter and thought it was "okay." I read the second and got a little interested. By the third and fourth chapter I was hooked. I loved the history and the vivid descriptions of the wild 1920's parties! I loved reading this book!
There is just something about a good piece of historical American literature, like "The Great Gatsby", that makes it so intriguing to read. Books like this help us get an idea of what life was like for our grandparents and those who lived before them. These are things you will never learn anywhere else. You can only experience it inside of a book. That is why "The Great Gatsby" was such a great read.
By the end of the book, I learned so much about our history and got a feel for what the "roaring twenties" were like. The book also taught me valuable lessons about friendship, greed, power, and status, and even family. These are things I wouldn't have expected to learn in a "required-reading novel".
This selection has become my favorite for this semester and I'm sure I will be reading again sometime. A book that good deserves to be read two or three times just to pick out the little details you miss the first time. They say not to judge a book by it's cover and I can honestly say I didn't do that. I judged the book by it's assignment points. That's the only reason I picked it up. It was required. But, even though this book was just "required reading" I enjoyed it very much and I'm so glad I took the time to read it!
It is one thing to sit and read something that you picked out. The book you choose is probably relevant to the things you are interested in and if you don't like the choice you can put it down and read something else. That is why I've always hated reading for school. You are a prisoner to whatever book you are reading and you have to finish it whether you like it or not.
One of those books that I was imprisoned to this semester is "The Great Gatsby". In high school the book was required reading but I never actually read the book. I fibbed my way through the assignments, watched the movie, and barely passed the course assignments. I was a little surprised and annoyed when this book was one of the selections of this course. In high school I tried so hard not to read it and this semester I had to do it all over again.
I decided that I wasn't going to do the same thing I did in school. I'm in college now and I'm supposed to be smarter, more mature, more responsible. So, I ordered the book online and took it aboard a flight to Europe. I read the first chapter and thought it was "okay." I read the second and got a little interested. By the third and fourth chapter I was hooked. I loved the history and the vivid descriptions of the wild 1920's parties! I loved reading this book!
There is just something about a good piece of historical American literature, like "The Great Gatsby", that makes it so intriguing to read. Books like this help us get an idea of what life was like for our grandparents and those who lived before them. These are things you will never learn anywhere else. You can only experience it inside of a book. That is why "The Great Gatsby" was such a great read.
By the end of the book, I learned so much about our history and got a feel for what the "roaring twenties" were like. The book also taught me valuable lessons about friendship, greed, power, and status, and even family. These are things I wouldn't have expected to learn in a "required-reading novel".
This selection has become my favorite for this semester and I'm sure I will be reading again sometime. A book that good deserves to be read two or three times just to pick out the little details you miss the first time. They say not to judge a book by it's cover and I can honestly say I didn't do that. I judged the book by it's assignment points. That's the only reason I picked it up. It was required. But, even though this book was just "required reading" I enjoyed it very much and I'm so glad I took the time to read it!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
My Favorite Literature
Some may call me old-fashioned and completely out of style, but my favorite literature to read is the good old-fashioned Holy Bible. I love that book and I read it all the time. Though this is largely because I'm a Christian and the book plays a big part in my faith, I find the Bible to be action-packed, full of poetry, laced with love stories, and garnished with comedy.
First of all, because I am a Christian, and a Holiness Pentecostal at that, I read the Bible because of necessity. I need to read it. This book blesses my heart, gives me answers, and helps grow my faith. I believe I need to read it because God commanded his children to do so. According to John chapter 1, the Bible is God in words. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God..." When I read the Bible I feel like I am hearing God himself speak directly to me. I feel that the words were penned by God himself and like any other author he loves it when people take time to read His work.
The second reason I read the Bible is because it is action-packed. Who does't love a good action-packed story? Why would anyone read a boring story when they could read one that keeps them on their toes the whole time. Some of my favorite action scenes from this work are the stories of Jonah and the Whale, Gideon and his soldiers, and the resurrection story of Jesus Christ. Jonah disobeys God so God has him swallowed by a giant fish and spit out on the shore of the most evil city in the world! Then Jonah saves the whole city from the wrath of God and then goes and sits under a tree and pouts because he didn't think they deserved it. How dramatic and what a story! Gideon was an Israelite who took three hundred soldiers to fight against thousands of opposing soldiers and somehow God caused them to win! It seems impossible but it is a true story! And the story of Jesus' resurrection has to be my favorite. He was God and man at the same time. How does that even work? He lived a life here on earth as a carpenter's son, he traveled the continent preaching with twelve of his best friends, then he was killed for no good reason. But the story doesn't stop there. After being dead for three days He got up and walked out of the tomb like nothing. These stories are incredible and so much fun to read. You cannot get bored while reading this book. I think that would be impossible!
Third, this book is full of love stories. I don't care how manly or macho you think you might be, deep down everybody loves a good love story. I don't know if you've ever read the story of Hosea but it is beautiful and might even jerk a few tears. Hosea is a preacher who marries a woman who is not faithful to him. She goes out and sleeps around with a bunch of men and is eventually kidnapped and sold into slavery. Hosea pleaded with her to come back to him and to come home to their children but she would hear of no such thing. Finally, she found herself naked, abused, and chained to a block at a slave auction. With her head bowed in shame she listened to a man bid on her and eventually she recognized the voice! It was her husband, Hosea. He found her at the auction and paid for her to be set free. Even though she was undeserving and belligerent, he loved her enough to pay a high price to get her back. Have you ever heard of a more incredible and geniously written love story than this?
Finally, the Bible is actually funny. Most people don't think of a good laugh when they think of the Bible but it's absolutely true. Some stories in the Bible are a riot! Take the story of Elisha for example. Elisha was a bald man and like many middle-aged men from our century he was very self-conscious about it. One day he was walking up a hill when a bunch of young boys began throwing rocks at him and calling him a "baldy". So like any good prophet, he rebuked them in the Name of God and God had them mauled by bears. Don't ever make fun of a preacher! You might think it's harsh but I think it's hilarious.
See? The Bible is full of stories that will make you laugh and cry. If you're in the mood for some history just read through the first five books. If you're into drama just read the minor prophets. And, if you are into poetry like me read the Song of Solomon or the book of Proverbs. There is something in this big chunk of literature for everyone and whether you are a Christian or not it is enjoyable and inspirational reading. I love this book and if you'd give it a chance I think you would find the same thing!
First of all, because I am a Christian, and a Holiness Pentecostal at that, I read the Bible because of necessity. I need to read it. This book blesses my heart, gives me answers, and helps grow my faith. I believe I need to read it because God commanded his children to do so. According to John chapter 1, the Bible is God in words. "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God..." When I read the Bible I feel like I am hearing God himself speak directly to me. I feel that the words were penned by God himself and like any other author he loves it when people take time to read His work.
The second reason I read the Bible is because it is action-packed. Who does't love a good action-packed story? Why would anyone read a boring story when they could read one that keeps them on their toes the whole time. Some of my favorite action scenes from this work are the stories of Jonah and the Whale, Gideon and his soldiers, and the resurrection story of Jesus Christ. Jonah disobeys God so God has him swallowed by a giant fish and spit out on the shore of the most evil city in the world! Then Jonah saves the whole city from the wrath of God and then goes and sits under a tree and pouts because he didn't think they deserved it. How dramatic and what a story! Gideon was an Israelite who took three hundred soldiers to fight against thousands of opposing soldiers and somehow God caused them to win! It seems impossible but it is a true story! And the story of Jesus' resurrection has to be my favorite. He was God and man at the same time. How does that even work? He lived a life here on earth as a carpenter's son, he traveled the continent preaching with twelve of his best friends, then he was killed for no good reason. But the story doesn't stop there. After being dead for three days He got up and walked out of the tomb like nothing. These stories are incredible and so much fun to read. You cannot get bored while reading this book. I think that would be impossible!
Third, this book is full of love stories. I don't care how manly or macho you think you might be, deep down everybody loves a good love story. I don't know if you've ever read the story of Hosea but it is beautiful and might even jerk a few tears. Hosea is a preacher who marries a woman who is not faithful to him. She goes out and sleeps around with a bunch of men and is eventually kidnapped and sold into slavery. Hosea pleaded with her to come back to him and to come home to their children but she would hear of no such thing. Finally, she found herself naked, abused, and chained to a block at a slave auction. With her head bowed in shame she listened to a man bid on her and eventually she recognized the voice! It was her husband, Hosea. He found her at the auction and paid for her to be set free. Even though she was undeserving and belligerent, he loved her enough to pay a high price to get her back. Have you ever heard of a more incredible and geniously written love story than this?
Finally, the Bible is actually funny. Most people don't think of a good laugh when they think of the Bible but it's absolutely true. Some stories in the Bible are a riot! Take the story of Elisha for example. Elisha was a bald man and like many middle-aged men from our century he was very self-conscious about it. One day he was walking up a hill when a bunch of young boys began throwing rocks at him and calling him a "baldy". So like any good prophet, he rebuked them in the Name of God and God had them mauled by bears. Don't ever make fun of a preacher! You might think it's harsh but I think it's hilarious.
See? The Bible is full of stories that will make you laugh and cry. If you're in the mood for some history just read through the first five books. If you're into drama just read the minor prophets. And, if you are into poetry like me read the Song of Solomon or the book of Proverbs. There is something in this big chunk of literature for everyone and whether you are a Christian or not it is enjoyable and inspirational reading. I love this book and if you'd give it a chance I think you would find the same thing!
Forgetful Procrastinator
I don't know about anyone else, but I often find myself procrastinating and waiting too long to start assignments. It is assignments like this blog that get me into trouble as there is really no way to correctly complete it at the last minute. For the midterm blog assignment, I never even started it because I waited until the last minute to try and it was too late. Shame on me!
The truth is, this is my first time "blogging". I have read some blogs before- mostly political, religious, and travel related blogs- but never have I written one. This is all very new to me.
I love to write and I love to read so I guess those are the only requirements for making a good blog. The way I understand it, you write a blog and somebody else reads it. Or, they tell me it can work the other way around. You can read a blog that somebody else wrote. I guess it's a two way street.
This semester has been absolutely crazy for me. I work between 60 and 70 hours a week and I go to school part-time. On top of that, I teach Sunday school and volunteer for the local church quite often. Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine and helps to relieve some of the stress I often acquire. That is why I chose this class this semester and overall I have really enjoyed it. But, as much as I love reading, it's nice to change things up and do an assignment like this one instead.
This week I will be posting about some of my favorite literature as well as thoughts to some of the literature we have looked at this semester. I hope I'm not too late on getting this started to get some good feedback because I'd really like to hear what others thought of this class, its contents, and this blog assignment. I just hope everyone else in the class is not as forgetful and procrastinate as me!
The truth is, this is my first time "blogging". I have read some blogs before- mostly political, religious, and travel related blogs- but never have I written one. This is all very new to me.
I love to write and I love to read so I guess those are the only requirements for making a good blog. The way I understand it, you write a blog and somebody else reads it. Or, they tell me it can work the other way around. You can read a blog that somebody else wrote. I guess it's a two way street.
This semester has been absolutely crazy for me. I work between 60 and 70 hours a week and I go to school part-time. On top of that, I teach Sunday school and volunteer for the local church quite often. Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine and helps to relieve some of the stress I often acquire. That is why I chose this class this semester and overall I have really enjoyed it. But, as much as I love reading, it's nice to change things up and do an assignment like this one instead.
This week I will be posting about some of my favorite literature as well as thoughts to some of the literature we have looked at this semester. I hope I'm not too late on getting this started to get some good feedback because I'd really like to hear what others thought of this class, its contents, and this blog assignment. I just hope everyone else in the class is not as forgetful and procrastinate as me!
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