Summer Reading
Good Morning,
With summer approaching, I would like to encourage everyone to read, especially to get our children reading.
Look what Paul wrote about the Old Testament stories:
1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
These stories of great men and women were recorded, not just for history’s sake but for our admonition and to nudge us to live better and to trust God more in times of trouble. Consider the great stories written in Hebrews 11:
From the beginning of the chapter, we read of the man who "being dead, yet speaketh."
Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.”
So is the story of all these men and women who, by faith, did wondrous things.
Abraham obeyed without knowing what was going to happen next.
vs. 8 “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
We read of those who, in neither heart nor soul, returned to the life God called them to leave,
vs. 15 “And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”
We read of Moses who chose to suffer rather than fit in with the godless people among whom he was raised:
vs. 24 “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;”
vs. 25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;”
If we would read about the great stories in our own nation’s history, we would be challenged and blessed.
Choose stories of valor, courage, and moral integrity; the stories need not be long. We have old books with dozens of short biographies in them (old books are much safer — prior to 1960). Read of Molly Pitcher or missionary biographies of people like William Borden, C.T. Studd, John Patton, and other historical books written prior to 1960. Children's versions of General Patton, Audie Murphy, Eddie Rickenbacker, and other military men are also great.
The Bookshelf and Stories for Boys and Girls are each several volumes long and have much good secular reading for children.
We would be wise to regulate video game time and television time; plan work and study time to create a schedule for the home. A great deal of sanity may be gained through planning.
Reading takes us around the world, into hearts and minds of the greatest people who ever lived, and allows us to see valiant living up close as we would never see it on our own. Bible reading ought to be common, but great lives and noble feats in history can also do much to inspire us.
Pastor