I'm pretty proud of Steve, and he's pretty proud of himself. In the past 24 hours, he has completed one whole book, and started AND completed a second!! Those 2 books are the first ones that he's finished in at least 7 years, so that's pretty good! He DOES admit that there were a lot of pop-ups and colourful pictures. Just kidding! Both books were about 125 pages long with NO pictures!!
The reason we are reading so many books, is that we were assigned them for the TREK program. And by so many books, I mean 5 in 8 weeks. Here is an overview of the ones we have to devour.
The first one, A Beautiful Way by Dan Baumann, we had to have completed by the time we got here. As of this evening we are both done. It basically dealt with a few key issues; Believing (God's Personal Love, God's Goodness), Trusting (Intimacy with Jesus, Dealing with Fear, Hearing from God), and Serving (Loving People, Ready to Serve).
Foreign to Familiar by Sarah A. Lanier is really Steve's territory because he finished that one and I'm only halfway through. So therefore, Steve says: "What I've learned is that there are really 2 types of people or cultures in the world; Hot-climate and cold climate. Hot climate people are very relational based, work well with groups and always want to be with other people. Cold climate people are usually more task-oriented people and would rather get the job done before getting to the relationships. Both have their own spin of good and there are so many ways to break down these 2 groups. But for me, I feel that I am best in a setting of friends and co-workers and people surrounding me in my life that would be completely relational. At times I'm not, I can be very task and time-oriented, as well as a stickler with punctuality. The truth is I would love to have closer relationships with all my friends where more frequent hang-outs and pop-ins are acceptable, and I hope to talk to people one on one at some time. There are SO many more points to this book but these are a couple that apply to more personal life at home."
Trained by Jesus by Steve Klassen...Steve Klassen is the guy who built the Mark Center as a retreat for missionaries as well as a training center for folks like us who want to head out into the field. He named the Mark Center after the book of Mark (duh) and his book is basically a deep study of the Gospel of Mark. Haven't started yet, I think we begin classes on that tomorrow!
Dutch Sheets Intercessory Prayer is one that I'm 2 chapters in on, and it basically goes through the steps on becoming a prayer warrior through perseverance, persistance and stuff like that. One of the quotes that really stuck out to me so far, is "We don't wait well. We're into microwaving. God on the other hand, is usually into marinating." The other one we really liked was "By perseverance, the snail reached the ark" (Charles Spurgeon) which goes to show that great things can happen if we just keep on keeping on.
The final book is a biography of our choice, and we have chosen Imprisoned in Iran which is the book also written by Dan Baumann of his experience obviously, of being in an Iranian prison.
There are a couple of other things that we're looking forward to coming up in the next 2 weeks. One of them is a 48 hour silent retreat. I don't really have to explain that one, but I will say it will be really tough for both of us even though we normally don't really say that much anyways (haha). But by the end of it, we hopefully will have seen or heard a lot of what God has in store for us and will be spilling over with exciting news for each other and for you.
Anyways, hope this wasn't a boring read, it's just really exciting to tune into so many great resources for our walks along the way. Of the books we've read so far, they are ALL recommenders!! So happy reading!
6 comments:
First comment! First Comment!
Right. So what you're saying is that Steve has read more in the last 2 days than in the 7 years before that. I remember the days [in college] when I had to read. However, you have the distinct advantage of not feeling the need to chase after da ladees [as you are, of course, married] like I did, unnecessarily distracting yourself [like I did]. Unnecessarily, because I never did actually catch one. Well, at College anyway.
I remember my first book!
i must say, although i really love the jokes and your humour in the previous posts, i also like the more serious posts where you go into detail about what it is your learning and experiencing out there. i mean ya, your gonna experience a heck of a lot more than you can ever begin to type out in a blog, but the little bit you do, to me anyways, is kind of inspiring. the "God marinates" quote is a powerful little guy, i chuckled and fell into deep though after reading it haha. but anyways, thanks for the reading recommendations, i think ill have to take a look at a few of them. and steve, good work buddy, 2 whole books in what? three days? im honestly impressed!
miss ya, luff ya.
meehs.
Are you sure there were no pictures in those books? I find it hard to believe but since there is a witness who is also a bit partial to the book worm AKA Geek boy I will believe the article in hand
its like having homework and your back at MCI...whoa, do you have to write summaries, hey i just thought of this, you two can come do a chapel at MCI when you get back....alright, i'll sign you up.
Todd...some girls were checking your grad picture out today in the hall...i said "Ya, i know him, no big deal"
That means a lot to me Toby.
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