What books are you currently reading?

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Matthias

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My local public library Summer Reading Program started today. I enroll in it as a way of prompting myself to read books which I ordinarily don’t. I find that taking a break from what I routinely read refreshes my mind. (In response to those who ask if I’ve ever read the Bible I’ll say in addition that none of my reading supplants daily Bible reading.)

I would like to encourage everyone to consider enrolling in a reading program, if one is offered by your local public library.

To kick off the event, I’m currently reading a novel that I’ve wanted to read for 50 years but never got around to doing until now, The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, written by Kentucky native (born in the same county of the Commonwealth that I was) John Fox, Jr.

As always and forever though, Bible first.
 

Matthias

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I woke up this morning with Malawi (“The Warm Heart of Africa”) on my mind. It’s unlikely that I’ll return there any time soon, so off to the library I went. I’m currently reading The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, written by William Kamkwamba.
 

Behold

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One of my favorite "Christian" movies is... "The Song of Bernadette".. (1943).

The BOOK, is a historical account of what happened to this young (14 yr old) village girl in France in '1858.
Its written by a non-Catholic, and the book is interesting, informative, and free of religious bias.
It reads somewhat like a College Textbook, yet its never dry, dull, or clinical.

If you've not seen the Movie, then check it out.
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Matthias

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I finished reading “The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind” early this morning. Having worked for a while in Malawi, the book brought back many memories. I was in some of the locations the author spoke about, but my work was in the southern part of the country and the village he grew up in was in the central part of the country. The closest I came to his village was the airport in Lilongwe. Still, the village life he described was spot on the village life I observed. (One of my favorite stories: I visited a village one day where there was only one chair in the entire village. When I arrived, a young man ran to retrieve the chair from the village chief’s house. The villagers insisted that I sit in the chair as their honored guest.) I loved my time in Malawi and the book made me long to see it again.

I’m currently reading “The Martian Chronicles,” written by Ray Bradbury. I was required to read it in High School, but I don’t remember much about it. I can’t even remember the last time I read a science fiction book; the genre is so far removed from what I normally read.

I’ve met many Malawians. Now bring on the Martians!
 

Pancho Frijoles

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@Matthias can you understand some Spanish?
I've discovered that reading and listening to the Gospels in an easy version in a foreign language that you're learning is fantastic. In Youtube there are versions in dozens of languages to listen to.
Since you already know more or less the content verses, you can concentrate on the words. In addition, it feels very special to hear the words of Jesus, that you have so often heard in your own language, flowing to your ears in a different language. It's like adding a whole new perspective of His words.
I don't know if there is a version in Aramaic that I could listen to at night, just for pleasure.
 
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Matthias

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@Matthias can you understand some Spanish?

Some, but not enough to feel confident about it being beneficial.

I've discovered that reading and listening to the Gospels in an easy version in a foreign language that you're learning is fantastic. In Youtube there are versions in dozens of languages to listen to.
Since you already know more or less the content verses, you can concentrate on the words. In addition, it feels very special to hear the words of Jesus, that you have so often heard in your own language, flowing to your ears in a different language. It's like adding a whole new perspective of His words.
I don't know if there is a version in Aramaic that I could listen to at night, just for pleasure.

In years past, I’ve done this with Hebrew and Greek.

I’ve never been fluent in any language except English and not reading or listening to a foreign language frequently erodes my ability significantly.
 

Matthias

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The Summer Reading Program I’m participating in requires the reading of five books in two months. The theme this year is travel. To earn a stamp in the passport issued by the library, five categoris must be completed. The five categories are, Read a book:

1. about people going on adventures;
2. set in or about the United States;
3. set in or about another country;
4. written by a Kentucky author;
5. set in another world.

I’ve completed categories 4, 3 and 5. (The Martians were really something else now, I’m telling you.)

I’m currently reading “The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance,” written by Rebecca Clarren (which will be stamped in category 2 / page 2 on my reading passport when I’ve completed it.)

Cheating? I’d like to call it hedging but, I had a weak moment and I’m skating on thin ice. I said that my purpose for participating in the Program is to take a short break from the types of books that I typically read. With the first three I held the line with a firm grip, but with this one I have a loose grip on the rope.

I’ll “do better” when selecting the next book to complete the Program. I may not succeed (already having set my sights on a doozy to earn a stamp in my passport for category 1 / page 1: the real search for the Ark of the Covenant which took place early in the 20th century - which inspired the Harrison Ford movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark) but I still have time to resist the urge and avert the slide.