6 reasons reading a library book is better than reading one of your own

1. There is so much more choice.
   They spend more on books in one year than your house or flat is worth (maybe).
   
2. You will actually read the books, rather than watching them sit on your shelfBorrowing library books comes with a deadline. If you haven't finished a book in three weeks, you're probably never going to read it, so why spend money on something which will sit on your shelf gathering dust?
   
3. You can finally get some space in your house or flat again
   How much space do your books take up? Not just the bookshelf but the pile of books next to your bedside, the dining table, and those waiting to be tidied away or go to the charity shop. I got rid of my bookcase and my lounge looked so much bigger! It was amazing, I was able to rearrange the furniture and I was able to enjoy all the space.
   
4. You'll read books you wouldn't otherwise
   Who wants to spend money on a book they might not like? We play it safe when we're buying books for ourself, yet when you wander around a library any book can jump out at you, and the range is so vast. I read a library book about the police, a science lab and classical music. I'd never have imagined reading that before.
   
5. You can share the experience with more people
   Like a book? You can still share good books with your friends. Just go to the library with them, or tell them to take it out too. And if they're not very good at returning books, it's not your problem, you've got nothing to fear by recommending they borrow the library's book.
   
6. It's better for the environment
   Reduce, re-use, recycle. You're reducing the number of trees which need to be cut down and made into books, the books are regularly being re-used as others take them out of the library. 

TV tokens

When I was a child there was a period of time when our family had "TV tokens". Each week we would get an allowance of how much TV we could watch, and we would cash in our tokens putting them into a jar when we watched TV.

As a family we used it to help us spend more time together rather than watching TV. At the moment I'm trying to work out how to read more, and remembering our use of TV tokens gave me an idea: my own TV tokens.

Rather than receiving a given allocation of TV tokens each week, I will get one TV token for each chapter of a book I read. (I might decide to tweak the ratio if the chapters get particularly long)

So far I've ready three chapters of the Irresistible revolution by Shane Claiborne and "spent" two of my tokens to watch one episode of Bad Habits, Holy Orders (that's a topic for another post).

Will it work? Will I keep reading? I don't know yet, but so far it's helping me to weigh my priorities. I can visually see my tokens collect and give myself an excuse why I can't watch TV and should read instead: "I don't have any TV tokens!"

Unreached

I'm currently reading Unreached: Growing churches in working–class and deprived areas by Tim Chester. I largely skipped over his blog posts on the "urban harvest" a few years when he was preparing to launch this book. Now that I have moved from a more gentrified part of town to a more deprived part, I decided to ordered the book and read it! This post covers the introduction and chapter one. I may post follow ups for later chapters.

The introduction sets the Christian context into which this book is written, with the middle classes making up a substantial proportion of the church.

The first things many middle class Christians see on council estates are the social problems. [...] But [...] what does God see? [...] Their fundamental problem is not social policy, but sin. And the solution is not gentrification but Jesus. (Page 17)

This first quote applies to council estates, but also wider society. One issue I want to learn more about this year is the balancing act between clear gospel proclamation and serving the nation. (Good news to the poor: The Gospel Through Social Involvement, also by Tim Chester, is on my reading list).

In fact, the introduction declares more strongly than this first quote the problem of focusing on social action.

Moreover, on its own, social action is like a signpost pointing nowhere. Or worse still, it points to our own good works, and so reinforces people's innate legalism. (Page 17)

The first chapter focuses on the situation on-the-ground, highlighting cultural differences, and how these cultural differences can cause artificial barriers to people coming to know Jesus, and coming into the church.

The gospel is still to be expressed in culturally diverse ways. The danger is that those of us who are from a dominant culture can - often unwittingly - impress their cultural norms on others. This means that we will often need to go out of our way to ensure that less dominant cultures are included, respected and expressed. (Page 31) 

It is not enough just to be aware of these differences, we need to actively change what we do to ensure that we do not inadvertently and unnecessarily require people to change their culture to be welcomed into the church, or feel welcomed by Christ. When people become Christians, and their friends comment "you've changed", that should be a purely positive thing, rather than also including needless cultural changes which only separate the new-Christian from their pre-existing friends.

The first chapter finishes with a challenge showing God's clear message to not put up barriers to those from different cultures, and the exciting growth that can happen as a result.

Before Cornelius could be converted, Peter had to be converted. Of course, he knew the gospel would go to the nations (Luke 24:45-47). But he assumed that the Gentiles would first have to become like the Jews. Jews becoming like Gentiles was unthinkable. 

Whose conversion involves the greatest struggle? Peter, the Christian, who argues with God three times, saying "Surely not, Lord!" Or by contrast, a whole room full of Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit as soon as they hear the message and offering themselves for baptism. Peter, representing the majority Christian culture, is most resistant to change. And this change, when it happens, results in criticism from his peers (Acts 11:1-3). 

For most of us in the UK, it is not the ethnic prejudices of a Peter that constrain our mission, but the prejudices of social class and race. Many of us who are middle class may need to be converted to culture-transcending mission before we can reach the unreached. Those of us who are working class may need to be converted to a culture-transcending church before we can work together in mission. Peter's prejudices were laid out on the sheet that was lowered from heaven. What would be laid out on your sheet? (Pages 40-41)

God, please change me.

So far I'm really enjoying the book, and plan to lend it to my brother and sister-in-law working in Everton, Liverpool. Posts on later chapters may be forthcoming.

Why I take notes in sermons

I take notes to keep awake!

Without writing notes I find it all too easy to get distracted.

Writing focuses my mind.

You could argue: "Don't take notes for knowledge, let the words affect your heart."

Yet writing notes helps me engage. It's only when I'm engaged that the words can pierce my heart.

How to learn like Buffet

(Based on content from farnam street blog)

Learn daily. Knowledge grows quicker if you have more knowledge.

Keep reading - and learn to take in the information. The more you read, the easier it will be to take in information.

Set time aside to learn. Learning is investing in yourself.

Can't afford to learn today? You'll work better tomorrow if you learn more today. Don't put it off.

A prayer

In the run up to easter my church sent out daily devotional emails. One of them (focusing on Peter, his denial and subsequent reinstatement (John 18:15-18, 18:25-27, 21:9, 21:15-17)) included a prayer I really liked. I've copied it below; I hope you find it useful.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your constant faithfulness and willingness to forgive. Thank you that you have a plan and purpose for my life. Help me, in my moments of pressure or temptation, not to give into fear. And when I fail or deny you, help me to be quick to seek restoration, knowing that you promise to forgive me, because my sin has been paid for at the cross. I ask, too, that you speak to me about the mission you have prepared for me, and that you equip me to serve you with my passions and skills.

God helps me

In the past I've got home from a long day at work, tired, having talked all day, and wanting to crash, yet knowing that in 60 short minutes I'll need to have got changed, tidied the flat, put on some music, cooked a meal, and be ready to socialise, make people feel welcome, and lead a lifegroup as friends arrive after great days, bad days, hearts broken, hearts on fire. So I pray. He helps. In those situations I'm not surprised.

Other times it's the end of a long week of work and some people are going to the pub. I know I should go and socialise, but maybe I don't want to. In those situations I haven't prayed. But why not?! God cares about those situations too.

Today was a lifegroup day (though not at my flat); he helped.
Next time a work thing happens, I'm sure he will too.