Comments on: How To Master A Book http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html Connecting God's Truth to Real Life Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:48:00 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8-RC1 hourly 1 By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1389 Stephen Altrogge Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:29:55 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1389 Ben - Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah, I really want to build a library of books that I can read over and over, books that will challenge my soul. We're so blessed to live in a country where these books are so readily available! Ben – Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Yeah, I really want to build a library of books that I can read over and over, books that will challenge my soul. We’re so blessed to live in a country where these books are so readily available!

]]> By: Ben http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1384 Ben Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:15:19 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1384 I am a book hoard too S. I do believe there should be an essential collection of books that you read and re-read over and over again, in your library. Some books in Christian lit are clasic, not in the sense nostalgic classic, but timeless principles that dont go in and out with whatever the hot topic is, at the local Christian book store. there are a lot of trends, but that should not be said of the words of God. Some books just nail it, and they stand the test of time. i am not much of a fan of Joyce Myers, but her battlefield of the mind, sold over 200,000 copies two years ago (in one year), with no promotion, new edition or anything. just cold sales. It has stood the test of time. A personal fav of mine that chalanges me in different ways is; Seed Faith, by Oral Roberts, and that is just one. Ben I am a book hoard too S. I do believe there should be an essential collection of books that you read and re-read over and over again, in your library. Some books in Christian lit are clasic, not in the sense nostalgic classic, but timeless principles that dont go in and out with whatever the hot topic is, at the local Christian book store. there are a lot of trends, but that should not be said of the words of God. Some books just nail it, and they stand the test of time. i am not much of a fan of Joyce Myers, but her battlefield of the mind, sold over 200,000 copies two years ago (in one year), with no promotion, new edition or anything. just cold sales. It has stood the test of time. A personal fav of mine that chalanges me in different ways is; Seed Faith, by Oral Roberts, and that is just one.
Ben

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1379 Stephen Altrogge Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:39:42 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1379 Megan - Thanks for sharing about reading out loud. I don't typically think to do that when I read a book. Boaly - Yeah, I've got a whole bookshelf stocked with gems that I've only read once. I need to do some re-reading. Megan – Thanks for sharing about reading out loud. I don’t typically think to do that when I read a book.

Boaly – Yeah, I’ve got a whole bookshelf stocked with gems that I’ve only read once. I need to do some re-reading.

]]> By: Boaly http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1377 Boaly Tue, 22 Apr 2008 06:55:43 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1377 Yeh, more great advice from you Stephen. Thanks for this, I'm constantly struggling with the notion of what book to get next. May be an idea to delve into some of the 'gems' I've already read and master them a bit better. Yeh, more great advice from you Stephen. Thanks for this, I’m constantly struggling with the notion of what book to get next. May be an idea to delve into some of the ‘gems’ I’ve already read and master them a bit better.

]]> By: Megan Liz http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1373 Megan Liz Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:30:26 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1373 Thanks for this post, Stephen! I'm a fellow book-lover (and notorious for underlining and scribbling in margins). After I read C. S. Lewis's "Till We Have Faces" I started discussing it with a couple people from my church, and it's amazing how much we've all gotten out of it. It also helps to read the book aloud, even if you're the only one listening. It's been scientifically proven that when reading the words aloud cements them in your mind and helps you think about what you've read. Thanks for this post, Stephen! I’m a fellow book-lover (and notorious for underlining and scribbling in margins). After I read C. S. Lewis’s “Till We Have Faces” I started discussing it with a couple people from my church, and it’s amazing how much we’ve all gotten out of it. It also helps to read the book aloud, even if you’re the only one listening. It’s been scientifically proven that when reading the words aloud cements them in your mind and helps you think about what you’ve read.

]]> By: Steve Praz http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1372 Steve Praz Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:47:07 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1372 Stephen - The primary goal is to write about books for the benefit of my own soul. I try and pull out some thoughts from what I am reading and to write about it. Explaining and writing about the material helps it to stick in my head more. Also, in some sense I feel it will be helpful to look back over these posts in time, much like a journal, and see evidence of growth and God's grace in my life (also to easily review things I've read or to point me back to books where God has met me in the past). On the other hand, I know that as a blog, it is also for public consumption. So, I try to write in a way that is readable and helpful to someone who might be following along. And I try to link to other blogs so that I can point others to resources that have served me. Also, I do try to write a wrap-up of a book I finish and to encourage others to read books if I have found them helpful. Stephen – The primary goal is to write about books for the benefit of my own soul. I try and pull out some thoughts from what I am reading and to write about it. Explaining and writing about the material helps it to stick in my head more. Also, in some sense I feel it will be helpful to look back over these posts in time, much like a journal, and see evidence of growth and God’s grace in my life (also to easily review things I’ve read or to point me back to books where God has met me in the past).

On the other hand, I know that as a blog, it is also for public consumption. So, I try to write in a way that is readable and helpful to someone who might be following along. And I try to link to other blogs so that I can point others to resources that have served me. Also, I do try to write a wrap-up of a book I finish and to encourage others to read books if I have found them helpful.

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1371 Stephen Altrogge Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:35:58 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1371 Thanks for sharing those thoughts Tim. Very helpful. Thanks for sharing those thoughts Tim. Very helpful.

]]> By: Scripture Zealot http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1368 Scripture Zealot Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:36:17 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1368 Very nice post. I would add: Pray each time before you read the book that God would speak to you through His Holy Spirit as you would when reading the Bible. Incorporate what you learned into your prayer life. If there are prayers at the end of each chapter, like <a href="http://www3.calvarychapel.com/library/Tozer-AW/PursuitOfGod/0.htm" rel="nofollow">The Pursuit of God</a> by Tozer for example, print them out (prayers are in italic at the end of each chapter in that link) and pray one of them every once and a while. I think part of attacking the book as you mention is looking up all the Scripture references. And don't be in a hurry to read through a lot of material. Attacking and hurrying don't go together. Jeff Very nice post.

I would add:
Pray each time before you read the book that God would speak to you through His Holy Spirit as you would when reading the Bible.

Incorporate what you learned into your prayer life. If there are prayers at the end of each chapter, like The Pursuit of God by Tozer for example, print them out (prayers are in italic at the end of each chapter in that link) and pray one of them every once and a while.

I think part of attacking the book as you mention is looking up all the Scripture references. And don’t be in a hurry to read through a lot of material. Attacking and hurrying don’t go together.
Jeff

]]> By: Tim http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1362 Tim Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:05:09 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1362 Stephen - The origin of my recent book readings have been varied. For the Carson book, my pastor said to me "Let's read this together!" We did and discussed it on our church's online forum. With the McLaren book, 4 guys were given the book and told to read it to discuss at an overnight retreat. Only two of us read it; we ended getting together weekly for several months to discuss the book almost page-by-page. For Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life", I led a group of 7 people who met weekly in my home to do the book with the related DVD segments. You could call this one an "official church function". This was a highly significant experience for me and influenced my decision to leave my position as a staff RN in a local hospital and join my church's pastoral staff. It is causing me to consider a mission trip to Mozambique later this year. Finally, the Keller book: a few friends from church said "We know you are reading this book and we've purchased copies and will read along with you". So there are 5 of us reading and discussing. I'm greatly blessed to be at a church where the senior pastor and many of those in leadership positions (as well as church members in general) read serious books. Cheers, -tim : ) Stephen – The origin of my recent book readings have been varied. For the Carson book, my pastor said to me “Let’s read this together!” We did and discussed it on our church’s online forum.

With the McLaren book, 4 guys were given the book and told to read it to discuss at an overnight retreat. Only two of us read it; we ended getting together weekly for several months to discuss the book almost page-by-page.

For Piper’s “Don’t Waste Your Life”, I led a group of 7 people who met weekly in my home to do the book with the related DVD segments. You could call this one an “official church function”. This was a highly significant experience for me and influenced my decision to leave my position as a staff RN in a local hospital and join my church’s pastoral staff. It is causing me to consider a mission trip to Mozambique later this year.

Finally, the Keller book: a few friends from church said “We know you are reading this book and we’ve purchased copies and will read along with you”. So there are 5 of us reading and discussing.

I’m greatly blessed to be at a church where the senior pastor and many of those in leadership positions (as well as church members in general) read serious books.

Cheers, -tim : )

]]> By: Stephen Altrogge http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html/comment-page-1#comment-1361 Stephen Altrogge Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:36:35 +0000 http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2008/04/how-to-read-a-book.html#comment-1361 Tim - Great thoughts. Question: How did you start meeting with people to discuss books? Is this something you're doing as an official church function, or is it just with friends? Steve - Are you writing about what you're reading for yourself or for others? In others words, are you writing book reviews or just thoughts about various sections of the books you're reading? Tim – Great thoughts. Question: How did you start meeting with people to discuss books? Is this something you’re doing as an official church function, or is it just with friends?

Steve – Are you writing about what you’re reading for yourself or for others? In others words, are you writing book reviews or just thoughts about various sections of the books you’re reading?

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