Read through Calvin's Institutes in 2009!!!

I really hope to do THIS but must try to be realistic about my time limitations since I'm still working on my NANC exams! So much to read, so little time--still I'd REALLY like to do this.

HT: Justin Taylor @ Between Two Worlds - here's his overview, "Blogging the Institutes in 2009"

John Milton's 400th Birthday

Several blog posts today have brought to my attention that today is John Milton's 400th birthday! For your reading pleasure, I've provided those blog posts below.

Anytime I hear of or think of John Milton I'm reminded of my senior year in public high school (in the late 70's) when I--VERY much by default--found myself in a semester-long class on John Milton's "Paradise Lost" (!!!!!!).

I was not exactly what you would call an 'avid reader' in those days, as a matter of fact, it would be a huge stretch to even call me a 'reader'. I'm not proud of it, but it is reflective of my priorities and my thinking in those days--the Cindy Lauper song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" sums it up pretty nicely. Sigh...

Anyway, I recall being very puzzled and even shocked that we were reading a book about "God", and "Satan", and "angels". (Side Note: By this time in public schools--even in the 'buckle of the Bible belt'--prayer had been satisfactorily removed from the schools, except during sports events when we'd confidently pray that God would help us beat our opponent.) The thought of Satan and other beings 'falling' from heaven was a very new and strange thought to me. It wasn't until much later in college (after the Lord saved me and I began to think on such things) when I realized that much of Milton's "Paradise Lost" found it's 'inspiration' within Scripture. Sigh, I regret that I missed and/or frittered away so much in my youth.

For a long time now as a Believing adult I've wanted to reread "Paradise Lost". I think I just might put it on my winter reading list--and perhaps redeem some "Understanding Lost" in my youth. :-)

Between Two Worlds ~ An Interview with Leland Ryken about Milton's Paradise Lost

Ligonier Ministries ~ An Epic in the Making

Something completely different - Bargain Books!

Recently I've been "under the weather", "under pressure", and "under the gun". Consequently, my posting has been rather sporadic and I'm trying to get back on track as best I can. Oh yea, it's spring break for us this week--yippee!

Yesterday the girls and I enjoyed a little running around together after spending some time with my dad during lunch at the nursing home--he tends to eat better when he has visitors. We dropped by one of our local Xian bookstores so that I could take a closer look at some homeschool curriculum and they could check out all the things that teen girls find so appealing! After about 30 minutes of that we were ready to go and on our way out when the "Bargain Books" sign caught my eye! Oh boy!! Books at "lower than normal" prices!

I did find several "treasures" at incredible prices! I found Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology for only $9.99 (retail $53). Grudem has been credited with "redefining" prophesy--championed by charismatic theology--so you KNOW why I am interested in having this book! The one book I was really hoping to find--and did--is THIS book for only $2.49 (retail $12.99). I borrowed this book from our local library last fall and posted a little about it several months ago. I've been wanting a CHEAP copy of my own cause I'm still working through and trying to reconcile some of her positions. She does an excellent job of encouraging women to consider and embrace theology, but some of her assumptions and positions concern me from a Biblical Womanhood point of view. I'll enjoy chewing on this book again, and marking/highlighting my very own copy! I also found a couple of CHEAP books that my husband is interested in by Brian D. McLaren and by D A Carson--talk about polar opposites!

As I was perusing the huge selection of "Bargain Books" I couldn't keep from chuckling when I came across several of THESE. I had to ask myself, "Do we really want to learn his Bible Study Methods?" I think not--please refer to my previous post HERE.

So, you'll please forgive me if my posting remains sporadic--I have some reading to do!

Practicing Theology - You are what you read

I'm taking a short break from "Theology 101" this week because I'm still mulling over the "Reformed charismatic" topic and hope to post more on the topic this week.

Kim over at "Upward Call" made THIS POST TODAY that got me to thinking, how do you choose what you read? How do you respond when you find yourself reading something that doesn't "square" with your Xian worldview?

I do a lot of reading--I enjoy it and I NEED it. Most of my reading outside of the Bible is related to theology, Xian living, or Xian history. Some of my reading is related to home schooling, and very little is fiction (although I do enjoy some historic novels). So, you see if I choose unwisely some very MAJOR areas of my life will be impacted!

I choose what to read based on what is available from sources I trust, and I examine those sources on a regular basis. I also "listen" to what others (whom I respect and trust) are saying. Sad to say, if a certain book is being promoted, talked about, pushed, and marketed in and by the popular "Christian" community I tend to be suspicious of the book. So, as you can imagine when the "latest" by Lucado, Dobson, Swindoll, Warren, Driscoll, etc. come out I'm not joining the lines to buy it--much less read it.

There was a time when I would buy and/or read ANYTHING that came out of a Xian bookstore. Then I began to "narrow" my selections to books only written by professors/ graduates from certain seminaries, authors with particular denominational affiliations, and certain mainstream "christian" publishers. Unfortunately, it wasn't long until I had to refine my criteria even further!

Kim's post today is an excellent example of what you can find if you don't put much effort into determining what you read, or if you've become lax and will read about anything that some acquaintance suggests, or anything that the local Xian bookstore is pushing/marketing. Please, redouble your efforts and guard your mind and heart!