After waiting forever (particularly for a coupon), I finally picked up the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. I have seen nearly all of his NOOMA videos (if you haven't, I highly recommend them) and have loved them immensely. And the same is true of this book. Though I have only gotten through the introduction and part of the first chapter, it is great to see a new perspective on things, to read in words what I could not form on my own. Here is an example:
Lately, God has been opening my eyes to many new perspectives. Guiding me in understanding my own beliefs, because sometimes I know what I believe, but I can't put down a reason as to why. I feel strongly convicted on some topics, but feel incapable of explaining my viewpoint. I love it when God reveals things to me. Here is a quote that I read on a facebook friend's profile:
"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and
the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to
find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a
healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know
even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to
have succeeded." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
New perspective: worldy success vs personal success. Living for only yourself vs living to breathe life into someone else. Success in the eyes of the world is so meaningless. It is self-seeking, self-centered. It is a world with standards based on unachievable perfection and flawed ideals. It is living a life for yourself but by the ways of the world. Which leads me to something else I read recently, it may not sound great at first, but listen to how much sense it makes:
"All the world has to offer us is pleasant looking manure, no value, no worth, it's just a pile of manure, and when we study it and dwell upon it we will start desiring to look like it... But when we start looking to our Father, dwelling on our Father, we will start looking like Him."
This has begun to get long already, so I am going to end it with my newest discovery. It is a book I purchased months ago and has since sat on my shelf, not because it got lost between all of the others books (no, it's far too large for that) but because I wasn't sure how to use it. Anyway, that was a fairly unnecessary introduction for one of the best study resources I have found. It is The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. Using the KJV of the Bible, it is a way to go back to the root of each word and find the true meaning God had behind the text. I am currently going through a verse that was passed to me in regards to this trip, and I will be posting about that verse shortly (however, right now it is 12:30am and I should get to sleep!). Anyway, this is a great way to study Scripture, I absolutely LOVE it! It takes longer, but it also gives more meaning and is really helping me to meditate on the Scripture instead of just reading through it. Somehow this book is going to fit into my suitcase so I can bring it with to Africa... yes, I will make it fit or it will be my carry-on (it would give me enough to do on the plane ride! :-D)
