Fahrenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper burns.
Moved by film you go to the library the next day and check out the book itself. Bradbury's main character, Guy Montag, a fireman who until this moment had been an official book burner himself, speak the line that stay with you, even today. After he watches an old woman burn to death with her forbidden volumes. "There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something"
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's classic, in the now not-so-distant future, people must memorize the the content of book because to own a book is illegal.
Disqualified Preacher
"He who no longer reads should get out of the ministry." -John Wesley
Why is it that sometimes settling down with a good Christian book is better than sitting down on the pews of your church and found yourselves bored to empty words of a preacher behind the pulpit? It’s just that when you do read you discover that reading life deepening books develop our spirituality more rapidly than mere listening to preachers who condemned themselves to obsolescence. (Don’t be fraud about this, this a reality) We preferred to read because it is something that passes the time serenely and it alleviates ignorance, rather than endure listening to unfounded messages of our ill-equipped preachers. We should listen only to preacher who has oil on their forehead (Anointed) and has a library. I would suggest that let’s not squander our time to the baloney preachers.
This is a wake up call for preachers to initiate and encourage good reading habits among their members in the church. Reading
What Literature Can and Cannot Do?
A Lawyer involved in the Watergate scandal became friendly with a man called Tom Phillips. Tom read to him a passage from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. “As he read I could feel a flush coming into my face and a curious burn- ing sensation … Lewis’s words seemed to pound straight at me.”
He took the book on vacation with him and read it through. He was challenged by it and by the end of that week he had made a commitment to Christ which sustained him through what was to come. The lawyer was Chuck Colson. His story can he found in Born Again.
The printed page is a visitor who gets inside the home and stays there; it always catches a man in the right mood, for it speaks to him only when he is reading it.
-Anon
No agency can penetrate so deeply, witness so daringly, abide so persistently and influence so daringly as the printed page.
-Samuel Zwerner
Although I am constantly involved in preaching and teaching I have been encouraged more through the response to the printed word than by any other means. No-one anywhere on this planet would have a higher regard for the power of Christian literature than I. With me it is one of the highest priorities - for prayer and action.
-Selwyn Hughes
John Collins, a clergyman in Oxford, used the booklet Becoming a Christian by John Stott to explain the message of Christ to a young man.
He found the book “compelling with its simplicity and clear in its log- ical reasoning”. It was part of the process which led him to accept Christ as his personal Saviour. The young man? - David Watson.
The smallest tract may he the stone in David’s sling. In the hands of Christ it may bring down a giant soul.
-Robert Murray McCheyne
In prison in Thailand for the possession of heroin Rita Nightingale was on the edge of despair. Alone in her cell, looking for a handkerchief she found a booklet left by a visitor. The book was called The Reason Why by Norman Laidlaw. In her own words: “I began to read. As I read, it seemed as if every word in the booklet had been written with me in mind …” She committed her life to Christ as a result.
Extract from:Freed for Life.
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.
“Follow ME and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:7. Like a sharp arrow well aimed, these words leapt out from the pages of my text-book and pierced my heart.
“As I read, I became aware of a strange Presence and the whole atmosphere changed. The classroom became a holy place. It was as though JESUS stood there gazing down at me. Something different was happening to me. His eyes, gentle, loving eyes which went right through me, left me feeling exposed and naked. It was as though time stopped … I could hear a soft yet authoritative voice deep inside me saying ‘FOLLOW ME …’ It was gentle yet irresistible.” Philip Mohabirin Building Bridges.
Books may preach when the author cannot, when the author may not, when the author dares not, yea, and which is more, when the author is not.
-Thomas Brookes
Brian Greenaway, a member of’ a Hells Angel Chapter was in prison. Each week one of the prison visitors brought in a copy of the Methodist Recorder: Brian read it because it was free. He was intrigued by a regular advertise- ment for a new Bible - The Living Bible. Eventually he asked the visitor for a copy, and was given one along with another book Run Baby Run. He started the book first: “It was the true story of a New York gang leader. But it was as though I was reading my story. The places were different but the violence, sex and drugs and crime were the same.” He kept on read- ing and committed his life there in his cell.
Extract from: Hell’s Angel.
“That’s it! That’s it! I’m a son of God!” - It was like a great flash of light. Something I had been searching for had suddenly been discovered. “I’m a son of God!” That truth transformed my life and ministry.
I was reading a book, The Normal Christian Life, written by a Chinese layman with the unlikely name of Watchman Nee. This made me realise that nearly everything I had known and experienced about the Christian life was “sub-normal”. Colin Urquhart in When, the Spirit Comes.
The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life … the work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eyes toward God and urge him forward. -A W Tozer
He took the book on vacation with him and read it through. He was challenged by it and by the end of that week he had made a commitment to Christ which sustained him through what was to come. The lawyer was Chuck Colson. His story can he found in Born Again.
The printed page is a visitor who gets inside the home and stays there; it always catches a man in the right mood, for it speaks to him only when he is reading it.
-Anon
No agency can penetrate so deeply, witness so daringly, abide so persistently and influence so daringly as the printed page.
-Samuel Zwerner
Although I am constantly involved in preaching and teaching I have been encouraged more through the response to the printed word than by any other means. No-one anywhere on this planet would have a higher regard for the power of Christian literature than I. With me it is one of the highest priorities - for prayer and action.
-Selwyn Hughes
John Collins, a clergyman in Oxford, used the booklet Becoming a Christian by John Stott to explain the message of Christ to a young man.
He found the book “compelling with its simplicity and clear in its log- ical reasoning”. It was part of the process which led him to accept Christ as his personal Saviour. The young man? - David Watson.
The smallest tract may he the stone in David’s sling. In the hands of Christ it may bring down a giant soul.
-Robert Murray McCheyne
In prison in Thailand for the possession of heroin Rita Nightingale was on the edge of despair. Alone in her cell, looking for a handkerchief she found a booklet left by a visitor. The book was called The Reason Why by Norman Laidlaw. In her own words: “I began to read. As I read, it seemed as if every word in the booklet had been written with me in mind …” She committed her life to Christ as a result.
Extract from:Freed for Life.
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.
“Follow ME and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:7. Like a sharp arrow well aimed, these words leapt out from the pages of my text-book and pierced my heart.
“As I read, I became aware of a strange Presence and the whole atmosphere changed. The classroom became a holy place. It was as though JESUS stood there gazing down at me. Something different was happening to me. His eyes, gentle, loving eyes which went right through me, left me feeling exposed and naked. It was as though time stopped … I could hear a soft yet authoritative voice deep inside me saying ‘FOLLOW ME …’ It was gentle yet irresistible.” Philip Mohabirin Building Bridges.
Books may preach when the author cannot, when the author may not, when the author dares not, yea, and which is more, when the author is not.
-Thomas Brookes
Brian Greenaway, a member of’ a Hells Angel Chapter was in prison. Each week one of the prison visitors brought in a copy of the Methodist Recorder: Brian read it because it was free. He was intrigued by a regular advertise- ment for a new Bible - The Living Bible. Eventually he asked the visitor for a copy, and was given one along with another book Run Baby Run. He started the book first: “It was the true story of a New York gang leader. But it was as though I was reading my story. The places were different but the violence, sex and drugs and crime were the same.” He kept on read- ing and committed his life there in his cell.
Extract from: Hell’s Angel.
“That’s it! That’s it! I’m a son of God!” - It was like a great flash of light. Something I had been searching for had suddenly been discovered. “I’m a son of God!” That truth transformed my life and ministry.
I was reading a book, The Normal Christian Life, written by a Chinese layman with the unlikely name of Watchman Nee. This made me realise that nearly everything I had known and experienced about the Christian life was “sub-normal”. Colin Urquhart in When, the Spirit Comes.
The function of a good book is to stand like a signpost directing the reader toward the Truth and the Life … the work of a good book is to incite the reader to moral action, to turn his eyes toward God and urge him forward. -A W Tozer
Transform & Grow
There are lots of reasons why we read. Some read just to fill their heads with knowledge so that they may feel superior or appear educated. Some read just to be informed or to acquire new ideas. Reading as such is useless and vain. Readers like these are to be pitied. Good readers read to grow and to transform.
Readers should read to grow deeper and that is the reality of reading: the deeper you go the deeper the reward. Yes, reading as a pursuit in itself may satisfy at the surface level. But why stay there when we can dig deeper and find ever greater treasure? Books are necessary tools for digging deeper for knowledge where the ultimate goal is finding the treasure of truth. The primary requirement is for the reader to have a longing or a craving to reach truth and drive the shallowness away.
Inwardly we should all long to get underway into the deep. We should become weary of shallow teaching and wary of idiotic writings that give us nothing but petty ideas and watered-down messages of seeming truth. Materials like these merely destroy our imagination and halt our hunger for truth. Not everything that looks like treasure actually is, and some books could appear to have a golden sheen but are actually worthless junk.
We should keep on digging until we find the treasure of truth we deserve to obtain, because true and guided readers should not ignore the true treasure. Apostle Paul’s ultimate agenda in life was to know that true treasure which he found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:8 reads: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” No matter how deep or far the human mind may move in the dig (search) for truth nothing is gained outside the Lord Jesus Christ, because all truth is centered in Christ. In fact Jesus himself is the Truth. John 14:6 says “I am the… truth.” Unless we find Christ in everything we read there is no true treasure in our wisdom.
The heart of reading is about transformation. No matter how engrossed you are in your reading and no matter how much information you have gained, without transformation in your life the book loses its potential. A book will never manifest its power in readers until we allow it to sink its message into our inner self and allow its thoughts to freely influence us.
Not all books provide (or are a source of) transformation and we may have no special wisdom that gives us the right to anoint one book and reject another. But it has been proven that apart from the Bible itself, Christian, bible-inspired books-books that have been written by authors who have taken the time to experience Jesus Christ themselves, are dynamic, life-changing reading material. They are powerful tools that can illuminate the truth and, when properly applied, can effect transformation and growth in the knowledge of Christ our Lord. Books such as these are a must for all seekers of truth-a must for all true readers.
Readers should read to grow deeper and that is the reality of reading: the deeper you go the deeper the reward. Yes, reading as a pursuit in itself may satisfy at the surface level. But why stay there when we can dig deeper and find ever greater treasure? Books are necessary tools for digging deeper for knowledge where the ultimate goal is finding the treasure of truth. The primary requirement is for the reader to have a longing or a craving to reach truth and drive the shallowness away.
Inwardly we should all long to get underway into the deep. We should become weary of shallow teaching and wary of idiotic writings that give us nothing but petty ideas and watered-down messages of seeming truth. Materials like these merely destroy our imagination and halt our hunger for truth. Not everything that looks like treasure actually is, and some books could appear to have a golden sheen but are actually worthless junk.
We should keep on digging until we find the treasure of truth we deserve to obtain, because true and guided readers should not ignore the true treasure. Apostle Paul’s ultimate agenda in life was to know that true treasure which he found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:8 reads: “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” No matter how deep or far the human mind may move in the dig (search) for truth nothing is gained outside the Lord Jesus Christ, because all truth is centered in Christ. In fact Jesus himself is the Truth. John 14:6 says “I am the… truth.” Unless we find Christ in everything we read there is no true treasure in our wisdom.
The heart of reading is about transformation. No matter how engrossed you are in your reading and no matter how much information you have gained, without transformation in your life the book loses its potential. A book will never manifest its power in readers until we allow it to sink its message into our inner self and allow its thoughts to freely influence us.
Not all books provide (or are a source of) transformation and we may have no special wisdom that gives us the right to anoint one book and reject another. But it has been proven that apart from the Bible itself, Christian, bible-inspired books-books that have been written by authors who have taken the time to experience Jesus Christ themselves, are dynamic, life-changing reading material. They are powerful tools that can illuminate the truth and, when properly applied, can effect transformation and growth in the knowledge of Christ our Lord. Books such as these are a must for all seekers of truth-a must for all true readers.
My Utmost For His Highest
An old adage says “Do not judge the book by its cover” this is partially true with selecting book to read. We must be careful. Titles can be also deceptive. Sometimes they are like Forest Gump’s chocolate box “You will never know what you’re going to get.” Titles of book must have an appeal to the market or marketable. It looks like a chocolate coated cookies that really pleasant to the eyes, unless you taste it… munch it… and chomp it, you will never really know what you get from it.
I have learned about the good titles the hard way when I was a marketing director in one of the Christian publishings. We spend a lot of time to formulate the titles that not only reveal the subject and content of the book but to attract readers. More often the titles bears with subliminal message that invites us to open the book even we are not familiar.
I recall, for instance, the title reads “ T*** R***** Y*****.” Upon reading the book, however, I tasted that recipe was a spoiled and not worth to spend my money, an enormous waste of time to read. On the other hand, we should not ignore book on the basis of their titles. For instance, Oswald Chambers wrote a book entitled “My Utmost for His Highest” in a current market terms, the title may be too high or too long to catch a reader’s eye to retain in the memory and the cover is not mouth-watering for the young reader like me, however, it is consistent with the text of the book and once you reads it, the spiritual impact will never be forgotten.
There is no doubt that this Book deserved to be number one devotional book. It has sold million copies and still best selling daily devotional up to now… and continuous to influence lives, I am immensely thankful for this book. It has been inviting me to a deeper spirituality and yet not afraid to express in a man-on-the-street language. As I followed Chamber down that trail and I am really deeply grateful.
Excerpt
I used to ask to my self “What if I fail?” but the motivational book answers me back “Don’t be afraid to fail”
You must be willing to take risk. Don’t play its safe; learned to live on the edge…
--Excerpt from the book Make a Life not Just a Living by Dr. Ron Jenson.
Timeless Treasure
It's nice to know books you may not have-but it is horrid to think they should not exist because you do not have them"
— BenjieThe effect of the global crisis is yet to be felt in the country and like so many others during recession, could not afford to buy an expensive gadget.
Once My mother was right behind me and she noticed somebody made fun of my outdated mobile phone calling it “Jurassic!”
As I was hiding my mobile phone, my nanay stared at me and said, Benjie, never bother about what you do not have. Just make the most of what you do have—A Book.
— Benjie
Once My mother was right behind me and she noticed somebody made fun of my outdated mobile phone calling it “Jurassic!”
As I was hiding my mobile phone, my nanay stared at me and said, Benjie, never bother about what you do not have. Just make the most of what you do have—A Book.
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