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Summer Reading List – 2012

I thought I would share a few books that I’ve either started reading or hope to read this summer.  I’ve been so focused on finishing the Bible in a year (just a few days left) that I haven’t had time to reach much of anything else.

Please let us know what you are hoping to read this summer and if you decide to buy any of the below books, please click on the image so that the Westchester Men’s Ministry gets a donation for your purchase (through our Amazon Associates program).  Thanks!

Have a great summer!

Created for Community      Deep Things of God      I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist     The Confessions of St. Augustine     God, Freedom and Evil    King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus     Muslims, Christians, and Jesus: Gaining Understanding and Building Relationships

I’ve already read a few chapters of ‘Created for Community’ and ‘God, Freedom, and Evil’ and I would recommend them both.  Plantinga is harder to read but very insightful.

Both ‘The Deep Things of God’ and ‘The Confessions of Saint Augustine’ were recommended by people I trust and I have no doubt they will be worth reading.

I choose ‘I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist’ and ‘Muslim, Christians, and Jesus’ without others feedback, and I haven’t opened them yet, so I really can’t vouch for them.   If there is interest, I will add an update once I start reading them.

As far as Tim Keller’s book is concerned, I’m a huge fan of Keller’s and I loved his first book.  This is his second (or third) book and he has already come out with another one on marriage.  So I’m behind but I have no concerns about recommending him.  I would also encourage you visit Redeemer Presbyterian’s website to hear some of his sermons.  He is a fantastic speaker.

So, your reading list may not be as ambitious as mine but What Are You Reading?  I’d be very interested to know.  Thanks in advance for sharing!

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I’m Watching You Dad !

Model the Behavior for your kids

Be the model that your kids need you to be!

Thank you Dads for all you do!

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New Year’s Resolution

Finally a new blog!   Sorry for the delay.  Actually this is only a mini-blog but I do have 3 blogs in the works so keep a look out for them.

Next week in New Year’s day and many people including Christians see this as an opportunity to start a new habit by making a resolution.  A great resolution to make is to read the Bible in the year.  It takes discipline but it’s doable.  I’ve done it many times.  I find that the daily reading takes up 15 minutes so you can “catch up” by reading for 30 minutes every once in a while.

I’m trying to decide between a few resolutions but reading the Bible and journaling more regularly will probably make the final list for me.  In case it makes it to the top of your list, here are a few books you might find helpful:

Bible in a year books: (I’ve read each of these and can recommend)
                                                   


Complimentary Books:

                                                                                                   

You can click these images to buy on Amazon and help support our ministry.  Thank you!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Creative Commons License
New Year’s Resolution by Westchester Men’s Ministry is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at nymensministry.com.

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How to Ascertain the Will of God

From “Answers to Prayer from George Müller’s Narratives”Prayer

1.  I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter.  Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here.  Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be.  When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2.  Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression.  If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3.  I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God.  The Spirit and the Word must be combined.  If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also.  If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4. Next I take into account providential circumstances.  These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6. Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgement according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.  In trivial matters, and in transactions involving more important issues, I have found this method always effective.


George Müller


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Hymn by William Bathurst

light up darkness, heart

michaeldavidrawlings1.blogspot.com

Holy Spirit, from on high
Bend over us a pitying eye;
Now refresh the drooping heart;
Bid the power of sin depart.

Light up every dark recess
Of our heart’s ungodliness;
Show us every devious way
Where our hearts have gone astray.

Teach us, with repentant grief,
Humbly to implore relief;
Then the Savior’s blood reveal,
And our broken spirits heal.

May we daily grow in grace,
And with patience run the race,
Trained in wisdom, led by love,
Till we reach our home above.