Tommy Mitchell / The Rurban Church Blog

I Never Read Books!

It is true!  I seldom read books anymore - physical books that is!  Practically all my reading is done now on a Kindle! I have used this very neat "book reader" now for several years.  Last week I was in the Lifeway store in Mobile to pick up Lord's Supper cups! While there, I realized just how much my reading and book experience has been changed by the Kindle!

First, I seldom enter a brick and mortar bookstore.  I don't have anything against them, but they seem cumbersome to me now!  I greatly prefer the online search for books - mostly at Amazon in the Kindle book area.   I can easily and quickly browse titles, subjects, or authors!  And I can do that without ever leaving home - 24/7!

Second, I still get a price break by purchasing Kindle books.  It is true that some books are bit higher than they used to be - but it is also true that I find many books, especially older books for free or just a dollar! 

Third, I am no longer putting more and more books on shelves that are already crammed full.  I have over 60 titles on my Kindle, and have room for thousands more!  You can really take your library with you! 

Fourth, my Kindle is so convenient when I am at a conference.  Usually they will have book displays of the featured conference speakers.  I will put them in my Kindle as a sample! Usually that provides you with the first chapter for free.  At my convenience I can read those samples and either purchase or delete the book. You can usually tell enough by the sample to determine whether or not you want to purchase it.

Finally, I love the "no waiting" aspect of it all.  Back to Lifeway! While I was waiting in line to pay for the Lord's Supper cups, a lady walked up beside me and told the clerk that she had received a call that her two books were in.   She had ordered two titles from the Lifeway the week before and they had just arrived.   If she had a Kindle, she could have instantly loaded them wirelessly and already been reading them.    A week - or - about a minute or two! I choose the latter!

I really enjoy the Kindle!  I read more than ever!

One Month to Live!

Perspective! That is what the book, One Month to Live: 30 Days to a No Regrets Life is all about! If I knew I had one month to live, how would my perspective change - about a lot of things.  During the month of March - I will be using the four part headings in the book as titles to my messages.  The book, divided into four parts, has 30 daily readings with some short study questions that are absolutely excellent.

If you read the book and even make a modest effort to do or think about the questions / suggestions at the end of each daily reading - it will make a huge difference in your life!  

You can click on the link above to order directly from Amazon.  The church usually order books by the case  to sell, but we could not find an economic way to do it this time.  If you know someone who wants the book but does not have internet access, consider ordering it for them - your shipping will be free when it goes over $25.00 and you will only pay close to $14.00 for your book.  We will order them as well - but only in quantities that assure free shipping.

You will want this book as we go through the month together.

The four message titles are as follows:

March 7 - Live Passionately

March 14 - Love Completely

March 21 - Learn Humbly

March 28 - Leave Boldly

I believe these messages will challenge us - and having the "One Month to Live" perspective will sharpen our focus.

A Kindle2!

In the earlier weeks of my bypass surgery recovery, I purchased a Kindle2 from Amazon.  I did it with some hesitation, but since my book shelves are completely full and even after giving books away, they have refilled, something had to be done.

My Dad taught me the joy and love for reading! He never went anywhere without some kind of book. If he was waiting to pick us up from school, he read and studied.  I can get real attached to a book, so using a Kindle to read a book would definitely challenge my thinking of how reading should be done.

Well, after several weeks - here is my brief report!

1. I  LOVE IT!!!!!

2. I can see it - the fonts are so easily adjustable that I can see it clearly while sitting, in the bed, on the recliner, outside, and sitting in the doctors office. 

3. I can see it (Part 2)  The E-INK is wonderful.  Very book-like reading experience.

4. The navigation is simple - there are "next page" buttons on the left and right-hand side - which helps me because I am left handed. All of the controls are easily understood.

5. THE BIG ONE! - I was concerned mostly about the fact that I write in the margins - make notes - underline quotes to use at a later date. I did not know if I could do this with a Kindle. I can - and it is even better - with a button I can pull up all my quotes - all my marks - all my underlines - and quickly scroll through them. I can print them as well through my computer.

6. I am no longer having to find places to stuff books!

7. I can carry quite a library with me. My Kindle2 will hold approx. 1500 books.

8. The portability is awesome.  I love reading my Bible on it.

9. So far I have been able to read about 1 1/2 weeks on a charge, and I read a lot.

10. It is so easy to find a book and purchase it- they download in 30 seconds to about a minute depending on wireless speeds.

11. There are a lot of great free books out there.

If you are an avid reader - you would do well to try out a Kindle. You can sell it for close to what you paid for it on ebay if you don't like it.

Things are Picking Up!

In February we will be learning together about what it means to have a Mountain Moving Faith!  This should be a very helpful, and faith building series of messages.

March is going to be exciting! We are going to look at Moving the Mountain of Mortality! There is a resource we will use that is outstanding! The "reveal" on that is coming in a couple of weeks! WOW! God is good!

Although I have put this off for quite a while, I finally gave in and purchased a Kindle 2! Right now, I think it is one of the better purchases I have ever made.  My shelf space is full - and the options the Kindle 2 gives me  for organizing and keeping books is fabulous. Plus, the books are all cheaper!  Anyway, I LOVE the adjustable font! And it is so easy to use!  My reading experience has become much more interesting!

ABC folks - do you have a mountain that needs moving? Starting this Sunday, lets work on that together.

ABC folks - what would you do if you had 30 days to live? Be thinking about it - March is coming when we learn some very interesting things!

Primal - A Great Read from Mark Batterson!

Throughout the years, I have been involved in a few renovation / restoration projects. One of the rewards of such a project is the discovery and rediscovery of original architecture, wall coverings, paint colors, and sometimes even hidden treasures previously left behind.  Mark Batterson has gone a long way in his new book, Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity,  in helping Christ-followers rediscover the simplicity and power of a relationship committed to loving God.

 

In Primal, Mark presents the Great Commandment in four parts: The Heart of Christianity,  The Soul of Christianity, The Mind of Christianity, and The Strength of Christianity.   Like a craftsman uncovering and stripping a renovation project back to its foundation, Mark takes the four major points of the Great Commandment and masterfully reminds us of how to simply love God!  He reminds us that the heart of Christianity is primal compassion, the soul of Christianity is primal wonder, the mind of Christianity is primal curiosity, and the strength of Christianity is primal energy.

 

Mark brings to Primal his unique ability to take his life experiences and make powerful applications for the reader.  From personal experiences to powerful illustrations drawn from unique bits of knowledge, Mark explodes the Great Commandment in the heart of the reader.  As you read Primal, the passion and conviction to love God genuinely, marked by a powerful impact on a perishing world, is evident. 

 

Primal is a great read for every person, believer and non-believer.  There are no slow moments in the book.  From beginning to end, Primal draws the reader into the wonderful reality of the foundation of our Christianity – loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  You will be blessed in reading and contemplating what it means to truly love God and hopefully, that blessing will result in a greater obedience to follow Him.

 

 

Primal is here!

A few minutes ago I went to the mailbox.  There it was. My advance copy of Primal by Mark Batterson.  I have to read it this week and post a review about it next week along with a couple of other things. 

Looking forward to doing this. I'm grateful for the opportunity Multnomah Books has given me by choosing my blog to be a part of the blog tour next week.

Stay tuned.  

Coming Soon! Primal!

Got an email yesterday from Random House publishing that my blog had been selected to participate in a blog tour for Mark Batterson's new book, Primal. I will receive an advanced copy next week. I will be blogging about it between December 15 and December 22nd.  Also I will be writing a review of the book.

When I applied to get to do this, I really did not think it would happen. Figured there were too many blogs for me to get my foot in the door.  So, I am excited to be one of the blogs on the blog tour.

Minister's Favorites!

Today we had a great minister's conference. We all shared a book or two that had been very influential on our ministries. (other than the Bible)   Here is the list!

Real Evangelism     by Bailey Smith

One Size Doesn't Fit All    by Gary McIntosh

Seven Practices of Effective Mnistry  by Andy Stanley

The Hidden Value of a Man  by Gary Smalley & John Trent

My Utmost for His Highest   by Oswald Chambers

A Business Tale   by Marianne Jennings

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire   by Jim Cymbala

Fresh Faith      by Jim Cymbala

When God Builds a Church   by Bob Russell

The Divine Conspiracy   by Dallas Willard

Each minister described the story of their interaction with their favorite book! It was really a good session.

Reading for Maximum Impact!

Reading the Bible is an amazing opportunity that we have! I highly recommend it!  There are many other good books out there that really illuminate key truths of scriptures.  There are some books that have had "maximum impact" on my life!  Here are just a few:

The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson  The best book I have ever read on the power to live free in Christ.

The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God  by Dallas Willard   One of the most thought provoking books I have ever read! The book provides a deep study of the Sermon on the Mount!  This book will challenge you to being Kingdom minded!

Every book on prayer by E. M. Bounds   His books are simple, powerful, inspirational!  There are some collections of his books that are available for a good price!

Evangelism in the Early Church by Michael Green      A fabulous book on evangelism.

If God Were Real: A Journey into a Faith that Matters  by John Avant  An excellent book on having an authentic faith and acting upon what we say we believe - that God is alive and that He matters!

When God Builds a Church  by Bob Russell     One of the most practical books I have ever read on the church! I actually prepared a 10 Sermon Series based on the titles of each chapter! God has blessed every time I have had opportunity to preach them! 

Two books by Mark Batterson:

Wild Goose Chase   and    In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day!

Since I am not in my study, I'm sure I will update this post with a half dozen more when I can visually reflect on a few more! 

Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it,
except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.
~ Thomas ã Kempis ~

The Blogging Church

Well, I guess I picked a pretty good time to start this blog.  I picked up Brian Bailey's book, The Blogging Church: Sharing the Story of Your Church Through Blogs, last week.  I have now read most of it - and WOW, it is a great resource.  At first I felt a little bummed out about a couple of mistakes I may have made in the beginning, and I am sure that I will make some more - but I also learned that I had done several things correctly. 

This book is a fantastic resource for anyone getting ready to blog on a regular basis.  I don't know exactly how everyone else feels about their own blogging, but for me, it is partly therapeutic.  It is great to share some "behind the scenes" feelings, thought processes, etc. with whomever reads the blog. The blog gives me time to reflect and give further thought to my ministry ideas.  Thanks Brian, for a truly practical book.