Reading Books @ MindSay 
good books
Unfortunately, by some curious little quirk, my Bible-retention abilities only seem to start working after about the third time of reading something.
It came to my attention recently that I'm very poorly acquainted with much of the Old Testament. Now, books of history are good. They're fun, and exciting, and sometimes there's bad stuff happening, but you can still see it all in your mind. Books of the law are really, really boring. I know I should read them and get acquainted with them to further my understanding, but boy - there's a lot of information in there, and much of it is hard to care about. I'm working on it.
Books of prophecy have kind of a goofy effect. I'm pretty well-acquainted with the New Testament, so I can now and again recognize something as, "Hey! I know when that happens! Cool!" But there's also a lot about how this kingdom will fall, and that king will be smited, and I really don't know the history as well as I should (and I also suspect that much of it isn't covered in the Bible - it is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, after all). So, reading about things that are going to happen, but I don't know if they've already happened, or they're going to happen, etc.
Remember the Ethiopian in the chariot, reading about the prophecies of Christ, and how he didn't understand and asked for an explanation? I'm baffled on understanding everything that DOESN'T relate to Christ. I suspect that I should locate some sort of related reading material to lend some context. Which would be fun - as long as I'm not going to be quizzed on dates later, I rather enjoy history.
So, gradually overcoming the hold of intimidation that I have regarding the Old Testament. A few years previous, we had, "It's big, it's scary, and it's boring." I still have a lot to read, and perhaps starting with the second-largest book was not the best plan, but hey, we're making progress.
I love to read. I find nothing more relaxing then curling up in a comfy chair with a nice hot cup of tea and reading a fabulous book. I have even been known to re-read books I really like. Unfortunately, my job involves reading boring crap all day so that by the time I get home I have no interest in reading for pleasure. I used to save up all my books and read them on vacation, but I haven't taken any long vacations in a while (see previous post), so the books just pile up. Then, even though I already have a stack of books, I see more books that interest me, so I get those books, adding to the stack etc. I plan on trying to catch up on my trip to England. Last time I really read any books was on my last vacation to Hawaii about 5 years ago, and I got 6 books read on that trip (one on the way there, one on the way back, and four during the trip). And yes, I did more than just sit and read books all day!
Anyhow, this is the current stack of unread books (my Mom, also an avid reader, has another stack of books that I haven't read. I'm not even going to bother to attempt to list that stack!):
1. The Best Women's Travel Writing 2006
2. Take Me With You - A Round-the-World Journey to Invite a Stranger Home (recommended by Moosealot)
3. The Great Mortality - An Intimate History of the Black Death, The Most Devastating Plague of All Time (hey, it sounded interesting)
4. Microthrills - True Stories From a Life of Small Highs
5. Special Topics in Calamity Physics (not actually about physics)
6. The Undomestic Goddess
7. The Turn of the Screw and The Aspern Papers
8. At the Mountains of Madness
9. The Caliph's House - A Year in Casablanca
10. The Complete Book of Vampires
11. The Ghost Writer
12. The Dress Lodger
13. Twice-Told Tales
Not to mention I'm waiting for the last Harry Potter book to come out in July. I think I need a separate vacation just to read all of these! So, read any good books lately?
Let me tell you, these books are written with the blood of the demons! Right away, you can tell you beyond a doubt that if you read these books, like I did, you will join me in everlasting hellfire. My soul is irredeemable now, but allow me to save yours! Within the bindings of the books of Potter, you will find all you need to converse with pure evil. The story, while a thoroughly enjoyable cover-up, will fill your soul with filth, slime, and refuse.
The books introduce us to one called Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a young boy, and you know how evil little boys can be. He lived under the stairs, typical of monsters and boogie men, all of which are completely real. His nice and thoughtful caretakers who, in the course of doing their Christian duty of taking care of their nephew after his parents were sent to burn in the fiery womb of hell, do all they can to exorcise the evil from the boy, but to no avail. He is a Wizard, the books tell us. Wizards, of course, do magic. Magic can only be done by evil beings such as Satan, his evil minions, and David Blaine.
Harry Potter is, of course, none other than the little known demon Rotty Harper, which I discovered while jumbling the letters around. He is whisked off by a half-breed called Hagrid, part giant, meaning a descendant of the beast Goliath who was slayed mercifully by David. He was taken to a school and taught the language of demons. In the course of reading Harry Potter, you too will be filled with the knowledge of the devils of which they speak. Draco, Erised, Hermes, and Slytherin are just a few of the demons who will share your soul with David Blaine after reading these books!
This book glorifies witchcraft, which good Christians sought to destroy hundreds of years ago by letting loose the wrath of God upon those who wished to hold congress with the demons. J. K. Rowling, propagandist and author of the books of Potter, seeks to have our young children once again flying broomsticks and casting spells! Worse yet, these books teach that it is ok to break the rules if the rules stand in the way of doing what is right. This is nonsense! Rules are always good things! Anyone that breaks a rule is aiding the devil, plain and simple.
If that wasn't bad enough, Mrs. Rowling is also handing out a roadmap to further complete one's magical education! Anyone can go and pick up nearly identical books mentioned in the series at their local used book store and find out how to divine the future, or transfiguration. Imagine the trouble our kids will be getting into when they start transforming each other into rats. Imagine getting that call from school. "Mr. Smith, we're sorry to disturb you but your child has been turned into some sort of a reptile. No, no we don't know what sort of reptile it is, sir. Yes, he's fine for now, we have him in a nice little box with some holes in it and grass and..."
Anyway, it's going to get ugly if you let your kids go reading these books. One minute they'll be happily pretending to shoot each other with imaginary guns and throwing rocks at each other and the next they'll be casting spells and hanging out with werewolves. They'll want nothing more than to take the broom for a spin after curfew and they'll be threatening poor, ignorant parents with spells that would turn your stomach, literally. TAKE HEED. The bible tells us that witchcraft is bad, and we shouldn't go doing it. Harry Potter tells us that it's ok to do witchcraft. I think you can see what I'm saying.
I think it's time to burn some books!
"Find tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything."
Shakespeare, As You Like It
This is one of my all time favourite quotes! I was just reminded of it, because a friend of mine caught me reading one of those trashy novels ( for lack of anything else to read :D) which you pick up at airports to while the time away. And she was aghast to see me reading something like that...her exact words were " how inane and vacuous can you get??" well...I don't think any book can be called trashy...I've actually picked up a lot of information reading those silly romances that you get a dime a dozen. Most of my geography and general knowledge was collected reading these books, for inevitably the heroine goes wandering about exotic places, and learning to speak the local language. This has often come in handy, when I've visited those same places, and knowing how to say hello and good morning in the native tongue was a sure fire icebreaker!! I've also learnt to cook Greek and Italian dishes from these books, with their elaborate descriptions of lunches and dinners. So yes, I do believe one can find tongues in trees and books in running brooks!! And I'm all for reading trees and brooks :D
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