READING THAT HAS INSPIRED ME

While recovering from knee replacement surgery I have passed the time reading a wide variety of books. Over the years I have collected eighteen volumes of Prince Valiant by Hal Foster published by Fantagraphic Books. The Prince Valiant comics ran from 1937 and I hope to have collected them all by the time they are re-issued by Fantagraphics. I have always been fascinated by the King Arthur legends and have a number of books written about his time. They are comforting stories of good defeating evil in the age of chivalry.

I have also been enjoying the latest biography of Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts. While I know his story very well I always find new aspects that inspire and challenge me. Coming from a family that neglected him he rose through much that could have defeated him to lead the British nation to victory in World War Two. It is a study in character and leadership. It is also a reminder that terrible calamities can befall nations when they neglect their defense and fail to confront their enemies. This time I am also impressed by the importance of words and the knowledge of history to inspire people to be their greatest and to fulfill their divine purpose.

Another biography that is inspiring me is of Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones by Iain Murray. Lloyd-Jones was a physician who became pastor of Westminster Chapel during World War Two through to the end of the sixties. A Welshman, he had the gift of speech, the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Scriptures to preach to thousands who thronged to his church located near Buckingham Palace. His books of biblical expositions have sold in the millions throughout the world.

Finally I want to commend to you The Theft of America’s Soul: Blowing the Lid Off the Lies that are Destroying Our Country by Phil Robertson, of Duck Dynasty fame. The ten lies he addresses are: (1.) God is dead; (2) there is no Devil; (3) truth is relative; (4) God did not create life; (5) sex is for self-gratification; (6) virtue is outdated; (7) laws can be ignored or changed if they are inconvenient; (8) unity is not possible; (9) church participation and day-to-day life should be kept separate; and (10) Christians should shut up.

He answers those lies with: (1) the God of the Bible is not dead and he never will be; (2) the Devil of the Bible is real and he is our enemy; (3) there is absolute truth and it comes from God; (4) God is the Author of life and he wants to fulfill it; (5) God created sexuality for his purposes and our good; (6) God’s standard for all time is the standard of virtue; (7) law and order come from the Word of God; (8) unity flows from a God-centered culture; (9) the church is God’s presence in the day-to-day world, keeping the world from becoming hell on earth; and (10) God’s people are his prophetic voice in the world.

These truths are illustrated by examples from his own redneck life before and after he became a Christian. They challenged me to be a better witness through my own life.