September Reads

The Zahir by Paulo Coelho - I am very familiar with Paulo Coehlo's name, but had never read any of his many writings before.  This was the first.  What I like is his style -he has a gentle rolling style that much of the time I could just go with.  What I did not like was the dragging out of the main character's search for himself.  Married middle-age famous author's wife goes missing. Turns out she left becasue he just wasn't getting "it" in regard to her unhappiness.  They were living a life of co-existing nad she was done.  the story is about his search for her while figuring out how he has just settled for mediocrity in life.  I think there was potential for this to be a great story,  but it got boring about half-way through and my goal became to just finish the book.  I will probably try another on of his books sometime, but this one just didn't do it for me.  5

The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbs - "We must have two eyes, one to see imperfections in ourselves and others, the other to see what is good."

"Grace alters the spiritual taste."

"We must, therfore, walk by his (Christ's) light, not by the blaze of our own fire."

These are just a few of the gems tossed out by Sibbs.  I picked up this little work because I knew I was a bruised reed.  The title is based off of a verse in Isaiah that says "A bruised reed he will not break; a smoking flax he will not snuff out", meaning Christ.  Sibbs gave me balm for my broken heart and encouragement for my exhausted bones.  He reminded me that even a spark of faith is still faith and gave me permission to quite beating myself up for not having it all together, in fact rebuked me for even thinking I could have it all together and do it all.  He reminded me that Christ is a tender shepherd and that in Christ, God has moved from being my judge to being my father.  A father who disciplines when it is necessary, and a father who will not quench even the smallest spark of faith, but will himself fan it into flame.  I don't have to make it so...He will and does.  Every Christian should read this.  Even though it was written in 1630, it is not difficult to read at all.  And I highly recommend it to anyone who is not a Christian, but wants a better picture of the heart of Christ towards his people. 10