Recently finished reads

 Walden by Henry David Thoreau - I picked this one up because it has been on my list for a number of years and I just finished reading two other books on simplicity.  So I thought this might fit in well with that line of thinking.  And it did. But I must say that aside from the first and last chapter (or even parts of the first and last chapter) I got bogged down in his details of making life work. A bit on the boring side for me.  I also found his opinions to be somewhat self-righteous and condescending.  (He just squats on a piece of land, builds his house, and takes up residence there for two years, and that's ok because he is enlightened and more thoughtful than everybody else.) But he did have some good insight into culture - of his day - and yes, ours. (Nothing new under the sun...)   His efforts to live simply came out of frustration with the overfilling of stuff and activity in his own culture.  He also surprisingly had a bit of insight into community, which I didn't expect.  So while I don't think we all need to follow Mr. Thoreau's example in practice necessarily, the whys of what he did would do us well to consider especially in this day. 6

Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliot -  I read this once many, many years ago - might have even been in the 90's! - and loved the story of this man sold out to God and the mission of following Him wholeheartedly.  It was interesting to read it again this side of Peru, especially because of our contact with his brother, Bert's ministries in Trujillo and even having Bert and his wife, Colleen to our home once shortly after we arrived.  It made Jim and his story even more real.  I am moved again by his commitment to the Lord and his face-forward-ness in following whatever he was called to with courage and excitement.  I also appreciated those passages in his journal and letters where he admitted to struggling with feelings of hopelessness and spiritual dryness as we sometimes make such heroes of these men of faith who have gone before us, that we forget they were but men.  I need to hear about their struggles as well because that is real life.  And it is in real life in which I need to be encouraged.  Was newly refreshed and bolstered again.  9