Where have I been?

As evidenced from the lack of new posts, it’s quite apparent that I have taken a hiatus from this blog. However, I see value in resuming the disciplines I had several years ago when blogging about the books I was reading led me to put my thoughts into words on a regular basis.

The past two summers have proven very memorable with international travels to six countries in Europe and a touch of Asia (several ports of call in Turkey were on the Asian part of the country). I explored medieval walled cities on islands in the Aegean Sea, sailed into a volcanic caldera with picturesque whitewashed stone villas with blue-domed roofs clinging to the cliffs, toured the ancient ruins of Ephesus and Corinth, climbed the Acropolis in Athens, walked the streets of Rome, stood in the shadow of St. Peter and St. Paul at the Vatican, rekindled relationships with second- and third-cousins living abroad, swam in pristine lakes in Scandinavia, had train mishaps and adventures across the midsection of Sweden, got myself lost on a 3-turned-10-mile run in Amsterdam at midnight, nearly was left behind in Norway because I again ran a large loop away from the ship right before “All aboard” was called, stood head-in-the-clouds in the midst of a downpour on top of Pulpit Rock which juts out two thousand feet above one of the world’s deepest fjords,  and witnessed the majesty of God’s creation in the Flåm valley amidst towering snowmelt waterfalls and lush greenery and quaint villages.

Recently I came across a book online at work that caught my eye: The Story of Rich: A Financial Fable of Wealth and Reason During Uncertain Times. In this book, author J.D. Joyce has created a story that creates analogies from many of the different activities that have kept me busy since I moved away from the blog—including topics such as traveling, cultivating natural beauty, serving the church and community, seeking counsel, estate planning, watching professional sports, and training for a marathon. However, as I made my way through the chapters and made connections to my own life, I realized that perhaps I haven’t seen the forest for the trees because I’ve allowed my focus to shift on what’s right in front of me instead of thinking about the bigger picture.

In this story, which is a fictional account of a business owner named Rich fresh off of selling his company and entering retirement, the main character has encounters with people who offer him advice through their own experiences and how their choices affected their bottom line in the retirement years. While retirement for me is a long ways off, there are still valuable lessons to be learned by avoiding the mistakes other people have made and by making wise choices for the long-term that will put me on the right path. I was able to put to good use right away one of those lessons that came from the marathon chapter as I ran the Chicago Marathon last week. The point was that just as successful runners spend much time in preparation and know how to establish a consistent pacing strategy so they have enough energy to complete the race, so too planning and pacing come into play in investments. It’s true—in my first marathon I started out much too fast to maintain that pace for 26.2 miles and by mile 14 I had to take walking breaks, but last week when I ran the Chicago Marathon I set out on a manageable pace and was able to shave over a minute per mile off my previous time when I ran without a good strategy! I can only imagine that the same is true for the world of finances.

I found this book easy to read and relate to, given the wide variety of life situations Rich and his family encountered. There were also good explanations on stock market trends and the various types of investment mechanisms available today. After reading this book, I feel more prepared to go out and make wise decisions how I approach the use of money in these uncertain times.

Walking With Bilbo

In crafting the epic tales of the adventures in Middle Earth, JRR Tolkien did a masterful job in creating a mythical world when he wrote “The Hobbit” and the “Lord of the Rings” series. Though fictional, the stories of hobbits and dwarves, elves and men, dragons and goblins and trolls, compel the reader to take note of the characters and their characteristics and join in on the journey, as it were. Some fans of the series go so far as to call themselves “Tolkien junkies”, and one of them has written a new book looking at lessons gleaned from “The Hobbit.”

Sarah Arthur, author of “Walking With Frodo,” has followed up her first devotional book with a sequel (or should it be considered a prequel, as is the case with “The Hobbit” compared to the “LOTR” series?) aptly called “Walking With Bilbo.” At any rate, we discover 22 key lessons from Bilbo’s journey with Gandalf and the dwarves that apply to the Christian journey. The author makes it clear that JRR Tolkien did not intend for his stories to be 100% allegorical, however, there are striking connections that can be made.

Knowledge of the classic work is not entirely necessary, as quotes are brought in and further expounded upon. Rounding out each chapter are discussion questions and a list of related Scripture verses. I found this supplement most enlightening, as the passages from Genesis to Revelation confirm the themes drawn out from the book. One such parallelism is that of being chosen and selected. In the original story, Bilbo did not ask to go on the journey with the dwarves—Gandalf specifically chose him because he saw qualities deep within Bilbo that would be developed on the journey and effectively change the course of history through the success or failure of the mission. The same was true for Jesus selecting His 12 disciples, and is true today for all Christians. The calling to follow Jesus is there—do we have the faith to go on the journey?

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “Walking With Bilbo” through the Tyndale Blog Network, in exchange for my honest review.

The River

It’s not often I come across a book highly recommended by both Andy Andrews and John C. Maxwell—authors I have learned a great deal from—so when I see that they mutually agree that a certain book will transform the reader’s perspective on life, I take note! Having finished reading The River by Michael Neale about a week ago, I concur with their predictions that this book would have an impact on me. Already I’ve seen that where I previously was more or less complacent I am now pursuing positive change. I am further developing God-given talents through music, meeting and interacting with new people, and taking big next steps in securing a more satisfying job. Is all this due to reading one little book? I’m not sure, but let me tell you about it.

Gabriel Clarke lived his childhood scared of The River and anything to do with water. Perhaps that’s because of the memory of a day he could not get out of his mind—the day he last saw his father, who saved the life of a kayaker at the expense of his own life. Young Gabriel was mad, “Wasn’t I more important than that reckless kayaker? Didn’t he deserve what was coming?” These thoughts plagued him and caused him to live in a shell for most of his childhood. His heart slowly changed over time, and one day Gabriel decided to accept a friend’s invitation to go on a rafting trip in Colorado—on the same river he and his dad had loved many years ago. It was there that he realized he was made for The River. It didn’t take much to convince him that his dead-end job of cleaning the Five and Dime store back in Kansas should not and could not hold him back from fulfilling his destiny at The River. Throughout his experiences that summer interacting with The River and the people who were also called to The River, Gabriel became a new man—a man who took hold of not who he was, but who he was destined to become.

While I enjoyed this novel at face value due to the gripping story that kept me up late at night and wishing my lunch break were longer, there is another level to this novel. In the narrative, the author stays away from most religiosity in the story, but when viewed as an allegory comparing The River to God and His ways, a lot of spiritual insight can be found. In fact, during the month leading up to the world-wide release of his book, Michael co-hosted a four-part sermon series at his church in Florida about the deeper meaning of what The River is. He reveals that “The River [God] is shaping everything in its path.” “The River [God] is alive and is moving all over the world.” “The world will not be the same because of [God] The River.” “When we’re with The River [God], we know it’s where we’re meant to be.” Gabriel truly found his life when he encountered The River. The same can ring true for you; just get in…all the way in!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of “The River” through Book Sneeze, in exchange for my honest review.