Pages and everything

Sometimes, moving forward is taking a step back.

As you may have been able to guess, I am huge fan of technology. I love being connected on social media. I enjoy my Macbook, my iPhone, my Kindle, and I will probably be on board at the next great breakthrough.

The thing I love about reading books with the electronic media is that I just have to take one item with me, and I'm able to jump back and forth between various things I'm reading. I am usually reading two or three books at the same time: one fiction, one nonfiction, and one to help me dig deeper into Bible study. This is all possible for me - who misplaces things a lot - because of the Kindle and the Kindle app.

And of course, I have the Bible app on my iPhone. Just pull that baby out and I have the Scriptures available anywhere. When you see me staring at my phone in church…yeah, it's the Bible.

But I've made a decision…I'm going back to using the Good Book. Emphasis on book.

Recently I noticed something about my Bible reading. I noticed that I was reading way too fast. Once I noticed it, I really started noticing it. I would skim, I would rush, and I would not settle down mentally to really get into it. I have a theory as to why. That's the way we read everything else these days. We scroll through twitter, see links to blogs and article of interest, and we skim through the ones we pick, looking to see whether they are saying anything new, anything to make us slow down.

At least I do. And I've read research indicating that you might too.

That's fine for blogs - heck, you're probably doing it right now. It's fine for articles, and it may be okay for books.

But to me, it's not okay for God's word. The authority of God is dripping from every page, and I need to slow down and absorb it. Take the time to learn the context, so I can distinguish what is really being said from my own personal biases that I try to read into the Bible.

I just don't think I've been doing that with the electronic versions.

And I also miss highlighting, underlining, and making notes in the margins. I miss turning to another passage to see what the writer might have been referring to. I miss a lot of things.

Not anymore.

I'll still use my Bible app for convenience when the book isn't at my fingertips. It's so cool to always have the Scriptures with me. But when it's time to sit down and really read, really study, I'm making a change.

Give me the Book.

Kindle

How much do you read?

I've got to confess that I went through a few years where my reading became relatively sparse. It's not because I didn't enjoy it...I've always loved to read. It is the only source of entertainment (novels), information, and growth that I can take at my own pace and let it sink in.

But it did get neglected for a while. I don't know why. Maybe I got too busy. Maybe when I studied for actuarial exams I got in the habit of mostly reading just what I needed to succeed. Maybe I just was watching too much TV. But for whatever reason I got to where I would read 1) what I needed for work, 2) the Bible, and 3) the occasional novel. Very occasional.

I have blogged before about the fact that I have found technology to be a good thing. I know some people think it's the devil, but I think if used right it's a blessing from God. For example, I have friendships that social media have helped me maintain.

And so, about two years ago, my Kindle entered my life.

There is something about always having my books at my fingertips that has revived my reading life. I now always have at least two books going at once. I'm usually reading something for pleasure and something for growth at the same time. I just finished a marvelous book on Dietrich Bonhoeffer that I would not have found without the Kindle. Right now, I am simultaneously reading the latest Tom Clancy novel, a book on Generation Y, and a commentary on Revelation.

That would never have been the case with traditional books.

I know there's something about having a book in your hand. About turning the pages. I've heard all the arguments and I see their point. But I'm telling you, I have grown more in the last two years than any such period I can remember. There are a lot of reasons - friends, family, my church, seeing God's hand working in Africa - but I think reading more is at or near the top of the list.

And my Kindle is a huge reason.

Thank you, God, for technology. It may be misused, but it is a gift from you. Thank you!