Reading on Love

A few weeks ago Andrew and I were able to attend Catalyst Dallas. It was great. We heard from some remarkable leaders/teachers/preachers. The Lord truly had some words for me and had me just in the right place to break through some walls I had built. 

Thank you Lord for constant refinement (as much as it hurts)!

One of the speakers that I enjoyed more that I could have imagined was Bob Goff.  He spoke with such joy and excitement it was hard not to sit on the edge of your seat with a smile on your face shaking your head! He is hilarious! 

Catalyst gifted the attendees with a few book downloads, one of which was Bob's book, Love Does. 

I was really excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! 

Each chapter, Bob begins with a life lesson...Chapter 22 begins with; 

 "I used to be afraid that if I was authentic I might take a hit, 

but now I know that being real means I will take a hit."

In each chapter, he follows this statement with a story. Each story as fantastic as the last! I was either shaking my head in disbelief, laughing out loud, or shedding a tear. I felt refreshed as I read about Bob taking life seriously in all the "important" ways, but living fully and excitedly (and unexpectedly) in all the others.  I hope to be the kind of person that Bob is; loving people and life so much that my actions can't deny it. One of the things that I enjoyed reading over and over again in this book was the truth that when you love MUCH, it spreads. 

People want to be a part of it! 

So, if you are looking for a good read for the summer...or anytime, really, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Love Does. 

 

Another book that Catalyst gave out was a copy of "The Voice Bible - The New Testament".  Andrew and I have been reading this version of the Bible for our reading for the last few weeks and we LOVE it.
The Voice Bible.  This translation has so many contributors and took 8 years to complete. The tag on the front of the Bible is "Step into the story of scripture". I feel like as I read it, I am reading a story and I am reading the scriptures in a new way. I would recommend checking it out...and if you click this link, you can actually get a free download of the New Testament.  There are all kinds of other really cool things that they did in translating...like leaving you notes on the scripture...

Other than the fact that these books are Spiritual...I am going to tie them together (with love).

Here is how 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 in the Voice Bible reads;

"What if I speak in the most elegant languages of people or in the exotic languages of the heavenly messengers, but I live without love? Well then, anything I say is like the clanging of brass or a crashing cymbal. What if I have the gift of prophecy, am blessed with knowledge and insight to all the mysteries, or what if my faith is strong enough to scoop a mountain from its bedrock, yet I live without love? if so, I am nothing. I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts."

Right after these verses they leave this note. 

"Paul boils it all down for the believers in Corinth, Religious people often spend their time practicing rituals, projecting dogma, and going through routines that might look like Christianity on the outside but that lack the essential ingredient that brings all of it together - love! It is a loving God who birthed creation and now pursues a broken people in the most spectacular way. That same love must guide believers, so faith doesn't appear to be meaningless noise."

Have a great day!