Dear friends, have the enthusiasm to read good books. I am not talking about the books which you borrow from others once in a while, books which deal with immoral stories, books which influence you negatively—nothing of that sort. I’m talking about books which contain stories which can touch you, good books; if possible try to ask others for recommendations and select them. Let the habit of reading books be a ritual in your life.
In his second letter to Timothy chapter 4, verse 13, St. Paul wrote this, “…bring the cloak, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.”
The aged apostle spent his last days in a lonely prison in Rome. At that time he was writing to his friend Timothy, who had received Jesus through him. “Winter is about to begin, the chill reaches my bones, so I need a cloak. And Timothy, don’t forget one thing—my books, and bring the scrolls too.”
book-222538_1280
The parchments he mentioned may have been a copy of the Old Testament. We have to notice one thing here. He was not planning to write another letter to his churches like the letter to Romans; it was not possible in that situation. He had no need to prepare an elaborate speech.
He understood that to strengthen his heart, to refresh his mind, he needed to read books.
A famous French writer once wrote like this, “Those people who wrote books before our times are the lonely travelers who walked ahead. When everybody abandons us, books extend their loving hands toward us, to welcome us back to society. A good book is your best friend.”
Be the first to react on this!
K.P. Yohannan ( - Present)
Dr. K.P. Yohannan, the Metropolitan Bishop of Believers Church, was born and brought up in Niranam, Kerala. Niranam has immense historical significance in the tradition of Saint Thomas, a disciple of Jesus Christ who planted the first church there in AD 52. K.P. Yohannan dedicated his life to God at a young age to serve the needy and downtrodden. He prayed, “Oh my Lord, let my heart break with the things that break Your heart” and his life was never the same. It’s his belief that one can only demonstrate God’s love by loving people. After over four decades of selfless service, he says, I have no regrets in praying that prayer for I know God has touched millions through what He did in and through me. It is all God’s grace.He spent the early years of his service in North India and traveled to the remote villages sharing the love of Christ and doing charitable works. Through numerous encounters during those years, he was instilled with an increasing passion to bring hope, peace, and comfort to the needy and deprived. His sacrificial commitment, farsightedness and aptitude to perceive helped him to lead a life of unhindered devotion to serve Christ and His church. K.P. Yohannan is also the voice of Athmeeya Yathra, touching millions through his daily radio and TV broadcasts. His 250 books offer practical and spiritual guidance on hundreds of subjects.
Recommends these books by K.P. Yohannan:
Living in the Light of Eternity: Discovering God's Design For Your Life by K.P. Yohannan
The Beauty of Christ through Brokenness by K.P. Yohannan
Crisis in Leadership by K.P. Yohannan
K.P. Yohannan is the founder and president of Gospel for Asia, a mission organization involved in evangelism and church planting in the unreached regions of Asia. Currently Gospel for Asia supports thousands of church planters in the heart of the 10/40 window.
Born in a remote village of South India, K.P. Yohannan's personal journey toward spiritual reality began at the age of eight when he gave his heart to Christ. While he was still a young boy, his mother began fasting each week, praying God would call one of her six sons into full-time gospel ministry. Her prayers were answered in 1966 when 16 year-old K.P., her youngest, volunteered to serve in North India with Operation Mobilization.
From 1974 to 1979 K.P. attended Criswell Bible College in Dallas, Texas, where he earned his B.A. in Biblical Studies. He was also awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Hindustan Bible College in Madras, India. During the time he attended Criswell, he pastored a local church in Dallas. However, he was unable to forget the millions still lost without Christ in his homeland of India, and knew God was calling him to reach his own people. In 1978 K.P. resigned his pastorate and he and his wife, Gisela, organized what is now Gospel for Asia.