Book: "Confessions" by Augustine

Non-Fiction/Biography/Confession - This is going to be a slow read for me; depth is foggy, if not mirky...but good to search such as this out.

As the slow read goes, I've posted on Twitter (@DannyLSmith ) some of Augustine's conversations with God. Those posting themselves have brought about a few good conversations and are great thoughts for ponderings.

Here are those postings (Tweets)..as of 10/3/2009:

I came to Carthage..as yet I had never been in love, longed to love, sought an object for my love, in love with love...

....my hunger was internal, deprived of inward food, that is of you yourself, my God

Hortensius' opinion was "philosophical study had no social utility & does not contribute to human happiness." @TomVMorris would disagree?

Any book which lacked His name, however well written or polished or true, could not entirely grip me....

I therefore decided to give attention to the holy scriptures and find out what they were like....

I found the Bible was composed in such a way that as beginners mature, it's meaning grows with them....Augustine

.....I disdained to be a little beginner ~ Augustine in Confessions

Augustine's "Confessions:" a prose-poem addressed to God, intended to be overheard by anxious and critical fellow-Christians

Choice of free will is the reason why we do wrong & suffer just judgement - a Plato theme heard in Ambrose's sermons

Augustine-the older I became, the more shameful it was I retained so much vanity..to think there was more than the eye normally perceives

Augustine-I made an effort to lift my mind's eye out of the abyss, but again plunged back. I tried several times, but again..again sank back

Augustine-...these reflections depressed me once more and suffocated me.....In this way I made an effort to discover other principles

Augustine -such questions revolved in my unhappy breast, weighed down by nagging anxieties of the fear of dying before I found the truth

Augustine practiced well the discipline of Proverbs 25:2 "....and the glory of kings is to search the matter out." and to that end!

Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Ecclesiastes

I've read a couple of other editions of Ancient Christian Commentary and again, I'm intrigued by what these Sages, church fathers (old guys) had to say about the scripure; more evidence that what we are experiencing today is not any different than men before us. A wise king once said something about "there is nothing new under the sun." ;-)

My notes are a bit different this time. As I read and pondered this book I posted some of what these old guys had to say on Twitter @DannyLSmith which in turn posts through to my Facebook account. It brought about a few interesting comments.

The quotes can be reviewed in their Tweet form at http://acc-ecclesiastes.blogspot.com/

Book: "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx

Another biography and another great story. Marx, adopted ball boy turned journalist retraces his roots and he finds a giant amoung men in the ex-pro lineman he lost track of some 18 years ago.

I'm not sure if Marx intended this story to be about his journey or Joe Ehrmann's, but it is about both and the ending wraps the entire book into the purpose.

Here are some Tweets I made @DannyLSmith while reading the book:

Be inclusive, not exclusive ~ Biff Poggi

Have empathy; feeling "with" someone, not feeling "for" someone ~ Biff Poggi

The guiding force behind being a Man Built For Others; "what can I do for you?" ~ Biff Poggi and Joe Ehrmann

Empathy: the single greatest trait of humanity that seperates us from other animals ~ Joe Ehrmann

If your dad was still alive, what questions would like to ask him? What conversations would you have? - @DannyLSmith - question I posed while reading the book

Some of the great tragedies happen when the decision "men built for themselves" is made ~ Biff Pioggi in "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx

When you have a cause, it should never be about trying to measure the so-called impact of what you are doing ~ Joe Ehrmann

When you start counting the impact your cause is having, it becomes 'you-centered' - Joe Ehrmann

An 'other-centered' cause is about connecting to others; for them. It's about making changes to help alleviate pain ~ Joe Ehrmann

Book: "First Family" by David Baldacci

A great read to escape into for a few hours. Baldacci brings the adventures of Michelle and Sean to the backwoods of Alabama while connecting to the streets of D.C. and no one does it better than this trio.

The story is about politics, history, racism, corruption, family, roots, hate and love.

Again, a great read.

Book: "Strength in What Remains" by Tracy Kidder

This is an extremly well written biography of Deogratias.

Kidder is to be commended for his connectivity to Deo's plight through genocide in two countries, life on the streets of New York, the pursuit of a medical career, and beyond (what an incredible journey).

Yet, as well as Kidder has connected to Deo, his life and the telling of the story, Deo's life itself is remarkable.

Deogratias, means "thanks be to God." His story is heartbreaking at the same time inspiring; simple survival while stretching the limits, grasping for existance while reaching for more.

Thanks be to God for Deogratias.

Thanks be to God period.

Book: "Alex Cross' Trial" by James Patterson and Richard Dilallo

While some reviewers of this book have been dissappointed, I find Alex Cross' Trial to be an excellent read - even if it is large font and quick chapters.

In addition to giving the Alex Cross reader/follower insight into his (Cross') personal history, the "Trail" gives a real feeling for what was going on in America at the turn of the 20th Century. A bit of research myself and I find that Patterson talks a great deal about his research into the book and the reason for writing it.

The setting is Washington DC and Southern Mississippi; Teddy Roosevelt is President and a key character in this not-so-fictional book. And any reader of American History knows that T. Roosevelt was politically motivated by almost everything he did - case in point is Franklin Roosevelt's wedding.

Patterson and Dilallo have touched heavily on the epitimy of man, and woman's, ability to ignore the well being of another human because it does not fit our purpose. More of that "what's-best-for-MY-family" syndrome. Not much had really changed from John Newton's time to the early 1900's, or for that matter since the time of Cain and Able to now.

A good read. An important storyline.

To that end....

Manuscript: "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect" by John Maxwell

This is going to be an interesting read. John Maxwell is writing a new book titled "Everyone Communicates, Few Connect" and is posting his manuscript, one chapter every other week or so, on the web for review and comments.

Now, about the book; what a great title! Personally, I can't imagine a better idea for a book in such a culture as we have today. Personally, I feel, much of the time, like a talking-head and have recognized for years that I communicate my head and fingers off, yet..... it's often to deaf ears, skipped emails, and other agendas.

Here are more comments I've had about the book and chapter 8 in particular http://focusandreflection.blogspot.com/search?q=maxwell

To that end.... http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/