Monday, July 25, 2011

July 26, 2011

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalms 119:105


I was saddened to learn this week that Borders Bookstores are going out of business. That was one of the favorite places for Barbara and me to go for our Friday Date Night when the weather was bad.

For less selfish reasons, it also means 10,000 more folks will be out of a job nationwide. The nagging question for me is, “Why are they closing?” Is it an indication that the popularity of books is declining or is it the result of a 40 year-old business plan that hasn’t adjusted to the times? Perhaps it is a little of each. I guess most people are buying their books on Amazon via the internet.

There is a lesson there to be learned. We must be careful to adapt to the times.
I hope books aren’t becoming a thing of the past. That would be tragic. As convenient as the internet is and as neat as the Kindle-type reading devices are, we need to be book people! I hope there is never a generation that doesn’t get the great pleasure of cozying up with a good book.

Speaking of a good book, the most important Book is the Good Book – the Bible. Friend, we need to be people of the Book and this Book will never go out of style! It doesn’t need to adapt to the times, times adapt to it! So should you! I know you can read it online and sometimes I do. And I know that you can listen to it on CD’s. No doubt you can get it on Kindle, as well.

But those are not substitutes for The Book! You need to have the Book on your night stand. You need to have the Book underlined and marked in the margins. And you should carry the Book to church with you. This Book should never go out of style. This Book can never go out of style and it still the top-selling book in the world!

Leaders are readers and spiritual leaders MUST be Bible readers! Learn it! Love it! Live it!