How to Get the Most Out of Your Reading

May 22, 2010 Leave a comment

I’m continuing with the theme of reading from earlier this week. (You can check out my summer reading list, Part 1 and Part 2.) Over the years I have tried to stick with several principles to help get the most out of my non-fiction reading. (I don’t read a lot of fiction.) You may find one or more of these helpful. I also invite you to add your own thoughts in the comments section.

  • Read with a pen in hand. I underline, write question marks, and make notes as I read, then go back and review what I’ve highlighted when a book is finished. I very rarely read borrowed books; I almost always buy a copy (used if possible) so that I can write in it and make it my own.
  • “Pre-read” the text. This is a speed-reading technique where you quickly scan the layout of a book before reading it in-depth. Within less than five minutes you can scan a non-fiction book and tell if it’s worth your time. You can also scan headings within a chapter. This is a quick way to get familiar with the contents before diving in.
  • Use a “regulator” to increase your reading speed. I often use my finger or a pen to go down a page, line by line, as I read sentences. Your eyes follow your finger (or pen), and you have less eye strain as a result. It’s a grade-school technique, but still very useful. (If you’re worried about how you’ll appear to other people, just remember that you will be reading and retaining more information than them.)
  • Keep notes on good quotations or illustrations. I heard about this technique from John Maxwell and have adapted it for my own use. After reading a book, I scan through it again and write down the page number and topic for material I want to file. I usually write the topic and the page number of the quote in the back of the book. Then I have someone copy those pages and file them accordingly. For example, when I read a book of quotations from Disney, I marked and filed several dozen great quotations on a variety of topics.
  • Most important: Take a book with you wherever you go. I have literally taken a book to a Cardinals ballgame, to Six Flags (to my wife’s embarrassment) and just about everywhere else. You would be amazed at how much reading you can do in the spare moments waiting for things to happen. Last year I went to the DMV to renew my license plates, knowing I would be waiting for about an hour. There were several dozen people in the area, and they were all staring at the wall or playing with their phones. But I got about an hour’s worth of reading done that day.

As the saying goes, “Leaders are readers.” One of the best ways to grow in your personal and professional life is to read good books. You may want to check out this great post by Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers), entitled “In Defense of Books.”

Questions: What other tips for effective reading can you share? Have I missed anything?

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Great Songs: “Hotel California” by The Eagles

May 21, 2010 2 Comments

“Hotel California” is one of the most well-known songs recorded by the Eagles. Released on their 1976 album of the same name, the song tells the story of a traveler who enters a mysterious hotel in the desert, and finds more than he expected. The song has been the subject of controversy because of its cryptic references to what some believe are witchcraft and devil worship. Read more of this post

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My Summer Reading List, Part 2

May 19, 2010 1 Comment

Yesterday I posted Part 1 of my summer reading list. Here is Part Deux.

A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, and A Patriot’s History of the Unites States by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen. People’s History is from a liberal viewpoint, and Patriot’s History from the conservative side. I’m working through both at the same time, getting a different take on each period of U. S. History. I hope to finish these this year.

Every Man’s Marriage by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker, and Hedges by Jerry Jenkins. My marriage is important to me, and I need to grow in my ability to love Melanie as Christ loved the Church. If you want to grow in leadership, ministry, music, or whatever, you need to read. Marriage shouldn’t be any different. Plus, I have personally known enough Christian leaders who have done really stupid things with their lives and marriages, and it has scared me into being more pro-active about keeping my marriage healthy. (And that’s a good thing.)

Culture Making by Andy Crouch. The sub-title is, “Recovering Our Creative Calling.” I’ve chosen this as a required text for my Introduction to the Arts classes this fall. I want students to understand how the Church can make a difference in culture through the arts. (I figure I should read the required texts also!)

Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell. Maxwell’s stuff is usually good and this one looks like a real winner. Who couldn’t use some help connecting with others? Plus, they included my picture on the inside cover, so I’m “connected” to the book.

How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren. This is the classic work on getting the most out of your reading. I’ve read snippets of it, but need to go through the whole thing. As much as I read, this can only be helpful.

Linchpin by Seth Godin. I read Seth’s blog every day, and I loved Tribes and The Dip. Looking forward to this one that came out earlier this year.

Questions: What books do you plan to read this summer? If you have read any of these books, what did you think?

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My Summer Reading List, Part 1

May 18, 2010 3 Comments

It’s that time of year again–time to decide how I will spend my reading time this summer. I read all year round, of course, but summer is a special time to get a good deal of reading done because of my unique teaching schedule. As usual, this is kind of an eclectic list. I have included links to Amazon so you can check out any books that pique your interest.

Worship Words by Debra & Ron Riestra. This is a book on how we use language in worship. This was an assigned book for a get-together of graduates from the Worship Studies program at Lincoln Christian University. It’s not a book I would have necessarily chosen, but it’s been very insightful so far.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews. I received this from Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program and need to post a review. I’ve heard great things about the book.

You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned by Swen Nater and Ronald Gallimore, and A Brief Guide for Teaching Millennial Learners by J. Bradley Garner. Each year I try to read some things that will help my classroom teaching. The first book is all about Coach John Wooden’s principles of teaching, and the second is about how the current generation of college students learn. Both are fairly short and look great. (The link to the Wooden book is for a new edition, but there is no publication date listed. I would recommend the first edition if you can get it.)

On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. A little early church theology is good for the soul. The introduction by C. S. Lewis is absolutely phenomenal.

Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. This is one of the greatest Batman graphic novels. I read it a few years ago and plan to revisit it. I love a good story told visually. Plus, you just need to have some fun once in a while.

The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley and William Danko. I’ve heard Dave Ramsey talk about this one for years, and now would be a good time to read it.

Worship Matters by Bob Kauflin. I’m using this for a required text for a worship leading class this fall. This is probably the most balanced yet thorough book on worship leading I have seen in a while.

Check back tomorrow for Part 2!

Questions: What books do you plan to read this summer? If you have read any of these books, what did you think?

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What If You Don’t Like the Music at Church?

May 17, 2010 Leave a comment

Here is how I look at music in church: churches are like restaurants, and worship music is like the food they serve. No matter what kind of food your restaurant serves, there will always be someone who doesn’t like it. The problem is that you have to choose something–you can’t satisfy every taste (unless you offer multiple services with different styles).

What happens if you’re a mature Christian who loves your church and wants to support your pastor, but you dislike the music?  I have a good friend who hates Chinese food, and I know that if we went to a Chinese place for lunch, he would not enjoy it. What do you do when you’re the person who doesn’t like Chinese food? Here are a few questions for those who want to support their church and would like to deal with this issue in a positive, godly way. (These would apply in a range of situations, whether your church uses a traditional hymn-based style or more modern music.) Read more of this post

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“Sunday’s Coming” Worship Parody

May 15, 2010 Leave a comment

UPDATE: James Emery White has a great post with his thoughts about the video and the implications behind it.

Check out this satire video from North Point Ministries. It’s the funniest and most true-to-life thing I’ve seen in a while. It’s not mean-spirited, but is done in a spirit of love and fun. If you would describe your worship style as contemporary or relevant, you will probably see a little bit of yourself here.

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I Am…

May 12, 2010 Leave a comment

I am a Conservative because we should use wisdom and caution in these turbulent times.

I am a Liberal because I believe in grace that is liberally given, and liberally received.

I am a Traditionalist because there are some traditions worth keeping.

I am a Progressive because the advance of the Gospel demands that we change for the sake of progress.

I am a Republican because I value the freedom that a republic offers–the right to vote for our leaders.

I am a Democrat because I enjoy the rights and privileges of living in a democracy.

I am a Catholic because there is only one holy, Catholic church.

I am a Protestant because some things should be protested against.

I am an Evangelical because we should evangelize the nations.

I am an Orthodox because we should believe what is right and true.

I am a Baptist because those who follow Jesus should be baptized.

I am a Methodist because we should find good methods and use them.

I am a Presbyterian because a church should be led by elders.

I am Rich because God has blessed me far more than I deserve.

I am Poor because without Christ, I am nothing.

I am a Leader because I influence others.

I am a Follower because others influence me.

I am a Husband, Father, Brother, Son, and Uncle to my family. I am a Friend to many.

I am all of these and more. But most of all, far above all, I am a Disciple of Jesus.

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4,000 Hours

May 8, 2010 Leave a comment

Today St. Louis Christian College will hold its graduation ceremony. I’m especially excited because this year we have five Worship & Music students who are graduating. I have seen these guys (and gal) go from being freshmen who didn’t know much about worship leading (and sometimes aren’t aware of it) to men and women ready for the challenges life has in store for them. I’m so happy for them, but I’m also surprised at how melancholy I feel about it since I have been especially close to this group of students.

There’s really no way to measure or quantify the influence you have on someone’s life, but just for kicks, I wanted to estimate the number of hours I’ve spent with these guys since their freshmen year. This is not only face-to-face time in class, but also time spent doing homework for my classes, in several semesters of guitar lessons (which most of them have taken), worship teams, serving in Chapel in one form or another, advising appointments, conversations, and whatever else may have come up where they have either spent time with me, or have done something I’ve asked them to do. The best estimate I can come up with is somewhere around 4,000 hours, including all five students.

4,000 hours. That’s an awful lot of time. That represents 167 straight days, or around 2 years of 8-hour workdays. It’s incredibly humbling to think these students have opened their lives to my teaching and influence for that amount of time.

SLCC is a small school; there are other school with graduation ceremonies this month that would dwarf ours. But when you look at the numbers, even at a small school like ours, one single teacher, over time, has enormous potential to influence someone’s life. This fact drives me to my knees, seeking God’s wisdom in how I can become a better teacher and lead our program more effectively.

But guess what? You don’t have to be a teacher or have a title to influence someone. The fact is, you’re probably already doing it and don’t even know it. We all influence others, every day. The issue is what we do with that influence. And for those of us who lead, teach or spend intensive amounts of time with people helping them become better Christian leaders, 4,000 hours is a big deal. Perhaps this is why James 3.1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

So, congrats guys (and gal), you made it through! I’ve done my best to point you in the right direction. Now go change the world!

Questions: Who has God put in your path to influence, teach or lead? (This could be formal or informal; the best teaching doesn’t usually happen in a classroom.) What is one concrete step you can take right now to improve yourself so that you can better influence others?

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Great Songs: "Further On Up the Road" by Bruce Springsteen

May 7, 2010 Leave a comment

Several years ago I was at the library and came across Springsteen’s 2002 album The Rising and checked it out on a whim. I knew he had been around for a while, and the only thing I could remember about his music was his song “Born in the U.S.A.” from the 80′s. Once I started listening to the CD, I was hooked. I have since listened to much more of his music and have a great appreciation for the gritty, real-life music and great storytelling. I put him in the same category as Johnny Cash and John Mellencamp–guitar players who just kind of tell it like it is. After putting out so much great music over the years, it’s easy to see Why Springsteen is called “The Boss.”

“Further On Up the Road” is a great song because of it’s simple yet driving beat, poetic imagery and its allusions to the afterlife. It’s hard to tell exactly where Springsteen is coming from spiritually, but he seems to have a strong belief that there’s “something” out there beyond the grave. This goes right along with the rest of contemporary culture in its interest in the supernatural and afterlife. I’m thankful that as a Christian my hope for the afterlife is secure in Christ.

Here are a couple of versions of this song for your listening pleasure. The first is Springsteen’s album version. He also released another version of the song that has a more Irish feel, but I don’t care for it much. The second clip below is Johnny Cash’s version, which has a totally different feel, but I like equally as well.

And the fact that Mr. Springsteen plays a Telecaster just adds to the coolness…

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (2 Timothy 4.6-8)

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David Crowder’s Fantastical Church Music Conference

May 3, 2010 Leave a comment

I love this promo video for David Crowder’s upcoming conference. Wouldn’t you love to go to this?

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