Archives For reading

The 30 Minute Challenge: Redux

Aaron Armstrong —  September 19, 2009 — Leave a comment

30-minute

Last week, I issued a challenge to all of you: Set aside 30 minutes every day for the next week to read. What you read was entirely up to you—all you needed to do was give it a shot.

Well, it’s been a week… How did it go?

Were you successful in finding 30 minutes a day?

If so, how did you like it? What did you read?

If not, what did you find was the thing that got in the way?

This week, in some ways, was really challenging for me to get my time in. After Saturday and Sunday, I rarely got it in a full sitting, but rather read for a few minutes here and there throughout the day. I finished one book, Donald Miller’s new one, in a matter of hours (the review will be posted September 29—there may even be a contest involved). I started reading two other books, How Does a Good God Let Bad Things Happen by Mark Tabb and another one that I don’t want to mention right now. That gives you an indication of how much I’m enjoying it (it’s review deadline is more pressing than Tabb’s book, which is why I’m reading it).

But despite the challenges that came along this week and reading a book I’m not particularly enjoying right now (but I hope will not completely stink), I’ve still found my reading helpful. It’s still (mostly) relaxing. And that’s a great gift indeed.

So here’s my next question for you:

Will you try it again this week?

I hope you will. Looking forward to reading about your experience.

Happy Saturday!

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The 30 Minute Challenge

Aaron Armstrong —  September 11, 2009 — 11 Comments

30-minute

When I was a kid, I always loved to read. In reading, I found some of my moments of greatest joy.

And honestly, I was, and continue to be a voracious reader.

This weekend while we were in Grand Bend with my in-laws, we were talking about books. Emily had mentioned that while I was away I had something like four or five show up in the mail from blogger review programs and contests. My mother-in-law, Mary, asked a great question:

How on earth do you actually find the time to read as much as you do?

I love the questions my mother-in-law asks. They always get me to think, and I greatly appreciate that.

Here’s the answer: I try to set aside at least 30-45 minutes a day to read.

The average person reads between 250 and 300 words per minute (although figures vary), which works out to roughly 3/4 to one page each minute. That said, I don’t (usually) keep track of the number of pages read, just my time. I do have a lot of things on the go with family, work, writing, and study, that it can be overwhelming to try to add anything into my days. Continue Reading…

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Reviews, reviews and more reviews!

Aaron Armstrong —  July 11, 2009 — Leave a comment

I received a package in the mail today, which is something I always love. This package contained copies of two books to review, courtesy of NavPress:


Trusting God by Jerry Bridges


The Heart of Mentoring by David A. Stoddard

This brings the total of items to review to six. Along with these two, I’ve got the following to review:


The Noticer by Andy Andrew


Leading with Love by Alexander Strauch


Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll (DVD curriculum)


Twisting the Truth by Andy Stanley (DVD curriculum)

My, oh my, it’s going to be a fun summer.

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The Mini-Holiday Begins!

Aaron Armstrong —  June 29, 2009 — Leave a comment

We’re heading to Grand Bend for a couple of days today, which will be very exciting. I’m trying to learn how to Sabbath, because this is one of my great sins; I simply do not know how to just chill out.

So if the weather is good, I’ll be sitting near the beach in my jeans and sneakers and reading Don’t Waste Your Life and probably a couple other books (I’m a fast reader), and playing with Abigail while she joyfully screams, “Look at me, Daddy!”

No email to check. No phone to answer.

It should be awesome.

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What shall I read?

Aaron Armstrong —  June 26, 2009 — Leave a comment

Summer is now upon us (I understand it’s the greatest week and a half of our lives here in Canada), and that means three things:

  1. It’s going to be sticky and hot in my house for the next three months (it’s old and lacks air conditioning)
  2. I’m actually going to take some real time off this summer (three days next week and one week in August, I think)
  3. It’s time for a Summer reading list!

I really dig books, so much so that I have a backlog of things to read (I’ve got the pile down to 9 or so). I want to get through at least some of these.

Here’s what’s on the list:

  1. Lord, Change My Attitude by James MacDonald
  2. God’s Passion for His Glory by John Piper
  3. The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics by, obviously, C.S. Lewis (I’m partly through Mere Christianity now—note, this contains seven books)
  4. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis
  5. The Apostolic Fathers
  6. Leading with Love by Alexander Strauch
  7. The Confessions by Augustine
  8. The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
  9. Selections from the Spurgeon Sermon Archives

My question for you, my friends out there, is which should I read first? Or is there a book that needs to be added to the list?

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The Challenge

Aaron Armstrong —  April 20, 2009 — 2 Comments

I am a guy who loves books. Anyone who knows me knows that there are fewer things in life that bring me more joy than books. So, when my friends Adam, John and I were talking and a challenge from our pastor came up, I wasn’t sure how to react initially: “Close all your books [specifically the theology ones], turn off all your podcasts, and only read your Bible for a while.”

I’ve always been a voracious reader—and generally speaking fairly broad in my selections. Fiction, sci-fi, mystery, history, humor, biography, theology… I read a LOT of books. Some good, too many not so good. But it’s always been one of my few hobbies, aside from writing this blog (which is much more recent, obviously). And there’s a question behind this challenge: Do I read a lot because I like to appear intelligent, or do I read a lot to grow in my knowledge and experience of God?

Are books an idol?

I’ve been wrestling with this idea for a few days, of putting down my books for a while, and seeing what’s rattling around my head that I’ve not fully processed yet. To see where my heart is and learn whether or not I study theology to the glory of God or for my own.

For the next 40 days, I am committing to turning off my few podcasts and reading my Bible, with perhaps the odd bit of fiction thrown in when my head is throbbing from a whole heap of the Prophets.

And I want you to join me. If you’re a podcast fiend, a book junkie, or whatever your poison: turn it off, put it down, stop doing it.

For 40 days.

Throughout the next few weeks, I’ll be posting updates on my progress as I hope that God will reveal to me where my heart is at in this area of my life.

Feel like joining me?

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