At least, that’s how many days it’s been since we posted on our blog.

What can we say?  We’ve been afflicted by summer, a development spurt from our now-7-month-old daughter, and a lack of inspiration for great blog entries.

Otherwise… I’ve been picking up a few books at the same time, as usual, two of which have been especially helpful.

When People Are Big and God is Small by Ed Welch is a book that looks into how all of us suffer to some degree from a fear of man, or desire for man’s acceptance; instead of a fear of God and desire to please Him alone.  Where I initially had some other folks in mind when I picked it up (don’t we all? =-p), it’s been helpful for me already to see areas where I succumb to looking to gain the acceptance of others instead of being “God’s man.” Things may get even better should I progress to chapter two and beyond…

The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges is a book I read through over a decade ago in a men’s study and prayer group.  It’s remarkable how time has changed my perspective on life, on God, and on obeying God.  So it’s with new eyes, of a sort, that I picked it up a couple of days ago to start reading it again.  And I was struck anew by his helpful thoughts on the importance of grace — and how easily we forget its necessity in every Christian’s life.   He sums it up well in the first chapter with this memorable quote: “Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace.  And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.”

I’m hoping to redeem a good amount of my limited spare time this summer by stealing moments to read a book here and there.  Wifey is reading Tim Keller’s The Prodigal God, which I speed-read a few months ago and appreciated some of the key points within.  Lord willing, I may also get myself to pick up John Owen’s Overcoming Sin and Temptation as well, difficult though the prose is to work through at times.

So it seems our kids set the pace again.  Even as the local public library, various bookstores and restaurants are offering kids incentives to read; it appears we have our own opportunity to do some summer reading.

To close, some new (and old) photos of the kids in gratitude for your energies slogging through my prose: