Book

I retired in 1998 after teaching in the Minneapolis Public Schools for 30 years.  I spent 3 years working part time for an athletic club, and 10 years at Barnes and Noble till I quit working in 2011.  For a book lover working at B & N is very dangerous.  For a secular bookstore B & N has a large section of Christian books.  A couple of years ago a title caught my eye, When People are Big and God is Small by Edward T. Welch.  This past spring Pastor Brett mentioned the book in an Elder meeting, so I moved the book up in my pile.

I started reading the book last week and really got engaged.  After Tom Mouw's sermon last Sunday I am compelled to recommend this book.  The author talks about the fear of man getting in the way of our relationship with God just as Tom did.  Continuing the author, like Tom, stresses that the fear of God means so much more than we sometimes think.  On page 97 the author says "This fear of the Lord means reverent submission that leads to obedience, and it is interchangeable with "worship," "rely on," "trust," and "hope in.'" This is what the fear of God means.

I think the ideas in Tom's sermon and in this book are so very important, especially for us in our self-centered culture.  We are so concerned with how others see us, think about us, or else we want to build ourselves up by tearing others down.  We do not fear God, we fear man.  In our minds, self image (self esteem) is more important than our relationship with God.

I talked with Tom after the service, to thank him for his message and to ask him if he had read Welch's book.  He had heard of it but had not read it.  He also expressed and interest in this book.

Not only is this one of the better books that I have read, it has a very important message.  It is not a self help book, it is a relational book.  My relationship with God means I serve him, listen to his teachings, read his word, and try and spread his message.  His opinion is what matters, so I am tyring to be a God fearing man.  With God's help and guidance, I might even become one.  When People are Big and God is Small, is a really worthwhile book to read.