I just finished the old classic Pilgrim's Progress. If you can get past the Old English style of writing, it is quite an interesting interpretation of the life of a Christian. It is written from a Puritan perspective with the tradition of being very strict. Bunyan's theology is quite sound from a Biblical perspective and is a great story generic enough to stand the test of time, with its focus on principles and truths that are as true now as they were at the beginning of time. 

It was a good reminder for me that the path to follow Christ is narrow and how easy it is for many not to take that path or try and find their way off that path along the journey. For many that declare themselves Christians will not be admitted into the "Celestial City" because they did not put all their trust in Christ Jesus for their salvation. Even if they did good works, talked well, had lots of friends, or knew of God, they would still get into Heaven only by believing in the cleansing blood of Christ for their sins. The visual picture of this in the book is when the two main characters have to cross a river right before entering the Gates. The river was not very wide but it could be very deep. There was no way across except to walk. When they walked across the river, if they had complete faith that they could not do it alone but only through the support of Jesus Christ, the river was shallow and simple to wade through. However, for anyone that did not have 100% faith that Christ was sufficient for them, the bottom of the river was endless, they were washed away and gone forever.  

There are countless lessons throughout the book, like the one above, when reflected upon my own life, I can be more conscious of the pitfalls that I do encounter on the path of following Christ. Even though this is a hard book to get into right away it is worth the read for the timeless principles and would make a great book to discuss for church groups. -Paul

For anyone interested in the colonial period of American history, this autobiography is a fantastic read. The timeline of the book only goes from 1706 when Franklin was born until the end of the French and Indian War, which is a bummer since a lot of the most impactful things Franklin did in history occur after that time. The time that the book does highlight goes into detail to help the reader understand what Ben Franklin was really like. It is also a very well written book and entertaining to read. Franklin lead a really interesting life going from a boy of little means, to an apprentice, then an owner, and finally a statesman. Here are some of my highlights from the book. 

Junto Club- This famous club that Franklin put together was responsible for the first public library, fire department, University of Pennsylvania and many other positive influences of colonial society. The club was a weekly gathering of influential people in the community where one member would write about an idea and all the members would discuss it. The book goes into great detail about how they set the club up and how they went about their discussions. 

13 Virtues- Franklin's List of 13 Virtues is quite well known to people but the book tells the process he used to implement improvement in the 13 virtues. Franklin also tells how he came about making the list of the virtues and why he picked the ones he did. 

Personal Growth- I was very impressed and encouraged by Franklin's hunger to always grow personally. It pays to read the book just on for this reason.

I would definitely recommend this book as it is a great window into what daily life was like during the colonial period. It also brings to life one of the most well known and influential men that helped to shaped America.-Paul

Quite a different read than the others on the blog so far, but I figured I would post a little blurb here. I'm very interested in learning more about the "classical education" method.  I'm planning on Homeschooling my future kiddos and I read a book a while ago called the Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille. I won't go into to full detail here, you really just have to read the book to learn more about it, and I HIGHLY recommend it. It doesn't just talk about homeschooling but it talks about our school system today and how all schools could improve if they adapted this classical/leadership education method.
If you want to learn more, pick up that book, it's an interesting and quick read!  
Part of learning more about the classical education approach is reading more classics! I have a list put out by DeMille of all the top classics out there and this was one of many on the list.
Well I can't go into every detail of the book or the plots or anything, but here's what I found interesting or "took from it." First off, Puritan culture is so unique and so much focus is put on being sinless on earth because for them, the earth is a sort of  pit stop on the way to heaven. So they try to rid their community of all sin. Hester Prynne, was forced to be publicly humiliated and forced to wear a letter "A" the rest of her life to remind herself, and everyone else, of her sin (Adultery). Yet, after that experience in her life, she continued on, remaining in the same community. She grew and became a better woman. She found she could now critically look at things in her culture that maybe weren't right. Whereas others never questioned the rule of the "governors." 

Now, I don't think that this was Hawthorns intent or one the "main themes of the book" but I couldn't help relating this story to sin in our life, and how we have a huge need for Jesus Christ. We all are sinners, every one of us, thankfully our culture doesn't put us on a platform and announce every one of our sin's to the whole world. But what if they did? What if someday we have to stand on a platform, not before our community, but before a God who has the authority to show mercy or give out justice?  Each of us must come to a point where we realize that there is nothing that we can personally do to allow us to be in the same company as a perfect God in Heaven.("...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23) Hester had to stand up there and get mocked and jeered at before her whole community. We are dirty and filthy and some of our lives are in complete opposite of what God wants for our lives. We know we are sinning because we often go against what our conscience says is right, we break even the 10 laws that God set up for us to follow in his Holy Word.  That's why we must come to a point where we acknowledge we are sinners and are in need of a Savior. Then all we have to do is accept that Jesus Christ stood on that platform, perfect, for us, before God. 

John 3:16-18 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

*Attention* do we really understand that? Do you mean, that he died for me? That I don't have to stand on that platform and receive the punishment I deserve?????? YES!!!!! It's true! He was perfect and he took on our sin, was placed on a cross, crucified, humiliated, mocked, forsaken by his Father, by his own people, and even by some of his closest friends; and he did that all for us. For you. For me. And all we have to do is accept it. Grace, pure Grace at it's finest moment.( "The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20-21)

I urge you to read more about this Savior Jesus.  Pick up the  Bible and if you don't know where to start, start at the Gospel of John. Dive into it, and realize that the man you read about did all that for you, and for anyone who chooses to accept His gift of grace. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
I know some of you literary scholars out there, can not believe that I read The Scarlet Letter and that's all I "got" out of it. Now, that's not entirely true, there are many other interesting connections to sin, to Adam and Eve, the nature of sin and more nuggets like that. I think that it's probably because Easter is approaching and I can't stop thinking about the Grace given to me by Christ. I'm so thankful for His sacrifice. I love what John Newton said, "My memory is nearly gone but I remember two things. That I am a great sinner, and Christ is a great Savior." I pray that if someday my memory fails me, that those are the two things I remember as well. Thanks for reading!