JOSHcalkins's Blog: Fresh off the mind

I Lift Up My Soul

joshcalkins — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:52:51 +0000

So I have just finished about two to three months of every day devotions out of the book “I Lift Up My Soul” by Charles Stanley. Before reading this devotional I never really knew much about Charles Stanley, his church, his teaching, etc., but I thought I would give it a try. I was blown away by the wisdom of Charles Stanley. Now, not only do I continue to start off every one of my days with a devotional from him; I also started downloading his podcast from the “In Touch” ministry.
Charles Stanley is incredibly wise, and does an excellent job of applying each verse to the common life. Every morning I am challenged, refreshed, and renewed. I try to take the idea or concept that I learned that morning and let it reside within me throughout the rest of the day. He also provides just one key verse that I try to memorize every day. 157
I would highly recommend this book to people across all spiritual maturity. If you need some structure to your morning time with God, or desire that, then I also highly recommend this book for you! It is based on a yearly calendar though, so I think it is best to start at the beginning of the year, but not a huge problem!

Same Kind of Different As Me

joshcalkins — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 19:31:41 +0000

This book is an incredible true story about a an art dealer and his wife. The wife has an incredible heart for her city and the less fortunate within. She takes on a soup kitchen as her entry point into the world of the less fortunate. After deciding to do so, she drags her husband into “her” cause. The husband is very reluctant and only does so out of a guilt. Little does he know that he is about to meet a man that will change his life, his wife’s life, and his whole families future.
The other side of the story is about a man named Denver who was raised as a young African American in the south picking cotton. He was one of the few who fell between the cracks of racism and oppression, and the present. While other young African Americans were attending school, learning to read and write, he was stuck back on a farm without any idea of what was going on around him. 160
After Denver heads to Texas on a train, the three lives meet up and become one of the most inspirational stories about grace, love, and the redemption of the human heart. Anyone who does not want their life changed, should not read this book!

The Language of Love and Respect

joshcalkins — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:44:09 +0000

I have finally finished reading The Language of Love and Respect, by Dr. Emereson Eggerichs,a book that has been sitting on my shelf for quite a while waiting to be read. My initial thoughts were hesitant as I was wondering how this was going to be any different than “Love and Respect”. I was pleasently surprised, though. This book goes into greater detail in explaining the concepts of Love and Language. Love and Language did a great job explaning the differences in the way a male versus a female, and vice versa, need to be cared for in a marriage. The Language of Love and Respect helped explain in a more thorough way what that looks like and how to put it into practice through more than actions, but also through words!
It was also a great reminder of the concepts that I had read in the first book. Often times I will read a book, it will help me grow and become a better person, but soon after I move on to another book I forget what I had read and quit putting those things into practice. So it was a great reminder of what I had learned, and also a great aid in figuring out ways to better implement those ideas and continue using them!

Fresh Start Book Review

joshcalkins — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:04:49 +0000

The information in this book is vital to your success as an, individual, as a leader, and as a believer in Christ living in this crazy world.
Everyday we deal with many issues, hurts, joys, and other emotions that can continue to haunt us until we let ourselves be released from those things. They can haunt us until we give ourselves a “Fresh Start!”
Doug Fields writes a great book on how to give yourself that Fresh Start that is so key to our well being. I believe we serve a God of “second chances”, and that in the midst of our lowest of lows he still desires for us to be able to pick ourselves up and move forward in a positive fashion.
If you are dealing with something in your life that is controlling you and not allowing you to live freely, then I would suggest you find a way to get your hands on this book and learn how to release yourself from those things!
After you have done these things, Doug Fields also offers in this book many healthy and helpful suggestions in how to continue living freely, how to stay away from falling into the trap that keeps us from experiencing a truly Fresh Start!

Real Church Book Review

joshcalkins — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:57:51 +0000

I have read many books by Larry Crabb. My favorite of his being Inside Out. So I had very high expectations for “Real Church: Is It Out There, Can I find It” as I also have experienced many frustrations with the Western church I currently serve in. I feel like we have gone soft and have chosen to install cafe and book stores in our churches instead of going into the world and being in the world, but not of it. I know I totally just scripture dropped, sorry.
Real Church begins with Crabb expresses what he believes t be the problems in the church today. How we are not really serving anyone but ourselves. As you continue to read though; you realize that some of these things you have also been completely frustrated with, or have in some part unconsciously taken part in the patterns and routines that are creating a distanced Western Church. 150 In the rest of the book, Crabb begins to unravel some of his great insight into the ways we as a church can better serve the globe, our communities, and our congregants. Most importantly, I think it is important that we all take our part in being the Real Church. WE are the Real Church, and we must strive to continue to advance the name of Christ in the Real manner.

The Noticer

joshcalkins — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:49:24 +0000

I just finished a book called the Noticer. It was a very interesting read and kept you captivated the whole way through. At times it is easy to get lost in it and think you are watching a movie as you get lost in all the descriptions of the characters and the settings.
It is inspiring to read, and begs each reader to begin questioning the way they are doing life. The Noticer helps you to begin to think about your goals, your relationships, the things you wish you could change about yor past,as well as the ways you wish to change your future from it’s current path.
I would recommend this book to anyone that needs a little more spark in their life. If you wish to better yourself in small areas, I believe the small things discussed in this book will begin to advance the larger issues in your life.
One of the small stories in this book involves a wife and a husband that are at the brink of divorce when Jones (The Noticer) enters the picture and begins to transform the way they think about how they love each other. It impacted me and called me to question the way I love the people mot imortant to me in my life.
Read The Noticer. Be challenged.

Tough Times in YM

joshcalkins — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:39:44 +0000

I had to have an incredibly tough conversation with a student today. It is never fun addressing sin in someone’s life, let alone not trying to be awkward in the way of setting up that meeting.
After replaying the conversation in my head, I am happy with the way it went. While it was incredibly hard, and I actually had to dismiss him from a responsibility and privilege I had given him, I know that he is better served because of our conversation today.
It would have been much easier to give him the benefit of the doubt that he will do better, but then where doconsequences fit in? I believe in grace, but just as much as I believe in the power of consequences.
After today, I hope to have taught a lesson that has served me well in my life. Consequences are real, they do have devastating effects, and noone likes dealing them out.
I love this student and hope to have set him up to succeed in life rather than slide.

Open It Up

joshcalkins — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:01:59 +0000

Last night at youth group we opened up the room for all of our High School fellas to say what they think about the group.
It was amazing! They encouraged the leaders and each other. All together I feel like it brought the group together in a way.
I encourage any other small group leaders to do the same. It is surprising to find out what they ACTUALLY like about the small group.

Male Insecurity Test

joshcalkins — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:00:12 +0000

This is super funny. I laughed at a couple of them I do, and a couple I’ve seen from other “insecure males”.

Male Insecurity Test

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Less is more.

joshcalkins — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:23:15 +0000

Often I wish that I had more hours in the day. Especially at night when wifey gets home. We love hanging out and we love being together, but the night always goes by much too quickly.

The problem, I have found, lies in 3 letters. These letters have revolutionized our lives in many ways, yet have possibly impacted us for the worse.

These letters…D.V.R.

I love being able to watch a 3-hour game in 45 minutes. I really like not being tied to the tv at the same time every week. I enjoy not watching commercials. All that is great, but through DVR I have found 10 more shows(on top of the original 20) that I like. So every night Lauren and I must spend countless amounts of time keeping up to date with ALL of our shows.

So we have cut shows out. Some made it, and a lot didn’t. We consciously make decisions a couple times a week to leave the tv off. We have found how much more healthy our lives, our relationship, and our sanity are with less tv. Less really is more.