Reading wasn’t always my favourite thing to do. In fact, throughout high-school, I believe I mastered the art of writing a paper without reading the book. I look back, however, and think of how better my papers would have been if I started reading sooner. Some of it had to do with the topics, and I certainly didn’t like fiction. But as I’ve entered into the workplace, future education, and now into ministry, I’ve realized reading keeps your mind sharp. [callout]This is a 3 part series about how we can continue to learn beyond the traditional classroom setting.[/callout]
In Newfoundland and Labrador (where I live), we have an increasing excuse to decrease our reading habits. Unfortunately, the province added a tax to books. But just because we’re the only province in Canada to tax books, doesn’t mean we have to be the only province who stops reading. I’d like to offer five cost-effective ways we can make this happen:
1. Re-focus Our Reading
If you’re a reader, an increase in cost might mean that you need to simply re-focus your buying habits. Instead of buying every book you’d like to have, make a plan for yourself and buy accordingly.
For example, I tend to look ahead at what topics I’m studying or speaking on in the next 3-4 months and buy books according to those topics. If I already have enough resources, then I look for areas where I can expand my library. Others may want to collect a series of books or books by a particular author.
2. Book Sharing & Used Books
Sometimes we have more books than one can read (insert my wife saying, ‘Yes…yes you do!’). In that case, see what you can pass on to others. It might mean donating to a church library, a second-hand book store, or simply calling up a new pastor who could use the extra resources. Some of my best books have come from retired pastors wanting to build the next generation!
3. Read the Bible More
This might be silly to include, but we have an everlasting book, full of inspirational content, right in front of us. If we find ourselves unable to buy books (for whatever reason), pick up the Bible and start reading.
4. Online Blogs and Articles
Reading keeps your mind sharp! #Read #Learn #Mature Click To TweetMichael Hyatt once said, “Blogging isn’t dead, bad blogging is dead.” The online world is demanding good content from online contributors, so finding high-quality FREE resources is becoming more and more available. Follow blogs, read blogs, and maybe even start your own blog (I’ll touch on that in part three of this series).
My blog (The Journey Holm) is often a spin-off of my weekly sermon and responses to current ministry conversations.
5. Magazines
The HST has always been on magazines, so if you subscribe to one, don’t drop it on that account. Also, there are many FREE (or low-cost) resources to take advantage of. Focus on the Family offer a FREE magazine for families called Thriving Family and a FREE newsletter for marriage and parents.
Not to mention the Good Tidings is distributed through our local assemblies at a reasonable cost, so make sure to pick up your copy and make good use of a great resource!
Your turn…
To all the readers out there – do whatever it takes to keep reading!
To all the local assemblies our there – do whatever it takes to make books available for reading! We are currently in the process of building a church library! Churches can also promote books and order bulk copies at discounted rates and/or provide magazines.
[reminder]How do you learn through reading in a cost-effective way?[/reminder]
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