Wednesday, March 31, 2010

What I read today..


Now I know I was going to tell you about a book from my book list.. 
But, first, I have to tell you about this book. It is a World Landmark book. Which means it is a historical 
book- history told in story form- to be exact. I haven't read many World Landmark books, yet.. I will be on the search after this book now. This is another book that I picked up this morning, and I now have it read, a few hours later..  my mom let me just read and finish it since I told her "I just can't put it down."
So, I start to tell her all about it. There is so much to say.. so many stories in this man's life.
What is the book???  The book is "The life of Saint Patrick".
Here is why I found it exciting..  I told my mom there were two people in the bible he reminded me of.
The first, Elijah from the Old Testament. Why, Because he had almost the same kind of test Elijah had. To prove there is only one powerful true God.

"20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”[b] 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”    

I kings 18: 20-39

The other person was Paul of the New Testament. Why? 

  I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 2 Corinthians 11:23-27

also reminds me of this in 2 Corinthians 4 :8-9

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—



St Patrick's Life was tested and threatened and difficult because of his belief in the one True God.
There is so much to say about this book. I suggest you find it and read it.. 

Here is one story in it that hits me.. one of his followers, a 14 year old boy. Was put to a test to prove the true God. He and a druid were put into a small house that had two rooms. The house was locked, bolted and windows bared.Then they, the men watching this test, set fire to it. They believed who came out alive has the true God.The boy came out unharmed.. the druid did not, he died in the fire.


Since I am ready to head outdoors, it's too nice to stay in all day! This will have to do to convince you to read on with me.. even though St Patrick's Day is long gone for this year.

But, I will get back soon to tell you about the other books.

Look for pictures to be uploaded soon! Here is one with my friend Sarah, to prove I do get outside! 

slan-agat



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