This post is taking part in Randy Elrod’s Watercooler Wednesday!

Over on Randy’s Cultural Watercooler discussion for today he asked the question – What book or author has had the greatest influence on you?

First off Randy, that’s really a tough question for a preacher! There are so many and so little time or space to tell you of them all! But, before I tell you who my favorites are, yes, I have managed to whittle the list down to two, your question reminds me of a similar question once asked of a class at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.

I don’t remember which class it was, but I do remember the professor. In a class studying Wesleyan Theology, Dr. Steve Harper once asked the question – If you were in the midst of being exiled to an island in the middle of nowhere, what one book would you take? Of course in a class of second and third year Seminary students working on their Divinity degrees, those who wanted to appear really spiritual said — the Bible! But, that was too easy. Dr. Harper’s question truly did start me thinking about what author, and what book, could truly continually feed my soul and spirit if I found myself on an island in the middle of nowhere.

Would I take John Wesley books? Or would I take something totally different?

Read the rest of this entry

One of the cool aspects of the Internet and blogging revolves around discovering some great blogs, and some great ideas along the way. A couple months ago I started taking part in Randy Elrod’s Watercooler Wednesday at his Cultural Ethos blog. From there a few people are discovering my blog, and then I’m in turn discovering other blogs as I read comments. Along the way I found Brody Harper’s In Case You Were Wondering blog and his Positive Post Tuesday. Every Tuesday Brody posts some encouraging words and kudos for people he knows. He then asks others to take part and link in with his blog. So, this post is the first of what I hope to be many in the Positive Post Tuesday genre.

Check out Brody’s Positive Post Tuesday Here!

First off, I love the idea Brody! Kudos to you for stepping out on a limb and starting this feature on your blog. My personal vision/mission statement revolves around encouragement — Empower and encouraging others – With that being my vision/mission, you can well imagine how pumped I was when I discovered your creative use of Tuesday on your blog.

Now, as for this weeks Positive Post Tuesday entry, it comes in the form of a book review and kudos to the author.

Mike Robbins was drafted out of high school by the New York Yankees, but chose to attend college and pitch at Stanford University, where he pitched in the College World Series. He was on the All Conference team and voted “Most Inspirational” by his teammates at Stanford. After college Mike played in the Kansas City Royals organization for three seasons before he blew his arm out, which in turn ended his playing career. Now he’s a released a book entitled Focus on the Good Stuff – The Power of Appreciation. It’s a great book with some fantastic principles in the area of appreciation and encouragement for not only yourself, but those around too.

If you’re looking for some great positive encouragement, and a few lessons on how to encourage others, check out Mike’s book…

Focus on the Good Stuff.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus