VFCOnline - Reading 2

The Bible
One major reading material is the bible. It not only has mystery, but drama, crime stories, heroes, war, nature, and love stories. Every time you read it, it changes. At the end of each chapter, there is always something to think and talk about with our families.

"The Bible is the Book of books. If you love the Word of GOD, searching it as you have opportunity, that you may come into possession of its rich treasures, and be thoroughly furnished unto all good works, then you may be assured that Jesus is drawing you to Himself." - Counsels for the Church; Choice of Reading

PTSD and the Military Family: Recommended Reading

Have a troop serving overseas? You're probably wondering what you can do to ease their transition back to civilian life once they're home. You probably also want to do all you can to prepare yourself for that long-anticipated reunion.

Well, there are a number of great books that have been written to help those looking to do just that. Some of the following are also available as books-on-tape/cd, if you prefer that format:

Surviving Deployment: A Guide for Military Families by Karen Pavlicin
Down Range: To Iraq and Back by Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D and Chuck Dean
An Operators Manual for Combat PTSD: Essays for Coping by Ashley B., II Hart
When the War Is over a New One Begins: Rebuilding Relationships After Trauma by Chuck Dean and Bette Nordberg
Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for America's Military Families by Ellie Kay

The Purpose Driven Life

The most basic question everyone faces in life is “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?” Self-help books suggest that people should look within, at their own desires and dreams, but Rick Warren says the starting place must be with God and his eternal purposes for each life. Real meaning and significance comes from understanding and fulfilling God’s purposes for putting us on earth.

The Purpose-Driven Life takes the groundbreaking message of the award-winning Purpose-Driven Church and goes deeper, applying it to the lifestyle of individual Christians. This book helps readers understand God’s incredible plan for their lives. Warren enables them to see the big picture of what life is all about and begin to live the life God created them to live.

Here is a sample from - Serving from the Heart

Repeatedly, the Bible says to "serve the Lord with all your heart." God wants you to serve him passionately, not dutifully. People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve him and others.

How do you know when you're serving God from your heart?

The first telltale sign is enthusiasm. When you're doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you, or challenge you, or check up on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment. You don't need rewards, or applause, or to be paid, because you love serving in this way.

The opposite is also true: When you don't have a heart for what you're doing, you're easily discouraged.

One characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness: whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection. If you don't care about a task, it is unlikely that you'll excel at it.

If you can recommend a good book to a soldier or veteran, send me an email filling out our area on the about page.

Enjoy each other; bless one another, in and out of your immediate of family circle.
You never know that through your acts of kindness, that someone could be healed and possibly
saved to be included in your family and GOD's heavenly family.

Selecting a Book That Interests You

Here is a quick guide on looking for reading material:

1. Based on what I am interested in

2. Look for interesting titles

3. Books in a series - read the next one

4. Read the book summary on the back of the book

5. Look for a comfortable reading level

6. Select an Author you like

7. Look at the picture on the cover

8. If someone recommends the book

Reading a good book

Studies have shown that American children who learn to read by the third grade are less likely to end up in prison, drop out of school, or take drugs. Seventy percent of prison inmates score in the bottom quarter on reading tests. Adults who read literature on a regular basis are nearly three times as likely to attend a performing arts event, almost four times as likely to visit an art museum, more as two-and-a-half times as likely to do volunteer or charity work, and over one-and-a-half times as likely to participate in sporting activities. Literacy rates in the United States are also more highly correlated to weekly earnings than IQ. Reading books is generally regarded as being a relaxing pastime, while at the same time requiring the brain to process text so it can be stimulated. Because of this it is sometimes considered to cause at least a temporary increase in one's mental faculties.