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Jeff Randleman

Jeff Randleman is a husband of one, a father of six, a minister and a writer. He spends most of his days working with the church or spending time with his family.

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5 Benefits Of Reading Quality Books (ESD)

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Developing solid spiritual disciplines takes a lot of work and a lot of time. But it is well worth the effort. Many of the disciplines that we need to develop in our lives require a lot of patience and a lot of practice to build into a solid habit. Others are much easier; as easy as simply choosing the right thing.

That’s the case when it comes to reading quality books, besides the Bible reading that we need to maintain. There are a lot of books out there. But not everything in print is worth reading. And much that is okay to read shouldn’t be too high on the priority list.

Quality Books

This is a case where you may have to sacrifice the good for the best. While there is much to read that is good, and books that we like to read, there are other things that are the best things to read. Seeking these out and spending time with them is a habit that is worth developing.

Here are five major benefits that come with choosing the best books to read.

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Making A Covenant With My Eyes

It’s no secret that many men struggle with sexual temptation. That can range across a wide variety of struggles, from outright infidelity and adultery, to pornography, to simple lust (which isn’t really that simple).

Studies show that men tend to be more visual than women, and just adds to the problem. So how do we combat it?

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Sexual purity is a critical pursuit for men in this day and age, when all too many men see nothing wrong with it. The same struggle exists for women, too, but from what I’ve read, it’s not yet as prevalent as it is with men. Finding a solution that works is essential. In order to be the men that God called us to be, and the husbands and fathers our wives and children need us to be, we must find a way to resist this temptation.

In the book of Job, from the Old Testament, we can catch a glimpse of just how ancient this struggle really is, and we can gather some insights into how we can stand firm, resisting the temptations of sexual impurity.

In chapter 31, Job makes a very bold statement: “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.”

I believe that this is a brief peek into the heart of what God wants for each one of us. I see three things that we can do to help us to stand strong in this area, based upon Job’s experience and commitment.

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Coffee Break – 10.13.2014

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Volvo And Coffee Joyride – This idea just made it onto my bucket list… minus the Volvo. I really don’t care what car I drive, but a road trip like this would be extravagantly and ridiculously incredible.

Ringtones Remixed – Some people are incredibly talented at some of the strangest things. This guy, for example. He has sampled some of the most common ringtones and created a digital masterpiece. Simply amazing!

8 Water Tricks You Can Try At Home – My kids love science tricks. Here are a few simple science experiments using water and other common household items. Pretty interesting stuff.

Gospel Ripples – Have you ever wondered just how effective you are in sharing the Gospel with others? Sometimes, it feels like we are making no impact. But God can and does use us in ways that we may never know. Here is an example of one guy who got a glimpse of that.

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Memorize Scripture: Titus 1:5-6

The letter to Titus is a very brief letter, and because of this, Paul wastes no time in getting to the point. His purpose in writing is to instruct Titus on several key points of his ministry on Crete, beginning with appointing elders.

You can see this week’s passage in Titus 1:5-6:

Titus 1:5-6

After a greeting that is typical for Paul, he jumps straight into his reasons for writing Titus. The first and foremost reason is so that Titus can continue the work that Paul began and appoint elders in the churches there.

The letter to Titus can be broken into three sections: Godliness when it comes to church leaders, godliness when it comes to church life, and godliness in the life of the individual believer. Paul begins with the leadership.

He states that this is one of the prime purposes for which he left Titus behind. This suggests that Paul was there himself, working to build the church on Crete. Paul was, in fact, on the island of Crete at one point, according to Acts 27:7-8. But these events don’t necessarily fit that timeline too well. An additional visit, after Paul was released from prison in Rome, however, is likely.

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Coffee Break – 10.06.2014

Coffee Blending For The Home Roaster – Have you tried roasting your own coffee? If not, you should. It’s simple, and it’s inexpensive. If you have, then the next step is mixing your own blend. I have a few different beans that just might need to be blended soon…

How The Sun Sees You – We hear it all the time: Protect your skin. The sun is hard on our skin. I lost my dad to melanoma, and as a result, I see a dermatologist regularly, since I’m much more likely to suffer from the same thing. His mantra every time I visit is, “Watch out for the sun.” This video gives a great insight into just what the sun can do to you.

Breathtaking Aerial Landscapes Of Iceland – This is one of the places I’d most like to visit on our planet. I find Iceland extremely attractive and intriguing. This images simply reinforce my desire to go there someday.

How To Make The World’s Best Paper Airplane – Why wouldn’t you need to know this? I mean, really? Everyone should know how to make a paper airplane that will soar. And then go teach a kid. This is simply awesome!

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Memorize Scripture: Titus 1:1-4

Paul begins his letter to Titus in much the same way he begins all of his letters, with a greeting that borders on doxology. As in his greeting in 1 Timothy as well as 2 Timothy, there is some deep theology here if we have eyes to see it.

You can see the greeting in this epistle in Titus 1:1-4:

Titus 1:1-4

Even though beginning his letters with a greeting is typical Pauline fashion, the greeting to Titus differs in several ways from his greetings in 1 and 2 Timothy. Only here in Titus and in Romans does Paul give extensive details about his apostleship. It seems that most of the rest of his letters were written to churches and people who knew and accepted his apostleship as valid. But the church Titus worked with and the Roman church were newer Christians, and Paul was new to them. He writes this to establish his authority.

First off, Paul introduces himself, and states that he is a slave to God. Most of the time, he states he is a slave to Christ Jesus, so the difference here is noteworthy. This speaks to Paul’s high view of Christ, equating him with God. And Paul is his slave, a servant, even a bondservant. Paul knows that he is not writing this from his own purpose. He is simply a tool in the hands of God, to be used however needed.

Next Paul states his purpose. In most of his other letters, he gives his authority as an apostle, but he has already indicated that with his description of himself. He moves on to his purpose. He understands God to have called him to ministry in order to bring faith to God’s elect, those who have accepted the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith. Paul’s mission is to instruct them in the faith.