Reading Tips

Doing some research for a writing project, I came across the April 1996 issue of Gospel Advocate. On pages 36-37, Dennis Loyd (then the associate editor) wrote an article about the importance of reading. If you have a copy of the issue, I would encourage you to pull it out and read that article again.

I like to read. I’m not a big “novel” reader, but I love to read for information about the Bible. I am always trying to find time to read more of and about God’s Word. On this blog, you will often read reviews of books that I have finished, and on your right-hand side is a list of the books I am currently reading.

Anyway, at the top of the 2nd page of brother Loyd’s article there was a box with 8 reading tips. I would like to share them with you. I do not know if brother Loyd wrote these or if they were submitted by someone else.

1. Don’t accept everything you read. Argue with the author in the margin.
2. Don’t reject a writer because you disliked one book.
3. don’t decide a book’s value or lack of value because of who wrote it.
4. Don’t limit your reading to one interest.
5. Don’t reject a book because of its newness.
6. Don’t reject a book because it happens to be old.
7. Don’t neglect the Bible because of other reading.
8. Keep a book handy. Read regularly.

While these may not be deep suggestions, they are ones that every student needs. All Christians should make sure they follow #7. We need to take time to read God’s Word regularly.

Francis Bacon put it best:

Reading maketh a full man.