Monday, November 10, 2008

Wouldn't you like to know. . .

I have but one bookcase in my study at the church. It's a good size - probably five or six feet wide and its height reaches the ceiling; but I have more books than it can hold. Tomes are piling up in stacks on the file cabinet, the edges of my desk, and now the floor. Whether to winnow my library or box up and exile the space-taking books to a back room of my manse in Martinez was the question. As I scanned the titles in consideration of all this - I was aghast at the chaff that had settled on my shelves. Winnow it was and tonight I am very much looking forward to toasting some marshmallows over the embers of what's left of my first ever backyard bookburning!

4 comments:

Tricia said...

I love it! I have never been to a bookburning, but if I ever have one I think that I will do it on a chilly AZ evening and have a cup of coffee and maybe a few cookies.

Joel Tom Tate said...

My rules for determining whether or not to burn a Christian book.

If it was ever #1 on the bestseller list for Christian books, burn it.

If the image of the author is visible on the cover, burn it.

If there exists a CD of songs inspired by the book, burn it.

If it has the word "secret" in the title, burn it.

If it has a number in the title, burn it.

If is has the word "extreme" in the title, burn it.

If it has "secret," "extreme," and a number in the title (as in The Ten Secrets of an Extreme Youth Group) soak it in kerosene, then burn it before urinating on the ashes.

I know this sounds awfully cynical and bitter, but setting these books on fire is the best hope they have of ever shedding any light.

john tate said...

That's awesome Joel! I wish you could have been there to share it with me.

john tate said...

Tricia - I had some yogurt and graham crackers (all that was handy I'm afraid) - should have brewed some coffee though.