Wasn't it Clive Staples Lewis who advised, " When you are tempted to read a new book, reach for an old one." I read a lot, too much really. I have read hundreds of biographies in the last decade, everything from Joe Namath to Albert Camus, John Stott and John Steinbeck, Frank McCourt  and of course several on Mr. Lewis himself. I find these books chalked full of stories and ideas I want to remember, the marked up books and my own catalogue system is proof. As a teacher I am often asked, " What are you reading?"  Or another common question, " Have you read the new book or blog by [name goes here.]  My head gets full of all the stuff, a philosophical traffic jam is created, each impatiently honking, trying to get my attention to get on the page or get some verbal recognition. I have trained myself to follow Lewis' advice, there is so much new material coming at me, especially the books and the blogs. There is a cultural pressure to keep up with trends, with what seems to be working and what younger leaders are doing. I do that, because I am addicted to learning, but I must tell you, if I didn't spend most of my time reading the history of men, doctrines, philosophers and philosophy, I would be lost. I just purchased Ann Armstrong's The Case For God. She is a brilliant writer, she is more liberal than I am, I don't trust her theology, but I do find that her knowledge and perspective help me understand the world and other religions. Just when I was going to start reading her book, I heard Lewis' voice, I went to the bookshelf and pulled down a 1000 page biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I have read it before, I have marked it up, in fact there are no places left to write. I am reading it now for the third time. It is rich beyond compare, I gain so much reading it and thinking about his life, his times, his teaching, and those around him such as Karl Barth. I will get to Armstrong soon, but those old books are like a foundation, they give me a place to stand. So when you are thinking of reading a bunch of periodicals or blog posts, find something old and read John Wesley's Journal  first.