KNOWLEDGE is a POWERFUL TOOL
If there is one thing we can learn about the past is that without knowledge, people are enslaved in the Prison of Ignorance. Ignorance is not stupidity; ignorance is powerlessness. The leaders of yesterday burned books so that people would be easily intimidated and left to feel powerless. Without Knowledge of God and man, people are enslaved to wicked men who use God’s name and His word for their gain. Without knowledge, people also enslave themselves to unknown gods used by man to deceive, enslave, and destroy. Although I don’t fully understand most of these books or wholly agree with some of their contexts, I believe we can learn valuable life lessons from every culture. In each, we will find gold nuggets to apply to our life’s growth.
Knowledge of God and His love for all His creation sent His Son to die for all humanity. Our need for one another is more significant than we believed from our ancestors that war is won by hate and bloodshed. War is won through knowledge, humility, mercy, grace, compassion, and God’s perfect love.
Proverbs 1:3-8
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give stability to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Bible Gateway
Bible: Isaiah 5:13
13 Therefore, my people are gone into captivity because they do not know: and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
Bible Gateway John 8:32
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the fact shall make you free.
HISTORY IS ESSENTIAL FOR LEARNING HOW NOT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES OUR ANCESTORS MADE.
When the Past is Present by David Richo PhD
Church History, Volume Two by John D. Woodbridge, Frank A. James lll
Our Mothers, Ourselves by Henry Cloud, John Townsend
Addiction, Attachment, Trauma, and Recovery by Oliver J. Morgan
Books That Made History: Books That Can Change Your Life by Rufus J. Fears
The Road Back to Me by Lisa A. Romano
The Emotionally Destructive Marriage by Leslie Vernick
The Self-Driven Child by Ned Johnson, William Stixrud PhD
The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson
The Mindful Therapist by Daniel J. Siegel
1807-1870
James Pennington is my favorite Teacher of all time. When I read his harrowing story about his quest for Freedom and his letter to his former slave master, I was torn by the idea that I too and others of minority decent were and are being cheated from receiving an education.
(Paraphrased) “I can forgive you for what you have done to my family and myself, however, what I cannot forgive is that you stole my education.
The Fugitive Blacksmith by James W.C Pennington
American to the Backbone, the Life of James W. C. Pennington by Christopher L. Webber, 2011
One day I had to give a presentation in my communication class. I had no idea what I would talk about until the night before. So I looked through my bookshelf and saw the book that saved my life. It was called Free Indeed. One young African American student sat in the back row; he did not know me personally, nor had we ever had any conversations. I was much older than everyone in the class, including my Professor. So when I stood in front and gave my presentation, I started with the introduction, “Black History, and the man who saved my life.” The young man had no interest in the class; he was an athlete, and the course was required. However, when he heard me begin to speak, he moved from the back to the front row, giving his undivided attention to an older white/Hispanic woman.
I began with the statement that I was not African American; however, I felt like the life I lived was similar to slavery before reading the story about James Pennington. I shared my upbringing as being conditioned by my caretakers to be a maid from a very young age, and education was never a priority. I also shared that my husband at the time would not allow me to return to school to further my education, nor was he supportive of my youngest daughter’s desire to go to college and pursue her education. I told the class how I was the sole supporter of my family, but I was not allowed to handle the finances; I was lucky if I had a few dollars on hand. However, one day a friend of mine invited me to go with her to the book store. While she went ahead to buy a particular book, I stood in front of the store to wait for her. I didn’t have much cash on me but a couple of dollars. As I looked around, I noticed a book called Free Indeed in a bin full of older books on sale for .99cents. I felt God placed that book in front of me because my deepest desire was to return to school. After buying the book, I hid it in my purse and read it when my ex-husband was not around. I cried after reading the letter James wrote to his ex-slave master about stealing the one thing every child deserved, and that was the right to have an education. I shared with the class how James gave me the courage to fight for my children’s education and mine. I shared that no matter how ignorant I felt standing in the front of the class giving this presentation, I would persevere no matter who my adversaries were. The young man who sat in the front row stared at me with tears. He asked me where he could buy this book? I gave to him and told him never to forget where his roots came from and to live a life worthy of his ancestors who fought for his Freedom.
A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew E. Hill, John H. Walton
The New Testament by Bart D. Ehrman
Apologetics at the Cross by Josh Chatraw, Mark D. Allen
Universe Next Door by James W. Sire
The Lost World of the Flood by Tremper Longman lll, John H. Walton
The Theology of Biblical Counseling by Heath Lambert
Mindsight by Daniel J. Seigel
Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
Anatomy of the Soul by Curt Thompson MD
Daring Greatly by Brene’ Brown
Emotional Intellegence: How to Use Nonviolent Communication by Avery Wright
Recovering from Losses in Life by H. Norman Wright
Psychology of Human Behavior by Avery Wright
The Neuroscience of Change by Kelly McGonigal
Rewire Your Anxious Brain by Catherine M. Pittman PhD, Eliabeth M..
Boundaries, Updated and Expanded Edition by John Townsend, Henry Cloud
Boosting Your Emotional Intelligence by Jason M. SatterfieldChildren Books
Children’s Books by Lisa Rene Delgado (You would have copy link to your browser: https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/134364872https://www.storyjumper.com/book/read/131792312
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy by David Clark