There’s this guy I’ve heard about who interests me. His name is Jimmy.
Who do you think of when you imagine someone named Jimmy? A boy down the street riding his bike? A fellow in overalls who drives a truck?
How about a man who has a deep and seasoned faith, possesses a great deal of Bible knowhow and, by the way, is a former President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize Winner?
Now I know that as soon as I bring politics into my little blog entry here, it will be natural for a whole host of associations to come to mind. But hold off for a minute.
Jimmy Carter has a new devotional out, and you can’t help but find it interesting. Here’s Carter, coming to you as a simple man of faith, with a year of readings about how to discover a deep and abiding faith.
Through the Year with Jimmy Carter: 366 Meditations from the 39th President is based on Carter’s notes Carter for his decades-long Bible study at the small Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, and while President. The book is divided into four parts: launching, growing, serving and maturing.
At 87 years old, and with all that he’s accomplished, here’s a guy I’d really listen to when it comes to discovering maturity. Carter writes, “More than anything else, this troubled world needs the active influence of mature Christians.” Each entry that follows in this concluding section explores “how to give God our best, to adopt high priorities, to maintain self-confidence without pride or arrogance, to magnify our influence, and to continue building a foundation of faith.”
Sounds good to me. Hope you too will have a chance to check it out. For a recent interview of Carter about his new book, listen in to the Catalyst interview.
