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Where I Buy My Books And How
As you may or may not know, I like to read books frequently. I aim at a bare minimum to read one full book a month. From time to time I may add an additional eBook to go alongside. This keeps the mind ticking, it keeps me progressing to where I want to get to and finally is a high valued hobby of mine. I don’t just buy books from anywhere and I always look for the best deals. Time and time again I find that Amazon is the place to go to get my books (later in the article I will tell you how I buy from Amazon). 
Usually once a month I go to Amazon and purchase the book I will read for a future month. I purchased a few books a few months back, So I am basically set for the rest of the year. Starting next year I may just buy 12 books in advance and have the reading set out already. What I would then do is purchase books also throughout the year and read them as I please. Some of you may be thinking by now Amazon isn’t nothing special, give me something new. For those of you thinking this way, we will now look at how I buy my books from Amazon. And I will use a few real life examples I have come across.
I have spoken in recent articles about how important recommendation is in today’s world. Many books I read have been recommended from others or by the books I have read. When I want to purchase a book I go to Amazon and search for the book. After finding the book (maybe one time I haven’t found the book). I click on the book and observe the price. What I then do if I haven’t checked reviews prior is read through reviews (good and bad). I want to see what people think about it. Some bad reviews may not be valid for me and vice versa with good reviews. After I have fully decided to buy the book, I immediately click on “USED.” No typo, yes the used section. And scout the price difference. What you will find is, usually the prices are dramatically different (remember I will show you real life examples below). I then look for the book which has a “Like new” or “Very good” next to it and this is my book. What you will find is these two types of descriptive books are just as good as the new copy you would have bought for sometimes 5x the price. You will begin to save loads of money and ultimately this is money you will pay for all your future books. Find my live examples below.
I purchased “The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas J Stanley” earlier this year for £0.63. With postage it ended up less than £3.50. This was a hardcover book which was “Like new” and looked like it had never been touched when I opened the envelope. To purchase the book “New” would have cost me £15 upwards from Amazon. I could buy 5 copies basically for the price of this one new book. The four other books will be the next four months (think about it).
I bought “Today Matters – John C Maxwell” for £1.58. Including postage it came to less than £4.50. This again was hardcover format. What I saw on Amazon’s site when I checked for a new copy can’t be right. For a new copy of the book, it would cost over £30 to purchase it. These are just two examples and I have more like this. The point is, you could be saving loads of money.
Feed The Five Thousand (Nine Thousand) – You Can Do It
Reading through the scriptures this morning, I read through two accounts of Jesus feeding thousands and came up with the title “You can do it – feed the five thousand.” Both accounts came in back to back chapters of the Bible (Matthew 14 & 15). Both encounters pretty much started the same way, Jesus asking his disciples what they had and his disciples swiftly returning words back to him about how there was not enough. Mixed in between these two encounters we find the disciple Peter walking on water.
Feed The Five Thousand: What Actually Happened?
Jesus had separated himself from the multitude after hearing word of John the Baptist’s death. He was then sought for by the multitudes who he then fellowshiped with. He healed their sick and fed them for good measure. While he gave his disciples the opportunity to feed the five thousand men, they did not take up his proposal. While you can clearly see from the text, Jesus said things such as “They need not depart; give ye them to eat.” It was only when his disciples declined that he said the following… “Bring them hither to me.” (Matthew 14:15-18). After this Jesus immediately tells his disciples to leave and this encounter is over. When I first read this text years ago, I missed many things and I probably still miss things today, this is the greatness of the Bible.
Conclusion of operation feed the five thousand?
Five thousand men were fed (not including women and children, this figure could easily be doubled). A number of people were healed which is not known and 12 baskets full of food were taken away.
Matthew 15 – Feed the five thousand – Feed the four thousand…
Next chapter (maybe not the same day or the next day) we see a similar situation unfolding. Perhaps why I missed this in my early years of being a born again believer. Jesus Is in the mountains and people come to him, just like in chapter 14, where we saw him feed the five thousand. He also again healed these sick people and again had compassion on the multitude. His disciples not remembering the other occurrence again doubt and wonder how these men will be fed. Jesus asked “How many loaves have ye?” They told him and then just like before, he urged for them to be sat down. Just like when Jesus fed the five thousand he again break, gave thanks to God and distributed it out to the thousands. This time seven baskets full remained after and they all departed their ways.
Such a similar situation with similar outcomes, both situations I believe Jesus wanted his disciples to do something, instead of him needing to. Again this is four thousand men and not including women or children. This again could easily be doubled if not more. Jesus could have fed twenty thousand people between these two examples easily. The lesson I take from this scripture reading is Jesus telling me “You can do it – feed the five thousand.”
So can you…
Short Exercise Update
I’ve taken a couple of days off from my bike riding. And this would be problematic if I wasn’t about to type the words, I have still be working out. I’ve still been ensuring I keep up the cardio work, as well as doing some added stuff around it too. Should be back on the bike soon but If not. I will still be 
doing different forms of exercise to keep me on the right path. A friend also recommended a book called “The Pyramid Diet” by Danni Levy (the funny thing is I used to watched some of here programmes when I watched the active channel). I took a quick look at reviews but will do more on it today. Don’t go and run to buy it because although I know recommendations are the main way people act. I have not yet done any in-depth research and have not even purchased it. Perhaps after purchase and implementation I will feel like I can do so. In my next article, find out where I buy my books from and how I do so. It will be entitled “Where I Buy My Books And How”
You Just Can’t Convince Me
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
My daily morning reading had me reading a few verses from the Bible. The message here is simple. And It applies across many fields of life. Once I started reading this, I was immediately thinking about how the things we do stand the test of others. What Paul is writing about here is not talking to people in a way that convinces them. He referred to showing people! If I say something to you, you may take it one way. You may even believe what I am saying. What I do know however, is if I demonstrated to you, you would most likely be more believing. This is the simplicity of what Paul is writing here.
Ask yourself an honest question now, how easy is it to convince you of something you believe in? If someone came to you today and delivered a mouth-watering presentation, refuting your most cherished belief. How would you react? The sad fact is many would waver and then perhaps stop believing. The route of this article comes to what you believe in and why you believe in it. I know people who believe because others do. Do you go to work every day because others have told you this is the right thing to do. Do you worship the God you believe in, or not worship because this is what you see? Have you never questioned those people who gave you these beliefs from childhood? If you haven’t, I strongly urge you to do so swiftly.
How much stock is invested in your every decision? Do you really make the decisions in your life or is someone else driving the car?
Back on the Bike #2 – Action Stimulates Energy…
Day #2 of bike riding came and went. Unlike day#1 day #2 was different. I still didn’t use my running shoes because I still can’t find them . But things were much better. I felt energized and felt like I could keep going for longer. I didn’t forget to eat and this gave me energy to push through. 
It’s funny how a few little tweaks make such a big difference. Time did seem like it was going fast, maybe this comes from the enjoyment or the fact I am in better shape than I first thought. Either way things are looking good. I’m aiming to keep the consistency up and getting in the miles every day.
Soon I should be back to my two bike rides a day, going all out for two 15 minute bursts. If I can do that for 4/5 miles a piece, I will then be burning some real fat and getting into real shape in no time. Compound interest works like so. Ride, ride for longer, add additional sessions, then my activity is doubled. I can now do twice as much in the short 24 hour period. Now I am working harder within the same realm of time for a similar result.
In the night-time of day #2 my legs were really hurting, I felt like I was carrying around some weights on my leg and this is how you should feel If you are doing things right. I also worked off a good sweat which will ultimately help in the long run.
Other notes
- Keeping fluids high
- Getting necessary rest
- eating food consistently
- persevering every day
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