In the eleven years I have been married I have read many Christian books on dating, marriage, relationships and sexual intimacy. Several of them have been mixtures of psychology and theology at best. Others were solidly ground in scriptural. Sex and the Supremacy of Christ falls into the latter category. In fact, it is unlike any book that I have ever read on the topic of sex.
If you're single, check it out. If you're engaged, check it out. If you're married, check it out. You'll not be able to count on all your fingers and toes the things that you will learn regarding the theology of sex. The bottom line: everything is for God's glory, including sex. Piper, Dever, Mahaney and the other authors do a superb job at explaining how this all pans out in scripture.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ - Book Review
I've been meaning to do a review of this outstanding compilation of articles. But our assistant pastor beat me to the punch and did a way better job than I could ever do. So let me just give you a couple of paragraph intro. Then if you're interested, you can read the rest of the review here.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Top 100 Novels of All Time - Time Mag
I would certainly hate to be responsible for anyone getting off their Christian reading track, and getting immersed in secular stuff. However, in the interest of good literature generally, I'll point to a list of the all time best fiction offered up by Time Magazine.
I'm confident that they will have many who believe that this list is way off base. I was happy to see the inclusion of C.S. Lewis's Narnia favorite, and the Lord of the Rings. From the secular side I was very disappointed to not see one of Leon Uris's fantastic historical fictions make the cut. That has to be an oversite worth correcting.
What others do you see as missing? While your thinking about that, this would be a good time to note your favorite Chritian books of all time. Put them in the comments or e-mail them to me at Randy@Kirks4Jesus.
I'm confident that they will have many who believe that this list is way off base. I was happy to see the inclusion of C.S. Lewis's Narnia favorite, and the Lord of the Rings. From the secular side I was very disappointed to not see one of Leon Uris's fantastic historical fictions make the cut. That has to be an oversite worth correcting.
What others do you see as missing? While your thinking about that, this would be a good time to note your favorite Chritian books of all time. Put them in the comments or e-mail them to me at Randy@Kirks4Jesus.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Activity or Lack of IT
I know it has been a while since the last post. The good news about this blog is that the info that is already posted is timeless. I hope is it useful as well. My personal blog is about all I can manage to keep current right now. I have a bunch of material I want to place here, but other priorities (wife, kids, church, work) seem to be getting in the way.
No promise of the timing of the next post, but I will be back.
No promise of the timing of the next post, but I will be back.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Not a Classic, But Maybe a Good Read for You
I Don't Have Enough Faith to be An Atheist is reviewed by Jollyblogger and he does a great job of it. Go here
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
End Times?
Kind of reminds me of the Left Behind series. Ok. It also reminds me of the original upon which Tim LaHaye based his books, the Bible.
This picture, however, gives me a much better idea of what it must have been like for the Egyptians. It doesn't look like much fun to be around those Locusts.
This was taken in the Middle East in 2004.
This picture, however, gives me a much better idea of what it must have been like for the Egyptians. It doesn't look like much fun to be around those Locusts.
This was taken in the Middle East in 2004.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
A Good Read About Good Reads
Jollyblogger seems to be on everyone's list of favorite blogs. I don't know if he is that good, or just that the name stands out. However, I've been reading him for a while and find his content to be excellent. In fact, for anyone interested in the emergent church, he seems to be offering a great place to check out what's actually going on in that movement. For more Jollyblogger wisdom go here.
In any case, he has provided the following list. And, once again, I invite everyone who loves Christian writing to send me a list of one or ten with or without reviews.
I thought I would share some books that changed my point of view on a particular topic. These are not necessarily my all time favorite books (though several are), but each caused me to change my point of view in a particular area.
1. Gospel According to Jesus - John MacArthur - changed my view of the gospel and authentic saving faith.
2. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians - Helmut Thielicke - changed my view of the attitude of the theologian.
3. Made in America - Michael Scott Horton - changed my view of American evangelicalism and particularly its allergy to intellectualism.
4. By His Grace and For His Glory - Tom Nettles - changed my view of Calvinism
5. Desiring God - John Piper - changed my view of pleasure.
+1. Dominion - Randy Alcorn - changed my view of racism.
+2. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down - Marva J. Dawn - changed my view of the relationship between the church and culture.
+3. The Meaning of the Millennium - changed my view of the end times.
+4. Transforming Grace - Jerry Bridges - changed my view of sanctification, or Christian Growth
+5. Conversion in the New Testament - Richard Peace - changed my view of the process of conversion.
+6. Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan - changed me into a reader.
If you would like to know more details about how each book changed me, keep reading.
1. Gospel According to Jesus - John MacArthur - changed my view of the gospel and authentic saving faith.
Prior to reading this book, I had been taught that a person can have Jesus as savior, without making Him Lord. In this book I learned that we don't make Jesus anything. He is Lord, and if we don't submit to Him as Lord, we cannot have Him as savior.
2. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians - Helmut Thielicke - changed my view of the attitude of the theologian.
This is a book that is not on my all-time favorite list, but there is one part of it that hit me hard. Rick Holland, from Grace Community Church quoted someone who said that books don't change lives, paragraphs do. That is what happened in this book. In this book there is one section where Thielicke talks about the young theological student who wants to learn theology to win arguments and how noxious that is. You have to understand that I was a 26 year old seminary student when I read that, who was really caught up in the headiness of all this theological study. So, this set me back appropriately.
3. Made in America - Michael Scott Horton - changed my view of American evangelicalism and particularly its allergy to intellectualism.
Horton opened my eyes to the shallowness of American Evangelicalism and to the harmful effects of anti-intellectualism on American Christianity.
4. By His Grace and For His Glory - Tom Nettles - changed my view of Calvinism
When I read this book I was a Southern Baptist. I had met a lot of "reformed" and "Calvinistic" types who I found to be pretty much a bunch of bores. I finally decided to start studying this topic in depth and began by reading some Arminian books. To be fair, I had to read something on the Calvinistic side, so I picked this one, since the subtitle is "The Doctrines of Grace in Baptist Life." I had recently had a conversation with one of my pastors who said "I don't see how anyone can be a Southern Baptist and be a Calvinist." This book showed that historically, the Southern Baptists were deeply rooted in Calvinism. Therefore, it was modern Baptists who had abandoned their historic roots. Secondly, a major part of the book is an explanation of the five points of Calvinism. Once Nettles explained "Total Depravity," all the dominoes fell and I was a Calvinist by the time I finished reading the book.
5. Desiring God - John Piper - changed my view of pleasure.
Piper showed me that our happiness and God's glory are not at odds. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Our desire for happiness drives us to God to find fulfillment in Him.
+1. Dominion - Randy Alcorn
While I would never have considered myself racist, there is a lot I sure didn't know. This book challenged me to look at racial issues through the eyes of a black man, and the view is much different than I thought. I think I got a better understanding of the plight of the black man in America, through his own eyes.
+2. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down - Marva J. Dawn - changed my view of the relationship between the church and culture.
This is another example of where a paragraph changes your life. She made a comment to the effect that the church is to form the interpretive grid for the culture. The church explains God's view of what is happening in the culture of the world. Therefore, if the church is seeking to accomodate itself to the culture, it can't interpret the culture. It's like the old Play-Doh molds (my illustration, not hers). The clay (the world) is to be squeezed through the hard plastic mold (the church) so that the mold may give shape to the clay. If we try to make the mold accomodate the clay, it loses its ability to shape the clay. Hence, the peril of the church trying to accomodate itself to the world.
+3. The Meaning of the Millennium - changed my view of the end times.
Interestingly, though John MacArthur is a real hero of mine (see this entry), he played an indirect role in moving me away from a premillennial position toward my amil position. At one time I listened to a tape set of his on the end times, it was over 20 tapes. This was a thorough explanation of the premil, pretrib rapture view. When I was done with it I was completely confused. None of the proof texts proved the points he was making, the whole thing was full of non-sequiturs and I came away thinking that I could never prove this position to anyone who was not already predisposed to accept it. So, I began to investigate some of the other positions and this book was one of the first one I read. It covers all of the major eschatological positions. What I found was that the Historic Premil, the Postmil, and the Amil positions all share a common view on the unity of the church and Israel. The dispensational premil position, which gives us the whole pretribulation rapture and all of that, teaches that Israel and the church are two separate peoples with two separate destinies in the plan of God. I was persuaded by Scripture that this is false, Israel and the church, though there are some discontinuities, form one continuous people of God, with a common destiny in the plan of God. Therefore, the only completely untenable position is the dispensational-premillennial-pretribulational view. As I read through this book and did some more research I came to the amil view, although I have a great deal of respect for the postmil and historic premil positions. For those who are unfamiliar, the historic premil position is not historic in the sense that it is the historic position of the church. It is historic in that, of those who have believed in an earthly millennium throughout church history they have heald to this position which does not include a pre-trib rapture and does not make a sharp distinction between Israel and the church. If you are interested in some on-line reading on the subject, I suggest the Solo Christo Eschatology page.
+4. Transforming Grace - Jerry Bridges - changed my view of sanctification, or Christian Growth
I read Bridges book, The Pursuit of Holiness, back when it first came out in the 80's and it challenged me to pursue holiness. However, when I read this book back in the 90's it rounded out the picture on what it meant to pursue holiness. At the time I read this I was also beginning to be influenced by Jack Miller, World Harvest Mission and the Sonship movement, and began to see that sanctification is by grace as justification is. This book, along with the influence of Miller showed me just how legalistic I had become, and helped me to begin to understand the gospel and grace.
+5. Conversion in the New Testament - Richard Peace - changed my view of the process of conversion.
This book is a scholarly tome that compares the conversion of the apostle Paul with the conversion of the other twelve apostles. Paul had a sudden, dramatic, "datable conversion" (a phrase I have borrowed from Lauren Winner's book Girl Meets God), wheras there is no way you can pin down a conversion date for any of the other twelve. It is a study of the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the theme of conversion. His thesis is that the disciples were converted through a three year process of getting to know the gospel at the feet of Jesus. His point is that most of our ideas of evangelism are designed to promote a "Pauline" conversion experience, whereas those who come to Christ the way Paul did are probably in the minority. So, we need to have methods to reach the Paul's of the world, but we need to find ways to evangelize the vast majority of those who, like the other 12 (I guess I need to say 11, subtracting Judas), will learn the gopsel bit by bit over a lengthy period of time.
+6. Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan - changed me into a reader.
I read this book when I was in college and frankly, it was a breathtaking experience. It was a book I couldn't put down. I was enamored with the story, the allegory, the imagery, the whole thing. This created in me a love for great literature and ever since then I have been looking for a book that would move me the way this one did. To this day I don't think I have read anything that compares to Pilgrim's Progress, but that's ok - it showed me the value of a good book.
In any case, he has provided the following list. And, once again, I invite everyone who loves Christian writing to send me a list of one or ten with or without reviews.
I thought I would share some books that changed my point of view on a particular topic. These are not necessarily my all time favorite books (though several are), but each caused me to change my point of view in a particular area.
1. Gospel According to Jesus - John MacArthur - changed my view of the gospel and authentic saving faith.
2. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians - Helmut Thielicke - changed my view of the attitude of the theologian.
3. Made in America - Michael Scott Horton - changed my view of American evangelicalism and particularly its allergy to intellectualism.
4. By His Grace and For His Glory - Tom Nettles - changed my view of Calvinism
5. Desiring God - John Piper - changed my view of pleasure.
+1. Dominion - Randy Alcorn - changed my view of racism.
+2. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down - Marva J. Dawn - changed my view of the relationship between the church and culture.
+3. The Meaning of the Millennium - changed my view of the end times.
+4. Transforming Grace - Jerry Bridges - changed my view of sanctification, or Christian Growth
+5. Conversion in the New Testament - Richard Peace - changed my view of the process of conversion.
+6. Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan - changed me into a reader.
If you would like to know more details about how each book changed me, keep reading.
1. Gospel According to Jesus - John MacArthur - changed my view of the gospel and authentic saving faith.
Prior to reading this book, I had been taught that a person can have Jesus as savior, without making Him Lord. In this book I learned that we don't make Jesus anything. He is Lord, and if we don't submit to Him as Lord, we cannot have Him as savior.
2. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians - Helmut Thielicke - changed my view of the attitude of the theologian.
This is a book that is not on my all-time favorite list, but there is one part of it that hit me hard. Rick Holland, from Grace Community Church quoted someone who said that books don't change lives, paragraphs do. That is what happened in this book. In this book there is one section where Thielicke talks about the young theological student who wants to learn theology to win arguments and how noxious that is. You have to understand that I was a 26 year old seminary student when I read that, who was really caught up in the headiness of all this theological study. So, this set me back appropriately.
3. Made in America - Michael Scott Horton - changed my view of American evangelicalism and particularly its allergy to intellectualism.
Horton opened my eyes to the shallowness of American Evangelicalism and to the harmful effects of anti-intellectualism on American Christianity.
4. By His Grace and For His Glory - Tom Nettles - changed my view of Calvinism
When I read this book I was a Southern Baptist. I had met a lot of "reformed" and "Calvinistic" types who I found to be pretty much a bunch of bores. I finally decided to start studying this topic in depth and began by reading some Arminian books. To be fair, I had to read something on the Calvinistic side, so I picked this one, since the subtitle is "The Doctrines of Grace in Baptist Life." I had recently had a conversation with one of my pastors who said "I don't see how anyone can be a Southern Baptist and be a Calvinist." This book showed that historically, the Southern Baptists were deeply rooted in Calvinism. Therefore, it was modern Baptists who had abandoned their historic roots. Secondly, a major part of the book is an explanation of the five points of Calvinism. Once Nettles explained "Total Depravity," all the dominoes fell and I was a Calvinist by the time I finished reading the book.
5. Desiring God - John Piper - changed my view of pleasure.
Piper showed me that our happiness and God's glory are not at odds. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Our desire for happiness drives us to God to find fulfillment in Him.
+1. Dominion - Randy Alcorn
While I would never have considered myself racist, there is a lot I sure didn't know. This book challenged me to look at racial issues through the eyes of a black man, and the view is much different than I thought. I think I got a better understanding of the plight of the black man in America, through his own eyes.
+2. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down - Marva J. Dawn - changed my view of the relationship between the church and culture.
This is another example of where a paragraph changes your life. She made a comment to the effect that the church is to form the interpretive grid for the culture. The church explains God's view of what is happening in the culture of the world. Therefore, if the church is seeking to accomodate itself to the culture, it can't interpret the culture. It's like the old Play-Doh molds (my illustration, not hers). The clay (the world) is to be squeezed through the hard plastic mold (the church) so that the mold may give shape to the clay. If we try to make the mold accomodate the clay, it loses its ability to shape the clay. Hence, the peril of the church trying to accomodate itself to the world.
+3. The Meaning of the Millennium - changed my view of the end times.
Interestingly, though John MacArthur is a real hero of mine (see this entry), he played an indirect role in moving me away from a premillennial position toward my amil position. At one time I listened to a tape set of his on the end times, it was over 20 tapes. This was a thorough explanation of the premil, pretrib rapture view. When I was done with it I was completely confused. None of the proof texts proved the points he was making, the whole thing was full of non-sequiturs and I came away thinking that I could never prove this position to anyone who was not already predisposed to accept it. So, I began to investigate some of the other positions and this book was one of the first one I read. It covers all of the major eschatological positions. What I found was that the Historic Premil, the Postmil, and the Amil positions all share a common view on the unity of the church and Israel. The dispensational premil position, which gives us the whole pretribulation rapture and all of that, teaches that Israel and the church are two separate peoples with two separate destinies in the plan of God. I was persuaded by Scripture that this is false, Israel and the church, though there are some discontinuities, form one continuous people of God, with a common destiny in the plan of God. Therefore, the only completely untenable position is the dispensational-premillennial-pretribulational view. As I read through this book and did some more research I came to the amil view, although I have a great deal of respect for the postmil and historic premil positions. For those who are unfamiliar, the historic premil position is not historic in the sense that it is the historic position of the church. It is historic in that, of those who have believed in an earthly millennium throughout church history they have heald to this position which does not include a pre-trib rapture and does not make a sharp distinction between Israel and the church. If you are interested in some on-line reading on the subject, I suggest the Solo Christo Eschatology page.
+4. Transforming Grace - Jerry Bridges - changed my view of sanctification, or Christian Growth
I read Bridges book, The Pursuit of Holiness, back when it first came out in the 80's and it challenged me to pursue holiness. However, when I read this book back in the 90's it rounded out the picture on what it meant to pursue holiness. At the time I read this I was also beginning to be influenced by Jack Miller, World Harvest Mission and the Sonship movement, and began to see that sanctification is by grace as justification is. This book, along with the influence of Miller showed me just how legalistic I had become, and helped me to begin to understand the gospel and grace.
+5. Conversion in the New Testament - Richard Peace - changed my view of the process of conversion.
This book is a scholarly tome that compares the conversion of the apostle Paul with the conversion of the other twelve apostles. Paul had a sudden, dramatic, "datable conversion" (a phrase I have borrowed from Lauren Winner's book Girl Meets God), wheras there is no way you can pin down a conversion date for any of the other twelve. It is a study of the Gospel of Mark, focusing on the theme of conversion. His thesis is that the disciples were converted through a three year process of getting to know the gospel at the feet of Jesus. His point is that most of our ideas of evangelism are designed to promote a "Pauline" conversion experience, whereas those who come to Christ the way Paul did are probably in the minority. So, we need to have methods to reach the Paul's of the world, but we need to find ways to evangelize the vast majority of those who, like the other 12 (I guess I need to say 11, subtracting Judas), will learn the gopsel bit by bit over a lengthy period of time.
+6. Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan - changed me into a reader.
I read this book when I was in college and frankly, it was a breathtaking experience. It was a book I couldn't put down. I was enamored with the story, the allegory, the imagery, the whole thing. This created in me a love for great literature and ever since then I have been looking for a book that would move me the way this one did. To this day I don't think I have read anything that compares to Pilgrim's Progress, but that's ok - it showed me the value of a good book.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Charles Stanley Adds Two to the List
Thank you for writing In Touch Ministries.
There are two books that have most impacted Dr. Stanley's life. One of the books that Dr. Stanley mentioned is called "They Found the Secret" by V. Raymond Edmon. It contains biographical sketches of several Christians, but the one that Dr. Stanley most identifies with is Hudson Taylor. Dr. Stanley says: "I read about three paragraphs and I thought to myself, 'Here's a man who feels like I feel!' That short biographical sketch of Hudson Taylor's struggle and his life absolutely changed my life. It gave me hope for the Christian life as a pastor that I had never known before...an insight into God that I had never had. It absolutely worked in my life in a miraculous fashion."
The second book that Dr. Stanley mentioned is "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" published by Moody Publishers in 1987.
We appreciate your interest and support of the ministry.
God bless you,
In Touch Correspondence Minist
There are two books that have most impacted Dr. Stanley's life. One of the books that Dr. Stanley mentioned is called "They Found the Secret" by V. Raymond Edmon. It contains biographical sketches of several Christians, but the one that Dr. Stanley most identifies with is Hudson Taylor. Dr. Stanley says: "I read about three paragraphs and I thought to myself, 'Here's a man who feels like I feel!' That short biographical sketch of Hudson Taylor's struggle and his life absolutely changed my life. It gave me hope for the Christian life as a pastor that I had never known before...an insight into God that I had never had. It absolutely worked in my life in a miraculous fashion."
The second book that Dr. Stanley mentioned is "Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret" published by Moody Publishers in 1987.
We appreciate your interest and support of the ministry.
God bless you,
In Touch Correspondence Minist
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
The BIG Readers in the Blogosphere are Playing TAG
For the next few days I will be chasing down posts of top Christian bloggers who are involved in a game of tag. The rules require answering 4 questions about books, then tagging 4 other bloggers. Hope you enjoy their comments. First up, Laer at Cheat Seeking Missles
Book Lover's Tag
Hedgehog is spending his first birthday playing tag. Congrats on the big day, Lowell.
First he tags Okie Boy. I like Okie Boy and all, he's a genuinely good guy, but his tag response seemed a little highbrow for some car nut from a place where they sing about elephants and corn fields.
So he tagged me; so be it. Tag duties follow.
Total number of books owned, ever:
Probably in the neighborhood of 800. One college summer, I left all my stuff in a house in Bloomington and spent three fabulous months in Maine, living in an old school house, working on a road crew, sailing the Elizabeth Islands (yes, that's Massachusetts not Maine, you geographical smarty pantses!), and when I returned for school in the fall, the house was gone. A parking lot gaped where my books, writings, pictures, keepsakes once were. So those were lost. Some were tossed. But many remain.
Last book I bought:
Two at the same time, actually. Blink: The Power to Think Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, and The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy by Byron York. The first because I thought The Tipping Point was brilliant, the second because I wanted to get more background on what I might expect from the Dems in 2006 and 2008, and because it has perhaps the longest subtitle in the history of publishing.
Last book I read:
Because my lovely wife absconded with Blink, it's The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy. And Romans. Amazing book, and it's only 1/66 of The Book.
Five books that mean a lot to me: I have to say Okie Boy's list is remarkably good. Here's mine:
This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. I spent about six years reading nothing but Christian fiction because of this book. Some of the books were amazing, some amazingly bad, and they all were made possible by the bold vision Peretti set down in this book, birthing a genre.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevski. I read it in high school and it taught me I could read serious literature, that there were other countries that were amazing, and that human character is a subject of boundless potential and riveting interest. Also of note: The Brothers K by David James Duncan (Karamazov via baseball), and while we're on the subject, The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W.P. Kinsella, possibly the best baseball book ever. (Okie Boy snuck two into one entry; I bested him with three!)
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. Esquire said that in this book, Vonnegut not only asked the ultimate question of life, but answered it. I don't know about that, but I do know that Winston Niles Rumsford and his dog Kazak being flung between Earth and Titan by the chronosynclastic infidibulum showed me what the fiction of the imagination could be.
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. When I became a Christian, my friend Peter, who was a wild child with me in high school but now pastors a church in Israel, suggested I read this book. Besides the Bible, it's the first Christian book I bought, and it is the daily devotional all others aspire to.
The Bible by God. I've been reading it every day for the last nine years and I feel I've just begun. I recently bought The New Inductive Study Bible, and its process of marking nearly every word with a symbol, then studying rigorously, is exciting and enlightening. I think when I'm done that Bible will weigh ten pounds more from all the ink!
I'm passing along the courtesy of the tag to Blogotional, Sue Bob's Diary, and for a twist, to someone who's been posting comments pretty regularly here, Moderate Left.
Please visit his site here if you wish to comment to him.
Book Lover's Tag
Hedgehog is spending his first birthday playing tag. Congrats on the big day, Lowell.
First he tags Okie Boy. I like Okie Boy and all, he's a genuinely good guy, but his tag response seemed a little highbrow for some car nut from a place where they sing about elephants and corn fields.
So he tagged me; so be it. Tag duties follow.
Total number of books owned, ever:
Probably in the neighborhood of 800. One college summer, I left all my stuff in a house in Bloomington and spent three fabulous months in Maine, living in an old school house, working on a road crew, sailing the Elizabeth Islands (yes, that's Massachusetts not Maine, you geographical smarty pantses!), and when I returned for school in the fall, the house was gone. A parking lot gaped where my books, writings, pictures, keepsakes once were. So those were lost. Some were tossed. But many remain.
Last book I bought:
Two at the same time, actually. Blink: The Power to Think Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell, and The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy by Byron York. The first because I thought The Tipping Point was brilliant, the second because I wanted to get more background on what I might expect from the Dems in 2006 and 2008, and because it has perhaps the longest subtitle in the history of publishing.
Last book I read:
Because my lovely wife absconded with Blink, it's The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy. And Romans. Amazing book, and it's only 1/66 of The Book.
Five books that mean a lot to me: I have to say Okie Boy's list is remarkably good. Here's mine:
This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. I spent about six years reading nothing but Christian fiction because of this book. Some of the books were amazing, some amazingly bad, and they all were made possible by the bold vision Peretti set down in this book, birthing a genre.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevski. I read it in high school and it taught me I could read serious literature, that there were other countries that were amazing, and that human character is a subject of boundless potential and riveting interest. Also of note: The Brothers K by David James Duncan (Karamazov via baseball), and while we're on the subject, The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W.P. Kinsella, possibly the best baseball book ever. (Okie Boy snuck two into one entry; I bested him with three!)
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. Esquire said that in this book, Vonnegut not only asked the ultimate question of life, but answered it. I don't know about that, but I do know that Winston Niles Rumsford and his dog Kazak being flung between Earth and Titan by the chronosynclastic infidibulum showed me what the fiction of the imagination could be.
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. When I became a Christian, my friend Peter, who was a wild child with me in high school but now pastors a church in Israel, suggested I read this book. Besides the Bible, it's the first Christian book I bought, and it is the daily devotional all others aspire to.
The Bible by God. I've been reading it every day for the last nine years and I feel I've just begun. I recently bought The New Inductive Study Bible, and its process of marking nearly every word with a symbol, then studying rigorously, is exciting and enlightening. I think when I'm done that Bible will weigh ten pounds more from all the ink!
I'm passing along the courtesy of the tag to Blogotional, Sue Bob's Diary, and for a twist, to someone who's been posting comments pretty regularly here, Moderate Left.
Please visit his site here if you wish to comment to him.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Ted Dekker Recommends
Hi Randy,
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply back.
Here are 3 books that have influenced Ted.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard for its broad, layered philosophy
of Christian life.
hn Piper's Desiring God for a transforming vision of God.
Dive Deep
With Peace,
Alicia
Sorry it's taken me so long to reply back.
Here are 3 books that have influenced Ted.
Let me know if you have any additional questions.
The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard for its broad, layered philosophy
of Christian life.
hn Piper's Desiring God for a transforming vision of God.
Dive Deep
With Peace,
Alicia
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Josh McDowell Recommends
Randy,
The two books that Josh highly recommends are Changes That Heal by Dr. Henry Cloud and History and Christianity by John Montgomery.
In His service,
Penny Woods
Josh McDowell Ministry
The two books that Josh highly recommends are Changes That Heal by Dr. Henry Cloud and History and Christianity by John Montgomery.
In His service,
Penny Woods
Josh McDowell Ministry
Monday, May 30, 2005
Phillip Yancy Interview
All writers and readers should read this interview.
A Conversation with Philip Yancey
Michael Cusick probes the heart of one of Christendom's best thinkers
Copyright © 1994 Mars Hill Review 1 Founded in 1994 · Premier Issue: pgs 89-102.
I pick up the interview in the middle. The rest is here
Mars Hill: Who are you currently drawn to in your own personal reading life?
PY: Well, the most recent book I read was Lancelot by Walker Percy. Percy is one of the unusual persons who writes novels of ideas, especially something like The Thanatos Syndrome, and Second Coming; these are idea novels that aren't so much in vogue these days. They got me interested in Percy, so just last night I started a biography of Percy called Pilgrim in the Ruins, by Jay Tolson. It's a wonderful book. I'm also reading again, The Imitation of Christ, by A'Kempis. I also have about four bookshelves of books I need to get to. Some of them are science by people like Loren Eiseley, Freeman Dyson. Others of them are literature. And I try one night a week to read from the classics, either Shakespeare or one of the Russians. I've just been reading The Creators, by Daniel Boorstin, the Librarian of Congress. It's a massive book on art throughout the centuries. A huge topic and a huge book. I've got to tell you, though, the Christians stand out strong. One of the most recent chapters I read was on Dostoevsky, one of the people who really taught me theology. He's taught the world theology. He's taught people who don't believe in God theology because he is that powerful. People who would never read a book by Francis Schaeffer or Karl Barth read Dostoevsky and he's talking to them about God.
Mars Hill: Since we're talking about writers, you called Augustine, Buechner, Chesterton, T.S. Eliot, Lewis, Moltmann, MacDonald, Pascal, Sayers, Thielicke, and Williams your pastors. That doesn't seem like the traditional view of pastoring. In what sense have they pastored you?
PY: As I understand it, pastors do... more
A Conversation with Philip Yancey
Michael Cusick probes the heart of one of Christendom's best thinkers
Copyright © 1994 Mars Hill Review 1 Founded in 1994 · Premier Issue: pgs 89-102.
I pick up the interview in the middle. The rest is here
Mars Hill: Who are you currently drawn to in your own personal reading life?
PY: Well, the most recent book I read was Lancelot by Walker Percy. Percy is one of the unusual persons who writes novels of ideas, especially something like The Thanatos Syndrome, and Second Coming; these are idea novels that aren't so much in vogue these days. They got me interested in Percy, so just last night I started a biography of Percy called Pilgrim in the Ruins, by Jay Tolson. It's a wonderful book. I'm also reading again, The Imitation of Christ, by A'Kempis. I also have about four bookshelves of books I need to get to. Some of them are science by people like Loren Eiseley, Freeman Dyson. Others of them are literature. And I try one night a week to read from the classics, either Shakespeare or one of the Russians. I've just been reading The Creators, by Daniel Boorstin, the Librarian of Congress. It's a massive book on art throughout the centuries. A huge topic and a huge book. I've got to tell you, though, the Christians stand out strong. One of the most recent chapters I read was on Dostoevsky, one of the people who really taught me theology. He's taught the world theology. He's taught people who don't believe in God theology because he is that powerful. People who would never read a book by Francis Schaeffer or Karl Barth read Dostoevsky and he's talking to them about God.
Mars Hill: Since we're talking about writers, you called Augustine, Buechner, Chesterton, T.S. Eliot, Lewis, Moltmann, MacDonald, Pascal, Sayers, Thielicke, and Williams your pastors. That doesn't seem like the traditional view of pastoring. In what sense have they pastored you?
PY: As I understand it, pastors do... more
Pastor's Most Useful Books - George Barna Poll
George Barna, the Gallup of the Christian world, has posted the results of a poll his organization compiled with pastors. They were asked about the books and authors that most influenced them. Rick Warren was the big winner among pastors. For more
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
This may seem a bit strange, but you'll just have to trust me. If you have not read Mere Christianity yet, and you need to be convinced, go to the reviews on Amazon.com and you will get all the convincing you need. Outstanding reviews!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Coming Soon
It had been my intention for this site to be coming together more quickly than it has. Distractions have been the order of the day, but many of these are good distractions. Birthday parties, baby showers for grandchild #3 due any time, church picnics, baseball playoffs for our own baby (Robert - 9.)
Two things will help in my efforts. We added another laptop to the family, so I won't have to stand in line as often, and our new wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling bookcase is supposed to be complete this weekend, allowing me to get my books off the floor and into some kind of order.
Two things you can do to help. Send me lists of your favorites and reviews of your favorites. The more you contribute, the more this resource will bless you and others.
Two things will help in my efforts. We added another laptop to the family, so I won't have to stand in line as often, and our new wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling bookcase is supposed to be complete this weekend, allowing me to get my books off the floor and into some kind of order.
Two things you can do to help. Send me lists of your favorites and reviews of your favorites. The more you contribute, the more this resource will bless you and others.
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Dr. James C. Dobson Offers His Thoughts
FAVORITE BOOKS AND AUTHORS OF DR. DOBSON
The following is a quote from Dr. James C. Dobson in which he cites those books and authors which have impacted his life. (c) 1987 Focus on the Family
Rather than select three or more books which exceed all others in their impact on my life, I prefer to commend the authors whose collection of writings are most highly prized. This is an easier assignment because the best writers require several books to state their cases and leave their mark. Toward that end, I'll mention three individuals who stand together at the top of the heap.
First, I admire the memory of Dr. Francis Schaeffer and the anthology he left to us. He clearly perceived the significant moral issues of our time and articulated the evils that infect the fabric of our society. Even when dying of cancer, he found time and energy to counsel with pregnant young women in front of abortion clinics. Yet he never forgot who he was. Recently, our organization wanted to write a cover story about Dr. Schaeffer for our monthly magazine. We found that it was impossible to obtain an in-studio photograph of this great man. He had no time for such vanity.
Second, I have great appreciation for the writings of Chuck Colson. This man endured one of the most dramatic descents from power in American history. At his zenith, he worked next door to the President of the United States. A few weeks later, he was assigned to a tiny, stinking cell in a federal prison for his role in the Watergate scandal. But the measure of the man became clear when he was released. He could easily have returned to his former life with a six-figure income, a yacht and a New York law practice. Instead, he chose to minister to the prisoners he had learned to love...to the down and outers who were so incredibly needy. This is the man, I recall, whose "Christianity" was mocked and doubted by the media. They no longer scoff. Chuck Colson's best book, I believe, is LOVING GOD. His life is a demonstration of its theme.
Third, for the sheer enjoyment of reading, I would rather spend a weekend with William Manchester than any other writer. He is a master of historical chronology, making people and events come alive. Being a history buff, I especially appreciated DEATH OF A PRESIDENT, AMERICAN CAESAR, and THE LAST LION.
It is difficult to select three writers who stand out above the rest, especially in regards to Christian authors. To choose from among the many men and women whom God has uniquely blessed and gifted is hard, but Dr. Francis Schaeffer and Mr. Chuck Colson certainly deserve to be among the giants.
The following is a quote from Dr. James C. Dobson in which he cites those books and authors which have impacted his life. (c) 1987 Focus on the Family
Rather than select three or more books which exceed all others in their impact on my life, I prefer to commend the authors whose collection of writings are most highly prized. This is an easier assignment because the best writers require several books to state their cases and leave their mark. Toward that end, I'll mention three individuals who stand together at the top of the heap.
First, I admire the memory of Dr. Francis Schaeffer and the anthology he left to us. He clearly perceived the significant moral issues of our time and articulated the evils that infect the fabric of our society. Even when dying of cancer, he found time and energy to counsel with pregnant young women in front of abortion clinics. Yet he never forgot who he was. Recently, our organization wanted to write a cover story about Dr. Schaeffer for our monthly magazine. We found that it was impossible to obtain an in-studio photograph of this great man. He had no time for such vanity.
Second, I have great appreciation for the writings of Chuck Colson. This man endured one of the most dramatic descents from power in American history. At his zenith, he worked next door to the President of the United States. A few weeks later, he was assigned to a tiny, stinking cell in a federal prison for his role in the Watergate scandal. But the measure of the man became clear when he was released. He could easily have returned to his former life with a six-figure income, a yacht and a New York law practice. Instead, he chose to minister to the prisoners he had learned to love...to the down and outers who were so incredibly needy. This is the man, I recall, whose "Christianity" was mocked and doubted by the media. They no longer scoff. Chuck Colson's best book, I believe, is LOVING GOD. His life is a demonstration of its theme.
Third, for the sheer enjoyment of reading, I would rather spend a weekend with William Manchester than any other writer. He is a master of historical chronology, making people and events come alive. Being a history buff, I especially appreciated DEATH OF A PRESIDENT, AMERICAN CAESAR, and THE LAST LION.
It is difficult to select three writers who stand out above the rest, especially in regards to Christian authors. To choose from among the many men and women whom God has uniquely blessed and gifted is hard, but Dr. Francis Schaeffer and Mr. Chuck Colson certainly deserve to be among the giants.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Chuck Colson's Favorites
Chuck Colson's Favorite Books
The following are books identified by Chuck Colson as having been critical to his intellectual and spiritual development.
* C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (and anything else by Lewis, especially The Abolition of Man)
* Francis Schaeffer. How Should We Then Live?
* Francis Schaeffer. The God Who Is There.
* Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The Gulag Archipelago.
* G. K. Chesterton. The Everlasting Man.
* Paul Johnson. Modern Times.
* Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship.
* Fyodor Dostoevsky. The Brothers Karamazov.
* John Bunyan. The Pilgrim's Progress.
* Jerry Bridges. The Pursuit of Holiness.
Chuck also recommends
* Richard John Neuhaus. The Naked Public Square.
The following are books identified by Chuck Colson as having been critical to his intellectual and spiritual development.
* C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (and anything else by Lewis, especially The Abolition of Man)
* Francis Schaeffer. How Should We Then Live?
* Francis Schaeffer. The God Who Is There.
* Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The Gulag Archipelago.
* G. K. Chesterton. The Everlasting Man.
* Paul Johnson. Modern Times.
* Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Cost of Discipleship.
* Fyodor Dostoevsky. The Brothers Karamazov.
* John Bunyan. The Pilgrim's Progress.
* Jerry Bridges. The Pursuit of Holiness.
Chuck also recommends
* Richard John Neuhaus. The Naked Public Square.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
My List - Part 1
Contemplating my own list of the best Christian books of the past 105 years, I am first drawn to the standards such as Mere Christianity, Spirit of the Disciplines, and such. But the book which may have most influenced my life is Bill Hybel's Descending Into Greatness. He was able to fully explain the futility of "things" in a way I have not seen or heard, before or since. I actually took steps to reduce my material goals in favor of relational ones. Look for a review here or at The Truth About Everything later this month.
Maybe another major influence would be J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible. It took two years to read what J. Vernon tells on the radio in 5 years of daily broadcasts. It was worth every minute.
Already reviewed (see side bar) is the best book ever on marriage. Ed Wheat's work, Love Life for Every Married Couple is a triumph for those who are in any stage of marriage. But it goes beyond the self-help style to define love. The Bible is the greatest book on love ever, but Wheat touched me in a special way with his explanation that love is not an emotion, its a choice. If that is a new idea to you, or if you are unclear at all how it plays out, the paperback is usually under $5.
Come back to this space for more tops on my list, more best of lists from Christian leaders, and hopefully lots of suggestions from you, dear reader.
Maybe another major influence would be J. Vernon McGee's Thru the Bible. It took two years to read what J. Vernon tells on the radio in 5 years of daily broadcasts. It was worth every minute.
Already reviewed (see side bar) is the best book ever on marriage. Ed Wheat's work, Love Life for Every Married Couple is a triumph for those who are in any stage of marriage. But it goes beyond the self-help style to define love. The Bible is the greatest book on love ever, but Wheat touched me in a special way with his explanation that love is not an emotion, its a choice. If that is a new idea to you, or if you are unclear at all how it plays out, the paperback is usually under $5.
Come back to this space for more tops on my list, more best of lists from Christian leaders, and hopefully lots of suggestions from you, dear reader.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Free Christian Classics
You've heard about various groups who are posting libraries on the web. Here's one that is posting various Christian classics a bit older than the ones this blog is concentrating on. However, they are free to download for the most part. Some require a membership. Worth a visit. Maybe a few.
Many Missing Titles
I'm enjoying putting this site together as much as anyone. However, I want to thank readers for their words of encouragement at this early stage.
If you look over the lists below, you'll see there are many missing titles. We need you to help out by adding your list. Send it to Randy@Kirks4Jesus.
Please also note that I have listed a few book reviews on the right. Many, many more to follow. I hope to write 50 of my own in the next 90 days. Plus I will be scouring the web for good ones that already exist. Then, of course, I'm hoping some of your readers will review your favorite(s). It is perfectly ok to have more than one review of a book.
My personal goal is to have over 100 reviews by then end of Summer. And these 100 will represent the "must read" list for Christians who read. Help with the effort, PLEASE!
If you look over the lists below, you'll see there are many missing titles. We need you to help out by adding your list. Send it to Randy@Kirks4Jesus.
Please also note that I have listed a few book reviews on the right. Many, many more to follow. I hope to write 50 of my own in the next 90 days. Plus I will be scouring the web for good ones that already exist. Then, of course, I'm hoping some of your readers will review your favorite(s). It is perfectly ok to have more than one review of a book.
My personal goal is to have over 100 reviews by then end of Summer. And these 100 will represent the "must read" list for Christians who read. Help with the effort, PLEASE!
Friday, May 06, 2005
Rick Warren's List of Purpose Books
Rick Warren has listed books that will help to broaden your understanding of the purposes of the Church as he outlined them in Purpose Driven Church and Purpose Driven Life. They are listed below
Books on the Purposes
Worship
Blended Worship: Achieving Substance and Relevance in Worship– Robert E. Webber
Desiring God – John Piper
Experiencing God – Henry Blackaby
Worship Is a Verb: Eight Principles for Transforming Worship – Robert E. Webber Worship Old & New: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Introduction – Robert E. Webber
Worship; Rediscovering the Missing Jewel – Ronald Allen, Gordon Boror
Fellowship
Body Life – Ray Stedman Connecting (on relationships) – Larry Crabb
Connecting (on mentoring) – Paul Stanley and Bobby Clinton
The Nature of the Church – Earl Radmacher
Discipleship
How People Grow; What the Bible reveals about personal growth. - Cloud
Celebration and Discipline – Foster
Working the Angels – Eugene Peterson
The Spirit of Discipline – Dallas Willard
Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges
Conservative Prayer – Rosalyn Rinkler
The Life You’ve Always Wanted to Live – John Ortberg
Ministry
What You Do Best – Bruce Bugbee
Please Understand Me – David Kiersey and Marilyn Bates
The Spiritual Gifts Handbook – Bruce W. Black
Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts – Charles V. Bryant
Unleashing the Church – Frank Tillapaugh
The New Reformation – Greg Ogden
The Body – Chuck Colson
Improving Your Serve – Charles Swindoll
Evangelism
Out of the Saltshaker – Rebecca Pippert
The Master Plan of Evangelism – Robert E. Coleman
How to Give Away Your Faith – Paul Little
The Case for Christ – Lee Strobel
Evidence that Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell
Lifestyle Evangelism – Joe Aldrich
Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
Mobilizing for Compassion – Robert E. Logan and Larry Short
One-Sided Christianity – Ron J. Sider Conspiracy of Kindness – Steve Sjogren
Books on the Purposes
Worship
Blended Worship: Achieving Substance and Relevance in Worship– Robert E. Webber
Desiring God – John Piper
Experiencing God – Henry Blackaby
Worship Is a Verb: Eight Principles for Transforming Worship – Robert E. Webber Worship Old & New: A Biblical, Historical, and Practical Introduction – Robert E. Webber
Worship; Rediscovering the Missing Jewel – Ronald Allen, Gordon Boror
Fellowship
Body Life – Ray Stedman Connecting (on relationships) – Larry Crabb
Connecting (on mentoring) – Paul Stanley and Bobby Clinton
The Nature of the Church – Earl Radmacher
Discipleship
How People Grow; What the Bible reveals about personal growth. - Cloud
Celebration and Discipline – Foster
Working the Angels – Eugene Peterson
The Spirit of Discipline – Dallas Willard
Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges
Conservative Prayer – Rosalyn Rinkler
The Life You’ve Always Wanted to Live – John Ortberg
Ministry
What You Do Best – Bruce Bugbee
Please Understand Me – David Kiersey and Marilyn Bates
The Spiritual Gifts Handbook – Bruce W. Black
Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts – Charles V. Bryant
Unleashing the Church – Frank Tillapaugh
The New Reformation – Greg Ogden
The Body – Chuck Colson
Improving Your Serve – Charles Swindoll
Evangelism
Out of the Saltshaker – Rebecca Pippert
The Master Plan of Evangelism – Robert E. Coleman
How to Give Away Your Faith – Paul Little
The Case for Christ – Lee Strobel
Evidence that Demands a Verdict – Josh McDowell
Lifestyle Evangelism – Joe Aldrich
Mere Christianity – C.S. Lewis
Mobilizing for Compassion – Robert E. Logan and Larry Short
One-Sided Christianity – Ron J. Sider Conspiracy of Kindness – Steve Sjogren
Gold Medalian Awards
You can visit the site of the Evangelical Christian Publisher's Association to see who they think is writing the very best stuff right now. See last years winners, and the top sellers, too.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Randy Alcorn's Favorites
With permission, we reprint Randy Alcorn's favorite books of all types and stripes.
Favorite Novels: (with apologies to Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Dickens, Hemingway, and Steinbeck)
1. The Chronicles of Narnia (7), C. S. Lewis
2. The Lord of the Rings (3), J. R. R. Tolkien
3. Perelandra, C. S. Lewis (closely followed by the other two in the space trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength)
4. The Singer trilogy (including The Song and The Finale), Calvin Miller
5. The Odyssey and The Iliad, Homer
6. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
7. Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
8. The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
9. The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis
10. The Chosen, Chaim Potok
11. In His Steps, Charles Sheldon
12. Pontius Pilate, Paul Maier
13. Paul, Walter Wangerin
14. The Book of God, Walter Wangarin
15. Ben Hur, Lew Wallace
Honorable mention:
The Birth, Gene Edwards;
The Mantle (name later changed to Elijah), William H. Stephens
The First Book I Fell in Love With:
Stadium Beyond the Stars, Milton Lesser (juvenile science fiction I read as a third grader and reread several times in subsequent years; not a great book by anyone's standards, but as Lewis said of George MacDonald's Phantastes, "it baptized my imgination")
Short fiction: short stories, plays or poetry:
Several short stories by Flannery O'Connor, names of which escape me; "Beyond the Horizon," Eugene O'Neill; poetry, "O God, I love thee," by Francis Xaviar.
Booklet: My Heart Christ's Home, Robert Boyd Munger.
Novels I wish were on my list but I've never finished them:
Everything by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Novels that are secretly on my list but I won't admit it:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (and sequels), Douglas Adams
Nonfiction, after the Bible:
1. The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer
2. Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis
3. Knowing God, J. I. Packer
4. Desiring God, John Piper
5. He is There and He is Not Silent, Francis Schaeffer
6. Loving God, Chuck Colson
7. Through Gates of Splendor, Elizabeth Elliot
8. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson
9. Your God is Too Small, J.B. Phillips
10. Tortured for Christ, God's Smuggler, ŒFoxes Book of Martyrs (three books on the suffering church that greatly impacted me many years ago)
Okay, I couldn't stop, so here's the 2nd team nonfiction:
11. Peace Child, Don Richardson
12. The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton
13. Principles of Spiritual Growth, Miles Stanford
14. The Calvary Road, Roy Hession
15. Biography of George Mueller (don't recall author)
16. The Church at the End of the 20th Century, Francis Schaeffer
17. Where is God When it Hurts, Phil Yancey
18. The Joy of Fearing God, Jerry Bridges
19. Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
20. Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer
21. Disciple, Juan Carlos Ortiz
22. Kingdoms in Conflict, Chuck Colson
23. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, Max Lucado
Short nonfiction (essays, sermons, etc):
"The Weight of Glory" and "The World's Last Night," C. S. Lewis; "Our Unclaimed Riches," "The Art of True Worship" and "The World to Come," by A. W. Tozer; "Tyranny of the Urgent," Robert Hummel.
Nonfiction honorable mention:
These are books which I will likely never reread, but which had great impact when I read them. Mainly because at that particular time of life I really needed what they offered. (I see the providence of God in what books He leads me to at what time.):
* Let Justice Roll Down, John Perkins;
* Basic Christianity, John Stott;
* Battle for the Bible, Harold Lindsel;
* The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson;
* Run, Baby, Run, Nicky Cruz;
* Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell;
* Countdown, J.B. Hardy;
* Competent to Counsel, Jay Adams;
* The Gospel According to Jesus, John MacArthur;
* The Life of an American Slave, Frederick Douglas;
* Open Windows, Phil Yancey;
* Between Heaven and Hell, Peter Kreeft;
* When I Relax I Feel Guilty, Tim Hansel;
* Roaring Lambs, Bob Briner;
* Jesus the Revolutionary, H. S. Vigevino;
* The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer;
* The God Who Is There, Francis Schaeffer;
* The Content of our Character, Shelby Steele;
* The Nazi Doctors, Robert Jay Lifton;
* When People Are Big and God is Small, Edward Welch;
* From Jerusalem to Iryan Jaya, Ruth Tucker;
* The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges;
Most powerful books I've read (for first time) in last year:
* The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, John Piper
* The Hidden Smile of God, John Piper
* The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel
* How Now Shall We Live?, Chuck Colson
A cool artsy book:
Beyond Words, Ron DiCianni
Authors on a Desert Island:
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only 1) my Bible and 2) any and all books written by only fifteen modern authors and ten historical authors, whose books I would take with me?
15 Modern authors:
1. C. S. Lewis
2. A.W. Tozer
3. Francis Schaeffer
4. John Piper
5. J. R. R. Tolkien
6. Eugene Petersen
7. Chuck Colson
8. Max Lucado
9. Phil Yancey
10. Calvin Miller
11. Elisabeth Elliot
12. J. I. Packer
13. John R. W. Stott
14. John McArthur
15. Peter Kreeft
10 Authors from Church history:
1. Charles Spurgeon
2. Jonathan Edwards
3. Martin Luther
4. John Calvin
5. John Wesley
6. Augustine
7. Thomas Aquinas
8. John Bunyan
9. Blaise Pascal
10. Tertullian
One Theology Book:
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Other reference books:
Vine's Expository Dictionary
New Compact Topical Bible
The IVP New Testament Background Commentary, Craig Keener
Favorite Novels: (with apologies to Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Dickens, Hemingway, and Steinbeck)
1. The Chronicles of Narnia (7), C. S. Lewis
2. The Lord of the Rings (3), J. R. R. Tolkien
3. Perelandra, C. S. Lewis (closely followed by the other two in the space trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength)
4. The Singer trilogy (including The Song and The Finale), Calvin Miller
5. The Odyssey and The Iliad, Homer
6. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain
7. Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
8. The Complete Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
9. The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis
10. The Chosen, Chaim Potok
11. In His Steps, Charles Sheldon
12. Pontius Pilate, Paul Maier
13. Paul, Walter Wangerin
14. The Book of God, Walter Wangarin
15. Ben Hur, Lew Wallace
Honorable mention:
The Birth, Gene Edwards;
The Mantle (name later changed to Elijah), William H. Stephens
The First Book I Fell in Love With:
Stadium Beyond the Stars, Milton Lesser (juvenile science fiction I read as a third grader and reread several times in subsequent years; not a great book by anyone's standards, but as Lewis said of George MacDonald's Phantastes, "it baptized my imgination")
Short fiction: short stories, plays or poetry:
Several short stories by Flannery O'Connor, names of which escape me; "Beyond the Horizon," Eugene O'Neill; poetry, "O God, I love thee," by Francis Xaviar.
Booklet: My Heart Christ's Home, Robert Boyd Munger.
Novels I wish were on my list but I've never finished them:
Everything by Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Novels that are secretly on my list but I won't admit it:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (and sequels), Douglas Adams
Nonfiction, after the Bible:
1. The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer
2. Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis
3. Knowing God, J. I. Packer
4. Desiring God, John Piper
5. He is There and He is Not Silent, Francis Schaeffer
6. Loving God, Chuck Colson
7. Through Gates of Splendor, Elizabeth Elliot
8. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson
9. Your God is Too Small, J.B. Phillips
10. Tortured for Christ, God's Smuggler, ŒFoxes Book of Martyrs (three books on the suffering church that greatly impacted me many years ago)
Okay, I couldn't stop, so here's the 2nd team nonfiction:
11. Peace Child, Don Richardson
12. The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton
13. Principles of Spiritual Growth, Miles Stanford
14. The Calvary Road, Roy Hession
15. Biography of George Mueller (don't recall author)
16. The Church at the End of the 20th Century, Francis Schaeffer
17. Where is God When it Hurts, Phil Yancey
18. The Joy of Fearing God, Jerry Bridges
19. Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster
20. Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer
21. Disciple, Juan Carlos Ortiz
22. Kingdoms in Conflict, Chuck Colson
23. No Wonder They Call Him the Savior, Max Lucado
Short nonfiction (essays, sermons, etc):
"The Weight of Glory" and "The World's Last Night," C. S. Lewis; "Our Unclaimed Riches," "The Art of True Worship" and "The World to Come," by A. W. Tozer; "Tyranny of the Urgent," Robert Hummel.
Nonfiction honorable mention:
These are books which I will likely never reread, but which had great impact when I read them. Mainly because at that particular time of life I really needed what they offered. (I see the providence of God in what books He leads me to at what time.):
* Let Justice Roll Down, John Perkins;
* Basic Christianity, John Stott;
* Battle for the Bible, Harold Lindsel;
* The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson;
* Run, Baby, Run, Nicky Cruz;
* Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell;
* Countdown, J.B. Hardy;
* Competent to Counsel, Jay Adams;
* The Gospel According to Jesus, John MacArthur;
* The Life of an American Slave, Frederick Douglas;
* Open Windows, Phil Yancey;
* Between Heaven and Hell, Peter Kreeft;
* When I Relax I Feel Guilty, Tim Hansel;
* Roaring Lambs, Bob Briner;
* Jesus the Revolutionary, H. S. Vigevino;
* The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer;
* The God Who Is There, Francis Schaeffer;
* The Content of our Character, Shelby Steele;
* The Nazi Doctors, Robert Jay Lifton;
* When People Are Big and God is Small, Edward Welch;
* From Jerusalem to Iryan Jaya, Ruth Tucker;
* The Pursuit of Holiness, Jerry Bridges;
Most powerful books I've read (for first time) in last year:
* The Legacy of Sovereign Joy, John Piper
* The Hidden Smile of God, John Piper
* The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith, Lee Strobel
* How Now Shall We Live?, Chuck Colson
A cool artsy book:
Beyond Words, Ron DiCianni
Authors on a Desert Island:
If I had to go on a desert island and could have only 1) my Bible and 2) any and all books written by only fifteen modern authors and ten historical authors, whose books I would take with me?
15 Modern authors:
1. C. S. Lewis
2. A.W. Tozer
3. Francis Schaeffer
4. John Piper
5. J. R. R. Tolkien
6. Eugene Petersen
7. Chuck Colson
8. Max Lucado
9. Phil Yancey
10. Calvin Miller
11. Elisabeth Elliot
12. J. I. Packer
13. John R. W. Stott
14. John McArthur
15. Peter Kreeft
10 Authors from Church history:
1. Charles Spurgeon
2. Jonathan Edwards
3. Martin Luther
4. John Calvin
5. John Wesley
6. Augustine
7. Thomas Aquinas
8. John Bunyan
9. Blaise Pascal
10. Tertullian
One Theology Book:
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology
Other reference books:
Vine's Expository Dictionary
New Compact Topical Bible
The IVP New Testament Background Commentary, Craig Keener
Saturday, April 30, 2005
The Big Adventure
Today is the launch of a project that has been my heart's desire for a very long time. The internet has changed many things, and one of those is that good books can live forever, and be readily available as long as they are useful. Hundreds of new books enter commerce each year, and readers scramble to figure out which of those to read. But there are classics that are commonly going to produce a much more valuable use of the reader's time. This site is devoted to listing those classics.
Three things will be going on here. 1. We will begin a list of all the classics that we can find. We will be looking for input from anyone and everyone for titles and reviews. We will eventually start voting on these to create an order of best to least best. We will also attempt to have one or more reviews of every one of these books posted here and or linked here.
2. We will have "best of category" listings. These will be broken down into as many subcategories as necessary. So Parenting might have parenting infants, parenting preteens, parenting teenagers, parenting girls, etc. Once again we look for your imput for titles and reviews.
3. We will seek lists from notable Christian leaders as to their favorite books. These might be the books that changed their lives the most or just plain good reads.
Send me your ideas, your titles, your reviews. If you have a blog, post your review there as well, and we will link to it.
Three things will be going on here. 1. We will begin a list of all the classics that we can find. We will be looking for input from anyone and everyone for titles and reviews. We will eventually start voting on these to create an order of best to least best. We will also attempt to have one or more reviews of every one of these books posted here and or linked here.
2. We will have "best of category" listings. These will be broken down into as many subcategories as necessary. So Parenting might have parenting infants, parenting preteens, parenting teenagers, parenting girls, etc. Once again we look for your imput for titles and reviews.
3. We will seek lists from notable Christian leaders as to their favorite books. These might be the books that changed their lives the most or just plain good reads.
Send me your ideas, your titles, your reviews. If you have a blog, post your review there as well, and we will link to it.
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