Well here is Volume 2 of my list. There are so many that I have read over the years that have blessed me and that God has used. This list is not exhaustive but merely reflects those that have had the most profound impact on me. Most of these I have read many times. My goal with this present project is cover ground that I my have forgotten.
Some have ask me would I consider doing a similar list for movies and songs. I will if enough people are interested but it may be awhile since I feel I need to cover some other things in my next few blogs.
So here is the list. Please leave comments here on the blog or by facebook or email. Thank all of you who have commented it has been very encouraging.
Let Us Praise- Judson Cornwall. Reminded me that when it is all said and done I was made to worship and to do so makes us aware of the presence of God.
Messy Spirituality and Dangerous Wonder- Mike Yaconelli. The day Mike died I sat in my chair and cried this heaving aching crying. I ask the Lord why it hurt so badly. What came to mind was “there are so few who shine the love of Christ this brightly”. Amen
Ragamuffin Gospel- Brennan Manning. OMG literally. The cross never looked so beautiful.
Daring to Draw Near-John White. God used this book to help me see prayer as a two-way conversation.
Intimate Intercession-Trica Rhodes. Good books on prayer make you want to put it down and start praying. I almost never finished this book.
God Moment Principle- Alan Wright. Alan Wright is one of those treasures so few know about. Deep water and well worth the swim.
Work of Heart and The Present Future- Reggie McNeal. Work of Heart is the single best book I have ever read on how God shapes us.
How We Grow- Townsend and Cloud- in my 30+ years of following Christ, this is the best book I have ever read on spiritual growth.
Divine Conspiracy; Hearing God; and Spirit of the Disciplines. -Dallas Willard. The Divine Conspiracy – Richard Foster describes it as the book he had been waiting for all his life, I agree. Awesome. I read this for the first time as I was also reading the Sacred Romance for the first time. Together they were like a glass of cold water after a day working in the yard. My heart said “at last someone is saying what I have been thinking and feeling.”
Dangerous Duty of Delight- John Piper. This is a way scaled down version of Desiring God. This little book captures the heart of the larger work. Joy is my birthright in Christ but I have to fight for it. Thank God for John Piper.
So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore- Wayne Jacobson and Dave Coleman. - Man this little parable God used to set me free from the tyranny thinking religiously about church.
Pursuit of God- A.W. Tozer. What can I say. If you have read this you know. This should be required reading for all believers.
Religious Affections and Freedom of the Will-Jonathan Edwards. Edwards’ clarity of thought and sound Biblical wisdom captured my heart early in my walk with Christ. Indeed if I were forced to reduce my list of favorite authors down to 3 or 4, Edwards would be on the list.
Institutes of the Christian Religion- John Calvin. Again his clarity of thought, even when I disagreed with him helped me to root my theology in Scripture.
He Loves Me-Wayne Jacobson. What I call the other side of the cross. The cross not as just punish for sin. The cross as the cure for sin. God used this book to remind me that God did not need the cross to love me, I needed it to love Him. The sacrifice was all His.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Ancient Paths Volume One
Recently my friend Keith and I were discussing Jesus’ knack of asking questions. Even when He was asked questions He would often respond with another question. Jesus knew full well that a truth discovered has far greater impact than one that is merely told. He always knew the right thing to say to draw people out and deal with a God who was far bigger, more present, and more awesome than pat answers, tired dogma, and lifeless morality.
Through the years Jesus has used books to answer my question and to give me the right questions to ask. Not surprisingly I have been encouraged, provoked, challenged, convicted, and cherished. The books seemed to come at just the time. As the Scriptures say “they shall all be taught of God”.
The last few months I have had this whispering in my heart to re-read some of those books to revisit those themes that have been so pivotal in my journey with Christ.
If the me of 23 years old were to meet the me now at 53 my earlier self would most likely deem me a heretic. This is as it should be though. If I indeed I have a relationship with a living God as I get to know Him my understanding of Him should grow and change.
However what has not changed is the impact these books have had on me. To re-read them is like reading old love letters. My heart warms again and I remember the love of God revealed in those works. Far from mere sentimentality, this process is a means to prevent or correct spiritual drifting. Jeremiah said stand at the crossroads and ask for the ancient paths and walk in them. Sound wisdom.
Here is a list of the first few. I call this volume 1.
Knowing God-by J.I. Packer-this was perhaps the biggest influence early in my walk with Christ.
How Should We Then Live; True Spirituality; He is There and He is Not Silent- all by Francis Schaeffer- how the modern church has forgotten his profound wisdom. I will start with True Spirituality.
Normal Christian Life- by Watchman Nee-this should be required reading for all Christians. Contains perhaps the best exposition of Romans 5-6 ever.
The Jesus I Never Knew; What’s So Amazing About Grace- by Philip Yancey- of all the authors I have read, Yancey and C.S. Lewis have had the biggest impact. I constantly read them and I am nourished, challenged, etc..
Sacred Romance; and Waking The Dead-both by John Eldredge- I cannot thank God enough for Eldredge. God has used his works to restore to me the joy of my salvation and the true heart of the gospel.
Authentic Christianity- by Ray Stedman- as a young Christian I often wondered why the church in Bible was so different than what I was seeing around me. God used Ray Stedman to answer that question.
Mere Christianity-by C.S. Lewis-I “discovered” Lewis of all places in a high school literature book. I figured he was going to slam Christianity! I remember vividly saying out loud “you mean Christians can think!” I cannot say enough about C.S. Lewis.
Through the years Jesus has used books to answer my question and to give me the right questions to ask. Not surprisingly I have been encouraged, provoked, challenged, convicted, and cherished. The books seemed to come at just the time. As the Scriptures say “they shall all be taught of God”.
The last few months I have had this whispering in my heart to re-read some of those books to revisit those themes that have been so pivotal in my journey with Christ.
If the me of 23 years old were to meet the me now at 53 my earlier self would most likely deem me a heretic. This is as it should be though. If I indeed I have a relationship with a living God as I get to know Him my understanding of Him should grow and change.
However what has not changed is the impact these books have had on me. To re-read them is like reading old love letters. My heart warms again and I remember the love of God revealed in those works. Far from mere sentimentality, this process is a means to prevent or correct spiritual drifting. Jeremiah said stand at the crossroads and ask for the ancient paths and walk in them. Sound wisdom.
Here is a list of the first few. I call this volume 1.
Knowing God-by J.I. Packer-this was perhaps the biggest influence early in my walk with Christ.
How Should We Then Live; True Spirituality; He is There and He is Not Silent- all by Francis Schaeffer- how the modern church has forgotten his profound wisdom. I will start with True Spirituality.
Normal Christian Life- by Watchman Nee-this should be required reading for all Christians. Contains perhaps the best exposition of Romans 5-6 ever.
The Jesus I Never Knew; What’s So Amazing About Grace- by Philip Yancey- of all the authors I have read, Yancey and C.S. Lewis have had the biggest impact. I constantly read them and I am nourished, challenged, etc..
Sacred Romance; and Waking The Dead-both by John Eldredge- I cannot thank God enough for Eldredge. God has used his works to restore to me the joy of my salvation and the true heart of the gospel.
Authentic Christianity- by Ray Stedman- as a young Christian I often wondered why the church in Bible was so different than what I was seeing around me. God used Ray Stedman to answer that question.
Mere Christianity-by C.S. Lewis-I “discovered” Lewis of all places in a high school literature book. I figured he was going to slam Christianity! I remember vividly saying out loud “you mean Christians can think!” I cannot say enough about C.S. Lewis.
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