Good books help us navigate life. The best book is the Bible. If you can read, you can learn just about anything. The key to reading is finding a book or books that you really enjoy or find very interesting. Read books that deal with what you are going through. Some books are like conversations with saints who have walked through life before us and want to share their wisdom. I'm thankful for and helped by those books.Here's what I'm currently reading:
- the Bible, specifically Job and Galatians
- Just As I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham.
- I've always respected Billy Graham. He seems to be one of those people who is finishing his life well. This is a long book. I've enjoyed getting to know Billy and learning about his ministry. I'm thankful I'm almost done with it, though.
- A Resilient Life by Gordan MacDonald
- I first learned about Gordon MacDonald as a student at the University of Miami. He was the president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, an organization that I was involved with. He wrote a very popular book called Ordering Your Private World. I picked up A Resilient Life at a Christian bookstore in Canada when I felt like I needed a spiritual lift. I just started it and have been very encouraged. Gordon certainly has been a Christian who has run many laps around the track. He insists that "one must anticipate that the greatest contributions God has for us to make will happen in the second half of life." For those who are under forty years old, he states that "most of what you're doing now is simply running the first laps of the race."
- I was reading On Being A Pastor by Alistar Beggs, but it got packed and is now in our storage unit somewhere.
7 comments:
Hi Pat! I am currently reading:
All the doctrines of the Bible by Hebert Lockyer
Hell You Say! by Carl G. Johnson
I am using this hell book to write devotionals on different aspects on hell and everlasting punishment on http://www.sermonindex.net The other book is really helping me look scripturally at doctrines of the bible. Its a great volume. Here is a great quote from it:
"It is only when we come to the Book as babes and allow it to critize us, then learn like Isaiah to 'tremble at His word' (Isaiah 66:2,5), that the door is opened as if by a magic hand, and we behold tresures untold, and rejoice over such, as one that findeth great spoil, 'If I meditate upon any portion of Holy Writ' said Martin Luther, 'it shines and burns in my heart.'" -Hebert Lockyer
thanks
Greg
I just realized I can comment here! I have recently read "Prayer The Great Adventure" by David Jeremiah and "No Compromise", the biography of Keith Green.
Hi Pat & Janet, great to hear about Caleb's safe arrival. I'm praying for you.
I'm currently reading J. Hudson Taylor's biography. What an encouraging, challenging book.
Blessings upon you all,
Love in Christ,
Joan
Greg,
Devotions about hell are a great idea. As part of a spiritual discipline, I've thought about reading different topical devotions on a monthly or yearly basis. For example, go through Bob Hoekstra's devos on grace, then read Jon Courson's devotional one year etc.
The quote from Lockyer is a good one. The ONLY way we can approach the Bible is with a heart and life ready to receive. I've learned this from personal experience.
Wendy,
I've not heard of "The Spirit of the Disciplines." I'm assuming it's related to Foster's book, "A Celebration of Discipline."
I will make it a point to put Chuck Smith Jr.'s book on my "To Be Read" list. I've been to his church in Capo Beach a couple times and was quite impressed. He preached a sermon on one of the Psalms that I thought was outstanding.
Wendy,
I can't say I'm familiar with the situation that you are referring to. However, I do know a bit of Gordan MacDonald's history. He also wrote a book called, "Restoring Your Broken World." Have you read that?
Is McManus the one who wrote "A New Kind of Christian?" or something like that? It should probably go on my ever growing "To Read" list.
Never heard of Greg Paul.
As far as the post-abortion ministry - way to go!
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