like sparknotes for your Christian walk

Jesus Among Other Gods by Ravi Zacharias

2006-10-09T01:49:00.000-04:00

A glance at the title of this book might lead one to believe it is a work of comparative religion, which in some ways it is. However, instead of weighing the similarities and dissimilarities of competing world religions Zacharias places the majority of his focus on Jesus and Jesus alone. His defense of the uniqueness of Christ falls along categorical lines. By virtue of Christ’s specific claims He is by the very essence of who He is different from all other god’s. Once this conclusion is reached it is relatively easy to see why Christianity is incompatibile with a pluralistic society.

What is most commendable about this book is not the specific arguments presented so much as the method of argumentation employed. While Zacharias does cover a large number of topics and does so thoroughly and effectively, it is impossible to prepare an answer for every attempt to marginalize, reduce or dismiss the claims of Jesus. However, by following the flow of Zacharias’ reasoning one gains incredible insight into the mechanics of dismantling competing world views by means of their own inadequacies and illogic.

In conclusion I would just like to shout out a big thank you to Becky and Amanda for giving me this book. I loved it!! Baptist girls give the best gifts!

The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell

2006-10-07T09:15:00.000-04:00

This book was a refreshing change from what I'm used to. Most Christian books will tell you something wrong with you or someone else and then tell you how to fix it. 'The Tipping Point' point is purely descriptive, and not surprisingly not Christian (why can't we write descriptive books? I'm sure someone has).

Gladwell outlines the steps, factors, whatever that need to occur to make an small-time idea a big-time reality. He shows how different types of people play key roles. For instance, 'Mavens' are they type of people to find good ideas, and 'Connectors' are the ones to hook everyone up with the idea. It's a really fascinating book, and from what I've heard Malcolm Gladwell is a reliable source.

I'd encourage anyone who is interested in how trends in thinking come about, or who seek to influence trends in thinking (say, get people thinking they should be changing the world) to read this book.

The Greatest Lesson I've Ever Learned

2006-09-12T23:26:00.000-04:00

Edited by Dr. Bright, this book is a compilation of 50 of North America's most famous Christian men (there a women's version too, and a combined version).
The best part about this book is the variety of authors, all giving their honest stories. Many focused on tough issues like faith, evangelism, and suffering. Bright just told one of his transferable concepts... a man of a few profound lessons (How to Love by Faith).
This book has some real gold, mainly from people you haven't heard of. Some of the big names didn't ring with me so much, but people I haven't heard of had some great stuff. One guy in particular hit me, I don't remember his name, but he was in charge of something for Cru. He had this giant hotel problem for a conference... times a weekly meeting booking problem by 10 000. And in the end, God came through, and he got this verse "He who called you is faithful, he will surely do it" 1 Thess 5:24. I'm gonna keep that verse for me.

People should read this book because it tells how people dealt with their problems. They model by life, the best way to learn. It can be a little boring sometimes, whatever.

the Radical Reformission & Confessions of a Reformission Rev.

2006-09-11T21:04:00.000-04:00

While i was in Edmonton, i had the opportunity to read these two books by Mark Driscoll.

The only two things i had ever really heard about Mark Driscoll were that he was the cussing pastor in Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz and that Johnny Pipes speaks highly of him (seeing as he is one of the speakers at this year's Desiring God conference). This dichotomy left me confused and curious, so i decided to check him out. What i found, for the most part, is that i like Mark Driscoll and accept Piper's opinion of him.

The Radical Reformission
If you want to read the books in order (which is actually a good idea), this book would be the one you would start with. In this book, Driscoll defines the term Reformission as "the radical call for Christians and Christian churches to recommit to living and speaking the gospel...[with the goal of] continually unleashing the gospel to do its work of reforming dominant cultures and church subcultures...[It is] the gathering of the best aspects of...living in the tension of being Christians and churches who are culturally liberal yet theologically conservative and who are driven by the gospel of grace to love their Lord, brothers and neighbors."
In his own words, "the book focuses on issues related to the scriptural content of the gospel and the cultural context of its ministry."

A great characteristic of this book is its structure. Each chapter is broken down into teachings of the scripture, repentance, practical applications for action and then questions we can ask ourselves.

Another superb facet of this book is its emphasis on the gospel of Christ. My worries about Driscoll being another Brian McLaren dissipated when i noted the centrality of Christ in the book.

There are certain qualms i have with this book namely that Driscoll sometimes makes broad sweeping statements such as "the parachurch (he gives Campus Crusade for Christ as an example) tends to love the Lord and love its neighbours, but not to love its brothers." While his statements DO hold some relevance, sometimes his flippant remarks tend to be overgeneralizations. Additionally, i feel as though sometimes Driscoll takes culture to be more neutral in its impact on Christians than it really is.

On the whole though, the Radical Reformission, is a pretty good read. If you want a better synopsis see Tim Challies who does a very thorough examination of the book.

Confessions of a Reformission Rev.
This, i found to be the better book. i found it to be more practical and Driscoll's train of thought easier to follow. The book is essentially the biography of Mars Hill Church (the church that Driscoll founded and where he pastors). The chapters are divided based on the growth in size that was experienced by the church.

i don't have much to say about this book, except that i found it to be PHENOMENAL. Driscoll is funny but also ensures that there is much that can be gleaned from each chapter. He points out difficult lessons learned by the church, and the thoughts that went through his mind during these times. He also gives VERY practical applications for the reader who wants to see his/her church grow. His ability to candidly and humbly point out failures so that we can glean from them is what makes the book so poignant and such a great read. Its definitely a must read, and is applicable for a wide range of people. Driscoll makes some pretty hilarious comments (some of which you can find here) and also some very thought-provoking comments.
its a great book...so what are you waiting for? go read it!

An EXTRAORDINARY book.

2006-09-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

While I was home in Edmonton, I had the rare chance of being able to read many a book. The best one by far, however, was Twelve Extraordinary Women by Johnny Mac (John MacArthur).

I didn't exactly get what I anticipated, upon the opening of the cover. Usually, I find MacArthur's work pretty expository. This time, however, MacArthur used a different style..and I loved it! The book essentially details the lives of twelve different women in the Bible (Eve, Sarah, Rahab, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, Anna, The Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene and Lydia).

In the character sketches, MacArthur uses historical fact and Biblical truth to give the reader a clear understanding of how the lives of these twelve women point to Christ. MacArthur is skilled in drawing meaning from the Biblical text, and provides evidence to back up his thoughts. Like a skilled debater, he even predicts those things the readers will question and provides any necessary clarifications for things which might, at first, seem problematic.

The highlight of the book is that though it is written about the lives of twelve women, it is clear that the book is really not about exalting these women, but rather exalting the risen Lord. Each chapter points out that the lives of these women were extraordinary because they believed in an extraordinary God.

I loved this book! I found it extremely informative and practical in its application. Furthermore, though it may be stereotyped as a book for women, it is DEFINITELY a book that i would encourage brothers to read as well. What is gleaned from the book is applicable to both men and women!

Amazing Faith, the Authorized Biography of Bill Bright

2006-08-21T22:10:00.000-04:00

i might be a bit late on jumping on the bandwagon for this book amongst my C4C peers, but for those of you who are even later...hehehe

this book is the biography of the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, International, Dr. Bill Bright. it starts from his birth, breezes through his childhood and adolescence, and then starts to get detailed at his conversion.

it's a good read. it's easy and enjoyable for crusaders and non-crusaders alike. the one thing that stands out about Dr. Bill Bright is his amazing faith; not just stuff about Campus Crusade for Christ although there is a lot of about it in there. so anyone can learn a lesson or two about living by faith by reading this book.

i personally find it challenging and inspiring. planning on lending this book out as recruitment for projects, stint, and staff. :P

reviews galore...coming soon to a blog near you.

2006-08-18T00:44:00.000-04:00

i am DONE summer school.
+
i'm headed to the most boring place on the face of this earth (i exaggerate).

=

many book reviews coming soon! amazon.ca has been lovely to me. i received Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur yesterday. i'm about half-way through it. i also purchased Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and its Implications by D.A. Carson today.
Also on the reading list are The Radical Reformission: Reaching out without Selling out and Confessions of a Reformission Rev both by Mark Driscoll.

Soooo, stay tuned (you KNOW you're excited)! i anticipate to finish these books in just over 2 weeks, at which time y'all will definitely enjoy some in depth reviews.

Jesus' Resurrection: Fact or Figment?

2006-08-16T15:32:00.000-04:00

This book provides a very balanced approach to the debate on the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's contributors are made up of 2 non-Christians, 2 Christians, and one pseudo-Christian dude. I really enjoyed it, found some of the articles challenging (to the point of discouragment) and others really encouraging (like punching the air with my fist as truth meets skepticism).
You gotta be into apologetics to like this book, and you gotta look around for it too. But it's a solid read to pass on to anyone looking for a pretty fair approach to the greatest event in history.

Something that is very worth taking a look at

2006-08-03T19:40:00.000-04:00

My good friend and supervisor for the summer, Nick Hill, has posted a list of the top ten books that people aren't reading but should be reading (especially people involved in youth ministry). Very cool. These are books that would be good to at least investigate.

The Knowledge of the Holy

2006-08-02T10:54:00.000-04:00

So i stole a book from a dear friend of mine, Parker....and haven't returned it to him yet. i doubt he'll get it back before he leaves for Asia. i'ma planning on keeping it. haha.

This is a little book--a VERY quick read--filled with delicious little gems of insight pertaining to the character of God.

Tozer starts off by explaining why it is crucial that we think rightly about God:

"perverted notions about God soon rot the religion in which they appear."
"the masses of her (a church which surrenders its high opinion of God) adherents come to believe that God is different from what He actually is; and that is heresy of the most insidious and deadly kind."

He then proceeds to discuss the attributes and nature of God. Each chapter of the book commences with a powerful (and stunningly beautiful) prayer, and then proceeds to discuss a divine aspect of God, such as the Holy Trinity, the self-existence of God, His self-sufficiency, His eternal nature, His goodness, His omnipresence...

However, what i dislike about this book, is its lack of Biblical reference. What Tozer remarks is clear when one reads the Bible, however, he would have done well to integrate references to specific Bible passages. Nevertheless, this is also a good book for our "thinker" seeker friends--but ONLY if they're the kind that are willing to put a bit of effort into reading a book. it definitely is not as contemporary as Donald Miller, seeing as it was published in 1961.

Two cool books

2006-08-01T10:37:00.001-04:00

"A Fish out of Water: 9 Essential Strategies to Improve your Leadership," George Barna.
This book is hardcore. Barna is think-tank in himself and gives very practical, in-depth lessons on how to handle certain leadership situations. He'll give you a step-by-analysis on how to use conflict to strengthen your team and achieve a desired decision (it's almost manipulative!). This book throws a lot of info at you, so it's a long read. Take notes.

"Personal Disciplemaking," Christopher Adsit.
Get this book. It has two sections on discipleship. The first is basic principles, for example, the three basic pillars of discipleship: Prayer, Relationship, and Content. Under relationship comes a good quote, "Most things of importance are better caught than taught."
In section two he gives 20 lessons for a growing believer. He gives you pretty much everything you need. It's like a textbook in this way.
So again, get this book, it'll be at WC.

God's Smuggler - Brother Andrew

2006-08-01T10:21:00.000-04:00

This book is pretty fun, a great read and a fairly fast one too. What I loved most is how Brother Andrew threw himself into so many situations where all he had was a prayer. He went to a Bible school without knowing the language fully, or even being accepted. But he got hooked up and began his studies. He's crossed numerous borders with Bibles in plain view of guards when their searching for them, and has gone through without a hitch. The man has crazy faith.
What else was cool was having the book start at his childhood, allowing us to see how God prepared him. He wasn't always as in tune with God, and it took some bullets and a beautiful woman to whip him into shape.

My criticism would be that it could be dangerous trying to extract theology or principles out of some of his personal convictions.
(you know what the coolest thing is? This book was standard reading for KGB operatives back in 70-80s).

sharing your faith with friends and family - Michael Green

2006-07-29T16:26:00.000-04:00

I really love this book. It is an easy read (might take low on the go all of one afternoon to polish off), and is scriptural. He opens with a case for the need to be evangelistic (I don't think I need to explain this. The gospels and the book of Acts sum that up pretty well.) He also gives lots of practical ways to "build bridges" between you and the people that you want to minister to and share the gospel with. He claims that chasm between Christian and secular culture is wide but that we must gaurd against thinking that unbelievers are irreligious, immoral, or on the other hand, have tons of good arguments against what you believe. In the following chapters he gives more examples of how to identify with our culture in a way that makes our gospel look like what it actually is: something that is RELEVANT and has been relevant since it was written.

The thing I love about this guy, who is in his 70s or something, is that he sees the need relate to our times without sacrificing our timeless message. He is exactly what the emergent guys should be, but aren't. Like our friend Don Miller, Green stresses the importance of creating a favourable climate for a spiritual conversation to take place. He says people will be most open when they are most at ease. I agree.

He has a few steps to a good approach to a spiritual convo.

1. Speak with modesty. We aren't selling something. We MUST be sensitive.

2. Speak with confidence. Paul said, "I know whom I have believed and I am convinced...ect."

3. Speak with enthusiasm. So many people are unthrilled about their faith. Maybe because all they have is religion but WE have discovered Jesus.

4. Be natural. We need to learn to move on and off the subject of Jesus with ease.

5. Watch the language. We Christians love our lingo. Non-Christians don't love our lingo. Learn to give illustrations that are parallel to their interests or area of study.

6. Timing. He says, "the right thing at the wrong time can be a minor disaster." This is when we need to be close to the Lord. If were are walking close to him, we wont miss his quiet, guiding whispers. We will be more on the ball when he gives us an opening or opportunity.

Here is a good quote for you:

One of the things we need to do if we are to help people to Christ is to puncture the apathy about ultimate issues, the cocoon of surface happiness with which our friends tend to protect themselves.

Then next few chapters are about the process of leading someone to make the decision and how to follow them up. In one of the final chapters he touches on the mistakes that we can make in evangelism and shows how to avoid them. It is all great stuff that is backed by his 50 odd years of experience and scriptural mindset.

at Risk: Bringing Hope to Hurting Teenagers (Ugly Cover; Great Content)

2006-07-23T20:10:00.000-04:00

I'm reading this book because it was given to me from my supervisor Nick. The cover is nasty and tacky but it is full of great stuff. To read to first chapter, go here. It tells the (success) story about a boy named Kevin. The thing I love about the book is that it is not full success stories but is actually quite realistic and practical. It would be great for anyone going into ministry because there are always going to be 'hurting teenagers.'

The chapter I loved most is about fathers and mothers in Christ. This is what Paul was for Onesimus. We can have a profound impact on someones life by being a father or mother in Christ to them. I agree with just punishment but when it comes to teens (and when used reasonably with adults) the cure for the type of anger that produces violent crime is acceptance rather than 'more prisons, tougher laws, and stiffer punishments." This acceptance is to be like the type that Christ extends to us: unconditional and never condoning wrong action.

He goes on to speak about the type of behaviour to expect from youth who either have no mother, or no father, or both and the differences of each. He explains the proper role of a father or mother in Christ and also what it is not. All the while he is drawing parallels with Paul and Onesimus from the book of Philemon. In other words, the guy is Biblical (that was for you amac).

He dedicates an entire chapter to identity in Christ. He says, "it must be the crux of how we disciples young believers." He stresses that we must live out our own identity in Christ so that those we minister to can 'hear, see, and touch the life of a committed Christian."

He touches on boundaries and how to manage rebellion. It is all very exellent and convincing because his entire life has been dedicated to this work. Therefore he knows his stuff. The book is full of stories that illustrate his point whether they are encouraging or discouraging. He presents stories of boys who have left his care on bad terms and have gone on to continue a life of sin and rebellion. I love his honesty.

Near the end of the book he speaks about our need to be advocates for the youth that we minister to. I love that because it reminded me of Christ who is my advocate with God the Father.

"Ruined for the Ordinary: The Adventure of Hearing and Obeying God's Voice" (Joy Dawson)

2006-07-07T14:19:00.000-04:00

Joy Dawson writes on a topic many of us are unfamiliar and uncomfortable with (me included, why I read it).
For those of us foreign to the idea of hearing God's voice, this is a good read. She gives good reasons why it's for every believer, and conditions that should be met to hear God (humility, faith, confession, a submissive will). She also provides ways between discerning between God's voice, our voice, and the devil's.
My favourite theme that runs through the book, and which she nails on the head near the end, is obedience. It's easy to see she has a white-hot desire to obey God, and find her fulfillment only in Him.

One thing that really caught me about this book was that it's not the sound mind theory, where someone prayerfully weighs biblical values and decides. In more ways than one it really flies in the face of such logical thinking, and exhorts readers to simply listen. As of now, I don't agree with Ms. Dawson completely, but I am putting most of what she said to practice, and it's been pretty helpful in drawing closer to God, and making some good decisions. I say people should really check this topic out.

a sampler of many treats.

2006-06-26T11:32:00.000-04:00

This has definitely been a reading summer for me, and i've read some real gems in the past few weeks. So instead of blogging about each one, i thought i'd post all the ones i enjoyed with a brief synopsis. All of these are highly recommended, so y'all can check them out for yourselves, instead of hearing me ramble on about them ^_^

Questioning Evangelism: Engaging People's Hearts the Way Jesus Did
Randy Newman

This is a book we studied together as a Montreal Staff team--its by far the best PRACTICAL book i've read on evangelism. The book starts off by teaching the reader to ask questions instead of giving answers straight off the bat. In reading the first couple of chapters, the reader learns that by asking questions, we can actually address deeper underlying needs, as well as pave the way for answers to be given and ultimately the gospel to be presented. Part II of the book addresses some tough questions that people might ask such as, "Why are Christians so homophobic?" or "Why should we believe an ancient book written by dead Jewish males?" or "Why are Christians so intolerant?" Newman gives creative ways to address these questions, and anticipates rebuttals that we, as Christians, will often hear from people we are sharing with. I'd highly recommend this book as a summer read; it will be useful to have read this book before heading back onto campus in September.

Postcards from Corinth
edited by Rick James and Betty Churchill

Well, for those of y'all who went to Summit 2 years ago, Rick James was the guy who spoke about defecating in some random person's basement during a marathon. Regardless of that sketchy story, he's done a good job writing for and compiling this book. The book is essentially a book on discipleship. it's comprised of numerous articles written by different cru staff members, and is pretty much a gem. There are six sections in the book. The first section deals with the goals of discipleship, the second with different sin struggles disciplers may have to deal with their disciples. The third section includes an article for men and an article for women--addressing needs that each gender will have in terms of discipleship. The fourth section details the essentials in ministry (i.e. Satisfied? Follow-up), the fifth includes some quick articles and the final section (primarily written by Roger Hershey) talks about the fundamentals like selection and foundational crusade discipleship topics. Also a summer must-read. It'll definitely prepare you for the upcoming school year :) Like Questioning Evangelism, it is also a humourous and quick read.

Blue Like Jazz
Donald Miller

Admittedly, y'all have probably already read this. I was a little slow on the uptake. You know, the rebellious nature in me refusing to read any popular books that people usually swoon about. However, i got this book free from Andy and Loni, so i thought i'd check it out. And what d'ya know...it was actually captivating. Its definitely a quick read--i finished it in less than 2 hours--but its also a beautiful read. Granted, there are some things i wouldn't agree with, and Miller teeters on the verge of being a bit po-mo...but isn't full out po-mo and is actually quite enjoyable. He's blunt and poetic and truthful. He doesn't avoid confrontational topics, but rather jumps right into them, and explains Jesus in a refreshingly new way. Its an especially good book to give any of your seeker friends.

Phillip Yancey, "What's so Amazing about Grace?"

2006-06-24T12:15:00.000-04:00

YEAH! I loved this book. Yancey is not a Piper/Spurgeon guy, where it's slow and methodical. Kinda like a fine wine... someone once told me.
Anyhow, Yancey's big claim is that the church is the only institution capable of dispensing grace. everything else works on systems of merit. As recipients of JC, Christians have this supernatural ability, and should be using it.
Yancey cited stats that show Evangelicals are often as tied to divorce, porn, abuse and everyone else. He also pointed outhow Christians often act on ungrace, resulting in lots of unconfessed, unchecked immorality and judgement.
I really appreciated how he was able to pin most of the churches lack of saltiness on a lack of grace. It puts a way better spin on the problem. We don't need to just better our morality, but demonstrate unconditional love to each other as we seek to improve.

On a personal level, Yancey hit me well. I think for a while I'd been (and still am) operating on a 'earn God's favour by doing good Christian stuff' scale. I knew about the grace of God, but I had begun to treat it like something to be recieved at a later date or something. But a quote that struck me was (off of memory) "God's love for you right now is 100%. No good you do can increase that, no evil can decrease it." Man that's sweet to the heart.

the birth order connection

2006-05-15T19:07:00.000-04:00

the birth order connection...finding and keeping the love of your life. i know it's another relationship book. so what does it have to do with our christian walk? well it's important to choose wisely when it comes to life partners right? right! what's different about this book is that the author, dr. leman suggests that the birth order (the order in which a person enters his/her family) plays a significant role in shaping the personality and character of a person because family dynamics change with the addition of a new member.

here's a brief summary
first borns like to take charge. they are the leaders. they are also moody and intimidating.

middle borns are hard to categorize because they can be a middle born in a family of 5 or a family of 8. it depends on how many other siblings there are and the age difference. they're calm and great listeners, but they also have boundary issues.

last borns have strong people skills, but get bored easily.

onlys are like first borns, but more intense. we are the mega-movers of this world, but we're also unforgiving, demanding, and hate to admit that we're wrong.

there are exceptions to the rule. the number and gender of the siblings also has an effect on the characters especially the middle borns.

certain birth orders are more compatible with one another in marriage. onlys, first-borns, and middle borns are the most compatible with the last borns, while the last borns are most compatible with the first borns.

the first 25% focuses on this specifically, and then the rest of the book is on other stuff that needs to be known to choose a suitable mate. while it was interesting to read dr. leman's theory on the birth order i felt that it was too deterministic. he made it sound like you were stuck with whatever birth order you're born with. like you can never change. but in Christ you can! i.e. as an only i hate to admit when i'm wrong, and i'm majorly task-oriented, but i'm learning. in addition it felt a lot like horoscope matchmaking. (i.e. oxes go well with roosters and snakes but not with sheep.)

the second part of the book was more in depth psychologically of how to choose a mate. it was much like fit to be tied by the hybels, but i would recommend fit to be tied more as it is more Christ-centered. this book is written to a general audience not a christian audience specifically, but it has christian undertones. it was realistic about the importance of choosing a mate wisely and not jumping on the feelings bandwagon. good read overall, very enlightening. i was just sketched out by the birth order part of it at first. but it DOES make a lot of sense.

Something Great

2006-04-25T16:47:00.000-04:00

I know all of my Brilliant and Charming peers are also bookworms. My new friend Tim has just launched a site called Discerning Reader! This is going to be a great resource and a great chance for us to get leads on new books and reviews on not new books so we can read them and post them on this site for ourselves and our friends. I think that was quite a runon sentence.
Check it out!

This is a quote from my bro Paul's blog: The whole premise of the site is to act as a focal point of book reviews found on the web. Now you can link to these with just one click and get Tim's and the DR's Editorial Board's view on specific Christian literature.

Tim is also the author of Challies Dot Com

Spurgeon Gold: Pure. Refined. (by Ray Comfort)

2006-04-23T00:37:00.000-04:00

This book is a compilation of quotes from Charles Spurgeon.

Ray can hardly get much credit for this book except that he chose a great man to compile quotes from. Charles Spurgeon was a great 19th Century English preacher. BUY ANYTHING THAT HE HAS WRITTEN AND READ IT. I wish I had time to say more about this incredible man of God. Read a biography or something. There are lots out there.

Another reason this book is great is because of the nature of the quotes. They are either proclamations of the gospel or convicting exhortations to Christians to share their faith. I'll show you some examples.

Preach Christ
She is a traitor to the Master who sent her if she is so beguiled by the beauties of taste and forgets that to "preach Christ...and him crucified" is the only object for which she exists among the sons of men. The business of the Church is salvation of souls.

By all means, save some
Save some, O Christians! By all means, save some. From yonder flames and outer darkness, and the weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, seek to save some! Let this, as in the case of the apostle, be your great, ruling object in life: that by all means, you might save some.

The Call of God
If God has called you to be a missionary, your Father would be grieved for you to shrivel down into a king.

The Preparation of the Law
I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel who does not preach the law.

Here is a good one!

Some People's Eyes
I shall never forget one summer afternoon, when I was preaching in a village chapel about the joys of Heaven, that an elderly lady sitting on my right kept looking to me with intense delight. Some people�s eyes greatly help the preacher[1]. A telegraph goes on between us. She seemed to say to me, "Bless God for that. How I am enjoying it!" She kept drinking in the truth, and I poured out more and more precious things about the eternal kingdom and the sight of the Well beloved, till I saw what I thought was a strange light pass over her face. I went on, and those eyes were still fixed on me. She sat still as a marble figure, and I stopped and said, "Friends, I think that yon sister over there is dead." They said that it was even so, and they bore her away. She had gone. While I was telling of Heaven, she had gone there; and I remember saying that I wished that it had been my case as well as hers. It was better not, perhaps, for many reasons; but oh, I did envy her! I am always looking for the day when I shall see her again. I shall know those eyes, I am sure I shall.

I love this book.

Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God

2006-04-18T00:05:00.000-04:00

Well, i'm currently reading A.W Tozer's Knowledge of the Holy, but i'm not quite done. Y'all can expect some blogging about that book later. Its a doozy, filled with little drops of heaven in the form of a brilliant string of words. Anyways. More on that when i'm done.

I recently finished the book Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper. The tendency is for most missionary biographies to be written about solid men of the faith--men such as Jim Elliot, David Brainerd, Jonathan Edwards etc. i, by far, am not a raging feminist. However, i did find it highly encouraging to read about people of my own gender being used by God to do amazing things. It would be well worth it for not only females to read this book, but males as well. Break out of the normal paradigms, all you guys out there and read this book :)

The book highlights the lives of 5 women--Sarah Edwards (wife of Jonathan Edwards), Lilias Trotter, Gladys Aylward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare--who were used by God to expand His kingdom. Ahh. Such great stuff.

i'll highlight 2 of the lives Noel Piper details:

The portrait of Sarah Edwards is simply stunning--who says motherhood is for pansies? By 1900, the marriage of Sarah Edwards and Jonathan Edwards had produced:

13 college presidents
65 professors
100 lawyers and a dean of a law school
30 judges
66 physicians and a dean of a medical school
80 holders of public office, including: 3 US senators, mayors of 3 large cities, governors of 3 states, a vice president of the US and a controller of US treasury.

She must've been a pretty amazing mother to have set a foundation like that!!!

2. Esther Ahn Kim

What can be better than words from her own mouth?

" i began to think that life might be worth living in this time of persecution. It might even be a truer picture of the believer to agonize, to suffer, to be hated, and tortured, and even to be killed in obeying God's words rather than to live an ordinary, uneventful life."

Wow.

Amazing women of faith. Oh, that i too would be used to glorify my Saviour.

This Sounds Cool

2006-04-16T22:13:00.000-04:00

This sounds cool brother. I think Piper's God is the Gospel is next up pour moi.

JohnPiper, "When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy"

2006-04-16T22:06:00.000-04:00

So here's an opening on Piper's book.
The title is self-explanatory. But to give you a brief background on Piper's main message in all his work, it's that "God is most glorified, when we are most satisfied in Him." Joyful Christians glorify God more than unhappy ones.

I'll summarize the first three chapters (i think you'll find summary for helpful than opinion):

1- "Why I wrote this book." Here's a good summary question, 'what should i do if i don't desire God?' I am addressing the question, "How can i obtain or recover a joy in Christ that is so deep and so strong that it will free me from bondage to Western comforts and security, and will impel into sacrifices of mercy and missions, and will sustain me in the face of martydom?"

2-"What is the difference between Desire and Delight?" Delight comes before/and creates desire. Neither are the goal, God is. Example of desire Ps 42:1. Example of delight Ps 16:11.

3-"(Taking God's Demand for Delight Seriously.)" Here's a good quote, "Not to see and savor Christ is an insult to the beauty and worth of His character" It is, in fact, the essence of evil! This is reason enough to take the call for joy in Christ seriously.

what is this

2006-04-16T16:16:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone. This blog is for ppl to write down notes and reflections on books their reading, especially Christian n books.
My suggestion is to blog ONCE per book, then all the following comments will have to do with that book (please start blogging the book before you finish).

Hope this works, and if anyone has a better way of doing it, lemme know soon.