Thoughts, dumb and dumber

To Read

Plugging into God’s Story (Kevin Goodrich O.P.)

The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse (Johnson and VanVonderen)

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (Scot McKnight)

Praying with the Church: Following Jesus Daily, Hourly, Today (Scot McKnight)

Epic: The Story God is Telling (John Eldredge)

What Jesus Demands from the World (John Piper)

S.H.A.P.E.: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life (Erik Rees)

The Five Love languages (Gary Chapman)

What I’m Reading

The Emotionally Destructive Relationships (Leslie Vernick) Well recommended book on dealing with relationships that are harmful. Struggling through it…

The Bible – New International Version   Yes, I’ve read it before, but it’s been a few years since I just sat down and read it cover to cover, in book order. If you’ve never done this, you must. This isn’t Bible study reading, looking for Spiritual insight reading, or even reading the whole Bible in a year reading. This is reading the whole narrative through from start to finish three or four times in one year. I find this allows the narrative to unfold in such a way that the relationship between the Old and New Testaments jumps off the page.  

Boundaries (Cloud and Townsend) Lost my copy or lent it out (why do I do that). Struggling with boundry issues as the moment, so this should be an interesting read.

Institutes of the Christian Religion (John Calvin; translated by McNeill and Battles)  More required reading. A must read for those interested in theology. I’m actually getting fresh insight into Calvin’s grips with the Roman Church. Can’t help but wondering how he would interact with the traditionalists and the emerging church. I’ve finished the required chapters, so as time permits, I’ll think I’ll do some further reading.

Into Abba’s Arms (Sandra D. Wilson) 

Love Walked Among Us: Learning to Love Like Jesus (Paul E. Miller) I you never read another book, besides the Bible that is, you have to read this one. Miller totally shook up my perceptions of Jesus and being a Christian. I’m reading for the third time and the nuggets are still popping off of the page.

What I Just Finished  

Systematic Theology (Louis Berkhof)  Again, required reading. Had to buy the latest edition for this class. My dad’s old copy just wouldn’t do. So far, I’ve found Berkhof to be preferable to Grudem’s.

The Glorious Body of Christ (R. B. Kuiper)  Required reading for the seminary class I’m taking in ecclesiology and the sacraments. Not bad reading, but having been written in the 1960’s, parts of it seem out of context with present culture. Lot’s of material, simply presented, to sink your heart into.

Recommended Reading

The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God (Eldredge and Curtis)

Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive (John Eldredge)

The Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America (Darell L. Guder, Editor) An eye opener! Thank you Biblical Seminary for making us read this book. Should be required reading for every pastor, elder, deacon, and serious Christian.

Changes That Heal (Dr. Henry Cloud)  Not as good as having a real live Christian counselor or psychologist to interact with, but it started me in the right direction. Just finished my fourth or fifth reading. There is always something in our lives worth changing.

Boundaries (Cloud and Townsend)