Must Reads

I'm part of a group of people asked to compile a list of 25 books every Christian should read. That sounds like an intriguing, albeit, impossible challenge. I could use some help. Send me a title or two that you have found to be must reading.

I find some help by thinking in categories.

Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal is so good on forgiveness and acceptance.
Lewis' The Problem of Pain addresses the universal questions about pain and suffering.
Lewis' novel Perelandra paints such a strong picture of the awesome goodness of God's creation, the horrid ugliness of human pride, and the painful beauty of redemption.
Fosters Celebration of Discipline introduces the reader to the grace of spiritual discipline and a host of references to great Christian writing over the centuries.
Tozier's The Pursuit of God is simply inspiring.

I can list others, especially older books, that have mattered to me, but are challenging for the modern reader to tackle. Do I list those? Well, I'm not sure.

So, please give me some help. Send me some titles that you think every believer should read.

Thanks,
CO

Promises

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

It is possible to read this passage with a self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude. OR, read it with the opposite, which is maybe a self-condemning, more-shameful-than-thou attitude. Either way likely leads to missing the whole point.

The plain fact is that there is some twisted, misled, even dark, stuff going on all around us that you and I are aware of. Call it what you will, it is something other than the goodness and wholeness of God.

The truly good and amazing news is there is a better way that is fully accessibly through the promises of God. These promises are the doorway through which we walk to "participate in the divine nature." How good is that!

Chime in and share a promise, and I'll get 'em posted.

I think I'll start with 2Peter 1:3-4 above. It is a promise of promises.

CO