#3/5 Five Books That Are Mighty Close to Must Reads

Many apologies for my absence from the blog. Just not available for a while. I posted a comment Susan sent in. Like Susan, I too, have been enriched by the writing of Dallas Willard. He has been very influential in my spiritual development. Thank you for your feedback. I do enjoy hearing from each of you, even though my response time is often delayed.

I'll explain what we're doing, and then on to book 3.

I have participated in a project sponsored by a publisher to name "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." So, I've asked for input, and am grateful to those of you who contributed. This is truly an impossible assignment, but has been surprisingly rich to pursue. My part was to only submit 5 titles to be considered by the editors. I could probably come up with ten more lists of five books that are all equally excellent. I don't expect any of my selections to make the elite 25 simply because there are so many from which to choose. These, however, have made a difference for me.

So, here is my second book of the five, along with the explanation of why I chose it. These are books I think can be especially helpful to those seeking to follow Jesus. I would be glad to hear from you about other titles that are important to you or comments on my own submissions.

Kelly, Thomas R. A Testament of Devotion. New York, New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1941.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? Kelly offers an enticing invitation to answer Christ’s knock at the door. He reminds me eloquently and convincingly that a life of heeding the Spirit is at hand.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Kelly draws the contemporary reader into the sweetness, simplicity, and urgency of holy obedience. Testament is a twentieth-century Sacrament of the Present Moment.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Attentiveness. Kelly kindly tells us to be still and listen; God is speaking.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Kelly considers attentive and obedient men and women to be the hope of restoring the Church to the dynamic force in culture God intends her to be.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? Read and converse with companions on the journey. His invitation is personal and communal. Kelly’s well-chosen words are few. They deserve a thoughtful and prayerful reading.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “The life that intends to be wholly obedient, wholly submissive, wholly listening is astonishing in its completeness. Its joys are ravishing, its peace profound, its humility the deepest, its power world-shaking, its love enveloping, its simplicity that of a trusting child.” p. 54, Harper & Brothers, 1941.