I have participated in a project sponsored by a publisher to name "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." Here is my final book of the five I recommended, along with the explanation of why I chose it.
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. New York, New York: Collier Books, 1978.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? This book is an illustrated version of Lewis’ explanations of the faith that have been so helpful to me.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Any list of must-read formational books could only be complete by including a primary method of our Master Teacher – the parable. This entire book is a parable. The list would also be incomplete without a significant measure of delight – a heartfelt, laugh-out-loud expression of the joy woven into all of God’s handiwork. This book has that, too.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Of course, theology and philosophy aren’t topics for children. Except Lewis makes them so. And in so doing he addresses weighty subjects in a way ordinary people can understand. He gives us imagery that becomes a handle for ideas we could not otherwise grasp.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Lewis’ great gift is refuting a materialistic (non-spiritual) world view and defending the reasonableness – even necessity – of a Christian spiritual perspective. Lewis makes sense of the reality of God, the miracle of Christ, the problem of pain, and the life of faith.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? Read the book to a ten year old. You will both be enrapt. You will both return to the book repeatedly.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “Well, Sir, if things are real, they’re there all the time.” “Are they?” said the Professor; and Peter did not know quite what to say.”
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
#4/5 Five Books That Are Mighty Close to Must Reads
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 fourth 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.
Stott, John R.W. The Cross of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986.
Questions:
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you?
Because of its pain I prefer to presume the Cross and move on to trying to understand life in its aftermath. Yet, in avoiding the Cross I inadvertently diminish and distort Christ – the very One I live to follow.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? We can imagine spiritual formation apart from the Cross. That’s the rub. That is the crisis. We cannot understand Christ apart from The Cross. We cannot understand Christ’s formative work apart from the Cross and our crosses. Stott masterfully engages us in a difficult and essential study.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? We are so preoccupied with ourselves we presume God would give His life for us. We chat over coffee at the foot of the Cross. Dumbstruck awe is in order. That God would die for man changes everything.
• What does it offer the larger Church? The Cross is the central event that defines the Church as a redemptive counter-culture. The Cross is the antidote to our irrepressible tendency to recreate Christian faith in our own image.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? This is not a casual read. Gird up your loins, and face the Cross so you might shoulder your own cross and follow Him.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “If death threatens to cut a person’s life short, a sense of frustration plunges him or her into gloom. But not Jesus, for this simple reason: he did not regard the death he was about to die as bringing his mission to an untimely end, but as actually necessary to accomplish it.… Although he had but a few more hours to live, Jesus was not looking back at a mission he had completed, still less that had failed; he was still looking forward to a mission which he was about to fulfil.” pp.66-67 InterVarsity, 1986.
So, here is my fourth 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.
Stott, John R.W. The Cross of Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1986.
Questions:
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you?
Because of its pain I prefer to presume the Cross and move on to trying to understand life in its aftermath. Yet, in avoiding the Cross I inadvertently diminish and distort Christ – the very One I live to follow.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? We can imagine spiritual formation apart from the Cross. That’s the rub. That is the crisis. We cannot understand Christ apart from The Cross. We cannot understand Christ’s formative work apart from the Cross and our crosses. Stott masterfully engages us in a difficult and essential study.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? We are so preoccupied with ourselves we presume God would give His life for us. We chat over coffee at the foot of the Cross. Dumbstruck awe is in order. That God would die for man changes everything.
• What does it offer the larger Church? The Cross is the central event that defines the Church as a redemptive counter-culture. The Cross is the antidote to our irrepressible tendency to recreate Christian faith in our own image.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? This is not a casual read. Gird up your loins, and face the Cross so you might shoulder your own cross and follow Him.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “If death threatens to cut a person’s life short, a sense of frustration plunges him or her into gloom. But not Jesus, for this simple reason: he did not regard the death he was about to die as bringing his mission to an untimely end, but as actually necessary to accomplish it.… Although he had but a few more hours to live, Jesus was not looking back at a mission he had completed, still less that had failed; he was still looking forward to a mission which he was about to fulfil.” pp.66-67 InterVarsity, 1986.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
#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.
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.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
#2/5 Five Books That Are Mighty Close to Must Reads
OK, this is 2/5. Here's my intro to explain what I'm up to. Of course, you can scroll back through the blogs to pick up preceding installments.
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.
CO
Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. Harrisburg, PS: Christian Publications, 1948.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? Tozer addresses me as a compromised believer and pulls no punches. He delivers a strident call to the Church and Christians to abandon shallow discipleship. His eyes seem to see into my soul. He helps me stop kidding myself.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? I number him among the very few authors I would describe as prophetic. Amazingly, his prophetic word retains its edge after sixty years.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Tozer delivers a no frills, back to the basics message relevant for Christians in the age of mass media shtick. He delineates a life of surrender for work-a-day believers. His message is a clarion call to take God for Who He is, rather than what we might get out of Him.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Tozer is a modern day Isaiah calling the Church out of hypocrisy and pathetic imitations of the genuine Gospel.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? This book makes an excellent personal or group study for those who are ready to address the beam in their own eyes and respond in repentance.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “Now we have reached a low place of sand and burnt wire grass and, worst of all, we have made the Word of Truth conform to our experience and accepted this low plane as the very pasture of the blessed.” p.70.
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.
CO
Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. Harrisburg, PS: Christian Publications, 1948.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? Tozer addresses me as a compromised believer and pulls no punches. He delivers a strident call to the Church and Christians to abandon shallow discipleship. His eyes seem to see into my soul. He helps me stop kidding myself.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? I number him among the very few authors I would describe as prophetic. Amazingly, his prophetic word retains its edge after sixty years.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Tozer delivers a no frills, back to the basics message relevant for Christians in the age of mass media shtick. He delineates a life of surrender for work-a-day believers. His message is a clarion call to take God for Who He is, rather than what we might get out of Him.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Tozer is a modern day Isaiah calling the Church out of hypocrisy and pathetic imitations of the genuine Gospel.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? This book makes an excellent personal or group study for those who are ready to address the beam in their own eyes and respond in repentance.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “Now we have reached a low place of sand and burnt wire grass and, worst of all, we have made the Word of Truth conform to our experience and accepted this low plane as the very pasture of the blessed.” p.70.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
5 Books That Are Mighty Close to "Must Reads"
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 first 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.
CO
Nouwen, Henri. Jesus: A Gospel. Edited by Michael O’Laughlin, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? This book captures the essence of Nouwen’s genius. Reading it is like having Henri share with me what he has learned from a lifetime of following Jesus.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Nouwen leads the reader into the profoundness of life in Christ. He does so with such accessible language and examples. The use of Rembrandt sketches provides a rich visual complement to the text. Consequently, text and illustrations engage the whole person in the message.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Nouwen shows us the way to meet God most intimately. He quietly walks with us into our rooms of fear and insecurity – those places where God is not allowed. And there to our surprise Jesus is waiting to embrace us.
• What does it offer the larger Church? This book is a wonderful foundation for rightly understanding the message of Jesus. The arrangement of Nouwen’s insights around Gospel passages properly lifts both the message of the Gospels and the person of Jesus above religiosity and into the heart of God.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? The book lends itself best to a reflective reading, enhanced with journaling or careful conversation. Take each brief chapter and digest it thoroughly before moving on to the next. Let the Gospel message work on you.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “I deeply know that I have a home in Jesus, just as Jesus has a home in God…. My true spiritual work is to let myself be loved, fully and completely, and to trust that in that love I will come to the fulfillment of my vocation. I keep trying to bring my wandering, restless, anxious self home, so that I can rest there in the embrace of love.” p.93.
So, here is my first 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.
CO
Nouwen, Henri. Jesus: A Gospel. Edited by Michael O’Laughlin, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? This book captures the essence of Nouwen’s genius. Reading it is like having Henri share with me what he has learned from a lifetime of following Jesus.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Nouwen leads the reader into the profoundness of life in Christ. He does so with such accessible language and examples. The use of Rembrandt sketches provides a rich visual complement to the text. Consequently, text and illustrations engage the whole person in the message.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Nouwen shows us the way to meet God most intimately. He quietly walks with us into our rooms of fear and insecurity – those places where God is not allowed. And there to our surprise Jesus is waiting to embrace us.
• What does it offer the larger Church? This book is a wonderful foundation for rightly understanding the message of Jesus. The arrangement of Nouwen’s insights around Gospel passages properly lifts both the message of the Gospels and the person of Jesus above religiosity and into the heart of God.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? The book lends itself best to a reflective reading, enhanced with journaling or careful conversation. Take each brief chapter and digest it thoroughly before moving on to the next. Let the Gospel message work on you.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “I deeply know that I have a home in Jesus, just as Jesus has a home in God…. My true spiritual work is to let myself be loved, fully and completely, and to trust that in that love I will come to the fulfillment of my vocation. I keep trying to bring my wandering, restless, anxious self home, so that I can rest there in the embrace of love.” p.93.
Friday, August 27, 2010
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
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
Thursday, August 19, 2010
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
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
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