Draw from the Well

WE Series - My "Real" Recommendations

You know how when you complete something yet you have that nagging feeling it's not done? That how I felt about the recommendations for Pastor Jon's recent WE message - "WE Are Beautfifully Connected to BUILD."

If you didn't get to hear the message on the weekend, go here first.  It's a great message - you have to hear it.

You can check out our resource page here.  We want to give you some resources to help you process and digest all that you heard on the weekend.  After all, faith only built by what ou heard on Sunday, but also what you live out on Monday! 

However, after looking at my bookshelf, I came up with more books I wish I had added to the resource list.

I also organized it for levels of difficulty of reading and concept:

            Basic - quick, easy reads, often devotional
            Intermediate - longer, a little deeper, likely more theological
            Advanced - deep language and concept, probably considered a "classic"

 If you only have time for one:

Basic - The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
Intermediate - Chrisitan Basicsby John Stott
Advanced - A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law

Basic Resources------

The Divine Mentorby Wayne Cordero
The Fight by John White (The Race is also good too!)
The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge
Rebuilding the Real You by Jack Hayford
Emotionally Healthy Spiritualityby Peter Scazzero

Intermediate Resources -------

Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction by Eugene Peterson
Christian Basics: An Invitation to Discipleship by John Stott (similar to Basic Christianity.)

Advanced Resources-------

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law
The imitation of Christ by Thomas a' Kempis 
The Spiritual Lifeby A. Taquerey
A Normal Chrisitan Life by Watchman Nee

Six Books in Six Weeks

(Get the tune of "videos killed the radio star" in your head...)

Reading blogs killed my book reading.  And that makes me sad.

I love to read.  There was a time when I read a book per week, sometimes more than one.  (Sigh...missing simpler times.)

I still read, but my reading has shifted from books to the computer.  Now, this isn't entirely bad...how did we do life before google?  I am more well read, more quickly than ever before.  Sometimes I fear I just can't fit one more piece of information into my already stuffed brain.

However, I note two trends from my blog reading escapades:  1) I read for shorter bursts.  2) I read more shallowly.

There is a time and a place for short and sweet.  But I've noticed it comes at a price - I've lost the spiritual and intellectual muscles to ruminate on deep things (the one exception to this is in my devotional times...I'm just deep with them.) 

I can't think of the last book I've read that rocked my world.  This could be because authors are becoming less profound, but I suspect my problem is that I have not allowed myself to be immersed in the depth of the profound things out there.

Blogs can be intellectual junk food.  Food, but lacking in the nutritional value of other types of food.

As a young Christian I remember laboring under the likes of Lewis, Spurgeon, and Law.  There have been books that have literally caused me to fling them across the room because they seared my soul with conviction (Larry Crabb often does this to me.)  I miss the days when I kept a dictionary beside my bed because the books I were reading forced me to look up a word I didn't know one every page. 

I'm pretty sure that I haven't arrived to my spiritual maturity, so that's not the problem.

As I have reviewed my life, I know that there is some good content  that I am receiving, but I still feel soft and flabby....I need to go back to a simpler, more natural training schedule.

(Cue that scene from Rocky IV where Rock goes to Russia to train for his big fight and he's pushing around longs and running in snow...here's help if you need it.)

Enter - Six books in Six Weeks.

Since I am currently participating in a six week media fast (with extra homework please) I've already turned off the t.v. and the blogs (hurts just a little) (uh...writing my own is okay - I just don't read other peoples) why not put some reading in there.  So my goal is to read a book each week.

Here are my books:

The Blessed Life by Robert Morris (on the spiritual practice of tithing)

The Divine Mentor by Wayne Cordeiro (learning to feed yourself through your relationship with Jesus alone)

When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson (a practical Guide to a life of miracles)

The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight (rethinking how to read the Bible)

A Renegade's Guide to God by David Foster (not sure all that this book is about...looks interesting.)

Doctrineby Mark Driscoll &  Gerry Breshears (because everyone should eat their vegetables)

Bonus Book:  I had decided that I wanted to learn more about Cambodia as a way to keep the Cambodia Missions team before me while they were on mission, so I'm also reading the following:

When Broken Glass Floatsby Chanrithy Him (wee bit depressing, but then sometimes history is like that.

So there you have it.  I'm almost finished with The Blessed Life and well into When Broken Glass Floats.  I can feel my mind muscles getting strong with every log toss!

 

Too Many Books...Never!

I keep the new books I want to read on my nightstand beside my bed.  Today I realized the pile had spilled on to the floor...basically it was out of control.  So I went through and weeded out, narrowing down the pile to the books I really want to read.

Guess how many books were left?  37.

(BTW, I removed half of the books that were piled up, so you can see that it really was an out of control problem!)

So I'm on a mission to read'em all before the end of the year.

So far I've read 21 books this year...that means I need to crank it up a notch or two.

Bring on the rain - better motivation to read!

Currently, I'm part way through five of the books...so you can see I read multiple books at one time!

Can I Have One?

This is going on my Christmas wish list:

Top Ten Missionary Books

Was writing to a college friend of mine (who happens to be a missionary) and for some weird reason decided to give you my top ten missionary stories.  (I have not done a top ten list in a long while!)

So here they are in no particular order.  A note:  I could have just done a top ten for China, but restrained myself!)

1. The Small Woman - Alan Burgess.  The story of Gladys Aylward, one of many versions out there.  Oh, she was a missionary to China.  Great faith!
2. Bruchko - Bruce Olson. First missions book I ever read.  Great story; don't agree with some of his methods, but he made an impact.  Missionary to South America.
3. Holy Man - Gavan Daws.  The story of Father Damien, missionary to the Hawaiian leper colony on Molokai.  Great story of servant leadership.
4. Peace Child - Don Richardson.  Amazing cultural picture of Jesus' love in a culture that held betrayal as an ideal (making Judas a hero in their culture!)  Richardson has written many books including Eternity in their Hearts(see how I snuck one more into the list!)  Missionaries to Netherlands New Guinea.
5. I Dared to Call Him Father - Bilquis Sheikh.  Wonderful story about how God revealed Himself to a Muslim woman.
6. A Chance to Die - Elisabeth Elliot.  First, Elisabeth Elliot is an amazing writer.  Second, this story is about Amy Carmichael, who started Dohnavur Fellowship in South India.  Amy was one of the original crusaders in fighting sex trafficking (before it was cool or trendy to do so.)  What I love most about this biography is it's honesty...Amy had her issues...yet God used her in spite of them.  Full on, this woman was sold out to Jesus.  One of the most convicting books I've ever read. (Amy wrote many books of her own as well.)
7. Rees Howells/Intercessor - Norman Grubb.  Not a classic missions story, but for those who might not see prayer as key and powerful...read this book and be forever changed.  Great book on intercession and the life of Rees Howells
8. Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret - Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor.  Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China.  His ideas about incarnational missions forever changed missions (for the better.)  He fiercely loved the Chinese people at a time when foreigners were greatly despised.  You will be humbled by his faith and fortitude.  All my years in China I had a quote from this book taped to my Bible reminding me never to give up loving.
9. Chasing the Dragon - Jackie Pullinger.  A missionary to the drug infested "Walled City" of Hong Kong. (It was torn down before I made it to Hong Kong.)  Again a great story of faith and service...and China.
10. The Ugly American - Eugene Burdick & William Lederer.  This book isn't Christian, nor is it a story strictly about missionaries.  And yet, it is.  It's about how the rest of the world viewed (maybe it's changed a bit) the United States.  It's dated, but some of the underlying issues of arrogance and ignorance still hold true. 

Bonus - Anti-missionary story.

When I was on the mission field, one of my roles what to help train new folk (mostly recent college graduates.)  One book I made them read was The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

I won't recommend you read this book - it's a difficult read, well written, but filled with tension and pain.  It is a picture of everything a missionary shouldn't do.  It's fiction, and not Christian.  It's sad.  Unfortunately, while this story is fictional, it does represent how some act on the field.  It compels me to pray for the missionaries I know, that they will be strong & faithful. 

What am I missing?  Share your favorite missions book!

Spread the Reading Virus with Booksneeze

I love books.  And I love free.  So when a friend emailed me info about www.booksneeze.com I was intrigued.

Basically Booksneeze is a site where they will give you a free copy of a book to review in exchange for a review on your blog and a commercial website, like www.amazon.com.

I've also been wanting to do more book reviews in general (along with more reading!)

This morning I ordered my first free book for review.  I'm excited!

If you are into christian books; if you are into free; if you are into reviews - you may want to check out Booksneeze!

Also - if you have a blog and I don't seem to know about it - drop me a line!

The Best Commentaries

The other day I found myself looking to purchase a new commentary.  It can be overwhelming.  So I found this resource that I thought would be helpful.  Check it out: www.BestCommentaries.com

Resolved!

I made a decision this morning.  You see, I went to my bookshelf this morning to grab a book that I know I own...and it wasn't there.  I suspect that I loaned it to someone awhile ago and they never returned it.

I hate that.

I love my books.  I've invested lots of money and effort in my library.  I treat my books and other peoples' books with respect. 

So this morning, after mourning the loss of several books that have been loaned out and never returned I decided not to loan out my books any more.

What do you think?  Am I violating the "turn the other cheek" command of Jesus?  Am I hanging on to my material possessions too tightly or am I being a wise steward?

BTW, if you have one of my books...now is a good time to give it back!

The Shack

Saw this little article about the book The Shack on Rev's Leadership Update Email.

I had mixed feelings about The Shack since I'm a pretty critical reader and writer.  One can tell it's a first novel; great ideas with so-so development.  That being said, The Shack tackles some pretty tough territory and doesn't pull any punches.  This is not  your "easy" answer, everything-works-out-in-the-end type of book.  I wasn't startled by the variety of "personalities" of the Trinity...it seemed Matrixesque to me and reminiscent of Joan of Arcadia (I loved that show!)  But I do appreciate the thought put into expressing the "mystery" of the Trinity.  I think the book was a fair picture of grief, confusion, and forgiveness and how God helps us process through that.  Very thoughtful.

The Shack is a good, easy read.  I read it on an airplane ride.  I think it will promote good conversations.

1000+

I just hit 1000 books listed on my librarything account.  (librarything is a cool online book catalog system - I LOVE getting organized!)

Here are a few thoughts concerning my books:

1. I really have more than 1000 because I have a few shelves which have not yet been entered.
2. The majority of my books are Christian in nature, however, I do have a large amount of Chinese focused books and many works of fiction.
3. No, I have not read all my books.  However, I have read 2/3 of my books.
4. Most of my library comes from used books stores.  Translation: I've gotten lots of good deals.  Only recently have I been in a position to buy new books.  (I purchase 1 or 2 a month.)
5. I normally read multiple books at a time, usually a couple of non-fiction work books and one work of fiction right before I go to bed.
6. Seminary has killed my personal reading time.  I still read lots (300+ pages a week), but not the books I want to be reading.
7. While I tried to read at least one non-fiction book per week last year, I decided this year to read only my seminary class books (due to frantic cramming at the end of class - which must not happen again ever!)  Note the said booklist to the left...only a few lonely books this year so far.  Sadness.
8. While I am excited and blessed to have as many books as I do, Pastor told me that when he was my age he had a library of 3000.  I'm way behind!

Most favorite books?  I have a small collection of rare books:  a vintage copy of A Call of the Wild and an early edition of The Good Earth.

Most read book?  Where the Red Fern Grows, I was hooked on it when I was in elementary school, I've read it more than 50 times.  What's up with that?  I don't even like dogs!

Most influential books? Too many to list, especially as seasons change, but here are a few I'd take to desert islands with me:  Life Together by Bonhoeffer, The Shandung Compound by Gilkey, Ender's Game by Card, Celebration of Disciplines by Foster, Master Plan of Evangelism by Coleman, A Tale of Three Kings by Edwards, and those are just off the top of my head.