We are now into our fifth week of Community Thinking, and so far it’s going strong. One of the matrix to prove it is going well is that in each of the 232 blogs I have posted, they have averaged 2.3 comments. Of the four Community Thinking blogs there has been a total of 51 comments, which is 12.75 comments a post. So thanks for joining in! We will go for another month and see how things pan out.
For this week’s Community Thinking I wanted to open up the comments to help promote some reading. Since I enjoy reading and consume quite a few books a year, I am always looking for material to digest. Also, I figured since this week on the blog has been about books, with two post already about books (Chalmers and Bonhoeffer) I figured I would post another one. So this week I wanted to ask the following questions:
What’s the best book you have read this year, and what was so good about it?
Also what is one of your favorite books of all time and why?
So share away… Interact with each other! As a “thank you” I might just mail out some books to people who leave comments.
Best book I’ve read this year: To Transform a City by Eric Swanson and Sam Williams. One of the most thorough books when it comes to what it actually looks like to change a city with the Gospel. I really took a lot from it, and it has profoundly impacted the way that we approach ministry at Harmony. One of my top-5 books for church planters.
Favorite non-fiction book I’ve ever read (apart from Scripture, of course) would be Richard Baxter’s The Reformed Pastor. Gut-wrenching, toe-stepping, Christ-centered challenges from the ol’ chap. I re-read it at least once a year. I read the first chapter seemingly once a month.
Favorite fiction book? Either David Maine’s The Preservationist (a realistic look at the story of Noah), Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, or Michael Crichton’s The Lost World (Jurassic Park 2). Fantastic books.
Derek, I will have to look into Transform a City and I am planning on reading Baxter over vacation, which is this coming Monday! And I don’t read enough fictions thats for sure! Thanks for commenting!
That’s a tough question. But it would have to be “The Rules of Engagement” by Dr. Cindy Trimm. It’s not my favorite book because of her writing style or anything but because of the amount of INFORMATION AND REVELATION given in that book. I got that book 2 years ago and I probably read the book at LEAST 13 times. I’m an avid reader and always looking out for something that can propel me in the direction I wanna go into ministry or something that can just transform my life. And each time I I read that book, my life transformed for the better as a child of God.
The best book I’ve read for the year would have to be “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. This is another life changing book and it has completely revolutionized my thoughts about God’s love for me through the simplicity in Chan’s writing. I recommend this book and the one above to every believer who wants to go to the next level or those who simply looking for that “something more” in their walk with God.
Crazy Love created a lot of practical changes in my families life about 2 years ago. Really good things that needed to happen for Jesus to get more glory, so I am thankful! Thanks for sharing.
my favorite of the past year was the aforementioned Bonhoeffer biography. it is engaging and compelling, and even more it is encouraging to read of a man who loved and feared God more than man, no matter the consequences.
its too hard to pick an all time favorite, but a fiction standout is The River Why by David Duncan, because its about fishing and seeking God, and it is really funny too.
a non-fiction standout is Outgrowing the Ingrown Church by Jack Miller. having been Ingrown and somewhat unaware of it for years, this one kickstarted my prayer life and opened my eyes to the scriptures in ways that had not happened before. and to make a long story short, we eventually followed God’s call to New England. I will always be thankful for Jack Miller and his ministry.
Bob, where in New England are you? Also as you know I am reading Bonhoeffer right now, and totally in love with it. I have a hard time reading, because I want to keep reading and it always keeps me up late.
I’m in Portland. We moved here May 1. Next year I will start ministry training/internship here at Christ the Redeemer (PCA) while continuing my “day job” (computer stuff at Unum). I may come up for the conference in November, so hopefully I’ll see you there.
Hope you can make it to Lead, that would be great! Welcome to New England!
And yeah, that book kept me up too, and as you know its not a short one! Thankfully it came to me at a time where my wife and I had a rare weekend away, so that was perfect.
Best book of 2011 so far has been “No Other Gospel” by Josh Moody. A tremendous treatment of Galatians that strikes at the heart of our legalistic motivations (to make it Gospel+) and the selfishness of consumerist attitudes concerning church and faith (making it Gospel-). However, I’m just about to strike into “Tempted and Tried” by Russell Moore and “Redemption” by Mike Wilkerson, both of which have gotten high, high praise.
Favorite book all-time? “Desiring God” by John Piper. The impact Piper’s book has been incredible in my life. Apart from scripture, no other book has had such a profound effect on transforming the “living” of life for myself. And I’ll take a note from Derek above and through my favorite fiction piece in the ring, too. Lewis and Tolkien are such favorites of mine, but “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee… sorry out-doorsy guys, but Atticus Finch is a dude.
Should have defined “Gospel-” as minus whatever we don’t like or that which will suit our desires, contrary to effective discipleship and growth.
Gosh, “throw” not “through”… sheesh, my brain is gone this afternoon!
Tempted and Tired was great! I have No Other Gospel might have to check it out, due to your praise! Thanks man!
Also started through two great works on preaching, Stott’s “Between Two Worlds” and Lloyd-Jones’ “Preaching and Preachers”. Wow! Great stuff!
It’ll probably come as no surprise to Josh that Money: God or Gift by Jamie Munson has been my best book of the year thus far. His writing is very “to the point” and he outlines the major passages about treasure in the Bible. Most of it is not new if you have been in the church for a long time, but I love the way he compiles it into a very succinct 125 page read.
Most life changing book for me all time is The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. I was a young man who grew up in the church. I was in college overachieving, arrogant in my goodness and feeling like I had it all together. I was confronted in this book to see my brokenness and utter dependence on God. It started a journey where God has shown (and continues to show me) my Pharisaical nature. Started a new tragectory in my life searching the depth of my sin. Every time He shows me a new level of how awful I am, it makes His grace for me that much sweeter, and I love Him that much more.
Yeah Brady, I could see this one coming.
I like what I see here, think I’m going to look into all these books here!
I would have to say “Just Do Something” was one of the best books I have read so far this year. Although it’s just a small book, DeYoung sheds some great Biblical insight on discerning God’s will and cautioning those who would tend to over spiritualize things or wait for a clear cut sign before they do anything. Working with young people, I see so much practical application for this book in the lives of those who are at times lazy or that try and dodge responsibility by blaming God for not being crystal clear with them and removing any need for faith.
Yeah, I had a couple different people really like that book. I gave it to my grads a copy for a gift this year.
The two best books I ever read are Something More by Catherine Marshall and The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoffer. These both gave me a pattern of Christianity for my life.
The best book I’ve read this year is Everything by Prayer by Fred A Hartley III. I highly recommend it.
I have been listening to The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoffer, really enjoying it!
Best book I’ve read this year would have to be “Your Jesus is Too Safe” by Jared Wilson. I found that it really challenged and reshaped my view of Jesus.
One of my favorite books of all time would have to be “Transforming Grace” by Jerry Bridges. That book really drove home how I have nothing to offer to God and I come before Him solely on the accomplishments of Jesus alone.