My stack of “to read” books is getting bigger and bigger. Sadly, this year has proved to be a very difficult year for reading and self-feeding, but I’m working on that, beginning with my upcoming time off. I wrestled with what books to take with me this year. A lengthy theological treatise? Moving biography? Leisure reading?
I decided to go with four thin books that that I anticipate to be both personally nourishing and ministerially challenging. I chose thin books, too, because they are easy to pack and carry to the beach. 🙂
Here they are:
1. A Meal with Jesus: Discovering Grace, Community, and Mission Around the Table by Tim Chester (144 pages)
2. Church Planting Is for Wimps: How God Uses Messed Up People to Plant Ordinary Churches That Do Extraordinary Things by Mike McKinley (128 pages)
3. Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God by David Platt (196 pages)
4. Marks of the Messenger: Knowing, Living and Speaking the Gospel by J. Mack Stiles (128 pages)
I’ve seen some good thoughts on A Meal With Jesus and would like to get a hold of that one. Perhaps you can post a “review” of the book upon your return.
I read and reviewed Radical by Platt. Interesting read; agreed with some, but was left with the great feeling of inadequacy if I didn’t sell my house and possessions (including those of my wife and children, regardless whether they had the same sense of calling I would receive in this case) and head off to Namibia. Sometimes I think we try to hard to be different or “radical,” in this case. The NT look at the Christian life being radical is pretty much live everyday for Christ, obey His commands, love the Father and your brother/sister in Christ and be faithful until the end. That, in itself, is pretty hard and radical.
The other two books I’m only familiar with by way of reviews. Enjoy.
My only other thought here is: I don’t read like this while on vacation; it’s just too hard for me to not be thinking “church” thoughts while reading material like this. I’ll usually grab a hold of some fiction to give my mind a rest during vacation. I’m reading two books published by Kregel that I should have finished this week (week #1 of my two weeks of vacation) and will probably read some Vince Flynn for some good ol’ “mindless” action.
I haven’t read it, but ‘Marks of the Messenger’ is apparently Carson’s favourite book on evangelism. To paraphrase: “other books show you how to do evangelism, this book makes you want to do it”.