Life Changing Books of 2011
As long as I can remember I have always been a reader. I call it feeding my soul and I have a voracious appetite. I find great encouragement and strength from walking with giants through their books. I find it sad that many miss out on this great opportunity for one reason or another. I think often of this quote and pray that it does not become true of me,
“One thing I’ve noticed about Evangelicals is that they do not read. They do not read the Bible, they do not read the great Christian thinkers, they have never heard of Aquinas. If they’re Presbyterian, they’ve never read the founders of Presbyterianism. I do not understand that. As a Jew, that’s confusing to me. The commandment of study is so deep in Judaism that we immerse ourselves in study. God gave us a brain, aren’t we to use it in His service? When I walk into a Evangelical Christian’s home and see a total of 30 books, most of them best-sellers, I do not understand. I have bookcases of Christian books, and I am a Jew. Why do I have more Christian books than 98 percent of the Christians in America? That is so bizarre to me.” ~ Dennis Prager, Jewish radio talk show host, in an interview in The Door. Quoted in Disciplines of a Godly Man, Pg. 78.
I love and have imitated Erasmus comment,
“When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes.”
~ Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
Elizabeth Hardwick said and I agree,
“The greatest gift is a passion for reading.”
~ Elizabeth Hardwick
I read many journals, blogs, theological articles, etc. daily to keep my soul feeding on and pursuing Christ and I try to always have a book or two going as well. Here are some favorites (in random order) that I was blessed to read in 2011 and that have greatly benefitted my life. Click on the book cover to order the book for yourself. Many Blessings!
Radical by David Platt
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
The Cause Within You by Matthew Barnett
Spiritual Warfare And Missions by Jerry Rankin and Ed Stetzer
Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
In A Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
Primal by Mark Batterson
Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson
The Dangerous Duty Of Delight by John Piper
Hudson Taylor, The Man Who Believed God by Marshall Broomhall
Experiencing The Spirit by Blackaby
The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
How To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer
Currently Reading
Forgotten God by Francis Chan
Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
Reckless Abandon by David Sitton
I’m compiling my wish list for 2012… Tell me, what was your favorite book from 2011?