Four Books That Made Me Laugh

In response to Reformissionary (couldn’t come up with five):

1.  I’m Back for More Cash - Tony Kornheiser
2.  Vintage Jesus - Mark Driscoll
3.  Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller
4.  Jesus Without Religion - Rick James

The Three Most Important Books I’ve Read

Lewis also posted on this topic a while back, so again, I thought I’d share the three books that have had the biggest impact on my life.

1.  John Piper, Don’t Waste Your Life - No other book has shaped the way I do life and ministry more than this book.  God used Piper to help stir a passion in me to live every day for the glory of God.  As a 21 year-old at the time, my biggest fear was wasting the life God gave me.  I pray, like Piper, that at 60 years I still feel that weight.  The most important, single piece of advice I give to any of my family, friends, and students, other than treasuring Christ, is to not waste their life.  It’s too short.  Live it for the glory of God.

2.  R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God - Last summer, as I was still wrestling with and learning the doctrines of grace, Sproul was a breath of fresh air.  The Lord was gracious to use this book to help me come to grips with the fact that I am chosen by God and that it is a good thing!  This book is so well written, so simple, yet so deep in its truth.  Since last summer, my assurance in my salvation and all that God is for me in Christ has abounded.  Now, I praise God for the doctrines of grace, instead of despising (or ignoring) them.  Because of Sproul’s book, I can more carefully articulate what God has shown me through Scripture and can hopefully lead others to the beautiful truth of God’s sovereign choice in salvation.

3.  Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle - This book showed me how important eternal perspective is.  Before I read this book, I was a money-hungry miser of a young man.  Afterwards, I saw how important it is to live for eternity and put my treasure in Christ, not material possessions.  Today, I have a copy of the Principle and Giving Covenant from the book lamenated on my desk.  I see it everyday.  I always want to remember and embrace that fact that all that I have is not mine.  “You can’t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead” has been a revolutionary idea for me.  I pray that by God’s grace I will continue on in the wonderful joy of giving for a future, imperishable reward.

Books I’ve Never Read or Finished

Sean Michael Lewis posted on this subject earlier today.  Lewis is a church history professor at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, so when I read his list, I didn’t feel bad about not finishing books I start.

Here’s my top 5 books I haven’t read (and should) or ones I’ve started but never finished (and should).

1.  Augustine, Confessions - Just like Lewis, it’s my on top.  I speak of Augustine and the book like I’ve read it.  Maybe I should read it soon.  I’ve only read the account of his conversion.
2.  Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress - John Piper says that after the Bible, this book is the most important book for a Christian.  I’ve read 42 pages and I need to start over.
3.  Packer, Knowing God - This book is a very difficult read.  I have a lot of underlines.  It’s about halfway finished.  I need to start it again, too.
4.  Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship - It’s on my shelf, but not on the radar.  No excuse for this one.
5.  Strobel, The Case for Christ - I recommend it all the time.  I’ve loaned it out.  Never read one page, though.  That’s lame.

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Live the Real Gospel

Tim Lane and Paul Tripp have written a book called How People Change that I’ll need to read soon.  In the meantime, here are seven counterfeit gospels that Lane and Tripp outline in the book.  Let us pray we pursue the true gospel of Jesus so we may have a transformed life.

• Formalism. “I participate in the regular meetings and ministries of the church, so I feel like my life is under control. I’m always in church, but it really has little impact on my heart or on how I live. I may become judgmental and impatient with those who do not have the same commitment as I do.”
• Legalism. “I live by the rules-rules I create for myself and rules I create for others. I feel good if I can keep my own rules, and I become arrogant and full of contempt when others don’t meet the standards I set for them. There is no joy in my life because there is no grace to be celebrated.”
• Mysticism. “I am engaged in the incessant pursuit of an emotional experience with God. I live for the moments when I feel close to him, and I often struggle with discouragement when I don’t feel that way. I may change churches often, too, looking for one that will give me what I’m looking for.”
• Activism. “I recognize the missional nature of Christianity and am passionately involved in fixing this broken world. But at the end of the day, my life is more of a defense of what’s right than a joyful pursuit of Christ.”
• Biblicism. “I know my Bible inside and out, but I do not let it master me. I have reduced the gospel to a mastery of biblical content and theology, so I am intolerant and critical of those with lesser knowledge.”
• Therapism. “I talk a lot about the hurting people in our congregation, and how Christ is the only answer for their hurt. Yet even without realizing it, I have made Christ more Therapist than Savior. I view hurt as a greater problem than sin-and I subtly shift my greatest need from my moral failure to my unmet needs.”
• “Social-ism.” “The deep fellowship and friendships I find at church have become their own idol. The body of Christ has replaced Christ himself, and the gospel is reduced to a network of fulfilling Christian relationships.”