A leader is a reader. Growth is key in fulfilling our purpose in life. Without growth we will fall short of God’s best.
Below is a number of books I have read over the past few months. A few books did not get on the list because I didn’t finish reading them (I admit, I do this a lot).
There is no rhyme or reason to the order of the books I have read. Usually, I pick a book based on what I sense the Lord stirring within me. Other times, just because it looks interesting.
One thing. I would simply urge you to make the Bible your number one book. Read it daily.
The Circle Maker: Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears
Great book. Great testimonies. Easy Application. Inspirational. I have this on my re-read list. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is pursuing a life of prayer and practical application around it.
The Calling Journey: Mapping the Stages of a Leader’s Life Call – A Coaching Guide
I have been interested in coaching for over two years. I picked this manual up at Bethel Church, Redding in their local bookstore. The book is pretty fascinating. Never seen a study on this before. I highly recommend.
Erasing Hell: What God said about eternity, and the things we made up
This is not a book about who is saying what. It’s a book about what God says. It’s not a book about impersonal theological issues. It’s a book about people who God loves. It’s not a book about arguments, doctrine, or being right. It’s a book about the character of God Erasing Hell will immerse you in the truth of Scripture as, together with the authors, you find not only the truth but the courage to live it out.”
This is in some way a response to Rob Bells book, “Love Wins”. The book is written well. Simple. Scriptural. Honest. Nothing shocking but the straight-up reality of eternity apart from Christ.
God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist?
But wait. The story is more complicated than that. Alongside troubling passages of God’s punishment and judgment are pictures of God’s love, forgiveness, goodness and slowness to anger. How do we make sense of the seeming contradiction? Can God be trusted or not? David Lamb unpacks the complexity of the Old Testament to explore the character of God. He provides historical and cultural background to shed light on problematic passages and to bring underlying themes to the fore. Without minimizing the sometimes harsh realities of the biblical record, Lamb assembles an overall portrait that gives coherence to our understanding of God in both the Old and New Testaments.”
This is a great book that gives sound explanations to tough Old Testament events. A good read.
You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One)
This journey of becoming a writer begins with a simple but important belief: You are a writer; you just need to write. Readers will learn the importance of passion and discipline and how to show up every day to do the work.”
This is a very short book by blogger and now writer, Jeff Goins. This eBook is really about his journey in becoming a writer. I love the transparency and the “realness” of achieving the dream God puts in your heart.
Currently Reading
A History of the Moravian Church
Once known as the Unity of Brethren, the Moravian Church originated in Bohemia among some of John Huss’s followers. He broke with Rome in 1467. During the late fifteenth century, his followers in Moravia and Bohemia totalled close to a quarter of a million but suffered greatly from persecution. By the end of 1648, only a small number of Moravians survived. In the early 1700′s, another group of Moravians sought refuge and religious freedom on the estates of the Lutheran Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf and began a village known as Herrnhut, or “The Lord’s Watch.” Led by Zinzendorf, this dedicated band began a prayer and mission work which touched almost the entire world.”
Just breaking into this one. I really don’t know a whole lot about the Moravian Movement but recognize that what we are experiencing in the prayer movement today is a direct result of what happened then.
some great suggestions. i just recently finished tim miller’s book – poised for harvest, braced for backlash. i really thought it laid out the gospel well in the context of his missions work oversees with primarily muslim cultures and yet could be easily applied to our lives right where we are. it held my interest which is good. in the Word i am currently reading romans.
charis recently posted…let’s keep our eyes on the prize
I took a look at Tim’s book over at Amazon…it looked pretty interesting. I made a note of it in my “to read” books. If you come across any more good reads let me know.
I am reading Missionary Methods: Saint Paul’s or Ours by Rolland Alland. A classic in missions circles. The guy was a pretty revolutionary thinker in his day regarding missions. The book is basically him contrasting Paul’s mission accounts in Acts and the Epistles with our modern methods…pretty solid.
Also reading Joel Richardson – MidEast Beast. Basically an exegesis of Biblical passages regarding the Antichrist. Goes into quite a bit of the history of why we reinterpreted all of the nations mentioned regarding the Antichrist to be Eastern European rather than the straight forward reading which clearly places them all in the Middle East. Joel did his homework! I didn’t expect it to be so compelling. Good read… definitely thought of you while reading this one!
Seems like you and Charis are jumping on the missions books and of course, you threw a little end-times twist in there. Who knows, I might check out Joels book.
I am thankful and it’s great of you to send the list of books,
thank you do much it will help a lot.
I am trying to catch up with my daily prayers and readings,too.
I am most grateful for your readings and thoughts and inspirations of many in
This page of prayer. You all bring hope to
Me. Love you all and God bless.
Thanks Greg.
Also, I started writing but I don’t know
If it went through and I was not done.
Anyway ignore it !!!
Diana
Thanks Di. I’m encouraged by your comment!
Forgiveness – God’s Master Key – Pray the most powerful prayer on earth by Peter Horrobin (and a whole series of books from his ministry)
Carine, looks like a good read. Don’t know much about his ministry. Thanks for letting me know.;)
In full agreement with “a leader is a reader” and we’re all called to provide a lead for something. Greg, I’ve read Primal by Mark Batterson some time ago and enjoyed the depth and dimension of his writing. This account of Honi the Circle Maker really has me intrigued. What is your perspective about this type of prayer resolve and how God responds to it?
Brian, I like the principles around what Honi did. It created a focus/target to apply faith in the place of relentless prayer. If the circle was a visual and practical way to create a focus in relentless prayer, I’m all for it. In truth, God hears and honors prayer regardless. Circles do not have the power to draw His attention and can never be used as a form of manipulation, but it did benefit Honi for the reasons I stated above. God honors the humble heart that reaches to Him in prayer, regardless of whether we use circles, squares, triangles or nothing at all.
I like the targeted focus and resolve …
Brian recently posted…Chaos to Design: Our Lives Can Be Transformed