Reading log

[RedcoatJones]

Radical, by David Platt.

Kind of torn on this book. I absolutely LOVED the main gist of his message - how America's church's too often embrace American culture and desires more than the teachings of Christ. How materialism may be the #1 sin/issue facing the church as a whole in our society. How we are called to care for the poor and non-believers not just in America but world-wide.

However, my main complaint is that the book almost seems too simplistic in its goal of saying every Christian should make evangelism and care for the poor their #1 ministry. I believe we all have a calling to lead others to Christ, and we are all commanded to care for those less fortunate for ourselves, but not eveyone is called to make that their sole ministry (or even their top ministry).

That being said, it is a very quick read, and I really appreciate that David doesn't just point out the problems with church in our society but proposes a course of action for readers to follow to move away from materialism and more towards pursuing God's calling in our life.

[Aaron]

Radical, by David Platt.

Kind of torn on this book. I absolutely LOVED the main gist of his message - how America's church's too often embrace American culture and desires more than the teachings of Christ. How materialism may be the #1 sin/issue facing the church as a whole in our society. How we are called to care for the poor and non-believers not just in America but world-wide.

However, my main complaint is that the book almost seems too simplistic in its goal of saying every Christian should make evangelism and care for the poor their #1 ministry. I believe we all have a calling to lead others to Christ, and we are all commanded to care for those less fortunate for ourselves, but not eveyone is called to make that their sole ministry (or even their top ministry).

That being said, it is a very quick read, and I really appreciate that David doesn't just point out the problems with church in our society but proposes a course of action for readers to follow to move away from materialism and more towards pursuing God's calling in our life.

I agree with your sentiment on the book

[ajyouthguy]

Generous Justice by Tim Keller

[Aaron]

Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things - Randy O. Frost & Gail Steketee

I am fascinated by the psychological explanations behind hoard and compulsive behaviors.  Reading this book made me run through a gamut of emotions: anger, sadness, amazement, pity, disbelief, and others.  When I watch the tv shows on hoarding, it is so weird to see what people go through in their head.  This book helped me better understand why people hoard and how it really damages them and their world.

[whim]

Sounds interesting.  Would you recommend it?

[Aaron]

Sounds interesting.  Would you recommend it?

Highly

[ajyouthguy]

Pujols: More than a Game (biography of Albert Pujols)
Your Secret Name--Kary Oberbrunner
The Cause Within You--Matthew Barnett

[ajyouthguy]

Rob Bell--Love Wins
David Platt--Radical Together

[Aaron]

Rob Bell--Love Wins

Thoughts?

[ajyouthguy]

Thoughts?

i like the answer Lecrae gave someone today on twitter to that same question: "I think someone (meaning Bell) likes to ask questions and not give answers."

[Aaron]

Marshall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work! - Douglas Coupland
When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics - Paul Copan (skimmed the summaries for each chapter)

[Aaron]

Seven Dirty Words: The Life and Crimes of George Carlin - James Sullivan

[Vlad!]

The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University - Kevin Roose

This book is in many ways similar to A Year of Living Biblically, which I read (difficult as it is to believe) a couple of years ago. In it, Roose narrates his experience at Liberty University, the institution created and formerly headed by the late Jerry Falwell.

It's amusing as a classic fish-out-of-water story, but it's also fascinating to get into the head of someone steeped in secular culture as he experiences evangelical Christianity. Some of it is also frustrating; since I don't really belong to the evangelical movement myself I found myself on many occasions exasperated not at the worldly Roose but at the legalistic, hypocritical, or just plain wrong Liberty students. Even so, it was very interesting to look in from the outside, and I imagine Roose's observations are similar to those of anyone walking into church for the first time.

Roose writes with a humorous pen, but he is compassionate and openminded enough that at no point did I feel like my faith was being mocked. Criticized, perhaps in places, but agree or disagree he certainly took it seriously. Parts of the book were laugh-out-loud funny, and other parts nearly brought tears to my eyes. His honesty, sincerity, and wit make this book well worth a read. I enjoyed it immensely, and I strongly recommend it.

[ajyouthguy]

Most recently finished

Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman
Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer

[bloop]

I'm reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

[RedcoatJones]

I'm reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series.

I enjoyed the series. Like any 7-part series, there are times it gets a bit bloated, but overall, the story is engaging and the themes interesting.

[ajyouthguy]

Growing Up Colt: A Father, a Son, a Life in Football--Colt McCoy

[ajyouthguy]

Through My Eyes--Tim Tebow
Why Church Matters--Josh Harris

[Vlad!]

I need to get a lot better at updating the Reading Log. I don't generally list my "mind candy" books that I just read for relaxation purposes, but there have been a few "real" books that I've read and forgot to update. Here's one of them:

We Never Make Mistakes - Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Classic Solzhenitsyn -- The text itself is short and reads easily, but the subtext speaks volumes. With this work, as with his other stuff, it's what isn't said that's so important. An absolutely heartrending look at daily life in Russia during and after WWII.

[ajyouthguy]

Missional Renaissance
Missional Communities both by Reggie McNeal

[ajyouthguy]

Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski

[Vlad!]

The Life of Pi, by Yann Martel.

Reading this book was my Thanksgiving goal this year, but honestly it was not a challenge at all. Actually, the challenge was convincing myself to put it down temporarily to spend time with my parents (whom I had driven six hours to see). It grabbed me almost immediately and kept me completely captivated throughout its entire length. I loved this book, and I can't believe I put off reading it for so long. A huge thank you to the person who recommended it to me (apparently linds, though please ignore me being retarded in the subsequent post).

[Vlad!]

Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman

I generally liked American Gods, and by all accounts Anansi Boys is a similar treatment in a more lighthearted vein, so I gave it a shot. And man, did I like it.

In contrast to American Gods, this book feels more tightly focused, more self-contained, and less dependent on some big reveal near the end. Both are a sort of adult coming-of-age story, but both are so much more than that. But I just found Anansi Boys to be much more gripping, much more powerful, and, though not by much, more enjoyable.

For Gaiman fans, fantasy fans, or literature fans, strongly recommended. It also doesn't carry the disclaimer that American Gods did; the content is much more PG-13. If Gaiman feels like he needs to use graphic sexuality to achieve his artistic vision then I don't fault him for it, but I personally am glad to see that he can do at least as good a job without it.

[Aaron]

Amy Frykholm - See Me Naked: Stories of Sexual Exile in American Christianity

[ajyouthguy]

Indescribable by Louie Giglio and Matt Redman
All Is Grace by Brennan Manning