Books

The Big 5: Short Books

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Tiny_book_largeI love short books.  Really love them.  I think too many times authors write "book-length" books because that's what you do.  But when I find a good short-and-to-the-point book I not only get something worth reading, but also giving away.  As a pastor, finding shorter books that are quick reads to give away is something I search out.  So...

What are your Big 5 short books/quick reads? (Please list exact # of pages)

I almost called this the books under 100 pages, but that's too narrow.  For example, Mahaney's Living the Cross Centered Life is about 150 pages.  But it also has small dimensions, so it would read like a wider & taller book at 100 pages or so.  Pick books that feel like quick reads, that you might give to someone who isn't a reader.  Get it?  Go!

Lots-o-Links & Molly Update 7.29.08

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Quick update on Molly & Chiari.  Her MRI's haven't happened yet as our local hospitals don't have the equipment to do the specialized ones she needs.  So we either have to go closer to the city or wait until her appointment with her surgeon in September.  Dunno what's going to happen just yet.  I'll let you know.

Some days are better than others right now.  The last few have been pretty bad, though the worst of symptoms from last year haven't shown up yet.  Glad about that.  Thanks for praying for her. 

Here's David Ford's "Song for the Road," which I put up here as a tribute to my wife who is in constant pain, hourly frustrations.  Should she ever wonder if I will be there when she needs me...

Now I know someday this all will be over
And it's hard to say what most will I miss
Just give me one way to spend my last moments alive,
and I choose this, I choose this, I choose this.

Recently on sub•text...
Neighborhood Diversity | Smaller Cities and Towns
Male, Middle Class, and White | Suburbs vs. Christianity

Other links...

Joe Thorn is rebooting his prayer life.  I'm actually planning some extended prayer in the near future.  Good thoughts from Joe.

Al Hsu points to more Andy Crouch Culture Making stuff.  Excerpts and more.

New Wendell Berry short story in The Atlantic.

David Powlison on Breaking Pornography Addiction.

Jonathan Dodson: Dark Thoughts from The Dark Knight

Ben Arment: How to Attract High-Caliber Leaders to Your Church

William Willimon: Pastoral Wisdom

Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat audiobook FOR FREE!  Get it now, only a few days left.

Kay Ryan is the new U.S. Poet Laureate.

JD Greear: Writing Stuff Down

Paul Tripp has a potty mouth, and he's right on the money...

Lots-o-Links & Molly Update 7.29.08

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Quick update on Molly & Chiari.  Her MRI's haven't happened yet as our local hospitals don't have the equipment to do the specialized ones she needs.  So we either have to go closer to the city or wait until her appointment with her surgeon in September.  Dunno what's going to happen just yet.  I'll let you know.

Some days are better than others right now.  The last few have been pretty bad, though the worst of symptoms from last year haven't shown up yet.  Glad about that.  Thanks for praying for her. 

Here's David Ford's "Song for the Road," which I put up here as a tribute to my wife who is in constant pain, hourly frustrations.  Should she ever wonder if I will be there when she needs me...

Now I know someday this all will be over
And it's hard to say what most will I miss
Just give me one way to spend my last moments alive,
and I choose this, I choose this, I choose this.

Recently on sub•text...
Neighborhood Diversity | Smaller Cities and Towns
Male, Middle Class, and White | Suburbs vs. Christianity

Other links...

Joe Thorn is rebooting his prayer life.  I'm actually planning some extended prayer in the near future.  Good thoughts from Joe.

Al Hsu points to more Andy Crouch Culture Making stuff.  Excerpts and more.

New Wendell Berry short story in The Atlantic.

David Powlison on Breaking Pornography Addiction.

Jonathan Dodson: Dark Thoughts from The Dark Knight

Ben Arment: How to Attract High-Caliber Leaders to Your Church

William Willimon: Pastoral Wisdom

Thomas Friedman's The World is Flat audiobook FOR FREE!  Get it now, only a few days left.

Kay Ryan is the new U.S. Poet Laureate.

JD Greear: Writing Stuff Down

Paul Tripp has a potty mouth, and he's right on the money...

The Big 5: Books You Haven't Read

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Homer_simpson_doh_02Who doesn't love a little humiliation? 

What are the Big 5 books you are ashamed to say you haven't read?

Admit what you haven't read, books that are supposed to be awesome or "required reading."  You should feel some shame in admitting it.  It should confound your closest friends.  Sure, we know you haven't read a few classical novels that many people have read.  But who cares?  Give us the scoop on the MOST embarrassing books you have neglected.  Who knows?  Maybe it will light a fire under your butt to get'r done.

The Big 5: Books You Haven't Read

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Homer_simpson_doh_02Who doesn't love a little humiliation? 

What are the Big 5 books you are ashamed to say you haven't read?

Admit what you haven't read, books that are supposed to be awesome or "required reading."  You should feel some shame in admitting it.  It should confound your closest friends.  Sure, we know you haven't read a few classical novels that many people have read.  But who cares?  Give us the scoop on the MOST embarrassing books you have neglected.  Who knows?  Maybe it will light a fire under your butt to get'r done.

The Big 5: Books that Changed Your Mind

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Free-your-mind-steve-sawyerYou have beliefs, doctrinal convictions, mission convictions, and much more.  Some of those are different than what they used to be.  Maybe someone helped to change your mind.  At times there's a book that challenged us and helped to change our minds.

What are your Big 5 books that changed your mind?

This won't work unless you give us a phrase or two on what actually changed about your thinking, beliefs, doctrines, whatever.  You may not have 5, and that's fine.  Oh, and if you want to cheat and use a book of the Bible, I'll let that slide here.  Please only do that once, though.

Lots-o-Links 7.9.08

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Joe Thorn and I have an announcement coming on Friday.  Stay tuned.

Justin Childers has some great questions from John Bunyan.  Do these characterize your life?

If you haven't found it yet, Re:Lit (Resurgence Literature) has a new site.

In sports news, I'm enjoying following the Tour de France, though it doesn't come close to the Lance years.  And good news for the Cubs comes in a trade for two pitchers.

I remember years ago hearing Mark Dever talk about the book The Gospel Blimp by Joseph Bayly, a book on how to do and not to do evangelism.  The author's sons have put up the comic book version for your enjoyment.  Well worth checking out.

Andy Davis talks "Dangers in Reforming a Church."  Thoughtful.

How can you encourage expressiveness in worship?  Some thoughts from Bob Kauflin.

Jonathan Dodson: Help on leading an organic church and Driscoll on movements.

Chuck Lawless on evangelistic goal setting.

Jeremy Pryor: 3 powerful tools for discipleship.

Craig Groeschel: 10 lessons on developing people.

Matt Chandler audio: Creating pathways for spiritual formation.

Quite coddling your kids.  Please!  And don't miss the excellent TED video in the article.

Tony Morgan: 9 do's and don'ts for ministry growth.

Prepare for Keller's book The Prodigal God by listening to his sermon The Prodigal Sons.

Keller, Hell and The Prodigal God

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080208_SO0Xkeller_vl-verticalSome who read The Reason for God found Keller a bit light on the issue of "hell."  Keller's article, "The Importance of Hell" may just alleviate those concerns. (via)

Alex Chediak interviews Keller on The Prodigal God, Keller's new book out in October.  Pre-order it here.  While I can't wait to read it (*cough*...someone send me a...*cough*...preview copy...*cough*), I hope summer doesn't push past us too quickly just for the sake of reading a book. 

The Big 5: Books on Prayer

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Praying Hands2Really pumped to see the lists for this one. 

What are your Big 5 books on prayer?

I'm very flexible on this one, so feel free to get creative in your answers.  Just be sure to list the books you think are most helpful on prayer, for prayer, or about praying people. 

The Big 5: Books that Made You Laugh Out Loud

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Laughing_jesus_1What are your Big 5 books that made you laugh out loud?

We've all read them, right?  You are working through a book and you just can't contain a chuckle at a story or the way the author put something.  Any book that made you laugh is eligible, but I want to encourage you to not list too many books that are in the "humor" or "comedy" section of the bookstore.  One or two of those at most.  I'm hoping to find books/authors with a more natural humor, not just books by comedians.  BONUS: If you want to offer a short (!) quote or funny part, feel free.  But it must be funny.  If it's not funny, I will sound the gong.  Also, please don't list things like Far Side books.  These need to be reading books.  If you don't know 5, list what you have. 

The Big 5: Books on Writing

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Poetry_by_AbstraKtPhotographyI'm always interested in books on writing and becoming a better writer.  It's easier to read books on writing than to write, but the question is still worth asking...

What are your Big 5 books on writing?

These should be books written with the intent of teaching you to write.  I know other books can help you be a better writer (including books about writers), but let's stick to your favorites on the art and craft of writing.  It can be about fiction or non-fiction writing.  It can be about poetry, articles, essays, letter writing, or most anything else.  This is not a list of books on how to write a sermon.  Feel free to throw one or two in there on grammar issues or issues directly related to writing if you like.  If you don't have 5, no prob.  List what you have read that you like.

The Big 5: Books for Seekers

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Job postings fhcc binocularsLike you, I'm always on the lookout for good books for seekers.  You know who seekers are, right?  These are the folks who come to your church NOT because they occasionally like to feel less guilty by attending, but because they are actually looking for answers.  These are the folks who want to sit down and ask you questions about life, suffering, truth, the Bible, or where is God in all this mess, and seem to genuinely want answers. So...

What are your Big 5 books for seekers? 

These will likely be books on the gospel or apologetics.  You should try to stick to books that are meant for seekers or books that unintentionally just work very well with seekers.  As best you can, stick with general books for seekers and not books on one issue only.  If one really stands out to you, that's cool, but I would prefer lists that will help us all with good books for seekers in general.  And please don't mention Scripture.  We get it, the Bible is good for seekers.  :) 

The Big 5: Study Bibles

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Esvsb-featureI'm very happy to see the ESV Study Bible coming out in October.  I will own and use a copy and provide them on my church's book table.  So, it makes me wonder...

What are your Big 5 study Bibles? 

This is a list of the study Bibles you personally think are the best.  If you think you would choose the ESV SB as one, please mention that.  Also, let us know what version of the Bible you like for each study Bible (if they vary).  Go!

The Big 5: Books Worth Regular Rereading

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436212_tattered_book-172x187I remember sitting in Mark Dever's office and asking him what books have been most helpful to him personally, books that he would read more than once.  He pointed to a little swiveling bookshelf with five (if I remember correctly) well worn books that he reads every year (I think). 

What big 5 books do you think are worth regularly rereading? 

Try to avoid devotional books, unless there is one that really knocked your socks off and you reread all the time. There will be a separate list for devotional books at some point.  These books will likely be in the personal walk, Christian life, holiness kinds of categories.  Don't list books of the Bible.  If someone lists some of your big 5 books, please go ahead and list them again.  This isn't about mentioning the books no one else has, but listing your big 5.  After all, if one book is mentioned again and again that will add weight to that book.  Go!

The Big 5: Books on Suffering

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SufferingI'm sidelined today with terrible back pain.  I'm nearly immobile, and can't move without wincing.  Ugh.  So it's a good day for books on suffering.  What are your big 5 books on suffering?  These can be books on suffering in general or something specific like the loss of a baby.  If your friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer and asked you for something to read on suffering, what would it be?  If you woke up in agonizing back pain and needed a refresher on what God does through pain in your body, what would it be? 

PLEASE, refrain from turning this into a comment thread on my back pain.  I know a few of you care about me and want to share my pain.  But I want this to be a resource thread in the future, so just list and discuss books.  Go!