Wednesday, August 30, 2006

I've been tagged

Tim Baylor tagged me to answer these questions. I am normally repulsed by chain emails and things like them, but this one seems profitable. By the way, this one disclaimer - just because I list it here as a book that I like does not mean I am in full agreement with everything in the book :)

1. One book that changed your life
Life Change is something that is happening every day, so some of these I have read a long time ago, and others just recently. Besides the Bible, I think I would have to say Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges. I would add to that Future Grace by John Piper, and The Passion of Christ, by John Piper.

I would also add God's Empowering Presence by Gordon Fee. I was doing some study on the work of the Holy Spirit in Romans 8 at the time I read the book, and boy, what an encouragement and support to the grace of God and gospel for everyday life!

2. One book you’ve read more than once
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island
I think I'd want my Reformation Study Bible.

4. One book that made you laugh
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

5. One book that made you cry
Can't think of any off the top of my head, although I'm with Baylor on D J Kennedy's Why I Believe. That part about proof for the existence of hell based on near death experiences really got to me. Also, I would add Criswell's Guidbook for Pastors.

6. One book you wish had been written
A Theology of The Church as the Unified Body of Christ from a First Century Perspective. I think in many ways we have come far from what the church is supposed to be both in form and function. I pray that individually I can study this topic and apply it to my life, and then represent it accurately and biblically to whatever local assembly God may be pleased to allow me to grow with in the future.

7. One book you wish had never been written
Dave Hunt's What Love is This?

8. One book you’re currently reading
Brothers We are Not Professionals by John Piper. I am very challenged by the call to non-secular, Christ centered ministry.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read
The Works of Jonathan Edwards, and anything by John Owen. He did some foundational works in Christology and Pneumatology. Also A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson.

10. Tag 5 others
Julie Hall, Phil Hall, Stephen Branine, Kit Johnson, (if he had a blog), Jordan Heijermans (if he had a blog), Brian Morgan.

11. I am adding my own 11th question - a book you started, put down, never finished, but wished you had
Calvin's Institutes. I will finish them some day.