As I mentioned, I am on a mission to read all of the many numerous books that I have accumulated over the years. On Sunday I completely organized my bookshelves and weeded out books that I need to get rid of. This included books that I have read and don’t need to keep, books I have that I am not interested in reading, books I have started and don’t care to finish, and my now out-of-date school textbooks. I’m not sure why I have held on to these textbooks for so long – medical/drug information goes out of date so quickly and nearly everything is available on the internet now.
I didn’t get a before picture, but here is an after picture:
Is it strange that I have kept all of my English/literature textbooks from college?
These are the books that I am selling or giving away:
A few years ago I bought a book on ebay and the seller sent about 25 used paperbacks with it. All of them are classics and most of them I have not read. Since I secretly regret the fact that I did not get a degree in English, like my college English teacher tried to persuade me to do, I have decided to read through and study these classics on my own. There are plenty of study guides on the internet.
I am also going to focus more attention on studying the Bible and Christian theology and less on other sorts of Christian advice/experience books. Besides this being a subject that I am very interested in, there is NO excuse for me not to have read the Bible completely through at my age. No excuse!
Books I am reading or have read recently include:
- Start Here by Alex and Brett Harris of The Rebelution. This is a book for teenagers, but I think their message about “doing hard things” is applicable to all Christians. It is very inspiring! Kourtney, you must read this one! I read it in two days (it is very short).
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Great, great fiction. Such a wonderful story so far!!! I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
- Closer Than Your Skin: Unwrapping the Mystery of Intimacy with God by Susan D. Hill. This is a well-written book, as in I like the prose, but it is definitely more of a memoir than a book about God. I think the author makes many good points, but I am just wary of focusing on knowing God through Christian “experience” or learning to “hear his voice” about personal matters that are not in the Bible. There is a lot in this area that I am not sure about. I don’t want to judge the book (or author) prematurely, because I have not finished it and I plan to.
- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas. I like books on marriage. I was drawn to this one because of the question on the front: “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” I like that. I think our culture in general is so obsessed with being happy and it is easy to bring unrealistic expectations into marriage. So far this book is Biblical and excellent and really makes me think.
- Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by John Piper. This is a collection of 140 meditations by my hands-down favorite Christian author/thinker/pastor, who wrote my favorite book, Desiring God. He makes you see that there is so much more to life in Christ than you could ever imagine. Although I don’t cling to every word he writes or agree with every thought he has, he is a godly man that is so incredibly satisfied and blissful in God. He has the attitude and outlook that I hope to develop. He is also an excellent writer and his work always makes me think.
- Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy: This is a Beth Moore 12 week Bible study of the book of Daniel that I am currently working through. I am on week 4 and it is good (if you are a Beth Moore fan). I am downloading the video lessons from Lifeway.com. I have mixed feelings about some of her writing/teaching but I usually learn a lot from her studies, even if I don’t necessarily agree with every single thought she has or application she makes.
And finally, not a book, but I am currently listening to the Faith Works series by David Platt of The Church at Brook Hills (in Birmingham). It is about the book of James and it is fantastic. This pastor is so honest about the hard things in the Bible. Actually, this is the second series I have listened to from him. The first was Radical and quite honestly it has changed/is changing my life, especially the way I think about my life, Christianity, and the “American Dream” in the context of all of the poverty and suffering in the world. I pretty much made Brent listen to the first lesson again with me last Sunday, because I think this message is so incredibly important, even essential, for everyone who claims to be a Christian. I sincerely encourage every single person who is a Christian or is considering becoming a Christian to listen to it.
