Top 10 Book to Read

There is little difference between a man who can’t read and a man who don’t read. Reading is critical in life. I love to read and I think you can learn to love it too. Find something you either are passionate about or struggling with and begin to read about it. Here are 1o Book I think you should read in 2013. 

1. Jesus + Nothing = Everything  by Tullian Tchivijian
2. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
4. The Grace Effect by Larry Alex Taunton
5. Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic
6. Linchpin by Seth Godin
7. Soul Detox by Craig Groeshel
8. Crazy Love by Francis Chan
9. Radical by David Platt
10. Wonderstruck by Margaret Feinberg

 

This list would cost you about $125 at Christianbook.com

I Recommend

Best Bible

ESV Study Bible

Best Book on The Holy Spirit

Remembering the Forgotten God, by Francis Chan

Best Book To Start Discipleship

Multiply, Francis Chan

Best Bible Software

Logos

 

Best Bible App

It is a tie. 

Logos

YouVersion

 

Elusive Christianity

Have you gotten a grasp on what you think real Christianity looks like? What about what the Bible describes as real Christianity? Have you been able to become the Radical Christian that David Platt writes about? Have you experienced the Crazy Love that Francis Chan describes? Have you found the secret? I know this is a constant battle I fight. I know that Paul said that we are not to compare ourselves with others (2 Cor 10:12). Paul also seem to find it difficult to do what he knew he should (Rom 7). I guess there is some comfort in Paul struggling as well. Would it be easier if we were in a place Haiti or Africa. In those places it is easy to see what you are doing for Christ. The difference you make is more visible. If you are like me, you struggle to ever feel like you are doing enough. I mean there is so much that needs to be done and our impact seems so small. Here is how I survive.

• Be where you are. So often we want to be somewhere else. Just be where you are.
• Serve where you are. Don’t wait on some “big” something.
• Be faithful. God will present opportunities for you to serve Him. Just be faithful to what He tells you.
• Don’t compare. There is only one you. Be the you God desires not the you your flesh desires.
• Be real. Don’t try to be something you are not. People like real.

Christianity is elusive when you try to grasp that which God never intended for you to grasp.

Grab what He gives you!

Suffering – Secret Church

This past Friday night I had the great opportunity to attend a Secret Church simulcast at Harvest Church. David Platt is a great teacher of the Word and there was much to be learned about Suffering and the Cross. Here are six statements/truths that rang out to me. .

1. We are challenged to embrace suffering in order to spread the Gospel.
2. The gospel is the only hope for a people mired in suffering.
3. You better be standing on a rock in a world of shifting ground and sinking sand.
4. When God seems the farthest from you just know He might be setting the stage for a showing of His greatest faithfulness.
5. Sin always brings suffering.
6. When all the gifts are gone God is still good.

Let me be clear that that is in no way the only powerful statements that were taught; however, they are a sampling. The great challenge of this topic is for most Americans this is not how we approach suffering. We think if we have a life of ease then we must be blessed by God. This is simply not true. Yet we are more inclined to run from and/or deny any suffering. C.S. Lewis wrote this about avoidance of pain and suffering.

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

People will change church when a tough path comes because they do not want to be part of a suffering church. They will abandon many of the good and strong relationships they hold. C.S. Lewis said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

I don’t think God intends for us to pursue suffering but live in obedience and that will provide us sufficient suffering.