Book Meme

Wendy just tagged me for the latest Meme. I saw this same Meme over at Goodmanson.com just before I was tagged myself. Unfortunately, I’m not a big reader so my answers won’t be as exiting as some other’s but I’ll answer as best I can.

One book that changed your life

When I first started to attend Kaleo, I went on our one and only camping trip (easy to do in a church of 15 people). AS part of the weekend trip David read from two books. He read from the first chapter of this book and I was totally hooked. Not only did it speak to me in language I understood, but it spoke to the issues on my heart, specifically, how can we be called to evangelize if salvation is not by our efforts? I asked David for the title of the book so I could get my own copy and he gave me that copy with a personal inscription.

One book that you?ve read more than once.

This is not a book you would expect to find on my self based on my other books but this is part of a great series of fantasy books. The series is based on seven incarnations (death, war, fate, nature, etc.) and describes a world where science and majic co-exist. The main characters are people who have taken on the “job” of each of the incarnations. And the plot revolves around how each fufills their role and the chalanges they face as individuals.

One book you?d want on a desert island.

Basically, you could study this a lifetime and still never fully understand it.

Widely considered one of the best tools available for Bible study and previously only available in the New King James translation, The Reformation Study Bible has been updated to the readable and accurate English Standard Version (ESV). This foundational resource was created by more than fifty scholars and features thousands of in-depth study notes, 96 theological articles, 19 in-text maps, and 12 charts to help you understand the Bible better.

One book that made you laugh

Basically the best comic strip ever writen. Some of my favorite strips are where Hobbes comes from, why old photos are in black and white, and much, much more.
and

Because it is so true. I remember reading this as a night security guard while I was coing to college and remembering how accurately it reflected my previous work experience.

One book that made you cry.

Because it is so true. See above.

One book that you wish had been written
Sharks are for Fun – Not for Eating There are far too many books, movies, documentaries and stories about shark attacks and not nearly enough about the gentle nature of sharks. Some basic facts include…
The three largest sharks are filter feeders, most sharks eat dead or sick sea creatures, you are more likely to be struck by lightning or die in a car accident than to be attacked by a shark.

One book that you wish had never been written
“Prayer of Jabez, Purpose Driven Life and the Left Behind series”
The quick reasons are:
1) Based on “name it and claim it” theology
2) A bit of “works-based” faith and doesn’t appreciate the sovereignty of God over our total depravity.
3) Left Behind focuses on end times and I think people get too caught up in that stuff.

I must admit though, that I have not read any of these. My opinion is based on conversations and comments with others whom I respect. I can also expand on these answers but will need time to articulate my points (just ask). You may want to ask Wendy since she gave the same answer on that one (hence the quote marks)

One book you?re currently reading
Probably the best summary of what real Christianity looks like and writen by a great author.

The late Lewis, Oxford professor, scholar, author, and Christian apologist, presents the listener with a case for orthodox Christianity. This is definitely not the shouting, stomping, sweating, spitting televangelist fare so often parodied; Lewis employs logical arguments that are eloquently expressed. He describes those doctrines that the four major denominations in Britain (Anglican, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic) would have in common, e.g., original sin, the transcendent Creator God, and the divinity of Jesus as well as his atonement and bodily resurrection.

One book you?ve been meaning to read

“I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn’t resolve. . . . I used to not like God because God didn’t resolve. But that was before any of this happened.” In Donald Miller’s early years, he was vaguely familiar with a distant God. But when he came to know Jesus Christ, he pursued the Christian life with great zeal. Within a few years he had a successful ministry that ultimately left him feeling empty, burned out, and, once again, far away from God. In this intimate, soul-searching account, Miller describes his remarkable journey back to a culturally relevant, infinitely loving God.

I hereby tag Jody (and Wendei), RadioactiveJam, Honestyrain, Samshua and Velet Vox