Christian - Blog About Books

Surprised by Joy by CS Lewis

molly.petersen — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:01:24 +0000

In this book Lewis tells of his search for joy, a spiritual journey that led him from the Christianity of his early youth into atheism and then back to Christianity.
I find this book a difficult one to review. Because of my respect for CS Lewis and his other writings I would like to rave about this one as well, but truthfully I found this book to be a challenge. I was hoping it would give a greater insight into Lewis’ life and conversion from atheism to Christianity, but often it went at great length into rather unimportant events and English literature, sadly most of which I didn’t recognize. Events like his father’s death and service in WWI were glossed over. I was also hoping for more “solid reasons” for why he converted but instead more references to books unknown to me. Read this book if you are a Lewis enthusiast, otherwise there are plenty of other CS Lewis books I would rather recommend.

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Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski

molly.petersen — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 23:37:22 +0000

“Yankoski’s parents were right: It was crazy to live as a homeless person in six American cities for five months; fortunately, this crazy idea makes for quite a story.”

Under the Overpass is the story of two college-age guys who decide to put their faith to the test and live as homeless people on the streets. Though Mike’s accounts of street life are rather tame, compared to the build-up they’re given, he gives a unique perspective on the problem of homelessness. It also made me think of my attitude toward those I see on the street. This book is a fun, interesting read.Read more reviews on amazon (avaliable for Audio Version download)

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Tramp for the Lord by Corrie ten Boom

molly.petersen — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 09:58:13 +0000

“Tramp for the Lord continues Corrie ten Boom’s extraordinary journey of hope following the events recounted in her bestseller The Hiding Place. From her near-destitute days in postwar New York to heart-stopping adventures in Africa, Corrie’s inspirational life story proves that miracles do happen.”

Given the title, Americans might think this book is dodgey, but it is really the story of a Holocaust survivor’s travels around the world. Ten Boom is a fiesty, old gal who weaves her tale of struggling through World War II with where the Lord has since lead her. It’s a great book that would inspire anyone to pack a bag and see where the Lord takes them.

A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken

molly.petersen — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:19:20 +0000

This acclaimed story traces the idyllic marraige of Sheldon and Jean Vanauken, their search for faith, their friendship with C.S.Lewis and the tragedy of untimely death and love lost. It includes 18 letters by C.S.Lewis”

Though I categorize this book as a “love story,” I am reluctant to do so for fear of turning men, and some women, off of this powerful story of faith, intellect, and, yes, love. The book follows the true story of the poignant bond between the author and his wife, Davy, and how he must come to grips with her death. Vanauken writes of his personal spiritual battles, his longing for his dead wife and his friendship with another famous widower, CS Lewis, with a candor that kept me riveted.Read the full review on amazon

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Letters from a Skeptic by Dr Gregory Boyd with Edward Boyd

david.couper — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 00:05:11 +0000

“In Letters from a Skeptic Dr Gregory Boyd and his father Edward Boyd “debate” many objections to Christianity, the church, and the bible.

– Why is the world so full of suffering?
– Does God know the future?
– How can you believe that a man rose from the dead?
– Why do you think the Bible is inspired?
– Do all non-Christians go to hell?
– How can I be holy and sinful at the same time?

Greg Boyd initiated this correspondence with his father in the hope that his father would eventually come to know Christ. After three years, 30 letters and numerous phone calls, Edward K Boyd did just that.
Letters from a Skeptic will help you wrestle with the rational foundation of your own faith. It will also help you to know how to share that faith with the skeptics you love.”

I really enjoyed this book, having often wondering and sometimes struggled with the questions I would be asked about Christianity and why it was important. One of the most eye opening parts of the book was the discussion concerning why natural disasters happen, especially in the light of the past 13 months. This book is well worth the read – not only for Christians but also for people thinking about the realities of Christianity and the implications of being a believer. This is one of the best books I have ever read and it was well worth every penny!!Read more reviews on amazon

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A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren

david.couper — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 18:27:26 +0000

“A New Kind of Christian’s conversation between a pastor and his daughter’s high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life’s most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity – where personal, daily interaction with God is more important then institutional structires, where faith is more about a way of life than a system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally “right”, and where one’s direction is more important than one’s present location. Brian McLaren’s delightful account offers a wise and wondrous approach for revitalizing Christian spiritual life and Christian congregations”

What Brian McLaren offers in A New Kind of Christian, for me, is a breath of fresh air into an often very stale environment of the Christian church and viewpoint today. This book tackles everything from looking at how our worldview taints what we see to so “fundamentals” of the Christian faith and where they come from. A New Kind of Christian challenged me to really look at where my views about certain issues came from – and what the Jesus approach to them would be. A book well worth the read!!Read more reviews on amazon

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Whistle While You Work by Richard Leider and David Shapiro

peter — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 22:07:12 +0000

“Calling is natural. We all possess it. It needs only to be uncovered, not discovered. Whistle While You Work makes the uncovering process inspiring and fun. Featuring a unique “calling card” excercise – a powerful way to put the whistle in your work – it is a liberating and practical guide that will help you find work that is truely satisfying, deeply fulfilling, and consistant with your deepest values.
Richard Leider and David Shapiro combine straightforward advice for how you can discover your calling with dozens of inspiring stories, featuring individuals that have found – or are in the process of finding – theirs. Most importantly, they provide an inspiring, effective and entertaining guide to discovering the work you were born to do. It will equip you to see a clear picture of what your right work is and what to do with you limited time here of Earth.”

Whistle while you work showed me that each person does have a calling. The book helped me identify key attributes about my personality to help me identify what kind of calling I would have on my life.This book also deals with the different attitudes towards work. The quote I really liked from this book was
“if you can’t get out of it, get into it!”
If you hate your job, READ THIS BOOK!!

Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin McManus

david.couper — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 21:49:34 +0000

“Uprising: A revolution of the Soul provides a unique perspective on a pursuit as old as time itself: the quest to become fully alive. Filled with profound truths, yet presented in a fresh, conversational style. this book will challenge you to attain new depths of spiritual freedom and reach your fullest potential as a human being.
“The character of God, the beauty of His personhood, the expression of His goodness”- these are God’s traits that he longs to share with us. What would the world look like – what would we look like – if we became like Him? This is the ultimate destination, write Erwin, to become the person God dreams of and to share those dreams with others”

Lucas on Life by Jeff Lucas

ulani — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 19:59:49 +0000

“Be prepared to be thoroughly challenged, proked and nudged, both subtly and directly, in this humorous collection of stories and anecdotes from popular speaker and author Jeff Lucas. Jeff takes you on a memorable journey through life’s ups and downs, pointing out lessons that need to be learned on the way. You will laugh, cry, scream ‘thats me’ and ‘I’ve been there’. But most of all, you’ll know that you can do better if only you try.”

This book really was very funny and really mades me laugh because Jeff Lucas has a great way of telling stories. The book is full of individual stories, that are both profound and hilarious. It is definately a laugh-out-loud book about everything from evangelism to worship, that shows ways to and to not approach different situations. The nice change about this book is the humility with which it is written and how there are actually very valid lessons to be learnt through Jeff’s experiences.

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Fingernail Moon by Janie Webster

david.couper — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 19:22:16 +0000

“Janie Webster had an enviable marriage, a beautiful child and reqarding work. But when she discovered that her husband had sexually abused their daugther, everything changed. She began divorce proceedings but the court allowed unsupervised visits between father and daugther. Then her husband was diagnosed with AIDS. Terrified that he could further abuse and even infect their daughter, Janie Webster knew that she had to flee. Mother and daughter embarked on a five-year journey around the world. Although often discouraged, they found within their physical journey a deep spiritual meaning. With God’s guidance, they established new lives in the countries where they stayed and found people they could trust. Despite the threat of deportation and imprisonment hanging over them, they sensed the hand of God engineering their safe passage. This chronicle of their fugitive years in a compelling journal of courage and a testament to the power of faith.”

This book has a bit of a personal side for me. We were lucky enough to meet Janie and her daughter during the periods they lived in England. At the time I was too young so did not know anything about what was going on, but now looking back through the book I realise that even now I cannot imagine what it would take to leave everyone to know and love and live as a fugitive. For me Janie really personifies the phrase “dying to self” when I think of how much she gave up. It is an inspiring book that really speaks of grace and faith.Read more reviews on amazon

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