It's dorky confession time! Sometimes, when we don't think anyone is listening and the baby has been asleep for hours and there's nothing good on TV and I've already had my shower...well, my husband and I sneak into the bedroom very quietly and cuddle up under the blankets and then...
We read to each other!
We do, it's true. So here, from the shelves of David and Amy's collection, are seven books you should read to your spouse. But only if your spouse is also a dork.
1.
I'm not gonna lie, here, this one is thick, and difficult. It categorically annihilates every atheistic argument I've ever come across, and if only I could get some of the atheists I know to actually read it, I might be able to give them something to think about. But, as it is 656 pages long (with SEVENTY pages of notes) this will never happen.
2.
We each read this as a prelude to teaching at a Lenten bible study cell group a few years ago. For me, it marked my very first time teaching, so I appreciated Wright's no-nonsense, clear style. David had taught many times by this point, so he found a lot to like in Wright's grasp of the gospel. For both of us, this was an excellent choice.
3.
If you never read another explanation of God's love ever again, you need to pick up this book. I don't say this lightly. It completely revolutionised how I thought of shepherds, the shepherd metaphor in scripture, the idea of sheep and why I am called one...it's very well done.
4.
 |
| http://www.amazon.com/Church-insiders-John-G-Stackhouse/dp/1573833533 |
A series of essays that touches on all different aspects of this living, breathing, strange creature that is the body of Christ on Earth. Excellent bedtime reading because you can pick it up, finish an essay in a few minutes and fall asleep happy.
5a.
 |
| http://www.amazon.com/Launch-Starting-New-Church-Scratch/dp/1459606574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299890925&sr=1-1 Sometimes I finish a book, and I love it, and insist that David read it. Here's one of my suggestions to David. |
5b.
 |
| http://www.amazon.com/Four-Views-Youth-Ministry-Church/dp/0310234050/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299891821&sr=1-1 |
And here's David's most recent suggestion for me.
6.
 |
| http://www.amazon.com/Bruce-Stans-Guide-End-World/dp/0736900004/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299888860&sr=1-2 I added this partly for fun, but also because I think it takes a basic-level approach in dealing with a topic that a lot of Christians have mixed feelings about; the end times. On the one hand, yeah, we know this will happen but on the other hand, sometimes some of us get a little, um, obsessive about it. Or a lot obsessive. If you just want the facts, and reading Revelation will simultaneously confuse and scare the living daylights out of you, this is a good place to start. 7. The last book is not a book at all, it's a media resource. Let me step up on my soapbox for a moment, if you will. This ministry is completely free. They will send you a print catalogue to browse through and make your selection from or you can look at their offerings online. They have Christian music, sermons, dvds and mp3s. We have watched tours of the Holy Land with commentaries, heard famous preachers recorded and downloaded free concerts of great Christian artists. We have taken advantage of this service for years and years, completely free of charge (including the shipping, no cost at all) and they having been an amazing resource for us. The website is http://firefighters.org/. They change their selection of media all the time, so if you don't see what you want, they may have it later. |
No comments:
Post a Comment