SCL

I have too many on my being read and to read piles. Those piles include some john piper books, some international development books and an assortment of other stuff

Hokey Pokey: Curious People finding out what Life's all about by Matthew Paul Turner. Really good.

Earthquake Nation: The Cultural Politics of Japanese Seismicity, 1868-1930 by Gregory Clancey. Surprisingly readable and interesting despite being an academic book. Last week, in a fit of sensitivity, my 15 year-old brother picked it up and said that he didn't know books had been published about Haiti that quickly.

Yes, I threw a shoe at him.

Just finished Phil Cooke's "The Last TV Evangelist" and am anxiously awaiting Seth Godin's upcoming "Linchpin".

Oooh, Celebration of Discipline is great.

And speaking of Brennan Manning, I'm ashamed to admit that I just returned The Importance of Being Foolish to the library unfinished. Nothing against the author, but I just couldn't get into it. Wrong book at the wrong time, I guess.

Right now, I'm finishing up Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Then I'm going to be ambitious and start Physics of the Impossible (can't remember the author's name). There's a chapter in there attempting to prove that it is possible the world will one day be taken over by robots. Can't wait!

1. Terry Goodkind's Blood of the Fold – love adventure stories, especially those set in another world, why? Cos it's more interesting than this one
2. The Google Story: Keen to find out the story of their success, not that I want to replicate it but cos it's cool to hear bout people doing well (even after a difficult path)
3. SCL Choose your own romance story – why? cos I thought it would be funny to add that.
lol

Love love love Ish!! I have never found anyone else who knows it.

ignore everybody is great. also celebration of discipline. read it 3 times in college. still working on the discipline part. i have celebration DOWN.

i'm reading harry potter 7 right now. because my parents didn't let me read harry potter as a child. the typically over-cautious charismatic pentecostal holiness stream that said essentially, "If it feels good, don't."

making up for lost time…

1. Jasper Fforde, Something Rotten. 4th installment in the Thursday Next series, which should be read by anyone who likes books and language. I won't even start to try and explain what it's about because these books are hard to describe – you just have to read and enjoy

2. Lori Smith, A Walk with Jane Austen. Something like a (quite personal) travel diary from a trip the author took to see several places of Jane Austen's life and work. A book I like to re-read because I like Jane Austen and I also like Lori Smith's writing style – I can relate to a lot of what she writes about herself, and it feels a bit like a late-night conversation with a good friend.

3. Dale Ralph Davis, The Word Became Fresh: How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts. I haven't read that much yet but it seems really good, and I am just fed up with the 'bad rep' the Old Testament seems to have even among some Christians, and I'm grateful for anyone who tries to change that (and does so in a helpful, interesting way).

There are some more (I have a bad habit of reading too many books at once), but these are the ones that might actually be interesting to some of you out there…

Discipline by Elizabeth Eliot .. I haven't read any of her books since I was a teenager yet I have always loved her work. I felt the need and was drawn to it since the need for discipline spiritually and physically is quite evident to me
A woman after God's own heart by Elizabeth George .. This is one that i am doing with my church's ladies bible study. Looks really promising.
Death in holy orders by PD James.. because I love a good mystery. If you haven't read any of her work, I highly suggest you check one of her books out of the library.
Molly and the good shepherd .. i am reading this to my daughter named ( drum roll please).. Molly
there are plenty others on my reading queue that I have anxiously waiting for me

I'm a wife……don't "love" Jane Austen…….Ted Dekker…….YEAH!

The only things I have time to read are the textbooks I use to teach my college history course and the papers my students (all 61 of them) write as their assignments.

I am reading The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. I just recently finished chapter 3 and have reached the point in the book where I can't stop telling poeple that they should read it too. But that's probably because I'm one of the 3 people he describes in chapter 2. I'm a Maven, ergo, I tell everyone about everything that is fantastic. (yes, I tell everyone that they should read your blog.)

Great list Jon. I've upped my new year's resolution to reading 2 books a month instead 1. A few minutes ago I added the first recommendation to my amazon cart.

I love Abba's Child….

1. "The New Eve" by Robert Lewis. Our church is working to develop a language for Biblical manhood & womanhood.
2. "Walking the Small Group Tightrope" by Donahue & Robinson. My 2nd time reading it. Awesome book for small group leaders.
3. just finished "Big Truths for Young Hearts" by Bruce Ware. Great book for helping communicate theology to elementary & middle school age kids. I'm not a theologian, so I learned a ton, too.

1-Currently reading "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters" because what's the one thing that could only make Jane Austen better? Mythical sea creatures.
2-To read "Louder Than Words" by Andy Stanley….preparing for some two by fours to the face on that one.

I may have to add a couple of those to my 2010 reading list. Here's a few in the hopper:

1. What Everyone Should Know About Money Before They Enter The Real World – Joseph Sangl – Meant for students. I work with students at our church and if we can help them get started in life with less debt, the better.

2. Everybody Wants To Go to Heaven But Nobody Wants to Die – David Crowder

3. Servolution – Dino Rizzo – Already been challenged in a HUGE way about how our church can serve our community.

4. Outliers: The Story of Success – Malcolm Gladwell

5. Hope to read the Bible through this year as well. I have started many times but never finished. I'm using the M'Cheyne Reading Plan from YouVersion to help keep me on track. Thankfully, I can read on my BlackBerry, iTouch or laptop while traveling for work.

[polldaddy 2568766 http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2568766/ polldaddy]

Abba's Child by Brennan Manning is one of my favorite books – it was so convicting and full of grace. The crazy thing is that I met Brennan Manning while I was reading the book. It was sort of awkward to meet him because his book was changing my life and yet he didn't know that. Yet, he was as awesome in person as he is in print. I hope you enjoy it!

1. The Magic Mountain – Thomas Mann

2. Spiritual Emotions: A Psychology of Christian Virtues – Robert C. Roberts

1. Coming Home Crazy by Bill Holm
2. Stop Walking on Eggshells by Paul T. Mason & Randi Kreger
3. The Places In Between by Rory Stewart
4. Moments With the Savior by Ken Gire

1. Driven by Eternity [John Bevere] — smooth read, but one you almost don't (but really do) want to read because of the weight and shift of perspective.
2. Alice in Wonderland — brought to mind by the new movie. Never read it before.
3. The Death of the Grown-Up [Diana West] — addresses how America's arrested development is bringing down western civilization. Very insightful.
4. Invitation to the Classics [Louise Cowan, Os Guinness] — a guide to books you've always wanted to read. Gives short overview and context of great Western classics in chronological order. Very cool resource!

Jesus For President, Shane Claiborne. Was recommended to me by a friend. actually he shoved it in my hands and said… YOu NEED To read this.

Old Testament History of Redemption, Franz Delitzsch.

A collection of Sermons by Charles H. Spurgeon

When Helping Hurts- Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert…. could not be more appropriate for right now. Lots of people wanting to help w/Haiti but can actually do more harm than good.
A Year of Biblically Living- AJ Jacobs
Acts-Luke
Gospel o' Mark- self titled
The End of Poverty- Jeffery Sachs…. b/c we (wealthy nations) have enough wealth & resources to put an end to extreme poverty by 2025 if we just tried

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper. It's pretty deep, but really good. He talks about how marriage is a picture of Christ and the Church. It's a parable of permanence.

Burn by Ted Dekker. It's slower starting than some of his others, but I've never been disappointed by a Dekker book, so I'm sure it'll get better.

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. I am NOT a fan, but my husband and I have decided we should read all of them (just finished Twilight two weeks ago) since our youth are obsessed. I have to "reward" myself with a good book when I finish one.

Unashamed by Francine Rivers. I'm reading all of the books in this series. It's awesome to see how God used the most unlikely of women to be a part of his Son's lineage.

The Most Loving Place in Town. I don't remember who this is by, and I've pretty much quit reading it because it's super cheesy. The cover looks good though!

Celebration of Discipline….amazing…

Csikszentmihalyi has come up a lot in grad school (education program). It took me an embarassingly long time to connect the spelling of his name to the pronunciation. I thought there was this pair of researchers, "Chicks and Mahai" who were writing these scholarly articles. But no . . . it was Csikszentmihalyi.

Crazy Love because everyone else I know seems to be reading it and I wanted to be part of the In Crowd.
Pure Praise the worship Bible Study because I may start taking some people through it soon.
Recently reread The Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley. Love that book!

Is that first one a real author or did you just drop your donut on the keyboard?

Yes, I've been interested in Flow too. Looking forward to getting my hands on it within a couple months. :>)

Currently, I'm reading Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Why? Because it's part of my challenge for becoming the "most marriable man."

-Marshall Jones Jr.

I just finished Pillars of the Earth. Wowza. Great story (although be forewarned there is swearing, raping & pillaging. It's set in the middle ages).

Now I'm reading This Is Your Brain In Love by Earl Henslin. It's interesting especially for married couples who've moved past the dizzying euphoria of new love.

And lastly, Smart Boys by Barbara Kerr & Sandford Cohn. Great book for parents of gifted boys.

The Silence of Adam… looks very promising.
Forgotten God – haven't started it yet, but it's sitting on my desk.
Perelandra – the last book in C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. This one is harder to read than the first 2. (But the first 2 were amazing!)

Treatise on Religious Affections- Johnathan Edwards
A Hungar For God- John Piper
Praying- J.I. Packer

All=sweet

I am reading “The Me I Want To Be.” It is John Ortberg’s latest book. New I dentity in Christ along with temprament, worship wiring and gifting. Great approach.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE ISH! Have you read The Dot too? Very good.
I'm currently absorbing slowly Adoration by Martha Kilpatrick. It's about the story of Mary and Martha and how Mary had it right. period. What it means to adore Jesus… really very thought provoking.

Celebration of Discipline changed my life. Taught me that discipline is not so much a duty as a privilege as it's an expression of a relationship that is only possible through Christ. Unreal!! And reason to PARTY!! I mean, celebrate

Currently reading Knowing God by Packer. Since it's melting my face off I can't really read anything else. Well, other than my Bible of course. How ironic would it be if I read "Knowing God" and didn't read my Bible. Geez.

Just finished, "My Beautiful Idol" by Pete Gall – (fantastic read, Pete…wow) Next on my shelf:

The Year of Living Like Jesus: My Journey of Discovering What Jesus Would Really Do – Ed Dobson
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Own Life – Donald Miller
When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy – John Piper
Stewardship – Peter Block

Just started Free Book by Brian Tome. So far, it is excellent!
Also began Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert…it's not grabbing me.
Just finished Healing Waters by Nancy Rue and Stephen Arterburn. Good read!

I picked up two recently that I'm attempting, which is more than my usual zero.

"Telling Lies" by Paul Ekman, who the Fox show "Lie to Me" is completely based on. Really interesting research and has me pointing a finger at myself every time I catch myself showing signs of a lie. Keeps me in check, I guess.

And "The Psychology of Superheroes" is a collection of articles written by professionals in the field of psychology examining why superheroes are the way they are. Why is Spiderman always so upbeat in the face of certain daeth? What's with the Hulk and his anger issues?

Good times.

"Race Against Time: Searching for Hope in AIDS-ravaged Africa" by Stephen Lewis. Amazing man, amazing writer, amazing book. From the Amazon.com description: "The AIDS pandemic of Africa has killed 19 million people, 4 million of them children. It is the world's worst health disaster since the Middle Ages." How much do you know about it? What about the Millenium Development Goals? What *can* be done?

If you talk the talk (re: AIDS and Africa), can you walk the walk? Read it.

Brennan Manning is my favorite author of all time, and Abba's Child is the only book to ever have me weeping. I just love love love Manning.

Yay books!

Currently reading:
1. Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll – nothing I didn't know, but cool to hear from someone so direct.
2. Inferno by Dante Alighieri – read it before and didn't like it, but giving it a second try.
3. Ring of Fire by various authors – alternate history is fun!
4. Hebrews and excerpts from Leviticus – research for the Easter series I'm writing for the kids at church (and a good reminder of how cool Jesus is).
5. General Relativity – An actual graduate-level textbook. Because I'm a nerd. In related news, my brain hurts.

To read:
The stack of books in my possession that I need to read is up to several dozen now. Notable is The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I'm more than a little intimidated, but my youngest sister assures me it gets good around page 500 (…yeah, intimidating alright).

And then I've got the books I want to read but still need to acquire (via friends, libraries, or bookstores). Notable among them is Stuff Christians Like (pre-ordered, of course).

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies–very entertaining. Written by some random guy who didn't like the real version too much. I tried to read the "real" version years ago and got bored, but I've been a huge fan of the BBC miniseries version since high school (if you know the story word for word it helps you enjoy this ridiculous spoof a bit more.)

The Book of Romance by Tommy Nelson (a pastor and marriage counselor of many years)
It walks the reader from dating through well into marriage with the help of the author's explication of the Song of Solomon. I thought it was kind of cliche at first (because his dating advice includes things I feel I already understand, but for someone hearing it for the first time it would probably be very valuable advice,) but the later parts of the book are solid. We're doing it in a women's Bible study, but it seems like it (especially the chapters involving the wedding—>later marriage) would be great for any engaged or married couple.

Sensational Kids
How to recognize and help kids with sensory processing disorders–(I'm going to occupational therapy school soon and I want to treat kids.) This would be a good book for teachers or any parent of a child with an SPD.

I love Celebration of Discipline. Right now I'm reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer.

Forgotten God, Francis Chan
The Gospel According to Lost, Chris Seay

Both are great reads. Absolutely good stuff.

a million things! Mainly though 'John G. Paton: Missionary to the New Hebrides'. It's OLD, and it looks and feels and sounds and SMELLS old. And i flippin' LOVE. IT. amazing. BIIIIIIG recommendations.

Reverse Mentoring
and
Mentor Like Jesus

"Ignore Everbody" kept me treading water last year. Helped me think different. Love Hugh!~His cartoon e-mails are available and great to wake up to.

Brennan Manning had us all quietly weeping a few years ago with ~ "And when the father saw him, he ran to meet him, and folding him in his arms kissed him. [choked whisper] Folks, he simply could not stop kissing him"

A great mate for Ignore Everbody is Matthew E. Mays "In Pursuit of Elegance". Fits any context.

Loved this list.

I would place a caveat on the Foster book. We're reading it as part of my current seminary class but more from a discernment and critical viewpoint. Consider evaluating the entire premise of spiritual formation from a purely biblical view. Also keep in mind that Foster, being a Quaker, recommends and quotes many Roman Catholic thinkers who were or are not exactly friendly to the whole Reformed evangelical set of doctrines.

Going through several books right now.
1. Dante's Inferno
Dante's Hell is almost always pictured as some image of fire and flames without any theological bounty except that of condemning. So untrue. Dante has some of the most theological insight I have ever seen, and having read Purgatory last semester (I am a college student), I decided to try and get through the entire series.

2. Chosen by God by RC Sproul
Found myself sucked into a couple Predestination vs. Free Will arguments lately, and, being a Free Will guy myself, decided to look at the other side.

3. The Myth of a Christian Nation by Gregory A. Boyd
I never believed the "Christian Nation" myth, so this book is just one of those that reassures my beliefs.

1. Lead Like Jesus (um, leading like Jesus)
2. US weekly (don't hate)
3. Irresistible Revoltution (apathy in the church)
4. One Year Bible (daily grubbage)
5. The Unlikely Disciple (atheist cat attends a christian college undercover)