which book have you been reading lately? to be honest, i never read just one book, but the two books that i have going at the moment are: "the 5 love languages" by gary chapman i think, and the transformation of the inner man by john and paula sandford... i've put 'the bait of satan' down for a while, but my goodness! read the transformation of the inner man... it's the most epic eye opening book! so how about you?
i'm now reading a book of John Stott about the baptism and being filled with The Holy Spirit i don't know the english title of it, because i read it in dutch!but i ordered some of the books of the list of 41Leonard Ravenhill's Top 41 book Recommandationsi'm started to read more, at first i didn't read that much...so i'm starting, i read now books when i go to College, than i have the time to read, or when i am at work and there isn't much work to do :-)
I'm half way through "Wilt Thou Go With This Man?" by Brownlow North
Currently I am reading through these books.(Outside scripture)What If?is a secular history book that demonstrates to this believer the soverighnty of God. It is a great collection of "counterfactual" essay; speculations by leading historians of mankind's near misses and close calls. For instance, what if rain, wind, and fog had not aided the Continental Army's desperate escape across the East River one night in August 1776, would we now be singing "God Save the Queen" at ball games? As I finish the book I am reminded that if mankind had total free will we might have a Muslim Europe, a Mongol Europe, a permanently Confederate South, or a 20th century in which names Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, and Mao are remembered fondly. The first chapter is a secular head-scatching over the inexplicable victory of King Hezekiah of Jerusalem over the Assyrian army.Rediscovering the Celtsis a great study of the history of Celtic Christianity. It begins with the people known to the ancients as the gauls or the keltoi and takes us up to the conmtemporary praise and worship CD "Revival in Belfast." (Just kidding about that last part...)Birth of Christianity: Reality and Myth is a vain little book where a guy with a divinity degree defects to a darwinian explanation of Christianity. It basically is a book of wild specualtion about how Jesus really did advocate the overthrow of Rome, leading to his lawful crucifixion and unintended spiritualization by the desciples. It's rubbish of course, but it serves as a fine display of how man's "imagination" is a product of the heart...not the mind. (Thanks Dorcas for that observation...)Short history of the church in the United States, A.D. 1492-1890 is an old book I found in a used book store. (My copy is dated 1890.) It's a great little book that traces the Christian roots of America without the overstated fundamentalist revisionism of the recent cold war century. This 120 year old book shows that America was indeed a nation founded on the Christian faith...and political philosophy...and secular economics...the book ends in 1890 with an unassuming report of American scholars traveling to Europe to study "higher criticism"...uh oh.Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy ChurchesA Pastor friend of mine from my former church gave me this book. Expounding upon Christ's planting and growing principles, this book is one of the best explanations I have heard of how church is a "life-form" not a machine. The author, based in Germany, does a great job of applying biotic principles to church life. He baiscally states that Christians are like children...if the parents feed them properly and keep them free of desease and danger...they will mature! Imagine that! The church doesn't need CEO's and business managers controlling "their ministry"...the church just needs shepherds and fathers that actually care about the saints. It's radical...focusing on maturity instead of growth...highly recommended.The Forgotten Spurgeon is an interesting biography of Spurgeon. Much of the book takes a look at the "Great Downgrade Controversy." Blessings,MC
which book have you been reading lately? ...the book of Isaiah ;-)
I'm reading Rees Howells, Intercessor right now. It's an awesome book!
Arbustum, I read "The Transformation of the Inner man" by J and P Sanford many years ago and learned a lot. It touches deeply - filled with a lot of valuable information. Now I am reading "Reaching Out" by Henri Noumen. It is a powerful book - not a method of evangelism, but a challenge to work towards inner transformation in order that we may be able to reach out to others and touch them with the love of God. Diane
Compton, do you mind sharing more about the book about the Celts - how their history is incorporated into present religous thought (other than the superficial music stuff)? Or maybe just give the author and publisher, if you think that it is a worthwhile read. Diane
Diane,I think this is a worthwhile book to have in your library because of the unique niche it covers in western Church history. The chapter titled "The Significance of the Celts", considers your question. One interesting observation; that our modern nondenominational and charismatic movements are drawn to the Celtic life-affirming rendition of Christianity that is not found in either Roman or Prostestant traditions. Perhaps the best answer I can give to your question is that the Celtic Church solves an important riddle for us "western" Christians: How to embrace our ancient heritage, and maintain our traditions while rejecting hollow ceremonial liturgy and oppressive political hiearchies of the Roman and Greek churches.Let me just list a few of the events that spoke to me personally for our "post-modern" times.1) Scholars believe that Christianity first came to the British isles not via church missionaries, but through Roman legions as sailors, merchants and officials. (pg 15) Later the same was true for Ireland. Although St. Patrick is credited with converting Ireland, Christianity was already present on the isle through the presence of traders or Irish people catpured as slaves and exposed to Christianity.2) With the decline of Rome and it's occupation of Britain, early British Christians became strongly identified with the language and culture of their country. This fusing of faith and culture was made more intense as northern pagan anglo-saxons invaded from the north in the vacuum left by the Romans, persecuting both Celt and Christian...creating a sort of common identity.3) The Celtic Church's spirituality, separate like the Bristish Isles themselves, was less influenced by continental churches and as such gives us a precious glimpse of ancient gentile faith that is neither Roman nor Byzantine. This distinction might have been lost if St. Augustine had better success in his Roman mission to England. Interestingly enough, because Romans were also trying to evangelize the Saxons, Celts did not exactly embrace the Roman purpose in their country.(In contrast to the great St. Augustine, St. Patrick was a lad from Briton who was captured by pirates and developed his Christian vision while being a slave shepherd for many years...)Rediscovering the Celts is an edifying resource. It avoids the romantic lyricism of tin whistling monks on emerald hillsides, while examining the historic successes and failures of the Celtic Church with contemporay research.MC
This is helpful so far - as it dispels the superficial images that people grab on to. It is not merely a case of outward religous traditions, but of thought that I'm interested in. I'm wondering if there is something that I can "grab" on to as a Music minister in a Presbyterian church where many of the older people wish to cling to old Scottish tradition. I'd like to help them move on in their thinking. I wonder if the book might give me some leads. ex: Was there some Celitic influence in Scotland that affected the Presby church? What is it?On our communion table sits a much revered Celtic cross that came straight from the Ionian Community in Scotland many years ago. That would imply to me some connection. Can I make use of that in order to get people thinking about their spiritual heritage, rather than merely about their tradition? Is there more than the reformers to consider?Diane
Eli,I'm reading Rees Howells, Intercessor right now. It's an awesome book!very true an excellent book, if you like that i recommend 'Praying Hyde' by Basil Miller,I'm currently reading 'Grace: the glorious theme' by Lewis Chafer.One day I was praying and was thinking on the Lord's grace when i realised i didn't even know what grace actually is!!! faith: yes, mercy: yes, love: yes, but grace i was like errrrrrrr....how many times have we read, and quoted Ephesians 2:8 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:'and yet i didn't even know what grace was, i tell you I'm about 60 pages into this book and seriously THE GRACE OF GOD IS AWWWWESOME!!!!be blessedmatt
Diane,Rediscovering the Celts seems to center on the more ancient origins...the first several centuries. I understand the Scottish Kirk traces its roots back to the original Celtic Church in Scotland (6th and 7th century). This Church stream broke with Rome and adopted Presbyterianism in 1560...that's all this yankee knows. I do not know what happened in the hundreds of years that led to the Scotts embracing reformed theology. For all I know it was probably nationalistic and political as much as anything...maybe someone else has this scoop!However, in looking to the lives of earlier Celtic saints for inspiration to stop clinging to tradition, the book we are discussing does offer some spiritual if not historical context.The chapter, "Travellers for Christ" discusses the amazing tradition of Celtic missionaries who left everything to spread the Gospel. In contrast to germanic or Roman missionaries who would travel far with the hope of returning to their homelands before dying...the Celts believed in leaving everything they knew behind to never look back. Thus they were true pilgrims or peregrini on a spiritual journey instead of missionaries on a geographic cicuit. This was known as "The White Martyrdom"---a spiritual dying to everything that made them feel safe in this world, including customs and culture, so that they could take hold of the next world. Many Celtic saints severed connection with clan and country to more wholey and lovingly embrace Christ.Perhaps, it is this sacred heritage that you are looking for in your present church. You see your Beloved moving in places beyond the Scottish rituals of your leaders, and are willing to die to comforting religous traditions to go to a land not your own in order to follow Christ.The White Martrydom is a curious and important Celtic heritage. Maybe it's one whose time has come again, at least spiritualy, for this rapidly changing world, where we really can't return to the places we remember. MC
I'm currently reading 'Grace: the glorious theme' by Lewis Chafer...I'm about 60 pages into this book and seriously THE GRACE OF GOD IS AWWWWESOME!!!!Matt,Grace: the Glorious Theme has one of my favorite quotes of all time in it..."In the Old Covenant we performed a sacrifice. In the New Covenant we proclaim a sacrifice."Chafer is such a clear and articulate writer, he is a pleasure to read.Blessings,MC
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