The Complex Life of a Church Janitor.

Lord,

I pray for movement.  I feel as if I stalled somewhere along the line and find myself falling again.  What was once so routine now is alien.  Reading your Word used to refresh my mind and soul, yet it now feels like a dull action.  Prayer used be a dialogue, yet lately it’s been a call into the darkness.  I’m not asking to go back to the way it was before the standstill, but I want to strength to move forward.  I want to move through the dullness and dig down into your Word to find the spring of your wisdom at which I used to drink.  I want to move through the awkwardness of silence when I call out to you to find where I have been forgetting to listen for you.

I ask for movement.  Maybe the stillness is of my making, but I ask that the push forward might be from your loving hand.  Help me move, so I can move with you.

Amen

I’ve been meaning to provide a list of books I often reference and use in discussions about various topics.

• The New Faces of Christianity: Believing the Bible in the Global South by Philip Jenkins.  This book is a great source of information about the changing distribution of Christians around the world and the impact of this change for the global Church.
• Jesus in Beijing by David Aikman.  Another great read about global Christianity.  The author explores Christianity in China in a format that is easy-to-read.
• Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff.  I would say this book is more geared towards American Evangelicals, but I think anyone can find merit in learning how to look for humor in church.
• Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Don Golden.  I’ve moved away from reading a lot of Rob Bell’s material, but this book is probably the best general overview of the Bible I have found.  In addition, I like the emphasis on narrative theology (finding the “plot” of the Bible).
• Confessions by Augustine.  I try to read a couple chapters from this book every summer as a refresher on some basic theology.  Augustine is really good, but the trick is to find a good translation of the Latin.  Augustine’s style is compact and very philosophical, so some passage might need to be read more than once to get the whole idea.
• How Should We Then Live? by Francis A. Schaeffer.  This book is my favorite read about Christianity, philosophy, history, and living in the world.  The author provides an overview of history and philosophical changes that guided major developments.  Throughout the writing, Schaeffer compares philosophies to Christianity and finally ends up exhorting readers to consider the imperative to live as Christ in the post-modern world.
• Coming to Peace with Science by Darrel R. Falk.  I mentioned this book in a couple other posts about science and faith.  The author is a biology professor at Point Loma Nazarene University near San Diego.  The book is a good balance of personal reflection, understanding the language of the Bible, and refuting the concept of a conflict between science and faith.  Full disclosure:  I believe in theistic evolution partially from reading this book.
• Biology Through the Eyes of Faith by Richard Wright.  Another book about Christianity and science.
• Christian View of Science and Scripture by Bernard Ramm.  This book is probably the best discussion of biblical interpretation and science that I have read.  While I have not read the entire work, I read upwards of 100 pages for science classes at my university.
• Beyond Left and Right: Helping Christians Make Sense of American Politics by Amy E. Black.  A great book for Christians wanting to understand the interaction between faith and politics.  The author provides a great biblical foundation and breaks through the “Republican Evangelical” stereotype.
• Good News About Injustice by Gary A. Haugen.  This book is part biography and part discussion of social justice.  The work definitely changed my understanding of God and justice.  If the vignettes from Haugen’s work with IJM do not bring tears to your eyes, the conviction and inspiration from later chapters will move you.
• Mathematics Through the Eyes of Faith by James Bradley and Russell Howell.  Another great read that I discussed here.
• Religion Saves and 9 Other Misconceptions by Mark Driscoll.  This book provides a good discussion of 10 common topics that pop up in most churches.  The book is for a general audience, but Driscoll thoroughly researched each topic using a variety of biblical and academic references.
• Wild at Heart by John Eldredge.  This book is a little repetitive at parts and meant for older men, but it is a solid read for any guy who wants to break away from the “clean-shaven wimpy Christian guy” image.
• God Guy by Micheal DiMarco.  Similar to Eldredge’s book, but targeted for high school and college guys.  Somewhat repetitive, but the format makes for a good read and can act as a devotional.
• Serve God, Save the Planet by Matthew Sleeth.  I posted quotes from this book and I highly recommend it for any Christian who wants to embrace (or shuns) the idea of stewardship of the environment.  The big idea is that serving God and loving others must compel Christians to be careful stewards/protectors of Creation.
• Anything by C.S. Lewis.  In particular, I love The Chronicles of Narnia, Mere Christianity, The Four Loves, The Great Divorce, and Out of the Silent Planet.
• Anything by John Green.  His novels are secular, but I love how the issues of death, meaning, and life come to the forefront of his stories.

Feel free to send me recommendations, reactions, or questions.  I am always looking for great books.  In fact, this list is just a small slice of everything that I read.

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to let you know that I will be offline for the next few weeks.   After a long semester, I am going to spend some time relaxing and some long overdue time enjoying nature with God.

I have a queue set to publish posts through next Monday, then my tumblr will be dormant for about a week.

Any comments, questions, etc. currently in my inbox will be answered upon my return, as will anything else left during my absence.

Thanks again everyone!  I thank God for every follower.  I look forward to spending time with God and what I will hear from everyone upon my return!

Lord,

I humble myself before you.  I once again surrender myself to you.  It seems that I tend to forget that all I need is found in your love and I am ashamed I seek it elsewhere.  I know that grace is meant to be redeem all of me, beyond forgiving me of my sins.  I look to you.  I desire you.  I want your grace to alter the fabric of my existence, rather than being a varnish on my life.  Let me shine your light.

Amen