"When God Weeps" by Joni Eareckson

"When God Weeps" by Joni Eareckson

This isn't exactly what one would call a 'light read'. This is very heavy stuff and should probably come with a health warning, that at times you will feel a bit despairing about the world. However, Joni Eareckson is an authoress well qualified to write about such things. She suffered a sporting accident in her teen years and has been paralysed from the neck down ever since. She has devoted her life to spreading the gospel out of this experience, and in this book she explores human suffering and why it matters to God.

At times I found this book very frustrating because there seemed to be a lot of dire situations with no real clear cut answers, only hypothetical conclusions that may or not be true. But then I realised, is this not true of life? When we go through trials, we may have inclings as to why they are happening but we are surely not given full avail of the facts! This book does a good job of outlining some of the reasons for suffering, while not pigeon holing God as a deity who needs to act in a certain way and leaving the freedom that his power commands.

The main thing that I took away from this book is that God cares. Yes, he allows suffering to happen. Ultimately, he causes it (debate that statement if you want!). But he cares and our suffering causes him much sorrow. But in the eternal perspective, it is for our good. A good book on suffering that outlines some of the reasons, the hardships, and the benefits.

7/10.

To purchase, click here - 

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni

 

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" by Patrick Lencioni

An excellent book about team building. Lencioni has a great reputation for business books and this one is no different. His writing style means that two thirds of the book is actually a fictional story, about a new CEO and the task she faces in bringing a very dysfunctional team together. One criticism you could therefore chuck at this book is that the dysfunctions (and therefore how you overcome them) is all fiction, and so it may not necessarily be realistic. But having had a few jobs myself, the points behind the story ring true and it was very illuminating.

Additionally, having been a business undergraduate for four and a half years (cannot wait to finish), it was refreshing to read a business book which had it's own ideas and was not referencing five million article on every page. In addition, it gets down to practicalities rather than sticking on theory, and actually gets off the fence and puts forward an opinion: something that many business academics would do well to take heed of.

Overall, a good book for anyone who is in or leading a team. Which is most people then. Very good.

7/10.

To purchase, click here - 

'Trusting God' by Jerry Bridges

"Trusting God" by Jerry Bridges

You really cannot go wrong with anything by Jerry Bridges. He is a wise old man who has lived life, been through some incredible hard times, yet has walked faithfully with God throughout. And this book is about how to trust God through those hard times, as the strapline 'even when life hurts' indicates. This book is all about how to trust God in those hard times, looking at why God is trustworthy, why life sometimes hurts, and exactly what it means to trust him.

Put simply, this book is gold, and will help any Christian in their faith. Bridges writes with such clarity, and you cannot help but be encouraged. Read it. One of those absolute must haves.

9/10.

To purchase, click here - 

Are you going to use a bible reading plan next year?

Was wondering whether people are going to use a bible reading plan next year? I didn't in 2010, with the plan of reading a chapter a day, and going through the books most relevant to what I was going through. Fail. No consistency in my reading and struggled to get a regular diet of God's word!

So for 2011 I want to get into a bit of a routine. Here are some reading plans to choose from (based on the ESV): http://www.esv.org/resources/reading-plans-devotions/. I am going to be using the Chronological plan this year: it starts in Genesis 1 and ends in Revelation, but rather than going through the bible as it is printed, it goes through chronologically, following the time. This means, for example, that Job comes in halfway through Genesis (as that is the historical setting), and that Psalm 51 pops up in the reading plan when you're halfway through Samuel. The prophets are also injected in the historical narrative instead of months later, meaning that as you read a book you are a lot more aware of the situation into which it is speaking. Would be great if people want to join me through this so we can discuss what we're reading as we go!

A few useful features on that page. It links of course to the ESV Online internet site. You can also subscribe to an RSS feed if you use a service like Google Reader to get subscribed content, so the reading pops up in your Reader everyday in case you forget. The 'iCal' option also allows you to add a daily reading slot onto your calendar (I use Google Calendar but I know Apple and many other websites have a similar function), so that you can get a reminder to your phone everyday (if, like me, you struggle to remember to do things!). You can also get a mobile version of the reading sent to your phone/iPad/mobile device, or print out a copy of the reading schedule to put above your desk if you like the old fashioned way.

Hope some of this might have been helpful.

"By Grace Alone" by Sinclair B.Ferguson

"By Grace Alone" by Sinclair B.Ferguson

This book is quite short at just 118 pages (I read it in 48 hours). It doesn't say anything that anyone with any basic knowledge of Christianity won't know. And the structure of the book follows an African hymn that I have never heard of ("O How The Grace Of God Amazes Me" - am I alone in that?). Yet I would still encourage anyone to read it. Why?

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you."

1 Corinthians 15:1

It is good to be reminded of the gospel! The truths that Ferguson speaks of are eternal, central, and crucial! With this central theme of grace, he draws out the implications, looking at freedom, unconditional love, the costly nature of God's love, the free righteousness given to us, the security given to us, and the freedom from the bondage of sin.

There was nothing I disagreed with in this book. There were some good examples from culture, and some sound biblical analysis (particularly of Romans 6 regarding freedom from sin, and the story of the Prodigal Son). A good read to remind ourselves of great truths!

8/10.

To purchase, click here - 

"Spiritual Depression" by Dr.Martyn Lloyd-Jones

"Spiritual Depression" by Dr.Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Some books on depression are worth avoiding. They are patronising, written by people who think they know a lot about a topic they have never experienced, and are full of pithy little "try harder do better"-isms. Luckily, this book is not one of them.

Lloyd-Jones' starting point is that many Christians are quite simply not happy. Is it any wonder that people are no longer coming to Christ in their droves when we all look so miserable? After all, nothing screams "Jesus will change your life" like a frowning Christian who shows about as much attention to their bible as vegetarians do to a steak! This is, therefore, not just a book about the modern illness depression, but rather about Christians who are struggling to find their joy in God.

The book is taken from 21 sermons he preached at his Westminster church, conveniently put into 21 standalone chapters, each of roughly 15 pages. Each chapter can be read on it's own, making it fantastic for that early morning/before bed read. What I really liked about this book is just how practical and alive Lloyd-Jones makes the scriptures. Each chapter is based on a verse/passage, which is then explained, and implications drawn out of. The subtitle for the book ("it's causes and cures") is apt, with all the different causes of spiritual depression drawn out, with some practical advice. Topics including discipline in our time with God, a proper understanding of the cross, and our relationships with those around us are explored.

Put this fantastic content together, along with Lloyd-Jones' conversational yet unique writing style, and here is a book I would argue maybe every Christian should read.

10/10.

To purchase, click here -