Reading Update

I'm pretty glad our church has started its very own book ministry, getting consignments from SKS to sell. Reading the Bible is of paramount importance, but I think reading a wide range of Christian books is essential to healthy spiritual growth and fruitfulness in the Christian walk. So.

For me, every year I try to read at least 4 Christian books a year. 1 in 3 months should be just right, even if my schedule is tight. Granted I didn't read any in the first 3 months of this year, but I've caught up since then. :p

Here are the books I'm working on this year:

Loving God With All Your Mind - J.P. Moreland. This is a FANTASTIC book, one which has radically altered my perspective to my faith. In a nutshell: Christians have forgotten how to love God with our mind, it greatly hampers our Christian witness today, and it's time for us to regain it. To me, it's a must read. Lent it to Kenneth, hope he's enjoying it.

Practising the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence. A gift to me by (Uncle) Vincent Quah. Something I read for a while earlier in the year, and then stopped. It is a pity, since it's something I sorely need to learn. I think the sheer difficulty of emulating Brother Lawrence caused me to lose heart, lol. I think I should read one chapter of this at the start of every week.

Growing Deep In Faith - Edmund Chan. Got this after IDMC. Edmund Chan is a LOT lighter to read than the other books he recommends - this is therefore a simple, easy-to-read, yet thoughtful book. Pastor Edmund has one of the simple yet best perspectives on faith around today - hence the importance of this book among the various other books that warp what faith actually is. I might do some actual engagement of content with the books I read instead of just giving a review, and I'll probably start with this one, since it's the easiest. Haha.

Of the Imitation of Christ - Thomas A Kempis. A gift from Henry, Mag and Claud for my birthday. It has apparently been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible.... wow. It's a Christian classic, and man, this guy is hard to follow. Which I suppose is exactly right, since Jesus' teachings ARE hard to follow. I read every chapter and I go "Man, I'm so far away from being like Christ." Here's an example:

Do not think that you have made any progress unless you esteem yourself inferior to all. (Second Book, Chapter 2)

...certainly I'm a long way away from making any progress. Here I am thinking maybe I've kept my pride in check a bit better, and actually I haven't even got out of the starting blocks yet.

Good thing I'm still young then. Halfway through the book, struggling slowly, but such is the process of sanctification.

Did The Resurrection Happen? - Gary Habermas & Antony Flew. My apologetic book for the year. The authors are a theologian and atheist, respectively, and the book is a transcript of their debate that they had in 2005, the last of three they had about the resurrection. The debate is totally absorbing, and I finished this book in one sitting. haha. It went by quicker, I suppose, since I'm quite up-to-date on the arguments concerning the resurrection. Of course, I got stoked about this book also because I have another book that Flew wrote, writing about how he has moved from being an atheist to theist... You could say he's the most prominent atheist that has changed his position.

Finally Alive - John Piper. Farewell gift from Pastor Sai Moi after my internship, and it has engaged me from the get-go. The book examines what the oft-repeated term "born again" means, and so far, Piper's got me hooked. Will definitely talk more about it once I'm finished.

The Bible Speaks Today Commentaries - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Sermon on the Mount, Philippians, 2 Timothy, Hebrews. These are my devotionals, what accompanies me for my QT. I use them also extensively for my ministry: I'm teaching the Gospels for my DG, helped out in the CE course for Philippians, did a TTC night course in 2 Timothy, and am now going through Hebrews with my own DG. The Bible Speaks Today are excellent devotional commentaries, edited by John Stott. I strongly suggest getting them - especially the Sermon on the Mount one which John Stott personally wrote.

So I got 6 books (not including commentaries) and have finished 3. At least one more to go to cap my quota for the year then.

Oh, and if you want any of the books to read, by all means just let me know and I'll be glad to pass them to you.