I recently finished reading, Francis Chan's book, "Crazy Love." It is one of those books that rocks you to your core. Causes you to examine the authenticity of your relationship to God and how that relationship shapes your life. It is now on the list of books that I recommend every Christian to read.
That caused me to think if I made a list of the ten most influential books to my Christian life, which books would make the list. The first eight were pretty easy to list but final two were more difficult to come up with considering the many other possibilities.
I didn't include the Bible because it more than an inspirational book. It is the Word of God. Paul wrote to Timothy, "All Scripture is God breathed and is useful teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16)
The Ten Most Influential Books in My Life.
"The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. This is the simplest and most practical book I have found to help believers discover what it means to be a Christian and how they are to live.
"Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby. This classic book by one of the most godly men I have ever had the privilege to know, helped me to discover that knowing the will of God is about knowing God first. It's Knowing God, Trusting God, Obeying God and Experienceing God.
"Christian Counter Culture" by John R.W. Stott. The best commentary on the the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7 where Jesus tells his followers what the lifestyle of a Christian really looks like.
"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. Though this book is only been out a year, it will be a classic as it challenges Christians who are living in the 21st century to examine what it means to be loved by a Sovereign, All Powerful, and Holy God. And how being a relationship with Him impacts the we live out our lives during our short time on earth.
"Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus. Another recent book by an insightful "out of the box" thinker and pastor. Erwin examines in depth the passage in 1 Samuel 14:1-15, where Jonathan and his armor bearer are led by God to act in faith and winning a battle against all odds. It challenges our fears and complacency when it comes to serving God.
"Concentric Circles of Concern" by Oscar Thompson. Best book on personal evangelism I have ever read. I had the privilege to be taught this book, in a class at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by Dr. Thompson, himself. It teaches us that we have circles of influence that exist in the relationships that we have. It is our personal mission field. Recently re-released.
"Disciples Are Made, Not Born" by Dawson Trotman. This classic book on discipleship written by the founder of the Navigators is a must read. It helps you discover the way to disciple others in their walk with Christ.
"The Power of Positive Praying" by John Bisagno. This book is probably out of print, but it helped me more about praying in faith and learning to trust God's voice in prayer than any other book on prayer I ever read.
"The Key to Triumphant Living" by Jack Taylor. This book may also be out of print, but it was the first book that I ever read that helped to understand what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to allow the Holy Spirit to empower me for ministry.
"Spiritual Leadership" by Henry Blakaby. This book provides the best treatment of what it means to be a spiritual leader, whether as a pastor, deacon, elder or the head of the household. It is address fallacies that accompany contemporary leadership models, provides the model for Biblical leadership.
We live in a day when many people depend upon TV and the internet for all their information and entertainment. For me, God has used reading and godly writers to help me grow in my faith.
Nothing takes the place of reading the Bible, but there are many inspirational books out there to read, that will help you become the person God wants you to be.
"Blessed is the man that finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yeilds better returns than gold." (Proverbs 3:13-14)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
"How Do I Get There From Here?"
Recently, I was in Ft. Worth, TX officiating a wedding for a friend. Though Jackie and I lived there while attending seminary, I struggled finding my way around. Much had changed in the thirty-plus years since we called it home. Once familiar landmarks were no longer existed, new roads had been built, and the city had expanded in size and traffic. A place that I once commuted about with ease, now required map. In fact, during that weekend, I got lost three times and on one occasion, I had to follow my friend's vehicle just to assure my arrival at the my desired destination. I am seriously considering the purchase of GPS device. There were times that I needed to know things like: "Where Am I?" and "How do I get there from here?."
Have you ever been there, in the search of God's will for your life? For many believers I have known, the pursuit of God's will has been a struggle.
Some have wished that they had one of those maps like those at the mall, that says "You are here," and as you look a the mall diagram of the all stores, you can choose your own path to get to your desired destination.
Others feel the search for God's will is like a game of connect the dots. If I do this, then this will happen. If I do this next, then God will reveal the clue to the next step in the journey. Eventually, if you are successful in connecting all the dots, then you will win the prize of knowing God's will for your life.
I really don't think God desires to play "Hide and Seek" with us nor does He want us to become frustrated in our pursuit of His will for our lives. In fact, He desires that we experience life in the center of His will. That's why He provides us with these words found in Jeremiah 29:11-13.
God Has a Plan for Your Life...and it's Good! Not always easy, not without challenges but always good for us. Joseph in the Old Testament had many years of difficulty, but eventually he had a life that only God could have dreamed for him. God's will for our lives is life at its best. Fulfilling. Purposeful. Productive.
Don't Seek the Destination, Seek the Driver. The most common mistake we make in the pursuit of God's will is seeking God's will, instead of seeking God. It is human nature to want the map with the marked destination. That way we can make our plans on how we want to get there. We will look for shortcuts to get us there quicker, or be tempted to take side trips along the way. We are,also, more likely to get stressed out trying to keep up with the traffic while searching for the signs to stay on course.
It is God's desire for us to leave the driving to Him. He knows the destination and the best way to get there. He is there with us to handle any hardships. Most important of all, we can enjoy our fellowship with Him and the journey, as well.
Climb into the Back Seat. In Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing God, I have learned that a relationship with God is developed by first, getting to know Him... which leads to our believing Him... which leads us to trusting Him... which leads us to obeying Him... which in turn leads to our experiencing Him as we pursue His will in our lives. Start by getting to know God through time in His Word and in prayer. As your relationship with Him develops, you will be more willing to simply climb in the backseat and say "OK, Lord, I'm ready to go." Just leave the driving to Him.
Have you ever been there, in the search of God's will for your life? For many believers I have known, the pursuit of God's will has been a struggle.
Some have wished that they had one of those maps like those at the mall, that says "You are here," and as you look a the mall diagram of the all stores, you can choose your own path to get to your desired destination.
Others feel the search for God's will is like a game of connect the dots. If I do this, then this will happen. If I do this next, then God will reveal the clue to the next step in the journey. Eventually, if you are successful in connecting all the dots, then you will win the prize of knowing God's will for your life.
I really don't think God desires to play "Hide and Seek" with us nor does He want us to become frustrated in our pursuit of His will for our lives. In fact, He desires that we experience life in the center of His will. That's why He provides us with these words found in Jeremiah 29:11-13.
"I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)I consider this "God's Positioning System." If you want to know where you are and where you are going as a child of God, this passage helps you along the journey.
God Has a Plan for Your Life...and it's Good! Not always easy, not without challenges but always good for us. Joseph in the Old Testament had many years of difficulty, but eventually he had a life that only God could have dreamed for him. God's will for our lives is life at its best. Fulfilling. Purposeful. Productive.
Don't Seek the Destination, Seek the Driver. The most common mistake we make in the pursuit of God's will is seeking God's will, instead of seeking God. It is human nature to want the map with the marked destination. That way we can make our plans on how we want to get there. We will look for shortcuts to get us there quicker, or be tempted to take side trips along the way. We are,also, more likely to get stressed out trying to keep up with the traffic while searching for the signs to stay on course.
It is God's desire for us to leave the driving to Him. He knows the destination and the best way to get there. He is there with us to handle any hardships. Most important of all, we can enjoy our fellowship with Him and the journey, as well.
Climb into the Back Seat. In Henry Blackaby's book, Experiencing God, I have learned that a relationship with God is developed by first, getting to know Him... which leads to our believing Him... which leads us to trusting Him... which leads us to obeying Him... which in turn leads to our experiencing Him as we pursue His will in our lives. Start by getting to know God through time in His Word and in prayer. As your relationship with Him develops, you will be more willing to simply climb in the backseat and say "OK, Lord, I'm ready to go." Just leave the driving to Him.
Monday, June 8, 2009
A Promise for the Hard Times
When I was eight years old, we moved from the place of my birth, Houston, to Wichita Falls, TX, to live. We left the house that I called home, the school I attended and all my friends. I remember we didn't leave Houston in Dad's new '57 Chevy BelAir, but in an older car. I remember being sad about leaving, but I remember my dad and mom being sad for a long time before and after that day. At eight years of age, you don't understand things like lay-offs, a poor economy, repossessions, and foreclosures. Fortunately, my uncle Don was willing to hire my dad in his business, so we moved to Wichita Falls.
That was a difficult time for our family. Dad and mom were just trying to make a living and provide for my brother and me. After the move, my brother and I saw this as simply the beginning of a new adventure. We made new friends, went to new schools, lived down the road from Mr. Harris who had horses, and in the winter it snowed there. For my parents, it was all just surviving.
Sometimes life on this planet can be very hard. The loss of a job; the loss of a loved one; the failure of a marriage; the failure of a dream; the betrayal of a friend; the betrayal of an aging body; the fear of the unknown; the fear of the known...all can be devastating. We normally don't look at these, as new adventures...we often go into survival mode. Sometimes we never get over it.
How do we deal with these times in life? How do we cope when everything is coming apart at the seams? For the person who trusts is the Lord, there is a wonderful promise located in the book of Lamentations in the Bible.
The prophet Jeremiah, who penned these words, was an eyewitness to the fall of the city of Jerusalem, many, many years ago at the hand of a hostile pagan nation. He knew people whose children were taken into captivity as slaves. He saw the Temple of God desecrated and destroyed and the gates of the city burned. He was up close and personal with God's judgment on His own people for their continued sin. And though he, personally, had been faithful to God, he was not spared the agony of experiencing life at it's worse.
Yet in the midnight of those dark days, God promises to deliver fresh every single morning, His compassion on those who trust in Him. He always delivers...because great is His faithfulness.
I know these words to be true by my own experiences.
In the those times when I fear the worse; He is faithful to reveal His best.
When I feel betrayed; He is faithful to be at my side.
When I grieve the loss of something I love, He is faithful to comfort me with His great love.
When I am filled with anger; He reminds me of the healing of forgiveness.
When I am at the end of my rope; His hand lifts me up.
When I am uncertain of the future; He tells me He knows it and it's good.
When the messes of my life are of my own making; He lovingly cleanses me of my sin and sets me on the right path.
He has been faithful in this promise to me and He will be found faithful to you and all who trust in Him.
Why? Because He loves us and He is faithful to keep His promises to His children. With "childlike" faith, we can look beyond the darkness to a brand new day with the assurance of God's love and faithfulness. He delivers.... fresh daily!
That was a difficult time for our family. Dad and mom were just trying to make a living and provide for my brother and me. After the move, my brother and I saw this as simply the beginning of a new adventure. We made new friends, went to new schools, lived down the road from Mr. Harris who had horses, and in the winter it snowed there. For my parents, it was all just surviving.
Sometimes life on this planet can be very hard. The loss of a job; the loss of a loved one; the failure of a marriage; the failure of a dream; the betrayal of a friend; the betrayal of an aging body; the fear of the unknown; the fear of the known...all can be devastating. We normally don't look at these, as new adventures...we often go into survival mode. Sometimes we never get over it.
How do we deal with these times in life? How do we cope when everything is coming apart at the seams? For the person who trusts is the Lord, there is a wonderful promise located in the book of Lamentations in the Bible.
"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They ae new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him;" Lamentations 3:22-25
The prophet Jeremiah, who penned these words, was an eyewitness to the fall of the city of Jerusalem, many, many years ago at the hand of a hostile pagan nation. He knew people whose children were taken into captivity as slaves. He saw the Temple of God desecrated and destroyed and the gates of the city burned. He was up close and personal with God's judgment on His own people for their continued sin. And though he, personally, had been faithful to God, he was not spared the agony of experiencing life at it's worse.
Yet in the midnight of those dark days, God promises to deliver fresh every single morning, His compassion on those who trust in Him. He always delivers...because great is His faithfulness.
I know these words to be true by my own experiences.
In the those times when I fear the worse; He is faithful to reveal His best.
When I feel betrayed; He is faithful to be at my side.
When I grieve the loss of something I love, He is faithful to comfort me with His great love.
When I am filled with anger; He reminds me of the healing of forgiveness.
When I am at the end of my rope; His hand lifts me up.
When I am uncertain of the future; He tells me He knows it and it's good.
When the messes of my life are of my own making; He lovingly cleanses me of my sin and sets me on the right path.
He has been faithful in this promise to me and He will be found faithful to you and all who trust in Him.
Why? Because He loves us and He is faithful to keep His promises to His children. With "childlike" faith, we can look beyond the darkness to a brand new day with the assurance of God's love and faithfulness. He delivers.... fresh daily!
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