Reading has retained a very special place in my life and heart since an early age. It is the window to both information and revelation, the door to unexplored fantasies, the key to applicable and critical knowledge, the canopy on which to bathe and refresh in poetry and song, and the escape staircase to exotic locales of fiction. It has also been a crucial key over the centuries and the undeniable catalyst for any soul desiring to excel in the noblest of endeavors - to grow spiritually, learn of Christ, and focus one's heart and mind on eternal things. I have, for my own enjoyment and future reminiscing, compiled a list of some of the most influential books in my life this year. Also, in the rare event that a handful of souls would stumble upon this and feel compelled, I would highly recommend any one of these books to you. Some are new, some are old, and some were re-reads for me.
All of these books, however, still pale in comparison to "the Book." I have now read the Word of God many times over, but it still leaves me in awe. I can read new and powerful books, but return just momentarily to casually peruse the Bible and a passage of scripture will stab me in the heart with conviction, give startlingly specific direction, or the direct encouragement I need the most. It really is the only "living" book, written by flawed men, but truly penned and breathed upon by the Holy Ghost.
I am also continually impressed by the Bible's systematic wisdom and principles that can be applied to every area of life. For example, in my list, I mention Dave Ramsey's books and it is truly a testament that in a day of broke financial sophisticates and money-hungry stock-brokers, the timeless and time-tested financial principles of the Bible have made Ramsey, his business, and his plan the most proven, the most popular, and the most successful in all of America. Same thing with health and diet. After years of tight-roping a balance between low-carb fad diets and the organic extremists that typically end up in vegetarianism and even veganism, I have found the biblical and scientifically-proven balance of Jordan Rubin's "Maker's Diet" to be a wonder for my health, not to mention the miraculous recoveries and healings that it has provided for thousands and thousands of people. Now his company "Garden of Life" is one of the number one product and whole food supplement providers to "Whole Foods" supermarkets all across the nation. And this goes, of course, for any facet of our lives. Countless scores of people have testified to the change in their lives by simply adding a daily helping of the "Proverbs" to their morning regimen. I believe with every fiber of my being that were the Word of God to be read, meditated on, and above all obeyed, this world would look drastically different.
"The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian." --AW. Tozer
There are only two regrets I have in my reading studies this year. The first is my habit of speed-reading. I am fortunate to be blessed with good retention and I am glad to cover a lot of books in a short amount of time. This, however, has also left me with very little application at times. Our absorption level is only so deep. And revelation that is not turned into application can be simply wasted information. One of my New Year's resolutions this year is to spend more time on meditation and application through note-taking and planning, even if that means reading fewer books. If I applied a tenth as much as I read, I could be a spiritual giant and a much better person by now. I plan to do better.
The second regret I have is not reading the Word more. Serious theological and biographical study has been a diligent part of the serious saints over the centuries, but they would also be the first to point out that nothing should replace the preeminence of the sacred Scriptures. I plan to bathe in and swim deeper in the living, abiding waters of the Word this year.
But on to the purpose of this blog... without any further ado, here is my top ten list for the year:
1) "Relentless" by John Bevere
This book was just released a few weeks ago. However, I was fortunate enough this past summer to visit Messenger International in Colorado and at the end of the tour given to me by our curriculum representative, I was presented with a surprise gift of this advance copy. I was like a kid in a candy shop and read it about 3 or 4 times. It is chock full of unique insights, surpernatural stories, and raw faith-building content.
2) "Everlasting Man" by G.K. Chesterton
I was hooked on Chesterton ever since Orthodoxy. And early this year I finally got around to this classic. The wit is startling and the arguments are timeless. It should be read by everone - believer, seeker, and skeptic alike. This is the work that led former-atheist C.S. Lewis to a reasonable and saving faith.
3) "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" by Jim Cymbala
This was the first time I have read this powerhouse in about 5 years. We went through a small group curriculum by Cymbala and his simple, refreshing, and anointed approach whet my appetite to return to his material. I was not disappointed.
4) "Joy Unspeakable" by Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones
This is the classic work on the Holy Spirit recommended by both Paul Washer and David Ravenhill, and so I could ignore it no longer. I have been reading books on the Holy Spirit since 7th grade and this is the best treatment - expositorily and well-rounded - that I have ever come across. This is a treasure I will re-visit often.
5) "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan Rubin
In the introduction, Charles Stanley remarks that he had been praying for a year for a diet based on the Bible and proven by science, and now he has found it. I feel the same way and do not believe I will ever eat the same way again as the result of reading this book.
6) "The Cross and the Switchblade" by David Wilkerson
I hate to ruin the word by overuse, but this is another "classic" I felt I should re-visit this year. There are still Teen Challenges and ministries all over the world because of the simple obedience of this man. I still have not seen the movie or documentary based off this unbelievable but true story, but the books still fed my spirit like it did the first time I read it. It was especially dear to me because I went through this remarkable chronicle about the streets of New York only weeks before I actually had the priviledge to go do ministry in the streets of New York. This was also the year that Mr. Wilkerson went home to be with the Lord.
7) "Dave Ramsey" books
I know that's a kind of cop-out, but returning to all of his material is continuing to help correct and guide my course financially. At CATALYST he gave a free copy of his new book "EntreLeader" to everyone there (13,000 people...) and though it was a business book, I benefitted from it greatly. I also read "More than Enough" a few weeks ago, which is a great piece to aid in vision-casting and goal-setting.
8) "Blood Bought" by David Ravenhill
David Ravenhill is the son of Leonard Ravenhill - one of my heroes of the faith. I had the chance to meet David twice this year and at one of the conferences I picked up "Blood Bought." It is magisterial and thought-provoking, and a call to return from humanistic Christianity to a more God-centered gospel.
9) "Desiring God" by John Piper
Desiring God.org has become a favorite resouce of mine this past year and I finally read the book that started it all. It is a majestic and refreshing oasis that proposes "Christian Hedonism."
10) "Pivotal Praying" by Tim Elmore
This book was so surprisingly good that I just kept having to close it and remark to myself how good it really was. Very balanced, insightful, biblical, practical, supernatural... all in one. An excellent prayer guide.
I have to say "End of Reason: A Response to the New Atheists" by Dr. Ravi Zacharias probably would have made the list if I hadn't already been close to completion by the time I read it. In this critique, he addresses the disrespectful and often inconsistent tactics of today's militant atheist pop-stars: the late Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and namely Sam Harris. An excellent read.
The other thing (I am now editing) I would add would be the long over-due release of Leonard Ravenhill's biography "In Light of Eternity" by Mack Tomlinson. To be honest, other than the Bible, this book probably impacted me the most this year, and I can't believe I just now am remembering to add it.
Runners up: "Not a fan" by Kyle Idleman, "Wierd" by Craig Groeschel, "Fresh Faith" by Jim Cymbala, "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscol, "A Disruptive Faith" by A.W. Tozer, "Think" by John Piper, "Breaking Intimidation" by John Bevere, "Father Fiction" by Donald Miller, and Vance Havner's book of essays.
