So, I just want to start this off with a fun fact for those who don't already know: I'm staying in Providence for the summer! I'm sorry to all those who I didn't tell. I do in fact care about you (whoever you are), but I got some really awesome opportunities to stay down here, and I'm really excited for what God has for me here.
Now, to "touch" on the topic of this blog. For a little bit of background, I am a terrible reader. However, for some reason I've been accumulating some really awesome books that I've been trying to read but haven't gotten a chance.
To top it off, I went to a conference called Together for the Gospel, and at this conference I accumulated over 20 new books! Also, JWU Christian Student Fellowship has some free books in the office, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't let me have any of them unless I finished the scads of books they know I already have but haven't read.
Anyway, I feel like I need to get to these quick fast and in a hurry. This summer I'm going to put my nose to the grindstone and do nothing but read (except something for Elizabeth Rhyno, because she's awesome... oh, and if I'm forgetting about something that's clearly overdue that I need to put after Mrs. Rhyno's project be sure to comment or else I will forget forever).
I was talking to my pastor about that, and he thought it would be a good idea to alternate categories of books, instead of reading a series of books on Christian living in a row, or a series of theology books in a row. While for different people the categories may differ, these were how he said I could group mine:
- Christian Living - anything that basically doesn't fit into the other categories. A book that exhorts or helps with some aspect of Christian life (necessary definition).
- Theology - a book that focuses on one aspect of Biblical doctrine, like soteriology (study of salvation) or missiology (study of missions).
- Church History and Biography - important because it gives us a glimpse at whether the early church fathers agreed with us, keeps us from falling prey to heretical ideas (which history shows are cyclical).
- Ecclesiology (study of the church) - while this might fit under theology, it is an aspect of theology that is easily neglected today, so it's worth giving its own category.
- Fiction - important because being well-rounded is a must, and knowing what society is engaging in is also important.
- [Preaching; Culture & World View] - two categories which are important for some, but I probably won't be including in every cycle.
So, the following books will be my first "cycle:"
- Humility - C.J. Mahaney (Christian Living)
- It is Well - Mark Dever & Michael Lawrence (Theology - Substitutionary Atonement)
- Unquenchable Flame - Michael Reeves (Church History)
- The Trellis and the Vine - Colin Marshall & Tony Payne (Ecclesiology)
- Disappearance of God - Albert Mohler (Culture & World View)
- Scarlet - Stephen Lawhead (Fiction)
Now, if anyone wants to read these with me, that'd be awesome! However, I'm going to try to make it so those who are reading can gain from me reading these books. I'm going to give a relatively informal review (mostly because I'm pretty sure I'm not qualified to review books on theology and such), but also an outline of the book and points made. This way I won't be saying whether a book is good or bad, but rather just presenting what the book says.
Anyway, life in Providence is good for those who are wondering. God continues to bless me in ways that I could never have imagined. Those who are praying for me from home, I appreciate it immensely, and the results are definitely apparent!
That's it.
Jake
