Reading List 2016

This was a year like no other year. Due to a heart ailment that began around Christmas 2015 and which led to heart surgery in July 2016, I didn't work a day in 2016 until the latter half of October! I wasn't able to work during those ten months, but I was able to read most of the time. And because television felt of no interest to me, I read a considerable amount. I'm sure the 37 books I read this year were more than I had ever read in a single year. There was quite a mixture of themes, but among the history books I read, Lincoln was a topic of several books, and among the devotional books I read, joy was a repeated theme of many of them. That was quite intentional. I truly wanted to grow in joy this year!

Apart from the books listed here, I read my Bible throughout the year. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word to us, which means if I want to grow in joy, there is no better source of it than the Truth of God's Word. Most of the postings I added to my blog are a result of my time spent reading God's Word.

I doubt I'll experience another year like this one for a long, long time, and I'm truly grateful for the wonderful opportunity I've had to devote so much time to reading and study (I wrote many notes on much of what I read). (Here's what I read in 2015, and here's what I read in 2014 and here's what I read in 2011 and here's what I read in 2010 (this blog was dormant for 2012 and 2013).)

Here are the books I've read this year...

1. Shackleton's Forgotten Expedition: The Voyage of the Nimrod by Beau Riffenburgh. What at first appeared like a tedious 300+ page historical account of an explorer's failed efforts in a mercilessly cruel environment turned out to be quite the page-turner for the last 100 pages or so. One of Shackleton's claims to fame was that he never lost a team member in any of his Antarctic adventures, and though it looked like many could've perished in several different close calls on this expedition, they all made it out alive despite not achieving their quest for the South Pole. But to be honest, Shackleton should receive little credit, for he was fighting his own battles with the elements while his team members in other places were battling theirs!
2. Trafalgar: The Nelson Touch by David Howarth. This is the second book I've read about the sea battle of Trafalgar, and I thoroughly enjoyed it due to my fascination with the large sailing ships of old. David Howarth has a gift of recounting historical events without going into so much detail that he loses all but the most devoted of readers. This 248-page edition, loaded with illustrations and maps, is an easy and engaging read for those who love stories of the sea.
3. Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper. This is a book that I have long ignored due to my initial reaction (in 1986) to its unique subtitle, but which God put in my hands by a pleasantly surprising sequence of events, and I believe it was exactly what He wanted me reading at this particular time. This is essentially a book about enjoying God, which is exactly what I know I need to grow in right now. I was mesmerized by the content on every page, and plan to read it again as there was so much to take in and I'm sure I didn't absorb enough of it yet! Highly recommended.
4. Knowing Christ by Mark Jones. This book felt at first like a dry academic book, but slowly it began to grow on me as the richness of one description after another of Christ's nature and character began to permeate my heart. But that was because it was far more than mere description, as the author explored the many practical and eternal implications of Jesus Christ being who He is. A very edifying book!
5. Waterloo: A Near Run Thing by David Howarth. I bought this book together with "Trafalgar" (above) as part of a two-book box set at a used book sale. I had long been curious about the details of this battle but had never read anything about it before, and felt that David Howarth's uniquely concise writing style (as an historian) would be a way to be introduced to something I'd likely never read another book about. I was intrigued by how singular this battle was in that Napoleon behaved quite out of character in key ways that cost him the battle; so much so that it felt like the hand of God resisting a war-mongering dictator. Though not mentioned by Howarth, I suspect there may be some truth in that perspective.
6. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This is another book that I felt God had intentionally put in my hands to read at this particular time. It's a book specifically written to help churches to reach the poor both locally and overseas in a developmental and participatory way. This book really challenged what had become my reflexive relief-oriented approach, as it called on readers to consider the more difficult time-intensive, relational approach of asset-based community development. This book was exactly the message I needed to hear as I consider the existing mission policies and practices of our church, as it brought me back to many important principles of proper community development that avoid the paternalism and expediency of many of our western church approaches.
7. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah. This was a difficult but rewarding book to read. The story is tragic, though the latter half of the book caused me tears of happiness for the young boy this book is about. I had read many books about the Lost Boys of Sudan, but never a book about and by a child soldier. This story takes place in Sierra Leone, and while it begins with stories of running from the war and then fighting in the war, it ends with a very moving account regarding this boy's recovery from the war, with the help of some amazing people who helped to rehabilitate the child soldiers of this conflict.
8. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth by Richard J. Foster. This is a book I've long wanted to read, and it was well worth it! Foster has a very encouraging and engaging writing style for what has the potential to be a very demanding topic, as I found insightful gem after gem in every chapter. Foster manages to explain the Disciplines in a way that motivated me forward in my practice of them without having to get heavy-handed in his applications. His approach feels fatherly and kind, and gave me hope that this book will impact my everyday life in the days and years ahead!
9. When I Don't Desire God: How to Fight for Joy by John Piper. This book feels quite a bit like a sequel to the book "Desiring God" (see #3 above), and my interest in reading it stemmed from the subtitle, "How to Fight for Joy", as I long to grow in my delight of the God I already know. And this book most definitely addressed that. The crux of what Piper shares in this book is that our joy in God is our essentially our enjoyment of God, and that it must be based solely on Him and the great redemption He has provided rather than on any circumstances - even if they are good circumstances like God's tangible blessings or answers to prayer. And he provides some very practical strategies to help us maintain such a focus in the midst of all the curve balls life can throw at us!
10. The White Spider: The Classic Account of the Ascent of the Eiger by Heinrich Harrer. The north face of the Eiger. Only about 13,000 feet in height, but one of the most feared climbs in the world. There have even been accomplished Himalayan climbers who have declined to attempt it due to the level of risk involved. It offers just about every hazard a mountain can throw at a climber, and only the most experienced and patient climbers have reached the summit. This book is filled with the stories of all those who have attempted it until 1964, written by a member of the first team to succeed in 1938. It may not be easy to understand why people attempt something so dangerous, but it's quite easy to admire the courage and tenacity of those who overcame such a great obstacle or of those who sought to rescue those who tried.
11. The Pilgrim's Progress: From this World to that which is to Come by John Bunyan. I have long owned an old 19th century edition of this 17th century book, and have talked myself out of reading it a number of times. But after finally reading it, I am so grateful I did! I found myself both challenged and encouraged again and again as I met character after character and saw how they each responded to the pilgrim's life. Some left me convicted, others left me teary-eyed as I admired their character and their love for the Lord. Great-Heart is a wonderful example of a hero I found myself wanting to walk with as I walk my own pilgrimage with God. Though he was a courageous warrior, at one point he said, "It is my duty, said he, to mistrust my own ability, that I may have reliance on Him who is stronger than all." Amen! It is a book well worth reading, and one I recommend reading in the original 17th century English.
12. The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Path to True Christian Joy by Timothy Keller. This is a very small book - more like a booklet, really. It's no longer than a typical chapter of a book, and seems to simply be a transcript of an amazing sermon that Timothy Keller preached. But does it ever pack a punch! No wonder someone decided to put a cover on it and make it available to people! There is such incredible insight in this book, and it is explained so well that after reading it once, I promptly read it again. I want it to sink in. And I expect I'll read it again just to make sure it does! Keller's aim in this book is to set people free from the futile games we play to achieve what society calls proper self-esteem, and to do so, he points us to Jesus and the Gospel in some very practical ways. I am thrilled that the Lord drew my attention to this book!
13. Everest: The Unclimbed Ridge by Chris Bonington and Charles Clarke. After 19 Himalayan expeditions (as well as being part of the first British ascent of the north face of the Eiger in 1962 (see book #10 above)), Sir Christian Bonington is an extremely accomplished mountaineer, and so I was glad to have found this old book in a used book store last summer. It's the first book I've read by Bonington, and it's about a tragic and unsuccessful attempt in 1982 to climb Mount Everest via the northeast ridge without supplemental oxygen (at a time when only two people prior to this had successfully summited Everest without supplemental oxygen). It is tragic because two members of the four-man climbing team lost their lives. The authors are not afraid to be honest in their account of this climb, and truly, reading it left me with a growing feeling that the expedition was simply too ambitious for such a small team and that it was doomed from the start. Despite the expected justifications at the end, this felt like one climb that simply shouldn't have been attempted.
14. Life and Holiness by Thomas Merton. This book is a bit of a departure from the stream of thought I tend to wade into when looking for devotional material. Thomas Merton was a Catholic theologian who was once a Trappist Monk. But I knew enough about him to know that he loved Jesus and was a deep thinker about the things of God, and that was enough for me. This book was definitely worth my time! In a nutshell, this book emphasized above all else that our spiritual life is all about taking our eyes off of ourselves and fixing them on Jesus. It's not about my work for God, but about God's work in and through me. So many of the books that I've read reinforce this theme, as I obviously need to be regularly reminded of it. And it felt refreshing to read it again from such a unique perspective.
15. The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith by Timothy Keller. Timothy Keller has a way of discovering profound truth in very familiar Bible passages, and then explaining them in very compelling ways, and this book is no exception. In this book, as he walks the reader through the story of what we know as "The Prodigal Son," he not only shows us why it would be more aptly named "The Prodigal God," but insists that at the very least, we call it "The Prodigal Sons." The emphasis on a prodigal God stems from the fact that the word "prodigal" literally means recklessly extravagant or having spent all, which reminds us of a God who spends extravagantly without reckoning our sins against us, and Timothy Keller repeatedly and abundantly emphasizes God's extravagant grace in this book as he reminds us of the Gospel message. But the emphasis on both sons being viewed as the focus of this story is where this book impacted me the most. Keller shows us how deceptive the elder son's sin was, and how prevalent it is in the Church, and reminds us of how that elder brother didn't return to the father at the end of the story the way the younger brother had. This should sober many readers, and did me, and is why we so desperately need the Gospel of a "prodigal God"!
16. Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution by James M. McPherson. This is a collection of seven essays that explore Abraham Lincoln's approach to leadership, his far-reaching influence on American politics, and the the long-term implications of the American Civil War, which all represent the primary reasons I'm fascinated with the history of that conflict. To many, this would be a boring book; to me, it was a page-turner. Lincoln's leadership style provides a great many lessons, and the American Civil War has had an immeasurable impact on the character and politics of the United States that can be clearly seen to this day, which in turn affects the world in varying degrees. I love exploring such hinge-events in history, upon which so many things turn, and McPherson does an admirable job exploring it as one of the foremost historians for that period.
17. Pure Joy: Receiving God's Gift of Gladness in Every Trial by R.T. Kendall. R.T. Kendall has a very pastoral way of approaching most of the subjects he writes about, and this book is no exception. Rather than systematically and thoroughly explaining Biblical joy in the way that John Piper does in several of his books, Kendall approaches the subject more as one who is admiring a diamond one facet at a time. Piper seems to examine the diamond of joy on the molecular level, as much as a mineral as a gemstone, but Kendall simply turns the stone in his hand to examine and explain each facet of its beautiful face. He not only helped me to see more clearly how trials are meant to enhance my joy in God, but also how I can cooperate with the Holy Spirit so that He can increase my joy. A very encouraging book!
18. Abraham Lincoln: The Man Behind the Myths by Stephen B. Oates. This is the second book I've read about Lincoln this year, primarily because I rather admire the man. But I chose this book over one of the many massive biographies out there because this book so succinctly and informatively distills from the myriad details of Lincoln's life both his greatest qualities as well as his great humanity, while also debunking some of the more persistent yet fanciful romantic notions that have persisted about him over the years. And it helps that it was written by the author of what many consider the best one-volume biography ever written about Lincoln. It's a fascinating read, not only because Lincoln was called upon to lead a nation in the midst of an horrific civil war, but also because Lincoln was able to persist as a leader amidst such incredible hostility and adversity. His moral backbone and tenacity in pursuing a vision amidst great resistance are truly characteristics worth celebrating.
19. The Chosen by Chaim Potok. This is the first novel I've read in a few years, and I'm so glad that God led me to it (on a clearance shelf at Sam's Place for 50 cents)! It's an amazing story that I was captivated by as I absorbed this touching story about a world I know virtually nothing about. It's about a Jewish boy growing up in Brooklyn, New York, just around the times when WWII was ending and when the nation of Israel was recognized in 1948. The story is written from the perspective of a teenager named Reuven Malter and revolves around his friendship with Daniel, who is a member of a local Hasidic sect. It's written in a way that is both illuminating and moving, as these two very different boys come of age together as close friends, and each play a key role in each other's lives. 
20. Holy Fire: A Balanced, Biblical Look at the Holy Spirit's Work in our Lives by R.T. Kendall. I've been reading so many challenging devotional books this year, each of them addressing character issues in my heart and inviting me to live in ways that are impossible by my own strength. This has resulted with an increased hunger for more of the Holy Spirit’s activity in my life because I know that I can't put any of the things I'm learning into practice without His help. This book came to mind because it was highly recommended by my pastor, Ron MacLean. I found it very helpful, partly because Kendall begins with the basics and expands from there. But it was his emphasis on the "immediate [as in, suddenly!] and direct testimony of the Holy Spirit" as a "conscious experience" that was especially helpful to me. That assertion provided an excellent basis for why the baptism of the Holy Spirit is meant to be something that typically happens repeatedly after conversion, and for how that baptism is meant to provide the "highest form of assurance" available to us, which was very encouraging.
21. Champagne for the Soul: Rediscovering God's Gift of Joy by Mike Mason. This is a book of 90 two-page chapters unpacking the author's many personal and random thoughts regarding Christ-centered joy, and his experiences in seeking to live out the premise that any Christian should be able to be happy, by God's grace, every day. I found the book both rewarding and frustrating. On the one hand, it was always easy to read a chapter since each one was so brief, but the book often left me feeling like there was so much more to be mined from the subjects of such brief chapters. The resulting lack of thematic momentum made it difficult to keep reading. That said, I found about 20% of the chapters truly impacting, but the rest too often felt overly philosophical and sometimes lacking in obvious Biblical support. I believe this was more due to the limitations of such brief chapters than to the theological integrity of the author.
22. Thanking God by R.T. Kendall. My third book by this author this year, and my second time reading this book, its focus is as simple as its title suggests: showing God our gratitude. A great deal of this book is unapologetically about stating the obvious, but which we often need to hear because we often neglect what's obvious. For me, gratitude to God is something I've often neglected, and I appreciated the reminders of this book. Not every chapter seemed equally relevant to me, but many were extremely so. Kendall's main point is a good one, and it is to remember well so that we can be appropriately thankful, as God's continued blessing hinges on our acknowledgment of His grace in our lives.
23. Captain Cook: The Seaman's Seaman by Alan Villiers. I found this book in used condition and very spontaneously bought it, knowing very little about James Cook, and I'm glad I did, as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alan Villiers is not only an excellent researcher and writer, but also has a great deal of experience sailing a full-rigged (or "square-rigged") ship of the types Captain Cook sailed, so he knows how to describe many of the challenges Cook faced. I love books about sailing from this era, as I think I'm attracted to the extremes that such sailors went to in order to sail these vessels to uncharted waters in such inhospitable conditions. It could be accurately said that Cook was "the greatest explorer-seaman the world has known" as he was the first to accurately chart much of the world's southern oceans as well as a great deal of the vast Pacific Ocean.
24. Joy Unspeakable: The Baptism and Gifts of the Holy Spirit by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. This is an expansive and inspiring collection of sermons from the great preacher - "the Doctor" - on the work of the Holy Spirit. I have never read such a thorough treatment on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and though it has left me with some questions, I found this book to be amazing. I felt downright childlike (like a true beginner) in the things of the Spirit as I read it. It felt fresh and appealing and vital and remindful all at the same time. I felt like it took me back to earlier years when I was so excited about these things - things that Martyn Lloyd-Jones clearly hasn't lost his zeal for in his own life as he preached these chapters. Note: I read the longer 442-page version published by Kingsway that includes the sermons/chapters on the gifts of the Spirit (those chapters were previously published under the title, Prove All Things), as there is a 280-page abridged version of this book out there that doesn't include those chapters.
25. C.T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer by Norman Grubb. Just as I began to feel that I was overdue for reading a missionary biography, I found this book in a thrift store! As one of the more notable pioneer missionaries of the nineteenth century, it's odd that I've never gotten around to reading C.T. Studd's story, but this is partly due to a bias I felt against him as a man who had left his wife and children to pursue missions. Yet he is still spoken of in the same discussions in which William Carey and Hudson Taylor are mentioned, so I thought I should look a little closer. As I read it, it was difficult not to admire Studd's dedication and zeal for people who needed to hear about Jesus. His desire was always to reach those who had no other witness around them and would not hear of Jesus unless someone went to tell them. This zeal took him initially to China, then to India and finally to the Belgian Congo where he had the greatest impact. His love for the people he worked among was obvious, and his wife, in fact (who was unable to go to the Congo for health reasons), zealously led the work at the home base in England. I wouldn't want to follow in all of his footsteps, but I certainly could learn a great deal from this passionate man of God!
26. Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller. This is one of the best books I've ever read on prayer. It revived my hope for a deeper prayer life by building on a foundation of who God is and what He has done to make intimacy with us possible. But his emphasis on grace and the Gospel doesn't cause Keller to shrink back from calling us to the simple discipline and hard work necessary for one's prayer life to thrive. And if I'm to benefit from this book, it will require heavy lifting. But Keller provides so many practical helps and perspectives on how to approach and practice prayer, that he left me certain that it's worth the effort to grow in an ever richer experience of God in prayer.
27. The Invasion of Canada: 1812-1813 by Pierre Berton. I have always wondered about the War of 1812. I've known virtually nothing about it, learning nothing about it in Michigan (where I grew up, near where much of the war occurred) except that, "Oh yeah. We [the U.S.] won that war," and learning little more in Canada (once I got here as a young teen) except that, "Oh yeah. We [Canada] won that war." Well, I've picked up enough information over the years since then to know that Canada, in fact, did successfully repel America's attempt to invade Canada, so it could at least be said that Canada didn't lose that war, though whether or not anyone won it seems dubious. But I still lacked details. Then I discovered Pierre Berton's two-volume explanation of the War of 1812 and having immensely enjoyed the previous Pierre Berton book I read (Vimy), I bought it! I haven't been disappointed, as Berton writes in a way that draws you into the lives of the characters as much as into the historical events they're involved in, creating real empathy and suspense in his historical accounts.
28. Flames Across the Border: 1813-1814 by Pierre Berton. The second of Berton's two-volume set on the War of 1812 brings the story to its tragic conclusion. Was any other war ever fought that achieved so little at a cost of so many who never understood what they were fighting for? I doubt it. And apart from the great grief carried by so many due to all the bloodshed, nothing really changed between these two nations ("as if no war had been fought"), except for how the war helped to forge the identities of the two young nations involved. For America, it meant they were now taken more seriously on a world stage, and the few battles they won were enthusiastically celebrated, giving fuel for newfound national pride. For Canada, a common identity was forged as settlers of many backgrounds banded together to successfully resist an invader. This resulted in a shared appreciation of cherished Canadian values that distinguished the colonials from their bellicose republican neighbours. In fact, one could probably say that the War of 1812 was the seed of many key distinctions between Canadian and American values.
29. Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. First of all, I am not depressed! I read this book mainly because it came so highly recommended from a variety of sources, one of them being R.T. Kendall. In "Holy Fire" (#20 above), Kendall states that this may be his favourite book by Lloyd-Jones, and I'd have to agree that it's an amazing book! But perhaps an equally suitable but less provocative title might have been "Encouraging Yourself in the Lord", for that is what Lloyd-Jones describes in each chapter: how the Scriptures teach us to avoid discouragement and how to encourage ourselves when we're struggling spiritually. Lloyd-Jones approaches this subject with a deep love for God's Word, a thorough understanding of its teaching on this topic, and a gentle and loving heart toward any who may struggle mightily in this area. I found chapter after chapter enormously relevant and applicable to my own life, and was encouraged by the many Christ-centered, Word-based antidotes that Doctor Lloyd-Jones prescribed.
30. Out of the Salt-Shaker and into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life by Rebecca Manley Pippert. Like the previous book in this list, I picked this one up based on a recommendation by another author. I have had an unread copy of this book on my shelf for decades, and when I read recently that Timothy Keller considered it to be his favourite classic book on evangelism, I knew it was time to read it. I had already been feeling weak and ineffective in the area of personal evangelism for some time now, so it seemed fitting to include it in my reading list for this year. Though written in the 1970s, and aimed primarily at college students, the principles Pippert explains in this book seemed easily transferable and applicable to my own life. Her approach is enormously practical, and I found immediate ways in which I could incorporate what I was learning into my routines. There's nothing complicated about this book, but that's what made it so helpful. Pippert has a way of making evangelism so simple that I was encouraged to believe I could grow again in this area.
31. The Air I Breathe: Worship as a Way of Life by Louie Giglio. By coincidence, I happened to be reading this and the previous book in this list at the same time and both books have subtitles that refer to their theme "as a way of life"! It would certainly be wonderful if the truths of both these books were clearly reflected in my way of life. Giglio's book is very brief and very to-the-point: He provides a descriptive definition of worship and then works his way through that definition line by line, chapter by chapter. What seemed most important, and worth being repeatedly reminded of, was that each of us is "a worshiper." It's what we were created to do, and it's what we'll do no matter what the focus of our worship. Giglio very passionately and practically then directs the reader's heart to Jesus, the only one who is truly worthy of our worship.
32. Our Heavenly Father: Sermons on the Lord's Prayer by Helmut Thielicke. As I read this book, I found that the impact of each chapter (sermon) seemed to sneak up on me and take me by surprise! Thielicke seemed to preach from such a unique perspective, with such fresh insights and with such pastoral care that I felt encouraged by each sermon. Perhaps it was partly due to the context in which these sermons were preached. Thielicke was a German theologian who was preaching these sermons in Germany at the time when the allies were aggressively bombing his city. The series could not be completed in the location in which it began because his church building was destroyed along with a great deal of the rest of his city. One sermon was even interrupted by an air raid as sirens alerted them to take cover. It felt an honour to read the sermons of such a loving, Christ-focused leader, who persevered through great trials as he sought to keep his congregation's eyes on the Lord through such a trying time.
33. How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospel by N.T. Wright. This was probably the heaviest read I attempted this year. N.T. Wright is a great writer but also a very well-studied theologian. I found this book slow-going as I found myself re-reading many sentences to fully track with Wright, but it was worth the effort in terms of the subject matter. I've never read (nor likely seen) a book that examines the theological content of the parts of the four gospels that fall between the incarnation and the Passion Week, and that's what Wright ably tackles in this book. I must admit, the book is heavily weighted on the side of Wright simply (though not so simply) building a case for his premise, and is somewhat light on application, but an alert reader will be able to deduce plenty of application for how a church ought to behave in a world in which Jesus has already been made the true King in His ever-growing kingdom.
34. Making Room for Life: Trading Chaotic Lifestyles for Connected Relationships by Randy Frazee. I was given this book ten years ago, and should have read it ten years ago when my kids were younger! Even though I found a fair bit of the book either inapplicable to my situation or unendorsable as a premise (eg- no work happening in the evenings), I was challenged by the emphasis of making sure one made room in their schedule for, and made a priority of, meaningful relationships with family, neighbours and church. The book strongly encourages investing in community in a way that minimizes how many unrelated circles of friends we're involved in, and in a way that mixes our friendships as much as possible with our pursuits of various other things like work, recreation, neighbourhood and church. A worthy ideal, but not always possible.
35. Lincoln's Battle with God: A President's Struggle with Faith and What it Meant for America by Stephen Mansfield. I've long wanted to read an historical account of Abraham Lincoln's spiritual life, and this book was just what I was looking for. Mansfield is a balanced historian who is not quick to jump to conclusions based on questionable anecdotes, but has laid out a carefully researched account of the process that Lincoln went through to grow from being an aggressive religious skeptic to being a genuine spiritual seeker of Biblical truth. Despite what a reader of this book might desire, Mansfield refuses to declare resolutely that Lincoln became a Christian, but what Mansfield does do is provide historical evidence of the steps Lincoln took toward belief in the God, Jesus and the Bible as God's Word. Without any record of an explicit conversion, he then encourages his readers to consider the evidence and conclude for themselves what that evidence points to. And I actually found that some of the quotations of Lincoln's spiritual considerations really encouraged me in my own walk of faith.
36. the furious longing of God by Brennan Manning. Every so often I want to read a Brennan Manning book. It's like a dose of medicine for people who need reassurance that God is deeply in love with us. This book, like all Brennan Manning books, focuses on the love and grace of God. The word "furious" is used in the sense of intense energy, like "the fury of a gathering storm." The back cover reads, "Such is God's intense, consuming love for His children. It's a love that knows no limits and no boundaries." I need to be reminded of that from time to time, and if you can endure Manning's tedious and profuse addiction to alliteration and adjectives, he will leave you with no doubt that God has the fullest affections for you!
37. My Calvary Road: The author of The Calvary Road tells his own story by Roy Hession. I ordered this book by accident while attempting to order a copy of The Calvary Road for someone. But I soon realized that this very well may not have been a mistake from God's perspective, as it turned out to be a very helpful book! There is so much of Roy's story that I found relevant - especially in light of all the lessons God has been teaching me in all the others books I've read this year - that I'm glad I accidentally ended up with it. Many of the lessons of The Calvary Road are reinforced in this autobiography, but they felt more accessible in a way by learning how Roy Hession initially learned those lessons. His life inspired me by the way he showed me how he walked the Calvary Road.

I'm having heart-surgery!

I'm about to have heart surgery! Go figure. I'm leaving town for heart surgery in a week, and the truth is, I've hardly thought about it. Don't get me wrong. I've been doing plenty of reflection these past six months. I haven't been to work since late December (!!), and yet, despite my physical limitations, I haven't wanted to waste this precious gift of so much time off. So I've been reading some really good books that I've felt God direct me to read. I'm presently on my 11th devotional book since February, and I'm journaling what I learn from each one. God's been touching lots of character stuff. Click here if you'd like to see my 2016 reading list. 

But lately I've felt as though the Holy Spirit has been nudging me – trying to get my attention – wanting me to reflect a little more on what's been happening with my heart. I've gotten the feeling that He's been wanting to emphasize a specific lesson I'm meant to learn from this health issue, as though there's more going on than what I see with my eyes and see in my schedule. So I decided to look some things up. Feel free to be amazed that I hadn't done this sooner, but I went to a couple websites to check out how they described what my cardiologist said my problem was. Here's what I found:

Mitral valve regurgitation is a condition in which your heart's mitral valve doesn't close tightly, allowing blood to flow backward in your heart. As a result, blood can't move through your heart or to the rest of your body as efficiently, making you feel tired or out of breath. If regurgitation is severe, increased pressure may result in congestion (or fluid build-up) in the lungs, and the heart may become enlarged in order to maintain forward flow of blood. This may produce symptoms ranging from fatigue, shortness of breath during exertion, coughing, congestion around the heart and lungs, heart palpitations, and arrhythmia, and can potentially lead to heart failure.

Treatment of mitral valve regurgitation depends on how severe your condition is, whether it's getting worse and whether you have symptoms. For mild leakage, treatment may not be necessary. For severe leakage or regurgitation, you may need heart surgery to repair or replace the valve. Left untreated, severe mitral valve regurgitation can cause heart failure or heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia) that will create an increased risk of blood clots that may cause a stroke.

Wow. Sounds pretty serious. And I've experienced all of those symptoms since December, and would be considered in the "severe" category. Yet those details fill me with gratitude, because if it hadn't been for the endocarditis I had this past winter – an infection in the lining of your heart that will either damage or (as in my case) worsen previously damaged heart valves – we may not have discovered that the regurgitation in my heart had become life-threateningly severe until it was too late. Thank you Lord!

But I sensed that the Holy Spirit wanted me to look beyond what's been happening to my physical heart. I feel like He's been helping me to see how there's more going on than meets the eye, and how I'm receiving more than one kind of heart surgery during this time off.

It was then that I wondered – if you'll permit the analogy – that if we all have physical heart valves that receive life-giving blood for our bodies, what would be our spiritual heart valves that receive the life-giving blood of Jesus? And what would it mean if our spiritual heart valves were regurgitating, or resisting, the life-giving blood that was meant to be flowing through them? What would cause that?

The Gospel of John has many references, from start to finish, to the spiritual "life" that Jesus came to bring. In chapter one, we see that "In Him [Jesus] was life..." (1:4), and near the end we see that "these things have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name" (20:31). The many references to the life found in Jesus that occur between those two verses frequently mention what we see in John 20:31, that it is by "believing" in Jesus, and in what He has done for us, that we experience the spiritual life flow He wants us to enjoy both now and for eternity (see 3:15; 5:24-26; 6:35, 40, 47 for some examples). But John also mentions another aspect of how we receive life from Jesus, and that is to "come" to Him (see 5:40; 6:37, 44). John 6:35 mentions both: "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.'" 

That would mean then that the spiritual life flow of Jesus would be restricted when we fall prey to unbelief and unwillingness. So according to my analogy, spiritual heart valve regurgitation would be unbelief and unwillingness. And that would mean that the valves of our spiritual heart would be our mind and our will. You can also be sure that the symptoms of this heart condition would also lead to death if left untreated.

If this analogy is valid, then for anyone experiencing severe spiritual heart valve regurgitation, it is imperative that we give attention to our mind and to our will. We may even need the Lord to do surgery on them. And that is why I believe that the first passage that came to my mind (without any sense of context) when I first began sensing the Holy Spirit nudging me regarding all this was Romans 12:1-2, which says, "Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." This speaks of both our will and our mind being totally surrendered to God for His purposes, which is what Scripture teaches us is truly living. 

I believe there are two clear applications from all this, and they just happen to be the very same two things that God has very lovingly been persuading me to focus on these past six months. By God's grace, both my prayer life, and my reading and study schedule have flourished since recovering from the endocarditis in February. Prayer and reading/study.

It is by prayer that we repent of our independence and submit our will to God. John Piper wrote that “Prayer is the antidote for the disease of self-confidence.” It is the act of "waiting for God – acknowledging our helplessness and His power, calling upon Him for help, seeking His counsel.” An active prayer life allows God to operate on the spiritual heart valve of our will. It is how we can increasingly "come" to God, presenting ourselves to Him as living sacrifices, flexing our will to continually wait on God. 

And it is by reading and studying and memorizing God's Word, as well as reading books by godly writers, that we can grow in our knowledge of God and His ways, so that our mind can thus be transformed. A well-planned reading schedule of both the Bible and of other books allows God to operate on the spiritual heart valve of our mind. It is how we can increasingly "believe" God, our mind being transformed by His living word, as we fill our mind with His truth.

So please join me in receiving spiritual heart surgery every day as we wait on the Lord in prayer and learn from Him in His Word. It will save our lives, as well as give us His life!

© 2016 by Ken Peters

Reading List 2015

I continued to track what I've been reading throughout the year. I don't remember reading this many books in a single year since Bible college! How can you tell my kids are all out and about as adults now and that I don't have cable? This was also the year Fiona and I made part of our holiday into a used book store tour of 21 book stores! So this year shows a considerable increase in what I've tracked on my blog in past years (here's my 2010 reading list, my 2011 reading list and my 2014 reading list in the order I completed them).

Included in this bunch are three small devotional books that have each been a huge help to me, and it felt the right time to re-read them all; three books on America's Civil War, one being about my favourite general of that war; two books on Antarctica, but more about Ernest Shackleton; and several books (that really rocked my world) about Muslims coming to know Jesus in unprecedented numbers! And when Elisabeth Elliot died this year, I felt inspired to finally read her account of the martyrdom of her husband Jim and four other missionaries, followed by a more current account written by Steve Saint, the son of the pilot Nate Saint, who died in that incident as well. Powerful stories.

Apart from the books listed here, I read my Bible throughout the year. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word to us, and of all the things I read, I see the Bible as what is most essential for me to be feeding on. Most of the postings I add to my blog are a result of my time spent reading God's Word.

1. The Calvary Road by Roy Hession. Began the year with yet another re-read of a classic book that really helped me to re-calibrate my heart for the coming year. In fact, I don't think it'd be a bad idea for me to read this book at the beginning of every new year! In essence, this book is about personal revival - "the life of the Lord Jesus poured into human hearts" - and about what gets in the way of that. It's certainly something I could always do with more of!
2. In Shackleton's Footsteps: A Return to the Heart of the Antarctic by Henry Worsley. Years ago I read a gripping account of Shackleton's Endurance expedition in which Ernest Shackleton displayed truly heroic leadership skills as he saved his men from near catastrophe. I thought that Worsley's book might shed more light on Shackleton as Worsley retraced the route that Shackleton took to nearly reach the South Pole in his 1908-09 Nimrod expedition. But apart from some brief descriptions and quotes from Shackleton's journey, the book is mainly about a fairly forgettable effort, which was not entirely "in Shackleton's footsteps", that Worsley made to reach the pole exactly 100 years later. 
3. Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts by Jerry Bridges. This must be the most thorough and practical and readable book on how a Christian can live a life of growing trust in God ever written! I found it extremely helpful in so many ways that I wonder how soon it'll be before I read it again so that my understanding can grow even more. What wonderful challenges Jerry Bridges provides while also presenting these challenges in such grace-filled, accessible ways.
4. Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims are Falling in Love with Jesus by Jerry Trousdale. I shed tears reading this book. It contains amazing true stories of unprecedented moves of God among Muslims in extremely restricted environments! It has rekindled hope in me that the Gospel both can and will penetrate the Muslim world, as it is already doing through the faithful and extraordinary acts of obedience of many extremely ordinary people.
5. Rebel Yell: The Violence, Passion, and Redemption of Stonewall Jackson by S.C. Gwynne. Some might wonder why I would read such a book. To begin with, having grown up in America, I've always been fascinated by the stories of the Civil War. But more than that, I have always been fascinated by the legendary reputation of General "Stonewall" Jackson. Not only did Jackson redefine in his day what was possible on a battlefield by his bold and daring tactics, but his deeply heartfelt devotional life with God so encompassed every aspect of his life that I've found myself stirred by his godly example. Perhaps like King David, he was truly a warrior with the heart of a worshipper. This book was excellent in how well it highlighted the mingling of those two traits in him.
6. Changed into His Likeness by Watchman Nee. I think this is, no doubt, the most penetratingly insightful devotional book I have ever read. It's like Watchman Nee is reading my mail. As he delves into the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Watchman Nee identifies lessons to be learned from each of these men's lives, and gracefully opens the curtain to show us who "the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob" is. And the truths that he highlights felt so extremely relevant to my everyday walk with God. I highly recommend this book. This was my second reading of it in less than three years.
7. A Godward Heart: Treasuring the God Who Loves You by John Piper. This book contains 50 short devotionals written to turn a reader's heart toward God. I found some to be more pertinent to where I'm at than others. Some seemed like a razor-sharp scalpel, while others simply seemed interesting. But all of them were clearly God-glorifying and encouraging.
8. They Met at Gettysburg by General Edward J. Stackpole. This book sort of fell into my hands some time ago. I found it in a box of free books and couldn't pass it up. Written by an American general in the 1950's, less than 100 years after the Civil War, I was eager to hear the kind of measured, non-emotive treatment that a military man like Stackpole would provide to as complex a battle as Gettysburg. I was impressed with his balanced approach in terms of the Union/Confederate perspectives to be considered. Though at times awkward in his writing style, I was fascinated by many of his insights into the why's and what for's of the battle.
9. Contagious Disciple Making: Leading Others on a Journey of Discovery by David L. Watson and Paul D. Watson. This is a companion book to Miraculous Movements (#4 above), and spells out in detail the methodology used to spur on the movements described in that book. I found it incredibly practical, at times underlining nearly entire pages. My prayer is that I'll be able to put the principles of this book into practice so that I can have a small part to play in reaching people in my city for Jesus. I believe that anyone with a desire to do the same wherever they live would find this book a great help!
10. The Father Glorified: True Stories of God's Power Through Ordinary People by Patrick Robertson and David Watson. This is another companion book to books #4 and #9 above. I can't seem to get enough of this stuff. Amazing stories of amazing miracles by an amazing God. I find myself wanting to saturate myself in these stories so that my own faith will grow – faith for such stories to be possible in my own interactions with people right here in the city of Winnipeg.
11. Neighborhood Mapping: How to Make your Church Invaluable to the Community by Dr. John Fuder. Not to be confused with another concept referred to as "spiritual mapping," this book is more about community analysis for the purpose of churches having a meaningful social and spiritual impact on a community. This is a very practical book born out the author's passion for today's churches to be intentional about becoming relevant in the neighbourhoods God has placed them. Although the book is fairly repetitive, it may be that that is what many of us readers need in order for the unconventional message of this book to get through to us!
12. Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson. This is the third book I've read this year to do with the American Civil War (and the tenth book I've read in my lifetime regarding that war). I can't fully explain why I'm so fascinated with it all, but obviously I'm not alone. Over 50,000 books have been written on the Civil War - more than regarding any other war in American history, which is perhaps justified by the fact that more soldiers died in the Civil War than in all the other wars in which America fought put together. This Pulitzer Prize winning tome does much more than simply indulge a reader with explanations of battles fought, but digs deeply into the social contributors and consequences of the war, which may be why I enjoyed this book so much, and which may be why I'm so fascinated with this piece of history. I find it hard to imagine how anyone can overestimate the social impact that the Civil War had on the history and the shaping of America. The values that the winning side fought for are for the most part my values, and for that reason, I wonder how much my life has been impacted by this war of so long ago. In this regard, I see the Civil War as a hinge that history has swung on, for the betterment of many more people than the number who bravely died fighting in it. That in itself has left me fascinated with the context, the characters and the conflict itself, and has kept me reading on and on.
13. Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. When I heard the news that Elisabeth Elliot had died, I felt it was time for me to finally read her book that tells the story of the death of her husband Jim and four other men who gave their lives in an attempt to reach a feared and violent tribe in the jungles of Ecuador. It's an inspiring and moving story of five families who were devoted to God and dedicated to doing His will whatever the cost. And while the courage of the men who died provides a gripping narrative, I found the response of the wives to the news of their husbands' deaths to be just as stunning. After receiving the report that the bodies of the men had been found, the wife of Roger Youderian wrote in her journal, "God gave me this verse two days ago, Psalm 48:14, 'For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide even unto death.' As I came face to face with the news of Roj's death, my heart was filled with praise. He was worthy of his home-going." Wow. May I be so trusting in the face of life's difficulties.
14. True Summit: What Really Happened on the Legendary Ascent of Annapurna by David Roberts. Years ago, I read "Annapurna" - an heroic account of the first ascent of an 8,000 metre peak. Little did I know how much controversy surrounded that climb! In "True Summit" David Roberts is essentially seeking to give credit to where credit is due, as Maurice Herzog, the leader of the French team that summitted Annapurna in 1950, seemed intent on glossing over any negative elements of the expedition in a way that would consistently put himself in the best light possible. Though Roberts does an admirable job of honouring those whom Herzog appeared to minimize, Roberts at times seemed to overstate his case. But certainly an interesting read.
15. God Sleeps in Rwanda: A Journey of Transformation by Joseph Sebarenzi. The dramatic story of a Rwandan man who survived the genocide in Rwanda and then, following his return there, met Jesus Christ in such a meaningful way that God changed the anger in his heart to a powerful sense of forgiveness. Then following this transformation came an unexpected opportunity to fill the third most powerful seat in the Rwandan government, and with it an opportunity to steer the country toward ethnic reconciliation and long-term peace. But politics in Rwanda was not so simple, and Joseph would eventually need to flee for his life again as he stood for truth amidst power-hungry opponents. It is a story that inspires one to aim high whatever the price!
16. If You Will Ask: Reflections on the Power of Prayer by Oswald Chambers. I was attracted to the simplicity of the title of this book by the author of "My Utmost for His Highest," and I was looking forward to the insights of a man remembered as deeply spiritual man. I wasn't disappointed. This book felt like an intriguing mixture of refreshingly unconventional, frequently insightful, sometimes confusing and immensely practical. Upon finishing it, I felt I should to go back and re-read all the parts I'd underlined before simply placing it back on a shelf. It just felt too helpful a book for me to forget what I had found helpful as I was reading it!
17. Encounters with Jesus: Unexpected Answers to Life's Biggest Questions by Timothy Keller. This was the first book I've read by Timothy Keller and I really enjoyed it. He knows how to get you thinking without being too academic (even though he is quite an academic). And he often writes like an apologist who is trying to help people find Jesus, which I appreciate because those apologetic sections of the book showed me insightful ways of presenting Christ to people who don't know Him. That said, I definitely found specific chapters more personally helpful than others, but Keller certainly struck a chord in most chapters, and when he did, it sometimes struck deep and as something that I truly needed to embrace.
18. Sources of the River: Tracking David Thompson across Western North America by Jack Nisbet. This is a book my Dad has read a couple of times because he enjoyed it so much, and this past summer he gave me his copy because he knew I was interested in books about explorers and about travel in remote places. In the days of David Thompson, western North America was indeed remote! When David Thompson first crossed the Rockies in 1801, he was the first to survey and chart the rivers and landmarks west of the Great Divide, and his teams were the first white men that many aboriginal tribes encountered. And though the adventures that such wilderness exploration created made for great reading, it was Thompson's warm and teachable manner with the indigenous peoples of the region that made his travels so engaging.
19. End of the Spear by Steve Saint. After reading "Through Gates of Splendor" earlier this year (see #13 above), I really wanted to read this subsequent story written by the son of Nate Saint, the pilot who had died along with four other missionaries in the Amazonian jungle in the 1950s. Steve tells a very moving story of how many in the Waodani tribe turned to Christ through the involvement of several family members of the men who were martyred. Even Steve himself grew up among the tribe and learned their language, and much of this book is about his efforts to help the tribe deal with the modern world's encroachment upon their culture and into their lands. Through Steve's winsome stories, I grew very fond of the men who murdered those five missionaries, as Steve makes it abundantly clear how God radically saved and transformed the men who were once his father's killers.
20. The Dangerous Duty of Delight by John Piper. For me personally, this is one of the books God put in my life years ago at just the right time for life-changing reasons. And I felt it was time I read it again due to some things God's been addressing in my life. It's my favourite book by John Piper. It's very short (only 84 pages), and that's what makes it so compelling. When one of your favourite authors condenses his thoughts on one of his favourite subjects to a mere 84 pages, it's good to take notice! Because you know he wouldn't want to waste a single word when narrowing down what he wants to say on that subject. The result is concentrated goodness, and compelling reading. I'm so glad to have read it again!
21. Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. It just so happens that I began and ended the year with a book on Shackleton. Though the first one (above) was a bit disappointing, this one was thrilling! It may be fair to say that Shackleton's Endurance expedition is the most glorious and triumphant failure in exploration history! Though the lofty goals of this expedition had to be abandoned after the ship was trapped and destroyed by ice, it is truly amazing that not a life was lost. Apart from the goodness of God, it was Shackleton's amazing leadership made the difference as they escaped one life-threatening hazard after another. I had my appetite whetted when I read Shackleton's own account of the story in his book "South" years ago, but Lansing's version is far more gripping, and he wrote it when some expedition members were still alive to interview.

Reading List 2011

     For the past two years, I've tracked what I've been reading here on my blog. If it's served no other purpose, I get the feeling that it has encouraged me to keep reading the books that I get started on. And just like I posted my 2010 reading list at the end of last December, below is a list of all the books that I read in 2011 (in the order I completed them).
     For some reason, 2011 seemed to end up being the Year of the Biography for me. Eight of the 15 books below are either biographical or auto-biographical (and there's a ninth if I include Kendall's devotional book on the life of Joseph). I guess that's because when I'm not reading something devotional or theological, I tend to gravitate toward historical books, which are often about people rather than about events.
     Apart from all the books listed here, I also read the Bible through each year. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word to us, and of all the things I read, I see the Bible as what is most essential for me to be feeding on.
Perhaps there's a book listed here that you'd enjoy reading. And please feel free to leave a comment if there's a book you'd like to recommend that I read in 2012. Just please be patient with me, as I've already got a few books on my shelf that are waiting to be read!

1. Filling up the Afflictions of Christ by John Piper. This book was given to me as a gift, and I'm glad it was. It tells the stories of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson and John Paton, and of the price they paid to bring the Gospel to the nations. Their stories put life in a right perspective. The introduction alone has been enough to get my attention and to challenge any self-pity that's slinking around in my heart!
2. Release the Power of Jesus by Bill Johnson. I read this during a week of prayer and fasting at my church. Whatever you might think of Bill Johnson, I find my faith increases as I consider the insights he shares in his books. This particular book addresses the power in recalling and recounting the works of God in our lives, which build faith for God to do even more.
3. The Roots Of Endurance by John Piper. Having really enjoyed and having been greatly challenged by another biographical book, Filling up the Afflictions of Christ (see above), I chose this book to be the next book I read while walking the treadmill. That way I get changed in more ways than one while doing my exercise! Piper has done an amazing job in this series, The Swans are not Silent, of summarizing the stories of godly saints that have faithfully gone before us and of making the themes of their lives so applicable to our own.
4. Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia by Michael Korda. I received this book as an unexpected birthday gift due to a fascination I've long had with T.E. Lawrence's experiences in Arabia. Though I certainly don't personally consider T.E. Lawrence a "hero" (as he seemed a very strange man in many respects), I have appreciated how thoroughly he became enculturated into Arab culture out of a somewhat distorted desire to help them to make a unified nation of themselves. The book was as much about WWI and the formation of the Middle East after WWI as about Lawrence, and I found it very readable and informative.
5. Thanking God by R.T. Kendall. My pastor recommended this book to me -- and when your pastor recommends a book to you, well, I figure I'd better read it! In actual fact though, I really wanted to read it. Gratitude has not been a strong suit in my life and I believe I need to grow in it. And in the same way that this book has been a wonderful inspiration to many in this regard, God has used the lessons it contains to stir me to becoming more consistently and deliberately thankful!
6. The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott. This book has been described as "a great achievement" and "the work of a lifetime" as it digs deep into the truths of a pivotal moment in history that I'm sure anyone would benefit from understanding more fully. But what excited me most about this book was that John Stott does far more than simply explain doctrine. As he unpacks what was accomplished by Christ's death on the cross, he emphasizes "the heart of the cross" and all it achieved, and what all that can and should mean, right now, in my heart and in my everyday Christian life.
7. Mugged by a Moose, edited by Matt Jackson. I was looking in a used bookstore for something light to read during a summer holiday and found this -- 23 short stories written about other people's holidays and travels. Some were funny, some inspiring, and others just made me shrug. But it was interesting to read of some of the crazy adventures some people ended up in.
8. Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. My wife Fiona took a chance and bought this for me as a Father's Day gift, and I really liked it! It's written for graphic designers to help with designing compositions and with selecting and appropriately placing components for their projects. Problem is, I'm just a wanna-be graphic designer, and even that's probably an overstatement. But I do like playing with desktop publishing projects and this gave me lots of input on how to do that better.
9. Lost Victories: The Military Genius of Stonewall Jackson by Bevin Alexander. I picked this up in a used bookstore while I was on summer holidays. I'm fascinated by American Civil War history, and have long admired Stonewall Jackson as an exceptional general who fought in that war. Though this book may give him a little too much credit with a whole lot of would'a, could'a, should'a kind of talk, it still provides a valuable glimpse of a great general.
10. The Story of John G. Paton: Thirty Years among South Sea Cannibals by James Paton. John Paton was a nineteenth century missionary to the New Hebrides islands in the South Pacific. His deep trust in God as he repeatedly risked his life, losing loved ones to illness and enduring tremendous hardships for many years in order to bring the hope of the Gospel to a needy people is a highly inspirational read in this comfort-oriented day and age. I found myself getting a bit choked up at parts to do with the eagerness with which some of those island people eventually received the Gospel.
11. Six months in Sudan: A Young Doctor in a war-torn Village by James Maskalyk. How often does one discover a book in a used bookstore about a Canadian man who recently spent six months serving with an NGO in a dangerous border town between north and south Sudan? I couldn't resist buying it, and found myself quickly drawn into the narrative of his time there. It was quite an intense book. At times painful to read, but always drawing you closer to the people who lived and died in that tiny place so far away. It's not the first book about Sudan that I've read, and I know it won't be the last.
12. A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World by Paul Miller. I first discovered this book as I was considering going to a conference on prayer at John Piper's church in Minneapolis, and when it turned out that I couldn't attend, I decided to simply buy the book that one of the conference speakers had written. Not only was it recommended on the blog of Desiring God Ministries, but both my wife Fiona and I have found it to be one of the most honest and helpful books we've read on the topic of prayer.
13. God Meant it for Good: A Fresh Look at the Life of Joseph by R.T. Kendall. This book really puts life in the right perspective! I think this is R.T. Kendall's best book! The title of this book is what Joseph said to his brothers once they caught up with him in Egypt; a quote I always find it helpful to be reminded of. It's a statement that clearly puts God in charge of what we go through in this life. It expresses the fact that God doesn't just cause everything to work together for good in our lives (Romans 8:28), but that He causes things to happen and then uses them for good! In other words, God didn't just use what happened to Joseph for good, but "meant it" to happen for his good and the good of many others. I believe that's true in all our lives as Christians, and this book truly helped me to find encouragement in that perspective.
14. Poverty of Spirit by Johannes Metz. A man who went to be with the Lord some time ago once highly recommended this little book to me. So I bought it, quickly read it, underlining nothing, and then tucked it away on a shelf wondering what the big deal was. Then quite recently, in the midst of sorting through some personal issues, I suddenly remembered this book, found it on my shelf just where I'd left it over 15 years ago, and began to read. I guess I wasn't ready for this book all those years ago, because I felt very challenged by it this time, and I'm grateful God brought me back to it!
15. God Grew Tired of Us: A Memoir by John Bul Dau. I felt really touched by the DVD of the same title, so when I saw that an auto-biography had been written by the young man who did most of the narrating in that DVD, I was very interested in learning more about what he went through as a Lost Boy. The publisher describes the book as "The Heartbreaking, Inspiring Journey of a Lost Boy of Sudan", and it certainly was! Knowing something of what those Lost Boys went through (from another book about one of them that I've previously read), and knowing that I was living in northern Sudan when John Bul Dau was running for his life in South Sudan, I really appreciated hearing him tell his story.

© 2011 by Ken Peters