2009-2010 Reading List

Each year as I wrap up the busy summer and start getting geared up for the school year, I try to take stock of where I’m at spiritually. Each August, I try to limit my activities and spend time with my family and spend some time alone to refresh and renew my spiritual life.

It’s at this point each year that I set for myself several goals that I want to accomplish. And that includes putting together a pretty extensive reading list. In fact, I leave tomorrow for two days of solitude and simplicity. I’m going camping. Just me, God’s Word, and a few books from this list.

Of course, there are other books that will be added to this list as the year goes on; books that catch my eye at the bookstore, or that are recommended to me by a friend, or a new book out by a favorite author (Ted Dekker). One such book is Max Lucado’s forthcoming book, Fearless, due to be released on September 8. In fact, it should be in this photo, but Thomas Nelson hasn’t sent me my preview copy yet. It’s in transit. (Total tangent: Thomas Nelson has a great program. If you have a blog, they will send you free books; you read them, and then post a review on your blog and on a retail site, such as Amazon.com or Wal-Mart.com. The books are yours! Check it out at http://brb.thomasnelson.com.)

I make my reading choices based on three basic criteria: The book is about a topic I’m interested in. The book addresses a need in my life or my family. The book has a potential impact on my ministry. Hopefully the creative sparks ignited in my thinking will create uncountable ripples within the context of my life and ministry.

But this year’s list is fairly large, and the topics are pretty scattered.

Here they are, as shown in the photo, starting from the bottom…

– Total Money Makeover and Workbook – Dave Ramsey
– The Chronicles Of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
– Unformed And Unfilled – Weston Fields
– The Principle Of The Path – Andy Stanley
– Sacred Marriage – Gary Thomas
– A Work Of Heart – Reggie McNeal
– They Smell Like Sheep – Lynn Anderson
– They Smell Like Sheep, Volume 2 – Lynn Anderson
– Creation Compromises – Bert Thompson
– The Cost Of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
– Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By A Relentless God – Francis Chan
– Sacred Pathways – Gary Thomas
– Christianity And The Constitution – John Eidsmoe
– Unshakable Faith: Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver – John Perry
– By Design – Jonathan Sarfati
– Eat Mor Chikin; Inspire More People – S. Truett Cathy
– Celebration Of Discipline – Richard J Foster
– A Long Obedience In The Same Direction – Eugene H. Peterson
– With Christ In The School Of Prayer – Andrew Murray
– The Great Divorce – C. S. Lewis
– Born To Run – Christopher McDougall
– The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read The Bible – Scot McNight

And… of course…

– The Bible, this year in NASB

Again, this is a pretty ambitious list. But I’ve always enjoyed a challenge; and I love to read. May God use these authors to inspire me and others!