What’s on your nightstand?—April ‘11

It’s helpful to periodically assess what you’ve read and what you want to read next. We do it once a month at Jennifer’s.

Here’s what I’ve been into:

Just started

1. Think: The life of the mind and the love of God
     by John Piper
The more we see of God’s surpassing greatness and knowledge and wisdom and power and justice and wrath and mercy and patience and goodness and grace and love, the more we will treasure him. And the more we treasure him, the more he is consciously and joyfully glorified. The point of this book is that thinking is a God-given means to that end.

2. Pujols: More than the game
     by Scott lamb, Tim Ellsworth
This incredible baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals has an even higher goal than great stats: honoring God. I’ve been admiring Albert Pujols for years since first hearing him as a guest on Focus on the Family. I’m looking forward to reading more about his faith journey.

3. The Greener Grass Conspiracy: Finding contentment on your side of the fence
     by Stephen Altrogge 
Complaining is one of those sins that doesn’t get much airtime in our churches….We moan about gas prices, computer meltdowns, broken radiators, and flu symptoms. Complaining is part of our life. We know it’s wrong, but it doesn’t seem like a big deal.
     But God takes complaining very seriously.
Uh-oh…

Still reading

4. God in the Yard: Spiritual practice for the rest of us
     by L. L. Barkat
This is it for me, week 12! The book isn’t super-meaty, but it’s what it prompts you to do that makes it so valuable.

Finished from March’s nightstand

5. Love Wins: A book about heaven, hell, and the fate of every person who ever lived
     by Rob Bell
I agree with some things; disagree with some things. My two cents: Some criticisms of Bell’s theology are valid to me. But the really harsh criticisms I’ve read about his character and intentions? I wouldn’t be comfortable making them based strictly on Bell’s words in this book (and on my one simple reading through). I’ll give it a second read later. If it interests you, I suggest you read it yourself to make your own judgments.

6. Max on Life: Answers and insights to your most important questions
     by Max Lucado
A question-and-answer format for big and small questions about life, God, people. It’s good.

7. Heaven Is for Real
     by Todd Burpo
While it’s a great story about a little boy’s near-death experience, I was uncomfortable with some of the scriptural interpretations made by the Burpo family. Like Love Wins, you’re better off reading it for yourself and drawing your own conclusions.

8. Poke the Box
     by Seth Godin
I like reading Seth Godin books. They’re short chapters, a little quirky, and give you a little kick to get going. While they’re mainly business-oriented, you can apply them to your life in all kinds of ways.

9. The Final Summit
      by Andy Andrews
A novel with a moral. It takes up where The Traveler’s Gift left off, including the smatterings of historical characters. Not great literature, but a worthy read.

10. Always True: God’s 5 promises when life is hard 
     by James MacDonald
Encouragement that God is always with you; God is always in control; God is always good; God is always watching; and God is always victorious. It’s a good use of your time to read.

11. One Thing: Developing a passion for the beauty of God 
     by Sam Storms
Loved this one! Reminiscent of a mini-Desiring God. It reminds you that your goal is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. I’ll get a review up soon.

12. Trusting God: Even when life hurts
     by Jerry Bridges
Another great book—about learning to depend on God for more than just your eternal salvation (as if that isn’t enough!). I’ll return to this one over and over.

* * *

What’s the last book you finished?

What would you like to start?