Simple Reading
I need to read more.
I was looking at my bookshelves the other day and realized that even though I have many books (too many, in fact) that I have yet to read, I keep buying more. I even joined one of those infamous book clubs where they would send you a couple books every month if you didn’t send back a card begging them to keep their books. And let’s be honest, these book clubs were created especially for people like me…procrastinators.
The breaking point came when I had to buy a book called Finding God in the Shack. Seriously?! I haven’t even read The Shack and now you’re telling me that I have to commit to reading a second book when I finally start and finish first?!
I know you’re thinking to yourself, “Why don’t you just send it back? You don’t have to keep it.” (Re-read the second paragraph again and it might become clear.)
Getting back to reading more. I decided to clear out my shelves. Put away books that I haven’t picked up in the five years ministry I have under my belt, and move the teen-themed books out of my office and to a place where they can actually find them. What I’m left with is some simplicity on my shelves, books that have helped me and ones I aim to conquer over the next few months. Angela suggested that we start a new habit of going to bed earlier and spend that time reading instead of wasting it in front of the TV. I think it’s worth trying…and in the meantime, no more book clubs for this guy.
*As a side note – I created a dedicated shelf for books that I would like to read but haven’t yet. The idea is that as I finish one book, I’ll move another book onto the shelf in its place. Here is a current list of the books on my shelf:
1. How People Grow – Cloud & Townsend
2. The Beautiful Fight – Gary Thomas
3. Hearing God – Dallas Willard
4. The Sacred Romance – Curtis & Eldredge
5. Created to be God’s Friend – Henry Blackaby
6. Chosen to be God’s Prophet – Henry Blackaby
7. Prepared to be God’s Vessel – Henry Blackaby
8. Called to be God’s Leader – Henry Blackaby
9. Visioneering – Andy Stanley
10. The Pursuit of Holiness – Jerry Bridges
11. Jesus Wants to Save Christians – Rob Bell
12. Making Judgements Without Being Judgmental – Terry Cooper
13. Unchristian – Kinnaman & Lyons
14. Velvet Elvis – Rob Bell
15. Sex God – Rob Bell
16. The Shack – William Young (Well, I kind of have to read it now!)
17. Saint – Ted Dekker
18. Simple Spirituality – Christopher Heuertz
19. Jesus Christ Disciplemaker – Bill Hull
20. Simple Church – Rainer & Geiger
What books are you reading at the moment?
I’ve read three of the books on your list: Velvet Elvis, Sex God, and The Shack. All three of which I thought were really good.
And, I know it’s not like you need to add more books to the stack of “need-to-reads”, but, Crazy Love by Francis Chan should definitely be in there somewhere.
Move Simple Church, Visioneering, and the Rob Bell Collection to the top of that list! They’re all great.
Thanks Dustin for the suggestion of “Crazy Love.” I plan on cheating with that one and listening to the mp3 of it. Got that free download because of you.
I like having the audiobook for it, but it’s harder for me to focus on what’s being talked about if I’m not reading it.
I read Pursuit of Holiness as a teenager and it changed my life.
We actually studied it as a youth group!
I LOVE your idea!!!!