Believe it or not I have a few reoccurring questions that people ask me.  One of them I would like to share in this Blog.  It usually comes in a couple different forms.  One might be: “If you were sent to a desert island and only had 5 faith building books to take with you, which books would you take?”  A follow up question might be: “If you could only put 10 songs on your Ipod, what would that playlist look like?”  I want to take a stab at the first question and I will get to the second sometime down the line.

 

OK…first of all, the Bible is a given.  We would really struggle without it and so the Bible is number 1.  And by the way, I am not just saying that because I’m a pastor and I have to…I really believe it. 

 

Alright…here are numbers 2-5 in no particular order…sort of…

 

1. My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers.  I was given this daily devotional at my College Graduation 20 years ago.  I must admit that I had never heard of it before and it came with a nice dedication from the person who gave it to me.  I have pretty much read it daily since then.  It is broken down into 365 devotionals, all of which challenge me every single day.  I recently picked up a copy that uses modern “American” English and it reads a bit easier…I recommend that version.  Chambers was British and some of the wording can be cumbersome. 
2. Shadow of the Almighty by Elizabeth Elliot.  This was one of those books that changed my life…literally.  It is really a story of love and longing…for God first and then for a woman.  The story is pieced together by Elizabeth Elliot as a memoir of she and her husband Jim’s life together and then as missionaries to Ecuador, where he was eventually martyred at 29 years old.  Jim Elliot has become one of my heroes of the faith and I highly recommend this book.
3. Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer.  Tozer was one of those guys who was amazingly brilliant but made the faith so real and tangible that it is remarkable.  I love guys like that…I want to be like that!  My favorite chapter is a chapter called, “The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing.”  Sounds heady, but when you dive in you will be really encouraged!
4. A Severe Mercy by Sheldon VanAuken.  Ok…this book will take you on a roller coaster that will bring you much laughter and many tears.  It is a love story that turns into something so much more when the couple meets C.S. Lewis in England.  A true story, you will be sorry this book ever ends.  This young couple comes to faith through Lewis and their lives are turned upside down when one of them gets sick.  I loved it and read again every few years.

 

OK…there are my five.  I would be interested in hearing your top 5.  Respond to this blog by clicking on the comment link.  I can’t wait to get your recommendations.  Please remember that all comments are subject to the censor (me) and once approved will be posted to the website.  Thanks!!!!

 

pb