the entire bible
knowing god - ji packer
let the nations be glad! - john piper
the knowledge of the holy - aw tozer
the pursuit of god - aw tozer
into the wild - jon krakauer
desiring god - john piper
living the cross centered life - cj mahaney
humility - cj mahaney
out of the silent planet, perelandra, that hideous strength - cs lewis
mere christianity - cs lewis
miracles - cs lewis
critique of pure reason - immanuel kant
evangelism in the early church - michael green
the religious affections - jonathan edwards
vintage jesus - mark driscoll
death by love - mark driscoll
ender in exile - orson scott card
first meetings - orson scott card
the chronicles of narnia series - cs lewis
wizard's first rule - terry goodkind
the reason for god - tim keller
restoring integrity in baptist churches - white, duesing, yarnell
money, possessions, and eternity - randy alcorn
rich christians in an age of hunger
thy kingdom come - pentecost
three views on the millennium and beyond - gundry/bock
three views on the rapture - gundry/archer
sense and sensibility - jane austen
the picture of dorian grey - oscar wilde
the count of monte cristo - alexandre dumas
the lord of the rings series - jrr tolkien
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
2008 lists
top 2008 movies
the dark night
iron man
wall-e
twilight
the duchess
honorable mentions
wanted
horton hears a who
jumper
definitely, maybe
get smart
the chronicles of narnia: prince caspian
movies i really want to see still
expelled: no intelligence allowed
slumdog millionaire
Australia
bolt
frost/nixon
the tale of despereaux
the curious case of benjamin button
sad that they weren't as awesome as they could have been 2008 movies
quantum of solace
transporter 3
21
drillbit taylor
righteous kill
made of honor (actually, this movie was just plain awful)
top books i read in 2008
twilight series (besides new moon; ick) - stephanie meyer
eragon series - christopher paolini
on liberty - john stuart mill
tales of beedle the bard - jk rowling
screwtape letters - cs lewis
sex is not the problem (lust is) - joshua harris
the gun seller - hugh laurie
favorite restaurants/treat places in 2008
lilly's pizza, raleigh, nc [sit-down]
shish kabob, wake forest, nc [quick]
denise's homemade ice cream, clintonville, oh [dessert]
starbucks [drink - salty caramel hot chocolate]
wake forest coffee company, wake forest, nc [dessert - blondies]
the dark night
iron man
wall-e
twilight
the duchess
honorable mentions
wanted
horton hears a who
jumper
definitely, maybe
get smart
the chronicles of narnia: prince caspian
movies i really want to see still
expelled: no intelligence allowed
slumdog millionaire
Australia
bolt
frost/nixon
the tale of despereaux
the curious case of benjamin button
sad that they weren't as awesome as they could have been 2008 movies
quantum of solace
transporter 3
21
drillbit taylor
righteous kill
made of honor (actually, this movie was just plain awful)
top books i read in 2008
twilight series (besides new moon; ick) - stephanie meyer
eragon series - christopher paolini
on liberty - john stuart mill
tales of beedle the bard - jk rowling
screwtape letters - cs lewis
sex is not the problem (lust is) - joshua harris
the gun seller - hugh laurie
favorite restaurants/treat places in 2008
lilly's pizza, raleigh, nc [sit-down]
shish kabob, wake forest, nc [quick]
denise's homemade ice cream, clintonville, oh [dessert]
starbucks [drink - salty caramel hot chocolate]
wake forest coffee company, wake forest, nc [dessert - blondies]
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
reading, 9/1/2008-10/31/2008
This is my two-month pleasure reading plan:
1) The Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie (good)
2) What is a Healthy Church? by Mark Dever (highly recommended)
3) Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell (it's heretical, btw)
4) Finding Faith: A Search for what makes Sense by Brian McLaren (also heretical)
5) Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
6) Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
7) First Meetings by Orson Scott Card
8) The Great Divorce by CS Lewis
I wonder if I will actually read them all (in the prescribed time).
[I didn't, but I did read six books. The list got changed a bit..]
5) Brisingr by Christopher Paolini
6) Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
7) First Meetings by Orson Scott Card
8) The Great Divorce by CS Lewis
I wonder if I will actually read them all (in the prescribed time).
[I didn't, but I did read six books. The list got changed a bit..]
Thursday, September 18, 2008
this is incredibly scary
my boss wants me to look into this fellow Scott Hahn, who when researching contraception decided to convert to Catholicism because he found that it wasn't biblical. Apparently he was a protestant (Presbyterian). This is his most popular book. Apparently he he argues mostly about a covenant somehow, and against sola scriptura and sola fide. Incredibly scary! To have anyone believe that they can do something good enough a certain number of times to be considered "good enough" to be saved is frightening. Really, I sincerely want Catholics to read Galatians and think well about it. And Romans.
I will read this book eventually.
I will read this book eventually.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
the shack
Before I read “The Shack” by William Young, I had heard two main things 1) that it would probably change my life/relationship with God and 2) that it was heretical. Those things combined sounded exciting enough, so I opened it up. It took me a day or so to get past his writing style/voice (horrific), but after that I finished it in a day. I didn't find it that interesting, I didn't cry, I didn't find myself changed or renewed or refreshed, or anything else. Things I noticed were:
1) God was represented as a human. What? Has “Willie” read the Ten Commandments? see 1 tim. 6:16 ("...the only one who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen" (HCSB).John Piper says this is "God is the Gospel:" "...created beings simply cannot look on the Creator and see him for who He is" (Piper 48).)
2) God was represented as a woman. Young was correct when he said that God is neither male nor female, but God revealed Himself to us in a masculine way for a reason, and is referred to as “Him,” “He,” “the Father,” etc. throughout the Bible.
3) Mack swore in front of God. Yeah.
4) Young writes that everyone in the world was forgiven of their sins, but only some choose to have a relationship. People are not forgiven until they accept Jesus Christ, who died, a perfect sacrifice, who took the punishment in our place.
5) Young seems to hate seminaries, studying the Bible, the Church, churches, and Sunday School.
All of these things were very troubling to me. I looked around for a review of “The Shack” and the best one seemed to be this one. The author of that review goes more in depth and gives more details about the book, and I think that this review is a must-read for anyone who reads “The Shack”. Especially because this book is so popular, I think it is even more important that people understand that the book contains so many lies/fallacies/misrepresentations about God, the gospel, etc. that it will do more harm than good to many people. (The best way to be a good heretic is to use “Christianese” but change what words mean. Satan and his demons often masquerades as angels of light.)
Challies.com has many other reviews of books that have been personally helpful to me. They are objective and seek truth as revealed to us through the Bible.
Read what another blogger has to say here.
Watch Mark Driscoll's take on the book.
1) God was represented as a human. What? Has “Willie” read the Ten Commandments? see 1 tim. 6:16 ("...the only one who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom none of mankind has seen or can see, to whom be honor and eternal might. Amen" (HCSB).John Piper says this is "God is the Gospel:" "...created beings simply cannot look on the Creator and see him for who He is" (Piper 48).)
2) God was represented as a woman. Young was correct when he said that God is neither male nor female, but God revealed Himself to us in a masculine way for a reason, and is referred to as “Him,” “He,” “the Father,” etc. throughout the Bible.
3) Mack swore in front of God. Yeah.
4) Young writes that everyone in the world was forgiven of their sins, but only some choose to have a relationship. People are not forgiven until they accept Jesus Christ, who died, a perfect sacrifice, who took the punishment in our place.
5) Young seems to hate seminaries, studying the Bible, the Church, churches, and Sunday School.
All of these things were very troubling to me. I looked around for a review of “The Shack” and the best one seemed to be this one. The author of that review goes more in depth and gives more details about the book, and I think that this review is a must-read for anyone who reads “The Shack”. Especially because this book is so popular, I think it is even more important that people understand that the book contains so many lies/fallacies/misrepresentations about God, the gospel, etc. that it will do more harm than good to many people. (The best way to be a good heretic is to use “Christianese” but change what words mean. Satan and his demons often masquerades as angels of light.)
Challies.com has many other reviews of books that have been personally helpful to me. They are objective and seek truth as revealed to us through the Bible.
Read what another blogger has to say here.
Watch Mark Driscoll's take on the book.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
some thoughts on "blue like jazz"
seriously, just some.
As a whole I enjoyed this book. There are so many things that Donald Miller points out that helped me to see and understand things in a new or different way. I gravitated between being disgusted with the book and crying over parts that show God's transforming love and power.
My main problem with the book is how Miller seems to believe that “Christian spirituality” is the same as being a Christian. He says he “think[s] loving Jesus is something you feel,” and I don't disagree, and it is “very difficult to get on paper,” more likely impossible, but to Miller, it is all inward. It is about the inward emotions that he has and what happens to him. Chapter 18 bothered me. Miller talked about love and how the non-Christian hippies that he lived with in the woods were better at loving people and he wanted to love more like them. I would hope that he would want to love more like Jesus, instead of always finding worldly things that he wants to be like. It is so sad to me that Miller did not feel loved in his community, but the only way to really know love is to know Jesus. Miller tries to partner righteousness with wickedness and find harmony between Christ and the devil (2 Cor. 6:14-15). Throughout the book I was wondering, why is Don a Christian? I could tell that he loves Jesus, but I feel like Don doesn't think other people should love Jesus; I felt that Miller probably thinks that this is his way and it's cool but it's not the only way.
Page 114: “He saw evangelism as reaching a felt need. I thought this was beautiful and frightening.” I am disturbed that Donald Miller gets caught up in what people do wrong. Yes, some people evangelize just to get a notch on their belt or feel like they are doing something good. But that is not what evangelism is, evangelism is presenting the gospel and letting God do the rest (that's the definition of evangelism that I like right now; I'll write about some more in a different post). Although servant evangelism is so important and helpful, it is definitely not the only way that people should evangelize. We have been reconciled to God. We have hope in Jesus Christ, we are alive in Him. That is awesome and beautiful and amazing and if you think about the beauty of the gospel everyday, I pray that the overflow of love and joy and peace that you experience flows to other people, people who are lost and are going to be condemned to eternal separation from God. I don't want that for other people. I want them to have the same free gift that I received from God and that is the gift of mercy, grace, salvation, love...
Another part that talks about evangelism is on page 119 when Miller's professor asked him if he was a “Christian evangelist”. I'm sorry Miller didn't say yes – how many of you were saved by someone that would be considered a “professional evangelist,” like someone that preaches on the Oval or a street corner? A former boyfriend shared the gospel with me. I have shared the gospel with friends and seen them come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What about you? We all need to be evangelists. The Lord God commands us to: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth .There fore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:18-19). Anyhow, surrendering my life to Jesus is the coolest, most awesome thing that has ever happened to me. So I want to talk about Him!
Page 115: This is my least favorite part of the book – when Miller refuses to defend the term “Christianity” on a radio show and say that he would rather “talk about Jesus and how [he] came to believe that Jesus exists and that he likes [him]”. I know and I understand that many people associate terrible, ungodly things with the term “Christianity” or “Christian”. But to be a Christian means to be a Christ-follower. I hope that as Christ-followers we can try to change what people see a Christian as. I know people that have parents that confess to be Christians, but when they see the change in their children those same parents that said they were Christian say, “oh, I see that I'm not Christian. I didn't realize it was like that”. I apologize that Christians do terrible things and that people that claim to be Christians do terrible things. But I will not apologize for being a Christian.
Miller also talks about when he set up a confession booth on his college campus. One student said to him, “I forgive you”. What I see in this is Miller letting these people become his “functional savior” - Miller needs to feel okay about himself so he seeks someone created by our Creator God to tell him it's okay and to forgive him. But Miller can't have forgiveness from his friend, forgiveness is a gift from God.
I also liked some things about the book. I liked the like “some people believe that if they have a cross around their neck or tattooed on them or something, it has some sort of mystical power” (pg. 125). This is funny because I have a cross tattoo. But I don't believe it has any mystical power. :)
I also liked how honest he was. I feel like I can call him Don. But, I wish Don would stop being disillusioned and do something about it.
As a whole I enjoyed this book. There are so many things that Donald Miller points out that helped me to see and understand things in a new or different way. I gravitated between being disgusted with the book and crying over parts that show God's transforming love and power.
My main problem with the book is how Miller seems to believe that “Christian spirituality” is the same as being a Christian. He says he “think[s] loving Jesus is something you feel,” and I don't disagree, and it is “very difficult to get on paper,” more likely impossible, but to Miller, it is all inward. It is about the inward emotions that he has and what happens to him. Chapter 18 bothered me. Miller talked about love and how the non-Christian hippies that he lived with in the woods were better at loving people and he wanted to love more like them. I would hope that he would want to love more like Jesus, instead of always finding worldly things that he wants to be like. It is so sad to me that Miller did not feel loved in his community, but the only way to really know love is to know Jesus. Miller tries to partner righteousness with wickedness and find harmony between Christ and the devil (2 Cor. 6:14-15). Throughout the book I was wondering, why is Don a Christian? I could tell that he loves Jesus, but I feel like Don doesn't think other people should love Jesus; I felt that Miller probably thinks that this is his way and it's cool but it's not the only way.
Page 114: “He saw evangelism as reaching a felt need. I thought this was beautiful and frightening.” I am disturbed that Donald Miller gets caught up in what people do wrong. Yes, some people evangelize just to get a notch on their belt or feel like they are doing something good. But that is not what evangelism is, evangelism is presenting the gospel and letting God do the rest (that's the definition of evangelism that I like right now; I'll write about some more in a different post). Although servant evangelism is so important and helpful, it is definitely not the only way that people should evangelize. We have been reconciled to God. We have hope in Jesus Christ, we are alive in Him. That is awesome and beautiful and amazing and if you think about the beauty of the gospel everyday, I pray that the overflow of love and joy and peace that you experience flows to other people, people who are lost and are going to be condemned to eternal separation from God. I don't want that for other people. I want them to have the same free gift that I received from God and that is the gift of mercy, grace, salvation, love...
Another part that talks about evangelism is on page 119 when Miller's professor asked him if he was a “Christian evangelist”. I'm sorry Miller didn't say yes – how many of you were saved by someone that would be considered a “professional evangelist,” like someone that preaches on the Oval or a street corner? A former boyfriend shared the gospel with me. I have shared the gospel with friends and seen them come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. What about you? We all need to be evangelists. The Lord God commands us to: “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth .There fore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:18-19). Anyhow, surrendering my life to Jesus is the coolest, most awesome thing that has ever happened to me. So I want to talk about Him!
Page 115: This is my least favorite part of the book – when Miller refuses to defend the term “Christianity” on a radio show and say that he would rather “talk about Jesus and how [he] came to believe that Jesus exists and that he likes [him]”. I know and I understand that many people associate terrible, ungodly things with the term “Christianity” or “Christian”. But to be a Christian means to be a Christ-follower. I hope that as Christ-followers we can try to change what people see a Christian as. I know people that have parents that confess to be Christians, but when they see the change in their children those same parents that said they were Christian say, “oh, I see that I'm not Christian. I didn't realize it was like that”. I apologize that Christians do terrible things and that people that claim to be Christians do terrible things. But I will not apologize for being a Christian.
Miller also talks about when he set up a confession booth on his college campus. One student said to him, “I forgive you”. What I see in this is Miller letting these people become his “functional savior” - Miller needs to feel okay about himself so he seeks someone created by our Creator God to tell him it's okay and to forgive him. But Miller can't have forgiveness from his friend, forgiveness is a gift from God.
I also liked some things about the book. I liked the like “some people believe that if they have a cross around their neck or tattooed on them or something, it has some sort of mystical power” (pg. 125). This is funny because I have a cross tattoo. But I don't believe it has any mystical power. :)
I also liked how honest he was. I feel like I can call him Don. But, I wish Don would stop being disillusioned and do something about it.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
some quotes from "apology"
Currently I am working through Tertullian's "Apology".
A quick bit about Tertullian:
-lived 155-222 AD
-apologist
-lived in Rome
-introduced the word "trinity" and the terms "new testament" and "old testament"
-apparently wrote in very difficult to understand Latin and I feel that the translator of my English version captured that perhaps too effectively.
This work is so far about the Romans' unfair treatment of Christians. In it he brings up the topic of abortion and this is best-worded description of abortion I've read:
"In our case, murder being once for all forbidden [in Roman law], we may not destroy even the foetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in its seed.
Then he goes on to talk about how the Romans are crazy for accusing the Christians of cannibalism when "the entrails of the very bears [that ate the gladiators and/or criminals], loaded with as yet undigested human viscera, are in great request".
Ew.
A quick bit about Tertullian:
-lived 155-222 AD
-apologist
-lived in Rome
-introduced the word "trinity" and the terms "new testament" and "old testament"
-apparently wrote in very difficult to understand Latin and I feel that the translator of my English version captured that perhaps too effectively.
This work is so far about the Romans' unfair treatment of Christians. In it he brings up the topic of abortion and this is best-worded description of abortion I've read:
"In our case, murder being once for all forbidden [in Roman law], we may not destroy even the foetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier man-killing; nor does it matter whether you take away a life that is born, or destroy one that is coming to the birth. That is a man which is going to be one; you have the fruit already in its seed.
Then he goes on to talk about how the Romans are crazy for accusing the Christians of cannibalism when "the entrails of the very bears [that ate the gladiators and/or criminals], loaded with as yet undigested human viscera, are in great request".
Ew.
Friday, August 8, 2008
updates
I moved to North Carolina on Monday. Sarah, being awesome like she is, came with me so that the 12 hour drive (we stopped a few times and got lost for 1.5 hours) was pretty bearable! It was an interesting drive, mostly through small highways in the mountains. I only almost ran off the road once, which is surprising, because I kept getting distracted and looking at the pretty mountains and trees.
Tuesday I applied for two jobs, both at Italian/pizza restaurants. The seminary has an employment office and gave me a listing of places to apply at. I was going to apply to be a nanny with a few places and at a catering place, but yesterday, after I got lost and drove in a 5 mile circle (twice) looking for Wal-Mart, I got a call. The owner wanted to know if I could meet him for an interview in less than 20 minutes! Haha... Thankfully, I was close to the restaurant, and met him. It's a family restaurant in "downtown" Wake Forest. He must have thought that I could do the job because I started yesterday at 4!
I did go to Wal-Mart, to buy an air mattress. It's not really in my budget, but sleeping on the floor sucks. Anyhow, I bought a Wal-Mart brand mattress, and a Coleman pump, since they didn't have a twin sized Coleman mattress or a Wal-Mart brand pump. But the two don't work together! Serious suck. I don't really feel like driving around so maybe when I do I will get a different mattress. Oh well. At least when I actually buy a mattress, I will really appreciate it! I still don't know how I will get any furniture I buy here... Maybe somebody I work with or at church will have a truck! I could stand by their truck after church and wait for them to come to it and hit them up for some furniture transporting. Haha.
The restaurant seems pretty cool. I'm going to be a waitress. Yesterday I shadowed a waitress and watched the hostess and just tried to figure things out. I work again today and I'm pretty sure tomorrow... I hope that I will be able to remember the table numbers and who ordered what and stuff. @_@ The people there seem really great, too. Most of the waitresses and hostesses seem to be high school girls... They didn't believe that I wasn't their age. :( And another waitress that is a nice older woman thought I was a college freshman. Back to looking 15 I guess... >_<
Funny story: all the dishwashers are young guys. Apparently most of them (three) got fired last week, because instead of actually cleaning a bunch of dishes, they just threw them away. Yikes!
The pizza chef is a cool guy that is starting at seminary just like me! He was a pastor for a few years and before that he and his wife were missionaries in Mexico. He is really nice and fun to talk to and he recommended the church he attends to me. I was already planning on going to that church this week, but it's nice to already know someone that will be there! He says it is great and stuff so yay.
After work tonight I'm going to start reading "Blue Like Jazz"! Yay. I heard it's really sweet.
Tuesday I applied for two jobs, both at Italian/pizza restaurants. The seminary has an employment office and gave me a listing of places to apply at. I was going to apply to be a nanny with a few places and at a catering place, but yesterday, after I got lost and drove in a 5 mile circle (twice) looking for Wal-Mart, I got a call. The owner wanted to know if I could meet him for an interview in less than 20 minutes! Haha... Thankfully, I was close to the restaurant, and met him. It's a family restaurant in "downtown" Wake Forest. He must have thought that I could do the job because I started yesterday at 4!
I did go to Wal-Mart, to buy an air mattress. It's not really in my budget, but sleeping on the floor sucks. Anyhow, I bought a Wal-Mart brand mattress, and a Coleman pump, since they didn't have a twin sized Coleman mattress or a Wal-Mart brand pump. But the two don't work together! Serious suck. I don't really feel like driving around so maybe when I do I will get a different mattress. Oh well. At least when I actually buy a mattress, I will really appreciate it! I still don't know how I will get any furniture I buy here... Maybe somebody I work with or at church will have a truck! I could stand by their truck after church and wait for them to come to it and hit them up for some furniture transporting. Haha.
The restaurant seems pretty cool. I'm going to be a waitress. Yesterday I shadowed a waitress and watched the hostess and just tried to figure things out. I work again today and I'm pretty sure tomorrow... I hope that I will be able to remember the table numbers and who ordered what and stuff. @_@ The people there seem really great, too. Most of the waitresses and hostesses seem to be high school girls... They didn't believe that I wasn't their age. :( And another waitress that is a nice older woman thought I was a college freshman. Back to looking 15 I guess... >_<
Funny story: all the dishwashers are young guys. Apparently most of them (three) got fired last week, because instead of actually cleaning a bunch of dishes, they just threw them away. Yikes!
The pizza chef is a cool guy that is starting at seminary just like me! He was a pastor for a few years and before that he and his wife were missionaries in Mexico. He is really nice and fun to talk to and he recommended the church he attends to me. I was already planning on going to that church this week, but it's nice to already know someone that will be there! He says it is great and stuff so yay.
After work tonight I'm going to start reading "Blue Like Jazz"! Yay. I heard it's really sweet.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
new books
I love reading. I've been wanting to reread Joshua Harris' "Boy Meets Girl" lately, but I gave my copy away. Yesterday I had an intense urge to get it and I really wanted to read the "8 great dates" part because I didn't remember reading that bit before. So, I went to Half-Price Books.
I got:
Boy Meets Girl - Joshua Harris
An Echo in the Darkness - Francine Rivers (this is apparently the second book in a trilogy and no, I haven't read the first book. Oops. Oh well...)
Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller (it seems like every guy in church has read this book and I wanted to see what it was about)
Critique of Pure Reason - Immanuel Kant
Sadly, I didn't realize that the "8 great dates" part of Boy Meets Girl is in a new edition (which I didn't know about). So... I don't get that part. I may go to a bookstore and just read that part in the store.
I got:
Boy Meets Girl - Joshua Harris
An Echo in the Darkness - Francine Rivers (this is apparently the second book in a trilogy and no, I haven't read the first book. Oops. Oh well...)
Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller (it seems like every guy in church has read this book and I wanted to see what it was about)
Critique of Pure Reason - Immanuel Kant
Sadly, I didn't realize that the "8 great dates" part of Boy Meets Girl is in a new edition (which I didn't know about). So... I don't get that part. I may go to a bookstore and just read that part in the store.
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