Scott and Angela

Taking advantage of a lovely Saturday morning, yesterday Angela and I were cleaning and organizing a bit in the apartment to make room for Judson. One of the tasks was moving some bookshelves (and thus, books) around. Now, you must know that I love books. I’m not just a reader as a pastime, I literally love books. I like to read them, but I also thoroughly enjoy simply scanning the titles and covers, remembering where I was when I first read them, thinking of the new vistas the theses opened for me, or thinking what an awful waste of money and time they were. Sometimes I hold onto a book for the sentimental value, sometimes for use as a future resource, and sometimes to remind myself how horrible an author is lest I be tempted to purchase any future works of theirs.

Prompted by the experience yesterday morning though, I thought I’d note a few of my favorites from my collection. I read dozens of books a year, but out of that number a few become ones to re-read and a few of those become all-time favorites. Here’s a couple, in no particular order - and only as a sample of their number:

1) Anthropological Reflections on Missiological Issues by Paul Hiebert

A stirring collection of essays that I devoured again and again during my graduate studies. And really, the first half is more what I have in view here, which is an articulation of Hiebert’s model of the “triumverate.” Basically, he argues that we ought to approach all issues through the paradigm of theology (how do God’s transcultural truths apply in the situation), anthropology (what specific aspects of the culture impact the situation), and missiology (what resulting action would best further the mission of Christ). He also deals with cultural epistomology in very helpful ways.

Not a book you might pick up for your quiet time, but phenomenal stuff! I’d make it required reading for anyone even thinking about cross-cultural ministry.

2) Heaven by Randy Alcorn

No other book has so excited my heart for Heaven and truly allowed me to finally long for it, rather than simply be glad I’d be there and not in hell. Alcorn provides a thorough and readable articulation of eternity that doesn’t rely on hyper-spiritualized nonesense and crazy visions, but on the Bible.

Most significantly for me, he describes Heaven not as a place where we will be disembodied spirits floating around with harps, but a place where we will dwell with God in His creation as He intended. He will be most beautiful to us, we will be free from sin to have full joy in the risen Savior. Relationships, work, learning, worship, these things are all part of the Biblical idea of Heaven. Yes please!

3) The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller

I read this book after I had already learned Keller’s essential message that is brought forth in The Prodigal God, but the book is still fantastic. Keller masterfully shows how the Gospel not only calls the irreligious to come to Jesus from their lostness, but also for the religious to come to Him from their pride. The religious need to repent of their rigtheousness, just as much as the irreligious must repent of their sins.

A must read.

4) All Creatures Great and Small by James Harriot

Had to throw at least one fun one in here. I don’t know that this was as paradigm-shaping for me as the others listed here… but it probably is the most laugh-out-loud funny book I’ve ever read. James Harriot was a vet in farm country England and these tales of his adventures are superb comedic gems. This was Dirty Jobs before Mike Row even was born. I can’t wait to read them to Judson!