- An Experiment in Criticism - C. S. Lewis
- A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
- The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
- Clive Staples Lewis: A Dramatic Life - William Griffin
- The Southern Poets - William Lander Weber
- The Chimes - Charles Dickens
- Glorifying God: A Yearlong Collection of Classical Devotional Writings - Thomas Watson
- Holy Bible: English Standard Version
- A Severe Mercy - Sheldon Vanauken
- The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
- That Hideous Strength - C. S. Lewis
- Walking with Bilbo - Sarah Arthur
- Diary of a Jackwagon - Tim Hawkins
- C. S. Lewis, My Godfather: Letters, Photos and Recollections - Laurence Harwood
Showing posts with label thinking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thinking. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 04, 2017
December Reading
Friday, December 09, 2016
Top Ten Books About C. S. Lewis
There are many books dealing with C. S. Lewis and his writings. There are many good ones. There are even some that are not so good, but they are few and far between. This top ten list is compiled from the books that I have read only in 2016. Some excellent ones not on this list I have already read (Devin Brown, Donald Williams, Colin Duriez, etc.), and I highly recommend them. Others I still plan on reading (Alister McGrath, Michael Ward, etc.).
These have been a blessing to me, and I hope you read them, too!
These have been a blessing to me, and I hope you read them, too!
- Jack: C. S. Lewis and His Times - George Sayer
- Jack's Life: The Life Story of C. S. Lewis - Douglas Gresham
- Clive Staples Lewis: A Dramatic Life - William Griffin
- Past Watchful Dragons - Walter Hooper
- The Narnian: The Life and Imagination of C. S. Lewis - Alan Jacobs
- The Soul of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Gene E. Keith, Jr.
- If I Had Lunch with C. S. Lewis - Alister McGrath
- On the Shoulders of Hobbits - Louis Markos
- C. S. Lewis & Mere Christianity: The Crisis that Created a Classic - Paul McCusker
- Aslan's Call: Finding Our Way to Narnia - Mark Eddy Smith
Post Script - I should add one more as an honorable mention. I read this one after I compiled my list.
C. S. Lewis, My Godfather: Letters, Photos and Recollections - Laurence Harwood
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Think
Those who have visited me, or have been in my office, quickly make the following observation: "You have a lot of books!" I usually respond with something like, "Well, I used to have more." Over the years I have given away, sold, or loaned (permanently it seems) many books. On occasion, someone will ask, "Why do you read so much?" I've even been asked, "Why do you read?" Of course, I'm tempted to respond with, "Why don't you read (so much)?"
Obviously, reading a lot takes a lot of time, but I believe it is well worth the time, effort, and mental energy. Why do I believe this is so? In Matthew 22:37, Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, states, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Jesus said that this is the greatest commandment. The heart and soul are always being emphasized in the church, but when it comes to the part about the mind, it often receives little emphasis. Even worse, learning and thinking is viewed as being suspect, and the pursuit of knowledge is rejected altogether.
I recently read a book by John Piper entitled Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. What Piper articulated in that book is something I also feel quite strongly about, both in my mind and deep down in my heart. Here is one quote from the book which resonates within me: "I have never been one of those who found the heart shrivel as God and His Word are known better. Putting more knowledge in my head about God and His ways was like throwing wood in the furnace of my worship" (Think, 26). That's it! That is why I like to read so much. Through reading and thinking, I'm keeping the fires of my mind and heart burning brightly to the glory of God.
This past Sunday, I preached from Matthew 5:13 about being salt in our world. You know, as Christians we are to have preserving and flavorful qualities about us as we seek to have an influence for Christ in this present darkness. Reading, and then thinking about and evaluating what I've read, provides an avenue for loving God with my mind. It aids me in renewing my mind and keeping it fresh. It helps to prevent staleness and apathy in my thinking. I don't want to get stuck in one of life's ruts. I want to have some saltiness about me.
Of course, I never intend to be pedantic or prideful in the knowledge I have gained. My desire is to use it for loving purposes and not arrogance. I'm also well aware of Solomon's warning in Ecclesiastes 12:12: "The writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body." Yes, indeed, it is wearying and tiresome, but it is worth the effort. To not think, which is the alternative adopted by so many, is to me unbearable. When it comes to God, His Word, His world, and His plan, ignorance is not bliss!
Obviously, reading a lot takes a lot of time, but I believe it is well worth the time, effort, and mental energy. Why do I believe this is so? In Matthew 22:37, Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, states, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Jesus said that this is the greatest commandment. The heart and soul are always being emphasized in the church, but when it comes to the part about the mind, it often receives little emphasis. Even worse, learning and thinking is viewed as being suspect, and the pursuit of knowledge is rejected altogether.
I recently read a book by John Piper entitled Think: The Life of the Mind and the Love of God. What Piper articulated in that book is something I also feel quite strongly about, both in my mind and deep down in my heart. Here is one quote from the book which resonates within me: "I have never been one of those who found the heart shrivel as God and His Word are known better. Putting more knowledge in my head about God and His ways was like throwing wood in the furnace of my worship" (Think, 26). That's it! That is why I like to read so much. Through reading and thinking, I'm keeping the fires of my mind and heart burning brightly to the glory of God.
This past Sunday, I preached from Matthew 5:13 about being salt in our world. You know, as Christians we are to have preserving and flavorful qualities about us as we seek to have an influence for Christ in this present darkness. Reading, and then thinking about and evaluating what I've read, provides an avenue for loving God with my mind. It aids me in renewing my mind and keeping it fresh. It helps to prevent staleness and apathy in my thinking. I don't want to get stuck in one of life's ruts. I want to have some saltiness about me.
Of course, I never intend to be pedantic or prideful in the knowledge I have gained. My desire is to use it for loving purposes and not arrogance. I'm also well aware of Solomon's warning in Ecclesiastes 12:12: "The writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body." Yes, indeed, it is wearying and tiresome, but it is worth the effort. To not think, which is the alternative adopted by so many, is to me unbearable. When it comes to God, His Word, His world, and His plan, ignorance is not bliss!
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