Books I have mentioned or shared quotes from in recent messages

Books that have touched my heart and changed my life

A Hunger for God by John Piper. John Piper is an amazing writer who leads me into a special place of contemplation as I read.

Aqua Church by Leonard Sweet. Leonard Sweet is the post-modernity guy who makes a lot of sense and has encouraged me to think outside the framework of the traditional.

Blue Like Jazz by Don Miller. Great title for a great book. Authentic faith wrestling with the real world.

Fearless Faith by John Fischer. John Fischer, in the spirit of Bob Briner, challenges me to move outside the Christian ghetto and make a real difference in the culture in which we live.

Grace Awakening by Chuck Swindoll. Of everything I have read by Chuck Swindoll, this is my favorite. Straightforward and full of conviction, this book calls us to embrace grace and reject the legalism which binds many of us so tightly.

How to Be Pentecostal Without Speaking In Tongues by Tony Campolo. Tony Campolo is one of those great writers/ speakers who has me laughing hysterically one moment and weeping with compassion the next. This book invites us, whether charismatic or not, to celebrate God’s love with energy and enthusiasm.

Hungering Dark by Frederick Buechner. I love the way Frederick Buechner puts sentences together. His insight is significant and his sentence structure is poetic.

I Was Wrong by Jim Bakker. I was one of those folks who mocked and laughed when Jim Bakker went down in the 1980's. As I read this book, I was overwhelmed with conviction because, while I laughed at the freakshow, I never once prayed for Jim or for his family. Jim’s son, Jay has become a real inspiration for me and I would encourage anybody to read his book, Son of a Preacherman.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. I cut my spiritual teeth on this small volume when I read it as a new Christian and am continually reminded of its wisdom.

Messy Spirituality by Mike Yaconelli. As a longtime reader of the Wittenburg Door, I always loved Yaconelli’s Back Door articles. He brings the same edginess to this wonderful gritty book of grace.

On Being A Christian by Hans Kung. I read this book 25 years ago and was blown away by Hans Kung’s honesty and thoughtfulness.

Plan B by Anne Lamott. My son gave me this book for my birthday, and in so doing, introduced to someone who has become one of my favorite writers. Honesty like this is an extraordinary quality. You may not agree with everything you read, but you will think, and think some more.

Preaching by Fred Craddock. Fred Craddock is one of the best wordsmiths out there and I am thankful for this book that taught me sermons need not be a joke, three points and a poem.

Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. Brennan Manning speaks to a generation of believers who take seriously the call of Christ but who are tired of the religiosity so prevalent among us. The grace of God which calls this motley crew together is truly amazing.

Real Christians Dance by John Fischer. On the book cover, the word “Don’t” appears between the words “Christians” and “Dance”. It, however, has been crossed out. The book calls us to lives of grace and discipleship.

Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner. Bob Briner was the first author to challenge my thinking about a Christian’s role in culture. His call is for Christians to influence the culture by their presence, not their disdain. Gotta love him.

Silence by Shusaku Endo. Silence is the only novel on the list. But, oh my, what a challenge for those who might not see the ambiguities of life and faith.

The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado. This was the first book I read by Max Lucado and continues to be my favorite. He is such a gifted writer. This book, dedicated to understanding the beatitudes, is both simple and profound as the writer leads us into the depths of God’s grace. And by the way, I cannot read the last page without crying.

The Body by Chuck Colson. This book is a beautifully written testament to the Church of Jesus Christ and its activity in the world.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Grace, free but costly. An incredible book written by one of the twentieth century’s most profound thinkers.

The Jesus I Never Knew by Phillip Yancey. I was surprised, as I read this book several years ago, at how much I still had to learn about Jesus. Yancey is a great writer and it was a privilege to spend time in this book.

What’s So Amazing About Grace by Phillip Yancey. If this list were a countdown, this book would hold the #1 position. It came into my life at a time when grace was being redefined for me by God.

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett. I bought this book on a dollar table at a Christian book store because I loved the title. The inside stuff was just as good as the title as Dave Burchett provides some help for folks who have been harmed by Christians and some much needed admonition for those of us who have inflicted the wounds.

I never learned to read one book at a time, so the shelf that holds the books that I am currently reading contain the following books with bookmarks in them:

Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne

The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McClaren

Red Letter Christians by Tony Campolo

Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels