Archive
Review – These 25 Books have shaped my spiritual life …
Over the years I have built up quite an extensive library. Occasionally I’m informed of a potential clear-out coming my way but the threat has yet to materialise! However, if I did have to select my top 25 titles, which books would be the most important for me to keep?
I’ve thought long and hard and here is that list – these are the books which have fed my soul, impressed my spirit and directed my life as opposed to simply informing my theology.
The main 10 – in order of priority
Celebration of Discipline Richard Foster Hodder
Return of the Prodigal Son Henri Nouwen DLT
The Wonder of Worship David McKee Faith Mission
Enjoying Intimacy with God Oswald Sanders Moody Press
Border Lands David Adam SPCK
In the Name of Jesus Henri Nouwen DLT
Awake my Heart J. Sidlow Baxter MMS
The Glory Man – Billy Bray Cyril Davey Hodder
An Unfading Vision Edward England Hodder
Literature Evangelism George Verwer Authentic
Those next in significance
Unlocking the Bible David Pawson HarperCollins
Dynamics of Spiritual Life Richard Lovelace Paternoster
Knowing God James Packer Hodder
The Church on the Way Jack Hayford Chosen Books
Wisdom Larry Lee Highland
The Life God Blesses Gordon MacDonald Word Books
Circle of Love Anne Persson BRF
Ruthless Trust Brennan Manning SPCK
A Glimpse of Jesus Brennan Manning SPCK
Soul Survivor Philip Yancey Hodder
Those too hard to leave out!
Finding Sanctuary Christopher Jamison Orion
Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren Zondervan
Walking the Edges David Adam SPCK
Epiphanies of the Ordinary Charlie Cleverley Hodder
Soulful Spirituality David Benner Baker
If you were hoping to find here a Guide to the 25 Essential Spiritual Classics, that book has already been written (25 Books Every Christian Should Read : Harper One : 2011) and is in itself highly recommended. It contains all the major Christian writers from past centuries and has been put together by a specially selected group of advisors by Renovare.
As a personal exercise, why not post here which books are important to you? What titles would your own list include?
Travel – Review of J.G. Farrell’s, The Hill Station (1981) : Shimla in India
I’ve just finished reading J G Farrell’s half-completed novel, The Hill Station. Farrell, a past Booker prize winner (1973) for The Siege of Krishnapur; recently picked out by UK Broadcaster, Jeremy Paxman as one of the nine books which have made him who he is, calling it a ‘stunning novel’. Farrell died in 1979 aged 44 after being washed away by a freak wave in a beach fishing accident in Ireland.
Between 1970 and 1978, Farrell wrote his Empire Trilogy: Troubles, The Siege of Krishnapur and The Singapore Grip. The Hill Station was supposed to be the final book of a quartet (similar to those of Paul Scott) but remained unfinished due to his untimely death.
Farrell had said in an Observer Magazine article,
‘The really interesting thing that’s happened during my lifetime has been the decline of the British Empire’.
In his writings, an absorbing collection of post-colonial fiction, he explored the economics and ethics of empire doing much to dismantle the staple elements of the British imperial story. This particular story is excellent in pointing up the hypocrisy and double-standards of the Raj, especially in a place like Simla, a cultural pressure cooker which many of those living there found ultimately unbearable.
For me, having visited Shimla (note post-independence name change) in northern India by hill railway from Kalka last year, this book brought back some wonderful memories. For the first three chapters I was back on the train: such marvellous detail and excellent descriptions for the journey up to Kalka; which was then the railhead for Simla. Anyone who’s travelled on a hill train in India will recognise it from this book. The remainder of the journey to Simla in those days was simply punishing. The 58 miles up into the hills were covered by Landau or by Kabul ponies pulling a ‘Tonga’.
The novel evocatively recreates the Simla of the British Raj, something it shares with Kipling’s Kim. If you’ve been to Shimla, you’ll recognise many of the places in the novel although interestingly Farrell never visited. He was due to go there in the autumn of 1979. Sadly, Farrell’s book finishes in mid-stream after just 150 wonderful pages, leaving one feeling bereft and a little short-changed. It ends just as it is getting into its stride but, thankfully, one of the author’s acquaintances has attempted to fill in the gaps and make sense of Farrell’s silence by developing the story further using his detailed research notes.
Not only is the book set in the India of the Victorian era but is one with a fascinating religious theme; the heated 19th century dispute between High Church Ritualism and Low Church Protestantism which led to the Public Worship Regulation Act 1874 (repealed in 1965).
The Hill Station is not kind to institutional Christianity. The Bishop of Simla goes not emerge from this very well, being as he is, more interested in maintaining the party line. However, Revd Kingston, the Anglican ritualist priest cast as the outsider, is given generous treatment by the author on account of the fact that his beliefs are actually central to the way he lives his life.
In the book, the arguments on both sides of this now ancient debate are superbly presented, predominately through the riveting dialogue given to the central characters. The characterisation is strong particularly in the case of the vaguely agnostic Scottish Doctor, McNabb. I loved the underlying tension developed by his longstanding attempt to write a treatise on Indian medicine when all along he was investigating the unexplained effects of religion on the human spirit.
These photographs of Shimla were taken on a visit to India in October 2011. The now fast fading Victorian architecture reflect something of Godalming High Street incongruously set 4,000 miles away in the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas.
Review – Operation World; 7th Edition (2010)
This is a BIG book in more ways than one; big in size and huge in vision. For many Christians, myself included, this latest and seventh revision of Operation World – THE definitive Christian prayer and reference guide – represents a major publishing event; one which should be applauded by all those committed to Christian mission and the advancement of the Gospel.
Such a project is either extremely foolhardy or a publishing triumph depending on your point of view, given the demise of reference material across world publishing at present! The Publisher’s blurb describes this book as a ‘must for every Christian’s library’. I think they are right in this assessment as its stated purpose is ‘to inform for prayer and to mobilise for ministry’.
The genesis of this book lies firmly within the Protestant missionary movement. Work commenced in 1974 through the auspices of the Dorothea Mission, then from 1976 its cause was championed (and still is) by George Verwer of Operation Mobilisation; and throughout it has had strong WEC International involvement. Patrick Johnstone will be forever linked with the project and without him I doubt it would have come to fruition.
I too can personally look back with a sense of privilege in my own small involvement with the distribution of the 1993 and 2001 editions whilst working with Send the Light Ltd. No-one who has been involved with Operation World can fail to have been impressed by the sheer magnitude of the task of producing this book. However, as with all reference works, it is inevitably out-of-date as soon as it is printed!
The endorsements at the front of the completely revised 7th edition read like a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the global Evangelical community.
George Verwer says OW is ‘one of the most important missionary tools in the entire history of missions’. Quite a claim but I guess he should know!
Operation World was born out of the Evangelical view of the strategic importance of prayer in the conversion of nations in order to ‘Hasten the coming of the Day of the Lord’ – a missiological urgency which may not be quite so prevalent in the UK today. This view is described on the very last page of the book, where this important theological perspective – the return of Christ – is noted.
For me, what the book does is to throw into sharp focus the mystery of all such intercessory prayer. If God is all-knowing, why on earth (literally) do we need to rehearse to Him in our prayers all the points from this book concerning the 190+ countries which make up His world? One answer from the book is that every prayer we pray is described as ‘a tiny piece of a great cosmic puzzle’. We are not merely to pray ‘about’ such facts but to pray ‘towards’ something; ‘the ultimate fulfilment of the Father’s purpose’.
I suggest that you keep Operation World next to your Bible. Along with daily devotional materials, these are the primary aids for building our spiritual lives. I’m fully committed to all types of Christian literature but I regard the Bible, Operation World and a Daily Bible Reading Guide as being the irreducible minimum for our spiritual formation.
The design of the overall package is very attractive; the statistics, charts, maps and data-points are all clear and compelling. Young people will also find it practical (if you can prise them away from checking with Google!) and it presents far more realistic information for holiday and business travel than the average travel guide can provide. The sections on ‘Global Hot-spots’ and ‘Global Trends’ are extremely up-to-the-minute and read as well as anything out of The Economist.
This is truly an astonishing book and it deserves to succeed. Buy the hardback (preferably) for yourself – and as a gift for others this Christmas – from your local Christian bookshop. If that’s not possible go online to order it - but try not to use Amazon if you can possibly help it! Why? Because a project of this size, which comes around only periodically, means a great deal in terms of income generation for the struggling Christian retail trade.
‘Maranatha;, even so come Lord Jesus’
For more details, click here for the Operation World website.
Biblica Publishing : 2010 : 978pp
Hardback ISBN 978-1-85078-861-4
Paperback ISBN 978-1-85078-862-1
Review – The Circle of Love; Ann Persson (The Holy Trinity by Andre Rublev)
I can think of at least two paintings that have impacted me spiritually over the years. The first is The Return of the Prodigal Son by Rembrandt; wonderfully explored by Henri Nouwen in his well-known book of the same name. The second is a 14th century icon – The Holy Trinity - painted by Russian Monk Andre Rublev, a superb copy of which hangs in my office at work. The original is displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.
I was given this beautifully haunting image of the Trinity a number of years ago by Kevin Mayhew on a visit to his offices in Suffolk. I happened to admire the icon hanging behind Kevin’s desk and commented on it during the meeting. Kevin stood up, took it down and handed it to me – an act of great generosity – one which resulted in not a little embarrassment on my part!
However, I’m so glad that he did as it’s become an important part of my professional life, displayed as it is in my office. When I moved jobs, it has moved with me. I think I’ve learnt to ‘read’ it. I understand its beauty and what the iconographer attempts to communicate about the Godhead in this vibrant, visual image containing so much Christian faith and truth. I am constantly surprised by how many people comment on it – it has a capacity to arrest – and I never tire of it.
There are so many articles on the internet about this icon but I’d always hoped that someone would do for Andre Rublev in a book what Henri Nouwen had done for Rembrandt. However, I’ve concluded sadly that this book by Ann Persson is not it – that book is still to be written.
Circle of Love is not a patch on Nouwen’s treatment of his famous subject. The book, in places, is positively lightweight and would benefit from much tighter editing. However, it’s not all bad and I ended up enjoying it, if only for two excellent chapters; No’s 3 and 5. Overall, it’s a helpful piece of devotional reading which can most certainly lead to a deeper understanding of Christian icons in general and Andre Rublev’s The Holy Trinity in particular.
One point is worth making. If this book can lead to a greater acceptance and understanding of icons by the evangelical community then it will truly have done the wider church a great service. I was delighted to find – and buy – Circle of Love in a CLC Bookshop (of all places). Why do I say that? Well, for many evangelical Christians; Icons = Idolatry. In fact, I mentioned I was writing this review to Christian friends recently and they raised their eyebrows and their concerns!
One thing the book makes very clear is that ‘worship belongs to God alone, so icons are not to be worshipped, only venerated’. There is a big difference.
The book starts well and chapters 1-5 are well worth reading. I regard the rest of the book as optional as, after this, the book tends to peter out.
Here is my star rating of each chapter with a quick content resume:
Chapter 1 – The long look – a personal intro – how the author came to study the subject **
‘Whatever we gaze at for a long time, we remember’
Chapter 2 – History and ‘writing’ of icons – from the early church to Russian Orthodoxy ****
‘The space and silence of an icon invite contemplative prayer’
Chapter 3 – To Russia - a visit to Tretyakov and the St Sergius Monastery *****
‘Contemplation of the unity that exists between the Trinity destroys all discord’
Chapter 4 – A look at Genesis 18 – The Hospitality of Abraham; the subject of the icon ***
‘Do not neglect to show hospitality … as some have entertained angels unawares’
Chapter 5 – Rublev’s Holy Trinity – contemplates this magnificent icon in detail *****
‘Let the icon serve as a bridge into prayer and the worship of God’
Chapter 6 – Exploring the Trinity – this is not a theological treatise – more of a homily *
‘The magnificent vision of God that transcends our capacity to understand’
Chapter 7 – The Divine Dance: Prayer – God’s world – Called to care – Church community **
‘Perichoresis – the Dance of Relationship taking place at the centre of God’
Chapter 8 – Now and forever – I’m afraid I gave up at this point – sorry! *
However, after reading this, I too feel the urge to make the trip to Russia. First I’d go to St Petersburg to view the Rembrant in the State Hermitage Museum, and secondly to Moscow to see the Rublev at the State Tretyakov Gallery.
Anyone want to join me?
www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_3_1_4d.html
www.tretyakovgallery.ru/en/collection/_show/image/_id/70
The Circle of Love – Praying with Rublev’s Icon of the Trinity
Ann Persson
2010 96pp BRF
ISBN 978-1-84101-750-1
Review – Grace Notes; Philip Yancey
I must first declare an interest; I’m a total Philip Yancey fan (there – I’ve said it!). ’Grace Notes’ is drawn from the best of 30 years’ writing by the award-winning author and acts as something of a ‘Yancey Taster’; it’s therefore both good and bad. Good, as it acts as a superb introduction to Yancey’s writings, and bad, in that inevitably it cannot do complete justice to the depth and quality of those writings. For that you have to read the actual books themselves.
Even if you do own all of Yancey’s books, this one is still worth buying just for the Preface alone. If you love books and you love good writing, you’ll very much appreciate the intro; it’s his personal synopsis of what led Yancey to write, along with many of the events along the way, as well as how he deals with the considerable impact he has made on other people through his writings – wonderful, moving, powerful ‘stuff’.
The structure of this book is 366 short daily readings drawn from the three decades of Yancey’s work – from books, magazine articles and miscellaneous jottings. The real bonus is the Comprehensive Index both of the subjects covered and the source of each reading, thus enabling the reader to ‘dip in’ at random (ignoring the daily plan!) and to come across so many beautiful instances of spiritual serendipity. If you know Yancey well, this acts as great ‘memory-jogger’, but if not, it’s just a wonderful introduction to a truly inspirational and gifted Christian writer. The Descriptive Bibliography is also a delight; a short pen-portrait by the author of each of his books describing something of their genesis and background.
Philip Yancey started out as a journalist and has been writing articles for Christianity Today since 1983. Four of his books have each sold over a million copies worldwide; he is probably best known for ‘What’s so Amazing about Grace?’ He moved to Colorado from Chicago in 1992 but, unlike the often questionable certainties of many other American writers, I particularly like Yancey for his honest and down-to-earth qualities. He too finds Christianity just a little perplexing and whilst, always insightful, never seeks to bring facile answers to what are so often the major mysteries of faith.
As I get older, I have concluded that I could live with just the writings of Henri Nouwen, Richard Foster, David Adam, Brennan Manning and, of course Philip Yancey. My life is made ever so much richer by being in their company as a result of reading their books. My favourite Yancey book is probably ‘Soul Survivor’ but now I’m torn by just having read his soon-to-be-published book and another certain best-seller, ‘What good is God’ which could be a strong contender for that particular spot – it is very Yancey and very good but that must be the subject of another review!
Grace Notes – Daily Readings with a Fellow Pilgrim
Philip Yancey
2009 432pp
Zondervan
ISBN 978-0-310-51968-3
Note – This book was provided FOC by Clem Jackson, Editor of Christian Marketplace magazine for the purpose of writing this review. Further details can be found at http://www.christianmarketplace.org.uk. You can download a free copy of the digital version of the magazine from the website.
Review – The End of Christianity; William A. Dembski
Dr William Dembski, described as a gifted Christian thinker, is a mathematician and philosopher and a well known champion of Intelligent Design (ID). He’s author of a dozen plus books and has been cited in both Time magazine and the New York Times.
This book is an intellectual tour-de-force of Christian apologetics. It attempts to counter the recent rash of neo-atheism books, headlined by the likes of Richard Dawkins. Dembski is ‘pleased that Christianity is once again a live issue’ and the cover blurb describes the book as ‘provocative’. For me, in places, it was simply impenetrable!
It tackles the age-old question – termed theodicy (the problem of a perfect God in an imperfect world) – with which all of us struggle; ‘how can a good God and an evil world co-exist’?
The book attempts to deal with the ever-perplexing problem of the existence of evil and to offer new insights into God’s purposes in allowing evil.
Dembski tries to reach an understanding of what the ‘end (result) of Christianity’ really means, hence the title. He tries to change our thinking so that we see God’s goodness in creation despite the distortion of sin and evil.
Augustine had said, ‘God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit any evil to exist’. The book argues that ‘God would be unjust if he didn’t subject the world to natural evil so that it reflects the evil in human hearts resulting from the fall’. It is therefore ‘painful to accept that God bears at least some responsibility for natural evil and that he brings it about in response to human sin’.
Here are the big questions; is human sin responsible for natural evil? Is the fall responsible for famine, floods and earthquakes? Does creation predate the fall and by how long? If so, how old is the earth and how do we understand and interpret the early chapters of Genesis? Does science now trump the traditional young-earth, creationist view of Genesis?
Dembski resolutely defends the claim that all evil is ultimately traceable to human sin at the fall. It is this that is the cause of all evil, not God; ‘The essence of evil is the rebellion of the creature’, an action of created free will.
Along with other Christian thinkers, Dembski asserts that the main reason why people reject God is that they cannot believe that He is good. He states that the key mark of faith is an ability to discern God’s goodness in the face of extreme evil.
Phew – I struggled big-time with this book. I found it difficult, fascinating, challenging and stretching. I’m far from qualified to comment on the arguments and around chapter 13, I just got hopelessly lost!
Why does God allow evil? I’m afraid I still don’t know. To me it remains a troubling and disturbing mystery.
The End of Christianity – Finding a Good God in an Evil World
William A. Dembski
2009 238pp
Paternoster / Authentic Media
ISBN 978-0-8054-2743-1
Note – This book was provided FOC by Clem Jackson, Editor of Christian Marketplace magazine for the purpose of writing this review. Further details can be found at http://www.christianmarketplace.org.uk. You can download a free copy of the digital version of the magazine from the website.
Review – Waverley Abbey Insight Series; CWR
This is not really a review, more a bit of PR! However, this really is a great series and is already building into the classic Pastoral Care and Counselling library.
The Waverley Abbey Insight series is based on the popular one day seminars held by CWR at Waverley Abbey House, near Farnham in Surrey. These hardback titles cover many of the key issues that so many people struggle with on an every day basis.
Insight topics covered so far include – Stress, Bereavement, Self-Esteem, Eating Disorders, Anxiety, Anger, Addictions, Perfectionism, Forgiveness, Depression and Assertiveness.
Insight into Dementia will be added to this list in July.
For more details log onto www.cwr.org.uk/store or visit your local Christian bookshop.
Review – Finding Sanctuary; Abbot Christopher Jamison
This has become one of my favourite books. I just love the way that Christian monks, seemingly shut away from contemporary society, can be so engagingly relevant for today.
A few years ago, 3 million viewers to BBC TV’s The Monastery watched and listened to Abbot Christopher Jamison’s engaging approach to life and faith. This wisdom is further underlined here in this absorbing book of the seven Benedictine ‘steps’.
The section ‘How did I get this busy?’ alone makes the book worth reading. This penetrating insight into our consumerist lifestyles shows that someone who has dedicated his life to pray and meditate is able to comment far more compellingly than those of us caught up in the frenetic scramble of life.
This beautifully produced hardback book – it’s a delight to handle – is sprinkled with website links, and lists many other interesting titles. Read it slowly; the writing is perceptive and full of spiritual truth. It deals with disciplines with which evangelical Christians can be sadly neglectful.
Note – a paperback edition is also available (but doesn’t feel quite the same!).
FINDING SANCTUARY: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life
Abbot Christopher Jamison
Weidenfeld and Nicholson
ISBN: 0 297 85132 2
182pp : 2006: Hardback
Review – The Sixty Minute Family; Rob Parsons
Rob Parsons is the consummate, inspirational communicator. His books – read easily in 60 minutes – have always managed to stir my emotions through their witty and engaging anecdotes. His writing appeals to so many due to Rob’s warmth and honesty.
This latest title fairly zips through the various aspects of family life. Its value lies in the sheer breadth of material covering early parenting through to the ‘sandwich generation’ – when the roles of children and their parents reverse.
Rob states that the most important priority for the family is ‘time’ and that it is this and ‘affirmation’ that actually make families work. Hopefully, my family won’t be holding up my score cards at this point – not sure I’d do that well.
The chapter ‘To learn to love in January’ is particularly helpful. It sensitively covers the acceptance of difficult relationship outcomes and of family breakdown. Rob is especially forthright as he deals with ‘the ability of the affair to decimate families’.
The ‘end of chapter’ action points are useful and allow for a careful reflection of the issues raised. Overall, this is vintage Parsons.
THE SIXTY MINUTE FAMILY
Rob Parsons
2010 121pp
Lion Hudson plc
ISBN 978-0-7459-5383-0
Note – This book was provided FOC by Clem Jackson, Editor of Christian Marketplace magazine for the purpose of writing this review. Further details can be found at http://www.christianmarketplace.org.uk. You can download a free copy of the digital version of the magazine from the website.
Review – The Church of Facebook; Jesse Rice
I found this a compelling and straightforward read. The title could prove misleading as the book is not about the Church per se but it is about community and connectivity. It explores the issues created by our ‘always on’ world and the implications for the way we relate and the way we live out faith.
An aside to trade readers, it’s good to see Kingsway Books re-emerging, badged as DC Cook.
Even if you are not on Facebook yourself, you should read this book for fascination value, if nothing else! Facebook is a true social phenomenon with a simply massive worldwide user base. I use Facebook frequently and my own experience confirms that it really has proved a revolution in terms of my personal Interaction with others.
So if you too are into Facebook you should read this book. It’s a stimulating discussion of the main issues raised by social networking, written from a Christian perspective. You will recognise yourself, your online habits and the significant questions posed about, to and by most other users. For example, there is a useful section on what it means to be a Facebook ‘friend’.
I particularly enjoyed the well researched cameos about the London Millennium Bridge ‘sway’ and the Hubble Space Telescope ‘repairs’, but I won’t spoil it for you!
There is a very real warning concerning online friendships; these represent a connection; yes but true community; no. For those who like me are finding that their time and ‘real’ relationships are being impacted by hyper-connectivity, there is practical help here for the handling of Facebook overload!
Would I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely. Right, that’s it, let’s get back online!
The Church of Facebook
Jesse Rice
2009 232pp
David C Cook
ISBN 978-1-4347-6534-5
Note – This book was provided FOC by Clem Jackson, Editor of Christian Marketplace magazine for the purpose of writing this review. Further details can be found at http://www.christianmarketplace.org.uk. You can download a free copy of the digital version of the magazine from the website.
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