I’ve had the chance to enjoy some great reads on the world race. Take a look at what’s brought me life and entertainment on my journey.
Update October 24th, 2016
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
by Robert M. Pirsig
My last semester of college my good friend Greg read this book, and from the expression on his face as he talked about it, I could tell that it was good. I came across it in conversation and figured it was time I took a look. Finishing this book took some time because with every page I hopped on a new train of thought which challenged and stretched my mind. After contemplating many basic tenants of my western culture, and experiencing such a diversity of beliefs around the world, I enjoyed hearing the author dive into the incongruities he found. The journey he takes you on will drive you to truly think, and for that I am grateful.
This Present Darkness
by Frank Peretti
Take two with Frank Peretti did not disappoint! From the first few pages I was drawn into the stories of the two main characters as they fight to overcome corruption and the siege of their small town while unbeknownst to them, a war is being raged my God’s angelic armies against the forces of evil. Packed filled with spiritual wisdom, this read drove me to intercessory prayer on many different occasions. It was a constant reminder that “our struggle is not with flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Ephesians 6:12
100 Days in a Secret Place
by Gene Edwards
This is an old read from May, but I forgot to post it and recently I was reminded of this gem and all the wonderful things it had to share. This book was given to me by my coach after she felt led to share it, and I was captivated by the letters of three very incredible believers. They spoke of prayer in a way that I hadn’t before understood. I was encouraged to read their words and enlightened by their insight on the way of the Cross and the contemplative path. I loved it and it’s since been passed on to other squad mates. If you are looking for a strong dose of spiritual wisdom and encouragement check this book out!
Scary Close
by Donald Miller
Don’s most recent book shows how a man learns to take off the mask and be real so that he can find the intimacy his heart truly desires. He speaks of his new wife, their engagement, and how she and many other influential people in his life helped him realize that authenticity leads to true relationships. After all the work God has been doing in me with my identity, I really resonated with Don’s desire to be known and his struggles with “putting on” for people. This is a great read filled with awesome stories of love, laughter, and growth.
River Dwelling
by Dr. Rob Reimer
After finding a copy of this book in our hotel room after debrief month 4 and giving it to my squad leader to return it to it’s owner, all I heard from her was that I needed to read it. So, I bought it and soon into it I could see why she was so excited. This book is a great resource to help walk one through the understanding of Holy Spirit. I put this book down feeling encouraged to know that the Holy Spirit wants to use me to show the world God’s glory, and that the same acts that the apostles performed are still happening today. You can be a part of that, and this book will offer some practical help and encouragement along the way.
Prayer of the Heart & Body
by Thomas Ryan
This was an amazing introduction and survey of the Christian contemplative tradition. Thomas Ryan spends the first half of the book speaking about Christian Meditation or Contemplative Prayer while giving a hearty background referencing the early Eastern Church and Christian Mystics like John of the Cross. The second half gives an introduction to inter-religious dialogue and perspectives into expanding spiritual practices to include yoga with a Christ-centered focus. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking to better understand the process and history of Christian Contemplation and yoga.
Searching For God Knows What
by Donald Miller
This book has been sitting in my kindle for some time, and to be honest, it took some work to get through. There were parts of this book that were awesome, and I’ve used a few of Donald’s insights to help understand and explain my experience of getting out of the lifeboat and trusting in Jesus’s saving grace. The voice however was not the same as other reads of Don but the message of taking Jesus out of the box and realizing the love story that we are a part of was inspiring.
Father Fiction
by Donald Miller
Just when I thought Don couldn’t offer me anymore wisdom, Father Fiction shook up my world. Even in the short time that I’ve been on the race, I have found a new level of healing with my father. By the grace of God, there is a new awareness of love and desire for relationship in my heart. In this book, Don talks about his struggles and victories with growing up in a fatherless home, and it resonated with me. I can see, how like in my story, God was working in Don’s life to show him what it meant to be a man through mentors and life’s experiences.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
by Donald Miller
Stories are so powerful for reasons previously unknown, but uncovered in my second read of Don Miller. There is something familiar in all of our greatest stories and these pieces, if applied to our life, can make for an incredible story of our own. As Don takes you through the process of taking his best selling book Blue Like Jazz to film, you learn how the best stories are made. I really grew to appreciate Don and his journey as I read about what God did once He chose to hop in the passenger seat of life. Positive and uplifting – this book challenged me to live a better story.
The Oath
by Frank Peretti
Hold on to your butts, because this book will scare the crap out of you! I was enthralled by Frank Peretti and his story of how sin had literally sank it’s teeth into a small rural town. I spent an embarrassing amount of mental energy deciding whether or not the noise I heard in the middle of the night was the wind or a giant beast coming to take a bite out of me! This was my first stab at christian fiction, and I can’t wait to crack open the next Frank Peretti novel.
Forgotten God
by Francis Chan
This book came right when I needed it! In Equador, God was really pushing me to grow in my understanding and relationship with His Spirit, and Francis Chan helped to explain some ideas that I’ve never fully grasped. The Holy Spirit is a mystery, but when He is pursued, He reveals Himself. I found that out after reading this book, and since then, I understand that the Holy Spirit is alive and desires relationship. Francis Chan writes with a focus on application and walks you through some key questions and ideas. I would recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the forgotten Godhead.
Blue Like Jazz
by Donald Miller
This book started it all – my bromance with Donald Miller. It’s hard to explain, but something about the thoughts and stories of Don in this book struck a cord with me. His writing leads one to believe that he is a real guy going through real struggles and experiencing real growth in a relationship with the real God. It reads like a collection of essays and although his insight will drive you to grow with God, his tone is far from haughty and very easy to relate to. He also opened my eyes to some interesting thoughts about my walk with God. This is a great book for those who are looking for a narrative of how God meets us right where we are – in our mess.
The Cross and the Switchblade
By David Wilkerson
While serving in Colombia, we had a chance to partner with a ministry called Ciaudad Refugio – a subsidiary of Times Square Church which was started by author David Wilkerson. This book tells the story of David Wilkerson and how God helped him start an incredible ministry serving the gangs of New York City. I was blown away how obedient he was to the Holy Spirit and because of his faith, God used him in incredible ways. Inspired by this story, I grew deeper in my desire to be led by God in every moment, for His glory.
Why Jesus?
by Ravi Zacharias
Ravi Zacharias is a phenomenal writer. He is brilliant and well thought out in this presentation of the problems found in new age spirituality. I don’t often read apologetic works, but this book was recommended to me after a discussion about the practice of yoga and mystic medicine. Ravi challenged me to question a lot of the “Weastern” health and spirituality practices found in the US and be sure that I was seeking true and complete fulfillment in God and God alone. This is a great read for those seeking a better understanding of the recent trends in New Age spiritualism.
The Selfless Way of Christ: Downward Mobility
by Henri Nouwen
Short, but powerful, this quick read explains how God’s economy flips the world upside down. Like the beatitudes in the Gospels, God’s way blesses the meek, the poor, and the suffering. This book taught me how God’s desires are often contrary to ours, and in ministry, we should strive for Him and not what He can provide. God used this book to help me understand what it looked like to have a successful ministry by heavenly standards. This short read will really help you discover what Kingdom values look like.
The Gift of Being Yourself
by David Benner
I can’t praise this book enough! Following the leading of Bill Swan, I started The Gift of Being Yourself in month one, and was taken on a journey within to discover who I truly am. This book helped me to discover my true self by uncovering the false identities I have hid behind for so long. I love how the author invites readers to search not for who they are, but for who God is. In doing so, we can ground ourselves in reality and find our identity in light of who He is.
Art of Listening Prayer
by Seth Barnes
This 30 day devotional by World Race Founder, Seth Barnes, is a walk-through of how to talk with God. I really enjoyed the practical applications that this book gave me. Through these lessons, I began to hear from God in a new way. This book gave me some foundational truth to rest on while leading me to discover God’s voice in my own life. I would not take everything in this book as hard truth, but the application focus drives one to start the search, which is often the hardest part.
Kingdom Journeys
by Seth Barnes
To help us better understand the vision behind the World Race, we were all encouraged to read Kingdom Journeys by Adventure in Missions Founder, Seth Barnes. This book helped me to better understand the heart behind the World Race and how my journey speaks to the heart of God and man. I really enjoyed learning the back story behind the program and found value in getting to know Seth’s vision through his words. More understanding adds more value to this experience, and for that I am grateful.
I am always looking for book suggestions, so leave your favorite read in the comments!
