Some of us read all the time and what we read influences our thinking. I realized that I should probably disclose at least some of what I read and thought you could, too.
I’ll go first.
- Nehemiah. A couple of us are talking about studying Nehemiah as a way to think about leadership. (Here’s a link to the first pass at an outline).
- Colossians. A couple of us are teaching Colossians to a group of college-age people.
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
– Somewhere more than 40% of what we do, according to Duhigg, is habit. As I worked on my eating earlier this year, as I work on my attention span now, I realize how habitual I am. So how do I change habits? Pray, is the spiritual answer. And make simple changes. (I think I’ll write about this in a post of its own.)
- Hearing God, Developing a Conversational Relationship with God – Dallas Willard teaches philosophy at USC and discipleship in books. Here he talks about how we can develop a relationship with God that goes beyond asking for stuff. (See yesterday’s post).
- Shrewd: Daring to Live the Startling Command of Jesus – I’m getting to read an advance copy of this book that looks at the parable of the manager who gives his boss’s money away…and gets praised for cheating his boss.
- Drop Dead Healthy: One Man’s Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection
– A.J. Jacobs writes about a two year examination of everything to do with being healthy.
I want to read Love Does, by Bob Goff, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp, and Rumors of Water by L.L Barkat. But I’m waiting for them to get to the library.
So what are you reading this summer for understanding more about following Jesus?
300 words a day 
AJ Leon (@ajleon)
I’m reading this newsletter called 300 words, which I really love. 🙂
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Jon Swanson
🙂
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Amy
I’m reading the Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith. It has helped me evaluate the narratives I’ve developed about God and align them with the God that Jesus knows and spoke of. And the soul-training exercises are helpful as well.
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cjhinx
The Good and Beautiful God looks like a good one. It will have to be my next read.
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Jon Swanson
I’ve read bits of this series. I think I nee to go back more carefully. (He says as he looks at the shelf above his desk and sees it)
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Jon Swanson
okay. thanks for pointing to this. Because it took me to Divine Conspiracy by dallas willard which has a chapter called “A curriculum for Christlikeness”. I need this.
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joseph ruiz
I am reading two books Simply Christian and The Crown and The Fire both by N.T. Wright Also reading Flow it’s about Creativity it’s written by an Author whose name I cannot spell or pronounce. This book served as one of the resources for probably the best teaching I ever heard on the Holy Spirit.
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Jon Swanson
I like the clarity of Simply Christian. I had it here in my office til Hope stole it back. She read it a couple years ago for class. And I think I’ve looked at Flow, but not in that context. Powerful.
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cjhinx
I am reading 10 Minutes a Day with Jesus by Jim Reapsome; Sunday School Changes Everything by Henrietta Mears; When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourself by Brian Fikkert, John Perkins and Steve Corbett; and What Good is God? by Philip Yancey.
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Jon Swanson
Thank you for reminding me about When Helping Hurts. I’m supposed to be reading it. It’s huge. Let me know about the Yancey book.
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katrina
I’m reading escape fiction. I had stopped reading that stuff for over a year. In addition to it not adding any value to my life, its not positive.
Thank you for writing what you read. Its like I fell asleep in a chair in the wrong position , hurting my neck . Then someone suggests I use a bed if I need rest.
Oh yeah. That’s worked really well in the past. I just wasn’t paying attention.
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Jon Swanson
a very familiar image. Part of why I wrote is to have some accountability, so you all can say, “hey, weren’t you going to read….?” I need that help
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Jon Swanson
And this post today. http://www.terrylinhart.com/how-you-can-make-big-splash/
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Joe Crockett
My list is kind of varied, lately. Paul Faber, Surgeon (George MacDonald), The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexander Dumas), The Game of Logic (Lewis Carroll), The Outlaw of Torn (Edgar Rice Burroughs), Aesop’s Fables (Aesop) and Little Women (Louise May Alcott) and the book of Romans (reading and rereading Chapters 1 through 8). Oh and The Magician’s Nephew (C.S. Lewis) and Accidental Genius by Mark Levy. Most of that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with if it wasn’t for iBooks and free books.
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Jon Swanson
i’m loving free books (Kindle). Gotta go back to that Lewis one. And stopping at 8? 🙂
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