Lately I've been reading a variety of books, but I keep forgetting to post about them. Since it's been a while, I'm just going to mention some of the most memorable. 


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• Pearl Maiden by H. Rider Haggard (Known for writing King Solomon's Mines) - Historical fiction set in first century Jerusalem and Rome. The story centers on a Christian Jewish girl, as she tries to survive the siege of Jerusalem. While parts of the plot are improbable, they don't really matter, as long as you are prepared to enjoy it as a story, not a historical account.
• This Changes Everything by Jaquelle Crowe - It was amazing. Just click the link to see my review.
• Erasing Hell by Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle - This is a very sobering book. It has forced me to think about the implications of believing in hell, and how we tend to live as if it doesn't exist. 
• Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson - Do you ever wonder what would happen if you disappeared under a ridge... on a raft of packing foam? Or if you ended up with a castaway, and a dog? Me neither, actually. I don't normally read modern day "realistic" fiction, but N.D. Wilson's books are the exception. I love his writing style. It's so unexpected and funny, while still maintaining a good plot. 
• ​The Odyssey by Homer - Let's just say... this was for schoolwork. And I won't be reading it again. You know it's going to be bad when there are "books" instead of chapters. It's a "classic" in much the same way as Alice in Wonderland - it doesn't make much sense, and everybody's trying to get home. 
• Eric Liddel by Catherine Swift - The biography of Eric Liddel, an Olympian turned missionary. He was an amazing man, and his biography is a must-read.
• How To Be Your Own Selfish Pig by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay - This was a book about moral issues and how different world-views deal with (or avoid) them. Despite the title, I don't plan on becoming a pig!
• A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare - What do you get when you mix up a bunch of lovers with mischievous fairies and some blundering craftsmen? ​A Midsummer Night's Dream, of course! I know it's not a book, but I still enjoyed it. :-)
• Mimosa by Amy Carmichael - The story of a girl in India who followed Christ through many trials, despite much opposition and knowing little about Him.

In continuing my 2017 reading plan, I have three books to talk about: Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin, Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper, and The Joy Project by Tony Reinke. 

I'll start with Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin. This book is about how to faithfully study God's word. It starts out with a case for biblical literacy. If we don't understand why we should study, we won't make it a priority. Mrs. Wilkin gives advice and a good template for Bible study. She also addresses bad ways we are tempted to study, which I really appreciated. 

Next I read Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God. This is definitely one of my favorite books I have read this year. In it, Mrs. Piper gives a look at the lives of five different faithful Christian women. (Sarah Edwards, Lilias Trotter, Gladys Alyward, Esther Ahn Kim, and Helen Roseveare.) I have read quite a few biographies, but what makes this one stand out is how Mrs. Piper comments on each of the stories. Her commentary makes it so much easier to find application. All that being said, she doesn't obscure the story behind too much commentary. I loved reading this one, and highly recommend it.

Last night I finished The Joy Project by Tony Reinke. The Joy Project is about the doctrines of grace. (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints.) This one was harder to finish than either of the previous two, simply because it requires a lot of focus. That does not mean you should skip this one. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but I have been made to think like never before about God's sovereignty, our joy, His delight, and the eternity to come. If my rambling didn't make much sense, the point is this - go read The Joy Project. And come back when you're done. I will give you some fruit snacks.

Since my last post, I have read three (almost four) books. The first was Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die by John Piper. It's amazing. Get this book, and read it. I love how it expounds on the power of Jesus' sacrifice. Death has no hold on those who Christ died to save!

Next, I read A Christian Guide to the Classics by Leland Ryken. In it, Mr. Ryken talks about the purpose of the classics, myths about the classics, and much more. (And yes, he does attempt to define what the word "classic" means.) If you enjoy books about books, you'll probably benefit from this one. If you aren't a book nerd, just pass on this one. (Confession: I, being a book nerd, did enjoy it.)

I recently finished ​Live Like A Narnian by Joe Rigney. I loved this one. In it, Mr. Rigney unpacks some key ideas within the Chronicles of Narnia. The chapters are a mixture of Mr. Rigney's observations and quotes from C.S. Lewis's works and letters. I liked how He would define an idea from the Chronicles, and in addition to his own thoughts would quote other places where C.S. Lewis explained the idea more fully. If that sounds too confusing, just forget what I said and go get the book. And don't skim past the introduction! If the introduction is so good that I read it out loud at Disney World, then you shouldn't skip it. 

It's a little ironic that I should be writing about this book on the week I was sick and didn't go to church. :-) Our church gave every family a copy of How To Walk Into Church. It is very short, and very good. In it, Mr. Payne discusses what church is, why we need it, why the church needs us, and much more. Sometimes I almost feel like I live at church, so this book was a nice refresh. It's good to be reminded of why we do what we do, or even of why we should do what we are neglecting. 

This gets five stars, and I think I will be referencing it many times in the coming years. For those of you joining me in the reading challenge, this would fit under A book about Christian living. (It's a little too long for A book of 100 pages or less.)