Ruth's Reads

Ruth Platt runs our church library and is an avid reader. She is in a perfect position to read and review a variety of Christian books that can help you, challenge you, inspire you and enable you to live more effectively for God...

New books available in church library:

The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan

Emphasizes the importance of stillness for sanity and wholeness, reminding people that Sabbath is a gift to prolong lives, enrich relationships, increase fruitfulness, and make joy complete.

 

 

 

In Japan the Crickets Fly by Steve Metcalf (former OMF missionary)

Steve had suffered under the brutal regime of his Japanese guards. He and his classmates at Chefoo school in China had been interned in 1942. Resentment of the Japanese was a way of life. Could he possibly pray for them? He could. At the end of the war the China Inland Mission was seeking young men willing to go to Japan . Steve trained, packed and went. Thus began Steve's lifelong love of Japan. Over the years he would tussle with a culture where courtesy wins over truth; where suicide is an honourable choice; where to be foreign is to be forever alien. Time after time he would encounter miracles of healing, provision, and protection as God looked after him, his wife Evelyn and their growing family. In a resistant culture he would see many come to Christ.

 

Run with the Horses - Eugene Peterson (author of "The Message")

Things Unseen by Mark Buchanan

Recapture The Wonder by Ravi Zacharias

 

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Summer Reads 2010

You can borrow the book until September if you need to! 

Especially recommended:-

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande

God is closer that you think! by John Otberg

The life you have always wanted by John Otberg

The Radical Disciple by John Stott

Lost Women of the Bible by Carolyn Curtis

Patched Together by Brennan Manning

Take One

Take Two By Susan Kingsbury

Take Three

There are lots more to choose from.

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Tim Keller books for Christmas 2009

Three books by Tim Keller that would make good gifts for Christmas... or maybe you'd just like to read them yourself!!!

The Reason for God

As the pastor of an inner-city church in New York City, Timothy Keller has compiled a list of the most frequently voiced ‘doubts’ sceptics bring to his church, as well as the most important reasons for faith. In THE REASON FOR GOD, he addresses each doubt and explains each reason.

Keller uses literature, philosophy, real-life conversations, and reasoning to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.

 

 

 

The Prodigal God

In THE PRODIGAL GOD, New York pastor Timothy Keller uses the story of the prodigal son to shine a light on the central, beautiful message of Jesus: the gospel of grace, hope and salvation.

Keller argues that the parable of the prodigal son, while Jesus’ best-known parable, is also his least understood. He introduces the reader to all the characters in this timeless story, showing that it concerns not just a wayward son, but also a judgemental older brother and, most importantly, a loving father.

This short but powerful book is a reminder to the faithful, an explanation to the seeker, and finally an invitation to all – both older and younger brothers – to enter in to the ‘unique, radical nature of the gospel’: the reckless, spendthrift love of God.

 

Counterfeit Gods

The issue of idolatry has been with the human race for thousands of years; the subtle temptation is always to take what is good and turn it into the ultimate good, elevating it above all other things in the search for security and meaning.

In this timely and challenging book, New York pastor Timothy Keller looks at the issue of idolatry throughout the Bible – from the worship of actual idols in the Old Testament, to the idolatry of money by the rich young ruler when he was challenged by Jesus to give up all his wealth. Using classic stories from the Bible Keller cuts through our dependence on the glittering false idols of money, sex and power to uncover the path towards trust in the real ultimate – God.

Today's idols may look different from those of the Old Testament, but Keller argues that they are no less damaging. Culturally transforming as well as biblically based, COUNTERFEIT GODS is a powerful look at the temptation to worship what can only disappoint, and is a vital message in today’s current climate of financial and social difficulty.

_{All blurbs taken from Amazon.co.uk}

See Tim Keller introduce his new book 'Counterfeit Gods' below

Video trailer for Tim Keller's book _Counterfeit Gods_ from redeemerctc on Vimeo.

 

 

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August 2009

NEW TO THE CHURCH LIBRARY:

I was once a Buddhist Nun by Esther Baker

The Happiness Secret Finding True Contentment by J John

The Story of the Book by Terence Copley. Who wrote the Bible? Where did the titles of the separate books come from? How is the Bible used in modern society? Why are new translations still being made?

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

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'THE CROWN & THE FIRE'

Tom Wright

 

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May 2009

NEW TO THE CHURCH LIBRARY:

'FAITH & DOUBT'

John Ortberg

What if the most important word is the one in the middle? We often think of doubt as the opposite of faith, but could it actually strengthen our relationship with God? According to John Ortberg, best-selling author and pastor, the very nature of faith requires the presence of uncertainty. In this refreshingly candid look at a life of faith, he traces the line between belief and unbelief: less a dividing line between hostile camps than a razor's edge that runs through every soul. His findings point us toward the relief of being totally honest. Questions can expand our understanding, uncertainty can lead to trust, and honest faith can produce outrageous hope. Written from Ortberg's own struggle with faith and doubt, this book will challenge, comfort, and inspire you with the truth that God wants all of us - including our doubts.

 

 

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April 2009

Special guest contribution from Irene McMahon

'THE WORD MADE FLESH'

Eugene Peterson

It seems you either passionately love his writings or find his style irreverent and grating. He is best known for his epic masterpiece ‘The Message’ but Eugene Peterson is a prolific writer and I personally have enjoyed, been stimulated and challenged by many of his other works.  The most recent one which I read is entitled: ‘The Word Made Flesh’ where he looks at the language of Jesus in His stories and prayers. 

The first half of the book takes a look at the conversations which Luke records between Jesus and His disciples in chapters 9-19.  These conversations take place while Jesus is travelling from Galilee to Jerusalem: a journey of approximately 70 miles which would perhaps have taken 3 to 5 days on foot or by donkey. Jesus is in no hurry and even though He is on the way to the cross, He does not use alarmist language or tell stories that create anxiety among His followers. Rather His focus is on teaching His disciples how they are to live between the time of His death and theirs. In his explanation of these stories Peterson dwells heavily on this analogy of life ‘in between.’ For the disciples it was life in between the Crucifixion and the anticipated Seconding Coming; for us it is life ‘in between’ Sunday worship. Like Galilee or Jerusalem, Sunday worship is familiar territory: a place we all recognise as a sanctuary, agreed upon scriptures and a format we are comfortable with.  From Monday to Saturday we are living and working in Samaria, among strangers who do not share our beliefs or our assumptions. Anything can and does happen, often seemingly unrelated to, and unexplained by, the text we heard read on Sundays. Most of us try to avoid conversations with Samaritans.

The focus of this book is to help us think about the language we use.  When Jesus was teaching His disciples He used the same language which they were familiar with and would have understood without any difficulty, as He used when He prayed to His Father or preached to a crowd.  His stories were from everyday life grounded in words and phrases which every child could understand.  He insists that we too must use the same language in church and prayer meetings as we use when we are having coffee with our friends or talking to colleagues in the office. In order to do so we must truly know the Word, not just words.

I find his insights into parables and stories with which I have perhaps become complacently familiar (what Presbyterian hasn’t heard all of the parables a thousand times?!) shocking and inspirational at the same time.  Too often we have spiritualised or completely misunderstood these stories from Luke’s account of the journey and I found Peterson has infused life and freshness into old and worn narratives.

The second half of the book does exactly the same thing but instead of looking at conversations with the disciples, Peterson looks at Jesus conversations with the Father: the recorded prayers of Jesus.  I think the cultural and Biblical insights which Peterson introduces a parable or a prayer with, add so much colour and context as to completely transform it.  For example: when introducing the Gethsemane prayer in Matthew 26 he says this: The setting is a garden named Gethsemane, meaning ‘Oil Press’.  It was at the base of the Mount of Olives, which had orchards of olive trees.  The oil press was located there to harvest oil, a staple in Middle Eastern food culture….it was a place where Jesus and his disciples found convenient and congenial for prayer when they came on feast-day pilgrimages to Jerusalem…the prayers at the Oil Press fused what Jesus said at the Supper with what Jesus did on the cross.’ (p234)

I used this book as a devotional reading for over a month and keep picking it up to refresh and remind myself of what he said about particular parables and prayers.  I have been forced to consider how I speak with people I meet every day, my neighbours, my family, my colleagues in work.  Do I speak about God naturally in conversation? Can I express my faith in stories that are simple and understood easily or do I use jargon and hide between clichéd phrases that few people really understand?

Picking up this book each day after a day in ‘Samaria’ was like having a hot shower after a day tramping through the rain and the bogs in the Glens of Antrim…it was refreshing and invigorating. Now when I read those parables and prayers it is as if someone has torn down an old dirty net curtain from the window bringing to life and light to a room I thought I knew!  My knowledge and understanding of God has been increased and I hope my walk reflects it.

 

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March 2009

Special guest contribution from one of our junior readers: Gavin McMahon

"THE SONS OF ENCOURAGEMENT""

Francine Rivers

This is a book about five men from the Bible: Aaron, Caleb, Jonathan, Amos and Silas.  Except for Amos (who was a loner) these five men were the friends to heroes in the Bible whose stories we know very well.  Moses is the one who parted the Red Sea and led the Israelites but Aaron is the one who became the first of the Priests.  Joshua became the leader of the Israelites after Moses’ death, but it was Caleb’s faith and determination that brought them to the Promised Land.  David was the hero fighter but it was Jonathan’s selflessness that allowed him to become king.  Lots of the books in the Bible have Peter and Paul’s name on them but actually it was Silas who did all their writing for them when they were in prison and he was the one left behind to teach God’s Word.

I have enjoyed this book because it is factual and sticks to the stories of the Bible but it is written like a novel.  Because we do not know much about these five characters Francine Rivers has added in extra exciting parts of their lives to make the novel longer and show their true personalities.  I am normally quite a fast reader and I have read a 700 page book in a week and a 400 page book in 2 days, but this book which is only 400 pages has taken me nearly a month because it is a slow read. But it is still good.

I recommend this book to boys (and girls) above the age of 11.  You can borrow it from First Antrim Library or buy it from Auntie Ruth.

GAVIN McMAHON

 

 

February 2009

 

 

 

 

"Dangerous Surrender"

by Kay Warren

 

Have you ever made a plan, a good plan but later found that it wasn't Gods plan?

This was the experience of Kay Warren, wife of Rick, the author of "The Purpose Driven Life". She shares her journey with God in her fairly recent book - "Dangerous Surrender".

Kay Discovered that to her surprise God wanted to use her life in many ways she had never imagined. A struggle to avoid Gods call, and then to surrender herself to God.

The decision transformed her life, marriage and future. She invites her readers to do the same.

An ideal book for group discussion - discussion guide also provided.

Ruth Platt

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