Central Florida Christian Links: Inspirational Book Recommendations

MICHAEL'S INSPIRATIONAL BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS Although I must admit that reading has taken somewhat of a backset in my life, I still love to curl up with a pile of paper from time to time . I also cheat a little by listening to audio books -- to me, one of the greatest inventions since sliced bread. This page is dedicated to my thoughts on inspirational reading.

What I'm Reading Now.
	Emerging Churches Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K Bolger Blue Like Jazz really got me thinking about the Emerging Church movement so I'll post my review here shortly.
What I've Read.
	Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality Donald Miller All I can say is -- WOW! If a book can influence my thoughts in a profound way I wholeheartedly recommend it to my friends. This is one of those books. Blue Like Jazz forces you to re-examine the way you're living your life. It begs the question: Are you truly living as a servant of Jesus Christ? It also asks: Are you getting too caught up in institutionalized religion (us vs. them)? While the book does not downplay religious involvement, it does encourage exploration of Christian spirituality. And no, it's not a New Age book -- solid "Theology of the Cross" here. The author, Donald Miller, is closely tied with the Emerging Church movement and I found this book to be a great primer on the subject. Just buy it.
	The Baptist Way: Distinctives of a Baptist Church R. Stanton Norman I have searched high and low for a book that can tell me what Baptists believe -- this is the book! The Baptist Way describes what makes the Baptist Church unique in its theology, practices, and teachings. It's a thoughtful examination of the Baptist denomination and the principles upon which it is founded. I found it to be an easy read and not overly technical. I would recommend this book for Baptist as well as non-Baptists, as many of these practices have filtered down to other denominations.
	The Gnostic Gospels Elaine Pagels Elain Pagels' landmark book, The Gnostic Gospels, is a must read for all Christians wishing to expand their thinking on the subject of Jesus and His church. Her book is based on the "forbidden" Christian Gospels that were recently unearthed in Egypt and painstakingly restored by manuscript experts around the world. If you've ever heard of the Gospels of Judas, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene these are the ancient manuscripts from which they come. If you haven't, then get this book and feed your brain on the subject. If the early church hadn't thrown these Gospels out, you might very well be thumbing through them in your Bible today.
	Joshua Joseph Girzone Joshua is a simple story about a man who comes to change the world one person at a time. This parable about the Second Coming of Christ is one of my favorite books. Father Joseph Girzone self-published this book in 1983 with little publicity surrounding its release. By word-of-mouth alone, this book quickly became a tour de force in the inspirational book world. I never tire of reading and sharing it with others. Be sure to check out the other Joshua books in the series too!
	Driven by Eternity John Bevere A friend recommended this book to me and I'm really glad he did. Driven by Eternity is twofold in its approach to educating Christians -- it seeks first to entertain and then to instruct. This book is a study of how we should live our lives when eternity is at stake. The author uses the parable of Affabel (his own creation) to get the point across to readers. I won't tell you too much about the parable, but it has actually been turned into a fully dramatized audio CD called Affabel: Window of Eternity. I like Mr. Bevere's straight forward writing style and his thoughts on what it truly means to be a Christian. I must admit one thing -- I was a little more fearful of Hell after reading this. If you want a seeker sensitive message pass this one up, but if you want the ugly truth pick up a copy today.
	Holman Christian Standard Illustrated Study Bible (HCSB) God Did you think I wouldn't include a Bible on this list? The Bible is the ultimate source for inspirational reading and it comes in many different shapes, sizes, languages, and translations. However, I do have a favorite. The Holman CSB (Christian Standard Bible) is clearly translated Bible that does not bend to gender neutral pressure and uses easy-to-understand English translations. Of special interest to me is the Illustrated Study Bible which has cool pictures, diagrams, maps, and explanations of the readings. My kids absolutely love this version and gladly drag it along (it's heavy) to Bible studies. These bibles are exquisitely put together and should stand the test of time.
	Martin Luther's Small Catechism Martin Luther In his Small Catechism Martin Luther concisely outlines what it is to be a Christian. This book was specifically devised to instruct children and adults in the Christian faith in the 16th century, and continues to do so into the 21st century. I love this book because it is simple and to the point, and uses a question/answer (FAQ) format. I particularly like the 1943 version from Concordia Publishing (pictured above) but any version is a good bet. If you would like to download the book in electronic format click here.
RECOMMEND A BOOK TO ME!
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