false 3 482 180 true 5666156 read 4 true 5109811 currently-reading 298 true 5109810 to-read 117 false 7117001 to-read-theology 99 false 7117011 to-read-fiction 97 false 5110432 fiction 48 false 5110431 theology 47 false 7117010 to-read-history-biography 36 false 5110429 history 33 false 5285654 english-literature 32 false 7117015 to-read-psychology-science 32 false 5332778 usa-literature 24 false 5110830 biographies 24 false 7117067 to-read-wry-ting 14 false 5285664 russian-literature 13 false 5111079 as-a-kid 13 false 5110974 psychology 8 false 6681974 cslewis 7 false 5111086 punny 7 false 5379300 dickens 6 false 5379304 austen 6 false 5379299 dostoevskii 6 false 7117005 to-read-poetry 5 false 5379307 piper 4 false 5131558 missions 4 false 5110945 poetry 4 false 5379301 hemingway 3 false 5129182 puritan-classics 2 false 6979313 wry-ting 1 false 5774606 first-reads 0 false 5130402 islam 0 false 5130397 somalia http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79139526 Paradise Lost (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (B&N Classics Trade Paper) by John Milton
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/79139120 to: Jonathan Livingston Seagull (Paperback) by Richard Bach
bookshelves: fiction, usa-literature
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73325992 to: Christ and Culture Revisited (Hardcover) by D.A. Carson
bookshelves: history, theology
Really quite good.

Carson stays away from the "reductionist" theories of Niebuhr and others while showing that if we maintain a grasp of the "turning points" of the Bible's storyline (and other major emphases within the Bible) that, as Christians, we can find biblically faithful (and therefore faithful to Christ) answers to our relations with cultures and periods and states.

The book is somewhat scholarly, so some may find it a bit of a slog, nevertheless this book is well worth it as an overview of the relations between Christians and culture, as a treatment of Niebuhr's work of Christ & Culture, and as a jumping off point for learning about other resources engaging this topic. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57983869 When People Are Big and God Is Small: Overcoming Peer Pressure, Codependency, and the Fear of Man (Resources for Changing Lives) by Edward T. Welch
bookshelves: currently-reading, to-read-psychology-science
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78051808 The Snow Goose (Essential.penguin) by Paul Gallico
bookshelves: to-read, to-read-fiction
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/78051491 The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia (Paperback) by Samuel Johnson
bookshelves: to-read, to-read-fiction
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77623868 to: A Wrinkle in Time (Time Series, #1) by Madeleine L'Engle
bookshelves: fiction, usa-literature
]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77343686 to: Imitation of Christ (Paperback) by Thomas à Kempis
bookshelves: theology
Weak sauce.

It was okay, but his theology (his view of truth) is slightly askew in some important areas. He focuses mainly on the contemplative life, humility, and his worthlessness. He also focused on Jesus Christ as his only salvation and satisfaction; this was the best part of the book.

However, his three other emphases (as listed above) are so reflected on that I think he redefines the terms or if he doesn't redefine the terms he places an inordinate emphasis upon them (rather it might be better to say that he places them in positions of highest authority, such that the glory of Jesus Christ seems to be diminished, logically, in his view).

He focuses so entirely on the inward life that he forgets that Christians are to be amongst the people, pointing others to Jesus Christ, and encouraging fellow believers.

He focuses so much on humility that it seems to become a source of pride for him, that humility is more to be sought than loving God and standing up for truth when it is needed.

He focuses so much on his own worthlessness (which is true), nevertheless he seems to revel in his worthlessness, taking pride in his worthlessness, instead of rejoicing in the fact of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ. Our worthlessness should never become a source of pride, that is sick.

And finally, because of these misplaced emphases, Kempis seems to rest more in his own efforts to be humble and loving than in Christ's work, than in Jesus Christ. Kempis seems to steal the glory of salvation away from Christ. I say seems to, because he does acknowledge that only Christ can save, apart from Christ no one can be saved. But his words throughout this devotional seem to belie his own stated hope in Jesus Christ alone. He seems to contradict himself.

This book was okay. It does not live up to its billing as the best devotional next to the Bible. Sorry Kempis, I love contemplating too and humility, but they are not gods to be worshiped and bowed down to. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76889021 The Snow Queen (Paperback) by Joan D. Vinge
bookshelves: to-read, to-read-fiction
]]>