Alina’s Comments (group member since Jan 01, 2017)

Alina’s comments from the The "Intentional" Christian Reading Challenge group.

For 2018, we will have the same 52 topics as we had for 2017, however, you can modify the challenge to suit your christian reading goals.

If you are more of a LIGHT reader and feel you can commit to reading 1 book every 4 weeks, then choose 13 of the categories you would like to read.

If you feel you can read 1 book every 2 weeks, then you are an AVID reader of this challenge. Choose 26 of the categories you would like to read.

If you are a faster reader or just have more time to devote to this challenge by reading 1 book every week, then you are the COMMITTED, reader of this challenge. Read a book from each of the 52 categories - 1 per week.

If you want to be SUPER CHALLENGED, then choose two different books for each category - 2 books per week.

So create your own plan from the 52 topics. You can't change the topics, but you can choose whatever book (or audiobook) you are interested in for each topic.

You can read in order or jump around, but keep this order in the plan, as we are using the numbers to quickly find a topic.

The 2018 list:

1. A book about Prayer.
2. A book about Forgiveness
3. A book by a Christian conference speaker.
4. A book by or about a Pastor's wife.
5. A Christian Novel.
6. A Christian Non¬Fiction book.
7. A Memoir.
8. A book on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Awards list.
9. A book by or about a missionary.
10. A book by C.S. Lewis.
11. A book with the word "Gospel" in the title.
12. A book about Christian Living.
13. A book someone tells you "Changed My Life".
14. A book by your Favorite Christian Author.
15. A book on Marriage or Living a single life or as a widow/widower for Christ.
16. A book longer than 400 pages.
17. A book you own but have never read.
18. A book about a current controversial issue.
19. A book with a one¬word title.
20. A book more than 100 years old or takes place more than 100 years ago.
21. A book published in 2017 or 2018.
23. A book recommended by a Christian Friend.
24. A book about Joy or Happiness.
25. A book whose title comes from a Bible Verse.
26. A book on Theology.
27. A book by an Indie Christian Author.
28. A book on Christian Growth.
29. A book about Church or a specific Church.
30. A book with Heaven in the title.
31. A Christian Romance novel.
32. A book about Christian Persecution.
33. A book on Spiritual Warfare.
34. A Wilbur Award winning book.
35. A book about a Religious Cult.
36. A Christian Dystopian book.
37. A book about Biblical Prophecy.
38. A book by a Christian Author you've never read before.
39. A book that was a Christy Award winner.
40. A book on any of the Goodreads Christian book lists.
41. A Christian science fiction/fantasy book.
42. A book on depression or how to help a friend/family member who suffers from depression.
43. A Christian fiction book with a beautiful cover.
44. A book with 100 pages or less.
45. A historical Christian book.
46. A Historical Christian Fiction book.
47. A book on Evangelism.
48. A book about a Faith different than yours.
49. A book with God in the title.
50. A book with Jesus or Christ in the title.
51. A book of the Bible.
52. A book of your choice.

The 2018 list:

1. A book about Prayer.
2. A book about Forgiveness
3. A book by a Christian conference speaker.
4. A book by or about a Pastor's wife.
✔ 5. A Christian Novel. The 13th Day of Christmas11/22/2018 5*
6. A Christian Non¬Fiction book.
7. A Memoir.
8. A book on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Awards list. Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life's Storms
9. A book by or about a missionary.
✔ 10. A book by C.S. Lewis. The Screwtape Letters 09/17/2018 3*
11. A book with the word "Gospel" in the title.
✔ 12. A book about Christian Living. Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People 09/25/2018 4*
13. A book someone tells you "Changed My Life".
14. A book by your Favorite Christian Author.
15. A book on Marriage or Living a single life or as a widow/widower for Christ.
16. A book longer than 400 pages.
17. A book you own but have never read.
18. A book about a current controversial issue.
19. A book with a one¬word title. Why
20. A book more than 100 years old or takes place more than 100 years ago.
21. A book published in 2017 or 2018.
✔ 22. A book your Pastor recommends. In my case, Pastor's Wife for book club. Beyond the Farthest Star 11/18/2018 3*
✔ 23. A book recommended by a Christian Friend. Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World 3/22/2018 4*
✔ 24. A book about Joy or Happiness. The Four Doors 10/7/2018 3*
25. A book whose title comes from a Bible Verse.
26. A book on Theology.
27. A book by an Indie Christian Author.
28. A book on Christian Growth.
✔ 29. A book about Church or a specific Church. Megachurch in this case Then There Was You 11/13/2018 4*
30. A book with Heaven in the title.
31. A Christian Romance novel.
32. A book about Christian Persecution.
33. A book on Spiritual Warfare.
34. A Wilbur Award winning book.
35. A book about a Religious Cult.
36. A Christian Dystopian book.
37. A book about Biblical Prophecy.
✔ 38. A book by a Christian Author you've never read before.
Many Sparrows 01/17/2018 3*
39. A book that was a Christy Award winner.
40. A book on any of the Goodreads Christian book lists.
41. A Christian science fiction/fantasy book.
✔ 42. A book on depression or how to help a friend/family member who suffers from depression. Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice 1/31/2018 4*
43. A Christian fiction book with a beautiful cover.
✔ 44. A book with 100 pages or less. The Gift of the Magi 01/03/2017 4*
45. A historical Christian book.
46. A Historical Christian Fiction book.
47. A book on Evangelism.
48. A book about a Faith different than yours. Hiding in the Light
49. A book with God in the title.
50. A book with Jesus or Christ in the title.
51. A book of the Bible.
52. A book of your choice.

I agree Hope! Perhaps I’ll just rerun last years challenge and those who join can read as many or as few that suits their reading availability. I can tweak the list if anyone has category suggestions.

You're so kind Hope! There is this challenge out there: https://www.challies.com/resources/th... There is already a group https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/... on Goodreads doing this but they don't post books read or comments. I could modify our existing group for 2018 and use this challenge (unofficial). The Challies one is nice because they have already broken it down into "light - one book every 4 weeks", "avid - one book every 2 weeks", "committed - one book every week", and "obsessed - two books every week". Let me know what you think of this. You can message me if you'd like

Thank you Hope! But, I'm afraid I failed miserably even though I created the group! I am happy though that you were able to get your 20 Intentional Christian reads in and grow in Christ! I believe I failed mostly because I listen on audio to the majority of my reads. Many of the categories I have do not have the books I want to read on audio. I could possibly create another challenge for 2018 but maybe tag along one that is already out there but tailor it to Goodreads. Perhaps 52 is too big of a challenge and perhaps 26 is more attainable? What do you think? I'd welcome any input. I honestly had this on my heart as it seemed like a great goal, but I did not have the time to devote to the group with discussions and such. Volunteers? Suggested reading topics?

Welcome Janine! So good to have you. Be sure to let us know how your "intentional" reading is going.

Zipcaddy wrote: "What is number 22 challenge ?"

Thanks for pointing that out! Somehow it didn't get into the 52 weeks list which I now corrected. 22 is Read a book your Pastor recommends.

Welcome Stephanie!

Ok, thanks. Looking forward to checking out your blog!

Hope wrote: "Don't Waste Your Life is John Piper's call to modern-day believers to a more radical faith walk. In spite of the choppy, repetitive first half of the book, I appreciated his clear-sighted proclamat..."

Interesting. Can you explain more about his emphasis on God's glory to the exclusion of God's love?

I've been wanting to read this book for many years but didn't get to read (listen to) it until now. The spiritual warfare really makes you think about what goes on in the spiritual realm. I like the premise of the book, just not the over-dramatization of it. It was too extreme and not believable. Maybe it was because I listened to this (presented dramatically) rather than read the book. I am glad I finally got to read this though. 2 stars.

This Present Darkness
I've been wanting to read this book for many years. I'm currently listening to it for the Spiritual Warfare category.

Henrieke wrote: "Thank you, Hope and Alina! And yes, Amsterdam is liberal. But even in the midst of Amsterdam there are Christians witnessing. Do you know about The Shelter? It's a youth hostel quite close to the R..."

That's good to hear! God is good,,,,,all the time!

Welcome Henrieke! So glad you joined us! I went to Amsterdam a few years ago for a work trip. The only time I was overseas. Beautiful country! Amsterdam is rather liberal! Glad to see you on here for "intentional Christian reading"!

Yes, it is Your challenge!

Welcome to Beth (who I've known a bit from Christian Fiction Devourers group), Hope and Jackie! I'm glad to see you all on here and encouraged to read "intentionally" this year!

Beth wrote: "That is an interesting concept! Words definitely have power, and I can see how impactful that could be to pay attention to that phrase especially.

I am either going to read [book:Praying God's Wor..."

I love Beth Moore's books!

Welcome to the group Beth and Hope! I think even reading part of the challenge will be an encouragement!

Reading this for the first week - A book on Prayer. Interesting concept by Intentionally praying In Jesus Name at the beginning of prayer instead of at the end, focuses our attention on Christ instead of ourselves.

I was asked whether you have to commit to 52 books to join this challenge. Absolutely not! The Challenge is set up for 52 books in 52 weeks but you can adapt it to your own plan. Choose 26 of the topics or even 12 if you'd like to focus on those. It's Your Challenge!