5 books on my future reading list

Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret 

I've been wanting to read this for awhile now. Oswald Chamber's ( a great inspiration to me) came to know the Lord during a meeting Hudson Taylor was speaking at, which peaked my interest in this biography, written by Taylor's son and his wife. Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China and proclaimed, 

 "There are not two Christs, an easygoing one for easygoing Christians, and a suffering, toiling one for exceptional believers," Taylor said. "There is only one Christ. Are you willing to abide in Him, and thus to bear much fruit?"

 All Things New

Isn't this a gorgeous cover? Lynn Austin is a great author and her civil war books are wonderful. This book is the story of three women...a daughter, Josephine, her mother, Eugenia and Lizzie, a freed slave. 

After the civil war has left it's destructive wake, mother and daughter set out to repair and renew whats left. After losing so much Eugenia is full of anger and hatred, while Josephine has lost her faith in God and learns to depend on Lizzie to teach her what she needs to know. 

This novel comes out in October.

God and Charles Dickens

I just discovered this book and I'm excited to read it. I wasn't sure if Dickens was a christian, but this book explores his faith and how he shared it within his novels, letters, and other writings.

I love Dickens work. He put so much depth into his characters and brought so much life to 19th century England. I feel like I'm there when I reading his books. This bio comes out June 2012.

The contents of this book are as follows:

Introduction
1. That Great Christian Writer

2. Charles Dickens's Jesus

3. Charles Dickens: Theologian

4. Charles Dickens: Resurrectionist

5. Real Christianity

6. Dickens and the Church

7. Reading (and Hearing) Dickens

 

Proof

This novel is the first in a four book series on the Great Awakenings in America. I've had these books on my shelf for years and want to try and get to them soon.

This one takes place during 1857-1858. The back cover says:

"Inspired by actual revival events, this first book in a series of four explores the personal and spiritual upheaval that occurs when the Holy spirit stirs the waters of our souls."

This was co-written by Jack Cavanaugh and Bill Bright. Bill's wife says of her late husband who passed away before the publication of these books:


"He had two great passions in life: helping to fulfill the Great Commission and encouraging spiritual awakening and revival...It was Bill's fervent desire that this series of novels create a hunger for revival in the hearts of Americans; that people would call out to God; and that God would hear their prayers and once again bless our great nation with a tremendous outpouring of His grace and power."

Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books

Here's the description of this book from Amazon.ca. As a lover of reading, it sounds like one I will enjoy and learn from:


"In Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books, Reinke lays out a theology of reading built around the gospel, developed from Scripture, and corroborated by church history. He offers guidance for exercising discernment in what we read, and practical advice on how to read regularly and well. Reinke also explains how to foster a culture of reading in our churches and homes. The book stresses that we may find truth, help, insight, or beauty in many different forms of literature, from theology to fiction to fantasy to business. Reinke reminds us that God is the author of all knowledge, and we read every book under his illumination." 

Randy Alcorn, author of the best seller 'Heaven' says of this book: "For book lovers, this is a treasure and delight."

 And J.I. Packer, Professor of Theology at Regent College and author of "Knowing God" says here: "If you need help to read books as both a discipline and delight-as in truth all of us do-then this is the book for you. Don't miss it!"