Suggest a book

[memoriesbymichelle]

OK this is from the other thread where the conversation was on the writings of Augustine, Confessions.

Is anyone else reading any good books you want to share with us?

I am reading 2 fabulous books ATM, one is called "The Vertical Church" by James McDonald and the other is super fabulous as well and it's called "The Gospel in 10 words" by Paul Ellis and I am loving them both!

 

[dayhiker]

I'm not really reading anything right now. But I have a lot on the shelf that are good a good read.

 

[dayhiker]

What was the vertical church about? A church that is in a relationship with God. Vertical to God and Horizontal to people?

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

I am reading "After You Believe:Why Christian Character Matters" by the Anglican theologian N.T. Wright. Thers is so much to it. It is very deep at times but readable. It is not a self-help type of book. Neither is it a legalistic book that presents a checklist of things to do (or things not to do). Wright shows that neither the legalist "rule-keeper" nor the person who says "be true to yourself" has the complete picture.

 

[dayhiker]

So I assume he is saying that being true to ones self can mean we hurt others in the process?

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

What was the vertical church about? A church that is in a relationship with God. Vertical to God and Horizontal to people?

This is what the inside cover says

Church was never meant to be safe.

Or comfortable.

Or predictable.

God isn't any of those things.

Church is supposed to arrest our pride.

Church is meant to crush our selfishness.

Church was created to carry our heartache and comfort our affliction.

Church is where we find community, express compassion and engage in mission.

But church without God does none of that.

Make the change that changees everything and learn how to go Vertical at church. Discover the things God has designed and given us to welcome His glory and provoke His manifest presence. When church stops being about us, it can be about God again. And when God comes back to church...it's time to order more chairs.

Though some exceptions do exist, the reality is that church in America is failing one life at a time. Somewhere between pathetically predictable and shamefully entertaining, sadly sentimental and rarely authentic, church has become worst of all...godless.

Vertical Church points to a new day where God is the seeker and we are the ones found. In Vertical Church God shows up, and that changes everything. If you want to experience God as you never have before and witness His hand at work, if you want to wake up to the first thought, "Thank God it's Sunday", if your ready to feel your heart beat faster as you drive to your place of worship...the devour and digest the lessons of Vertical Church.

So vertical vs horizontal is I guess would be looking up to God instead of across to each other? IDK but it is a good book so far, I think.

 

[dayhiker]

Well, I can't argue with much of that.

OK I can some of it ... hehehe. Having been a part of the Charismatic move of God, had attended churches that have been seeking God but are predictable and entertaining I'm guessing the author would tend to call them horizontal churches. But I've enjoyed God in all of them. I don't think any human activity will bring a revival. That is what God does when he want to do it. That is what I see that we meed to be vertical. Till then I'm going to love people and go with the verse that Jesus that if we do it to one of the brethren we have done it to God.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Well in alot of churches and even in my own church they do things sometimes to get people that wouldn't normally go to church to come to. One of the weirdest things was one Sunday morning we had a comic....Yeah it was really weird and I felt sad for the guy because here he is in church on Sunday trying to make us stunned people laugh. I wasn't offended but I did feel it was unnecessary and more for entertainment. I DO feel that we have too many "programs" sometimes and we aren't really reaching people or loving them like we need to. And I DO feel that I tire of the sermons about 50 ways to be a better christian or How to serve God and have fun too or whatever the trendy message is. They are starting a series this Sunday at church called 50 shades of grey (I wonder where I have heard that before? HMMMM?)
I think they should just preach the gospel like they did in the early church and meet peoples needs like they did in the early church and the "church" would skyrocket because it WOULD be all God's doing and not mans. But what's a girl to do?

 

[dayhiker]

Ya, there is a lot of things being tried. I guess some things are too far out there. Others are helpful to some. We have a lot of activities at church. Home groups are where we get the most intimate. They are pretty good. Divorce Care was very educational and helped those of us that were there. I guess I think that the old fashion preaching will only attract a few people. It seems each thing only attracts a few people. Even in the secular world, some want to knit, some want crochet, some want do photography .. some the list is endless. I know one of the major things I'm looking for is intimacy and that isn't in any church I know of, tho I have found a few of guys who I talk life, current issues and theology with that is fairly intimate. But its not entirely what I'm looking for either.,

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

Ya, there is a lot of things being tried. I guess some things are too far out there. Others are helpful to some. We have a lot of activities at church. Home groups are where we get the most intimate. They are pretty good. Divorce Care was very educational and helped those of us that were there. I guess I think that the old fashion preaching will only attract a few people. It seems each thing only attracts a few people. Even in the secular world, some want to knit, some want crochet, some want do photography .. some the list is endless. I know one of the major things I'm looking for is intimacy and that isn't in any church I know of, tho I have found a few of guys who I talk life, current issues and theology with that is fairly intimate. But its not entirely what I'm looking for either.,

So do you want to knit or crochet?

 

[sampa]

Its a study I'll be starting: Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges along with Part II of Bridges on the journey by Gigi Busa, Ruth Fobes, Judy Miller, and Vollie Sanders. Both are by Nav press. I can't say much for the first Bridges book I completed.

 

[dayhiker]

I used to knit, but I found it depressing.

So do you want to knit or crochet?

 

[blackribbon]

The only piece of fiction I have been able to read since my husband died is "The Shack". I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down. I have another book by the same author on my nightstand waiting for me to have time to try to read it.

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

I used to knit, but I found it depressing.

what about macrame?

 

[dayhiker]

lol ... Nope, I've not even thought of tying macrame!

 

[memoriesbymichelle]

lol ... Nope, I've not even thought of tying macrame!

You could make awesome planter hangers for your house!

Since this is a suggest a book thread here's a book on macrame!


http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596120169...e=asn&creative=395109&creativeASIN=1596120169

 

[sampaguita]

saying hi to all...I'm new here

 

[sampaguita]

This is what the inside cover says

Church was never meant to be safe.

Or comfortable.

Or predictable.

God isn't any of those things.

Church is supposed to arrest our pride.

Church is meant to crush our selfishness.

Church was created to carry our heartache and comfort our affliction.

Church is where we find community, express compassion and engage in mission.

But church without God does none of that.

Make the change that changees everything and learn how to go Vertical at church. Discover the things God has designed and given us to welcome His glory and provoke His manifest presence. When church stops being about us, it can be about God again. And when God comes back to church...it's time to order more chairs.

Though some exceptions do exist, the reality is that church in America is failing one life at a time. Somewhere between pathetically predictable and shamefully entertaining, sadly sentimental and rarely authentic, church has become worst of all...godless.

Vertical Church points to a new day where God is the seeker and we are the ones found. In Vertical Church God shows up, and that changes everything. If you want to experience God as you never have before and witness His hand at work, if you want to wake up to the first thought, "Thank God it's Sunday", if your ready to feel your heart beat faster as you drive to your place of worship...the devour and digest the lessons of Vertical Church.

So vertical vs horizontal is I guess would be looking up to God instead of across to each other? IDK but it is a good book so far, I think.

Hi I should say "God" not church should arrest our pride, change us, etc....only then can we be the church that God wants us to be...just thought of sharing in this conversation...blessings to ya'all =)

 

[mottie]

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy - but not reading it, listening to it, an audio book! Great story of a very brave Christian in standing up to the Nazi's, makes me wonder what I would do in similar circumstances.

 

[Doctor Strangelove]

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy - but not reading it, listening to it, an audio book! Great story of a very brave Christian in standing up to the Nazi's, makes me wonder what I would do in similar circumstances.

A great book. I read it last year.