I’ve decided that I’m reading too many books at the same time. I have a bad habit of getting about two or three chapters into something and then switching to another book, while at the same time continuing the first book. Then I’ll do the same with the second, and so on, until I have a ton of books that I’m reading simultaneously. Right now I’m in the midst of:

Raising a Modern-Day Joseph by Larry Fowler
It Came From Within! by Andy Stanley
Glory Revealed by David Nasser
You Are Not Alone by Shirley Perich
The Best Question Ever by Andy Stanley
Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Seriously – I’m reading all of those. It’s getting complicated to keep everything in context – that is I keep forgetting which book said what. So I’m resolving right now to not start anything else until I finish these books. Seems like that would be common sense. Looks like I’m going to have a lot of reviews to write.

It’s certainly been a while since I’ve blogged – with the new baby on the way, it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to find the time. Over the summer, I read an awesome book by Passion founder Louie Giglio called “i am not but i know I AM.” I’ve since read it a few more times and it’s really powerful stuff.

I gave a talk a while back on some of the topical material of this book and it was very well received. Giglio has a way of conveying his message to the reader in a way that any reader can understand. It’s almost as if the tone of voice in the writing changes enough to keep any reader interested.

I found that this book was either loosely based on or the inspiration for Giglio’s “Indescribable” DVD, which is a talk he gave during the Chris Tomlin “Indescribable” Tour. Nonetheless, the author captures the mind of the reader, taking you on an intergalactic journey through the cosmos, all the while making you feel really, really small. This is used for the basis that God is really, really big.

After reading this book I found myself staring out into the sky quite often, and really thinking about the fact that something as big as God, who created everything we see and even that which we can’t yet see, did so with the words of His mouth. What’s inspiring in this thought is that such a grand Creator cares enough about each of us to sacrifice His son on a cross that we may have eternal life. These are the thoughts this book brings about.

Giglio’s writing style is more inspirational than informational, although it is littered with facts about astronomy. It doesn’t, however, make the reader feel as though he or she has just left an astronomy lesson. It leaves you thinking that this God we worship is truly indescribable.

Rating: 5 out of 5

i’m a big fan of rob bell’s work. i enjoy all his nooma videos, as well as his book “velvet elvis.” It came as no surprise to me that I loved this book. “jesus wants to save christians – a manifesto for the church in exile” is an interesting take on our current way of living. bell takes us on a journey back to sinai, where we start wondering how far “east of eden” we’ve come as a society.

i can already tell that this book will undergo major scrutiny and criticism as it can easily be interpreted as “anti-america,” “down-with-the-corporations”-type stuff, but as with anything of this genre, you have to realize that the author’s opinion doesn’t have to be yours. if it is, fine. if it isn’t, better.

the first 2/3 of the book or so outline the cries of the oppressed and how we should be willing at every point in our lives to drop everything to respond to that call. there are some general statistical facts on world hunger, poverty, etc. – not a lot we haven’t heard before, but refreshing nonetheless. bell seems to be calling for a revolution in the church. one of my favorite quotes from the book is “church should exist not for the believers, but the nonbelievers.” how true.

while the authors compare the biblical exiles and empires to the nation of america, terrorists, and war, all of this must be taken in with an open mind. the introduction says that you have to read the book beginning to end or it won’t make any sense. this is true. if you open the book in the middle and start reading about how america is nothing more than an empire of socialites, you’ll probably return it to the store.

cover to cover, this is a great book. rob’s best in my opinion. it’ll certainly be on my re-read list.

rating: 5 out of 5

Here is a list of what I plan on reviewing here on the blog in the next few days:

MUSIC
Starfield – I Will Go
Chris Tomlin – Hello Love
Dave Barnes – Me & You & the World

BOOKS
Rob Bell – “Jesus Wants to Save Christians: A Manifesto for the Church in Exile”