J'ai lu, Mars 2009

Can you believe it's April already? The Oklahoma weather has been lately trying to deceive us into thinking it's December still, but apparently we're still taking the word of our calendars and we find ourselves thrust headlong into spring. I've loved seeing the campus blossom into the new season as flowers of beautiful kinds and colors (have you seen the tulips?) have been popping up in every direction. Oh, regeneration and renewal. Sure is refreshing to see, huh?

So here are books for March. I've pretty much decided January was a fluke and I'm just not going to finish five books a month. So, four it is. This month was a good one. I branched out of standard Reformed literature (twice...which is a start...) and I learned a lot. I think it's a shame for people to cut themselves off from the ideas of other believers because we don't line up with them perfectly doctrinally, and I think there is so much to be learned from others who are not looking at things from the same perspective as we are. I would love to discuss any of these ideas with you, as I am still wrestling with a lot of it.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians (Bell) – A church in the area recently added an addition to their building that cost $20 million. The newspaper ran a front page story that reported that one in five people in the city live in poverty. This book is about those two numbers. (How the American church is failing in all the ways we’ve seen the church fail before—including the same ways Israel failed). I love reading Rob Bell. (9)

Chosen By God (Sproul) – This is a very concise and effective presentation of Reformed Theology. Sproul addresses frequent questions and challenges of doctrines including the origin of sin, the nature of God, predestination, the implications of justice, grace, and mercy, and assurance of salvation. The 200 page read is well worth it, especially if you are just being introduced to these ideas for the first time. (8)

The Irresistible Revolution (Claiborne) – Shane Claiborne is a Jesus Lover trying to be the kind of Christian who actually looks like a follower of Christ. From the inner city of Philadelphia to the streets of Calcutta and the decimated villages of Iraq, Claiborne outlines his discontent with the American church and his vision and challenge to change the world through the power of the love that Christ both commands and demonstrates. I would suggest this to anyone looking to be inspired to action and anyone who is looking to see what the Gospel looks like when lived out literally. (9)
[Disclaimer: I don’t know that I agree with all of Claiborne’s theology (in fact, I know that I do not), but his call to the church to be more literal and less figurative is, if nothing else, something to get your mind and heart thinking about what Gospel Christianity looks like—and maybe it doesn’t look like the American Dream].

the enemy within (Lundgaard) – An in depth study into sin, what it looks like, how it works, how it affects us, and ten easy steps of how to stop sinning altogether. Just kidding. Lundgaard does a great job of examining sin and the role it plays in our lives and how to rely on Christ for grace to help defeat the power of sin in your life. Good study notes and questions. (7)




This month I've been discovering new music to love. Last month I liked Over the Rhine, and this month they still take the top spot. I love I want you to be my love and Spark a lot. Drunkard's Prayer is great too. If I could be a band, it would sound a lot like them sometimes.
I discovered Joshua James through my dear Lydia (who, by the way, usually introduces me to most of the good music I ever listen to...between her and Haden, I am set) this month, and there's something about him that I like and have enjoyed listening to. I really like Crash this Train.
Jena introduced me to the music of a friend of her's from Camp Wabanna (where several of our friends have worked summers) named Val Nebbia. She and the Nebbia band are flat out awesome. This has grown on me with every listen. She's unique and radiates with talent. I love it.The things that kept me entertained and loving life over Spring Break (and also things I can check off my to-do list from last month) :
Pie Baking-- (This one is peach. It was yum.)
Painting. Anna and I sat on the back porch one afternoon and watched Into the Wild
and painted. I didn't bring my paints home from school, and my mother's collection has been slowly dwindling over the years...so we ended up a little bit lacking in color choices. I will likely paint over these and start again.
Songwriting/Recording. I set my goal to write 3 new songs over the break. I accomplished about 2 1/2. I'll continue to work. One is up on Myspace, if you haven't listened yet you should give it a listen and let me know what you think. I'm still testing the waters with it.
Also on my list from last month:
Summer Conference Registering (Just waiting for my ChickFilA check to come in). You should register too.
Camping (For now I am counting the Thursday night living room fort extravaganza as the closest I will likely come to camping at least for the time being. But I am still checking it off my list.)

Currently obsessed with: Vitamin C (and hence, Jamba Juice) and foreign films (or films depicting foreign countries). I am recently getting over my short-lived March Madness obsession and definitely find it a poor substitute for college football.

Movies I saw worth watching: Into the Wild, La Vie en Rose, Slumdog Millionaire, Notting Hill, and Jerry McGuire.

I love this song. Thanks, A. It's playing on repeat.