BITS & PIECES:

Each of us is formed by the people we meet, the books we read, and the music, films, and art we savor. These are a few that I consider important influences in my life. I pass them on as recommendations of beauty and inspiration. 

                                                                                                        

Books:

- Willard, Dallas, The Divine Conspiracy opened up to me revelation of true discipleship and the Kingdom of God

- Eldridge, John, Wild at Heart challenged me to live by passion rather than rules. 

- Schaeffer, Francis, How Then Shall we Live? gave me Biblical eyes to see the world.

- Murray, Andrew, Humility (I try to read this book every few years to bring me back to humility before God.)
- Tozer, A.W., The Pursuit of God taught me to follow hard after God for His own sake.
- Silverstein, Shel, The Giving Tree is a children's parable of giving your life away.

- Brother Lawrence & Frank Laubach, Practicing the Presence is perhaps the best book I know for bringing me back around to the simplicity of 
  walking with Jesus.
- Hugo, Victor, Les Miserables fed my soul with the beauty of grace.
- George, Bob, Classic Christianity taught me in clear terms the meaning of grace.
- Carnegie, Dale, How to Win Friends and Influence People equipped me to move beyond my shyness.
- Thomas, Major Ian, The Saving Life of Christ more than any other book taught me about the fullness of Christ and what He accomplished in 
  His death and resurrection.
- John Eldridge & Brent Curtis: The Sacred Romance Changed the way I think about life, suffering, beauty, pain, and eternity.
- Lewis, C.S., Mere Christianity equipped me to rationally defend my faith.
- Dillard, Annie, A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek opened a window to God's wonder in my soul.
- Colson, Charles, How Now Shall we Live? taught me to engage my mind as a Christian.
- Edwards, Gene, A Tale of Three Kings was a delightful revelation of how to respond to harsh leadership.
- Vanauken, Sheldon, A Severe Mercy challenged my view of suffering and enlarged my view of God's love.
- Kreeft, Peter, The Journey taught me to ask questions and to seek for the Truth.
- Tochinni, Dan, Killing the Victim Before the Victim Kills You lifted me out of idolatry and self-deception.
- Manning, Brennan, Abba's Child lit a flame of God's passionate love in my soul.
- Nouwen, Henri, Out of Solitude gave me perspective on the really important things in life.
- Hansel, Tim, You Gotta Keep Dancing taught me the promise of pain and the possibility of joy.

 

  Heros:

" Heros are made in the culture of the cross.  Otherwise, all we have are celebrities."  - David Boyd 
"Celebrities are people who are well kown for being well known!" - Mark Twain)   King David: In his imperfection he followed God with wholehearted passion.  And his music carried the presence of God.
St Francis of Assisi: Possibly the most Christ-like man since Jesus.  He demonstrated to a dark medeival world what it meant to follow Jesus with passion and child-like faith. St Patrick:  His missionary faithfulness brought salvation to the whole of a country, and eventually was responsible for preserving much of western civilization. William Carey:  God used him to touch every sphere of culture with the Gospel in India.  This missionary was also a "kingdom" scientist, publisher, educator, social reformer, linguist, writer, inventor, and botanist. Socrates: I know he wasn't a believer, but I think he would have been if he'd had the opportunity to hear the gospel.  I'm inspired by his passion for truth. 
Movies & Film: (We should always look for the message!)

"Far more than any other influence, more than school, more even than home - my attitudes, dreams, preconceptions and preconditions for life had been irreversibly shaped five and a half thousand miles away in a place called Hollywood."   - David Puttnam, producer of Chariots of Fire.  
                                                                     

- Radio "God choses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; the weak things of the world to shame the strong."
- Pirates of the Caribbean "The blood of a righteous "pirate" redeemed the whole company of dead pirates."
- The Lord of the Rings "Even the smallest person can change the course of history." (This trilogy has so much to say about the Kingdom!)
- The Two Towers  "It takes faithful men and unified armies to defeat the powers of darkness."
- The Return of the King  "Every little hobbit, elf, dwarf, and man has a part to play in the cosmic battle for the Kingdom.

- The Gladiator "Our actions in this life will echo through eternity."

- The Count of Monte Cristo "God still believes in you." 

- The Truman Show  "The truth will set you free."

- The Mission "The power and beauty of redemption versus the horror of greed."
- Dead Poet's Society "Seize the day. Live every moment with passion."
- Simon Birch: "Every life has meaning and purpose."
- Patch Adams "Care is more important than cure."
- Schindler's List "One person can make a difference."
- Braveheart "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
- The War "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
- The Man Without a Face "The measure of a man is his heart. Suffering produces wisdom."
- It's A Wonderful Life "The sacredness of life. Every life makes a difference"
- Chariots of Fire  "Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God."  He takes delight in our gifts!
- Cool Runnings "The magic of dreaming and the reward of discipline."
- City of Joy "True joy is found in sacrificing our lives for others."

- Remember the Titans "The beauty of reconcilliation and the strength of teamwork."

  Music And Musicians:

 "The devil flees at the sound of music almost as much as he does at the Word of God. " - Martin Luther
  Everything we listen to influences our mind, our soul, and our spirit. Here are some of my favorites:

- Josh Groban sometimes makes me cry.  What's up with that? He's only nineteen!
- Mozart, The Gypsy Kings, and Johann Strauss for energy, refreshment, & joy.
- Fernando Ortiga and John Michael Talbot for looking into the Father's heart.
- Yanni and Celtic Music for relaxation and romance.
- Sarah Brightman and Twila Paris for simplicity, beauty and grace.
- Keith Green and Rich Mullans for passion and conviction.
- The Last of the Mohicans, The Mission, & Out of Africa for lush, stimulating soundtracks.
- Celtic Worship, Passion, Vineyard Acoustic Worship, & Matt Redman for being in the Lord's
  presence..
- Sting and Iona for freshness and creativity.
- The Beachboys and Jimmy Durante for good wholesome fun.

 

 

 

"Read, or get out of the ministry" - John Wesley to early Methodist Ministers

 

Scribblings in the Sand:  Michael Card 

100 Days in the Secret Place:  Gene Edwards

The Art of God: Ric Ergenbright

The Purpose Driven Life: Rick Warren

The Journals of Jim Elliot:  Jim Elliot

The Art of Possibility:  Ben Zander

Shows About Nothing: Thomas Hibbs

Biblical Foundations for Freedom:  Art Mathias

The Renaissance:  Paul Johnson

Plato for Beginners:  Robert Cavalier

The Divine Romance:  Dallas Willard

Windows of the Soul:  Ken Gire
The Lessons of St. Francis:  John Michael Talbot
How the Irish Saved Civilization:   Thomas Cahill

Making Sense out of Suffering:  Peter Kreeft

The God Chasers:  Tommy Tenny

Les Miserables:  Victor Hugo

The Reflective Life:  Ken Gire

To Kill a Mockingbird:  Harper Lee

The Journey of Desire:  John Eldridge

The Sacred Romance:  John Eldridge & Brent Curtis

Journey of Desire:  John Eldridge

Lord Foulgrin's Letters:  Randy Alcorn

Teaching a Stone to Talk:  Annie Dillard

Bridge over the Drina:  Ivan Andric

Bach's Passion:  RuthAnn Ridley

Wobegone Days:  Garrison Keillor

How Then Shall We Live?  Francis Schaeffer

Perelandria:  C.S. Lewis
Lion and Lamb - Brennan Manning
Wild at Heart - John Eldridge

The Case for Faith - Lee Strobel

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Seven Men Who rule the World from the Grave - David Breese

The Celtic Way of Evangelism - George G. Hunter
The Death of Ivan Illyich - Leo Tolstoy

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Carpe Manana - Leanard Sweet

God's Favorite House - Tommy Tenny

What's So Amazing About Grace?  - Phillip Yancey

The Art of Possibility - Ben Zander

The Art of God - Ric Ergenbright

Winning the Culture War - Peter Kreeft

Waking the Dead - John Eldridge

Preachers of Hate - Kenneth Timmerman
Night - Elie Weisel

Postmodern Pilgrims - Leanard Sweet

Messy Spirituality - Michael Yacanelli
Sailing the Wine Dark Sea - Thomas Cahill
The Dream Giver - Bruce Wilkinson