Recommended reading list now available

I've finally got the recommended reading list I've been planning online. You can view that here or follow the link in the top of the centre column. This will be an ongoing project which I intend to keep adding books to. Thank you to all of you who contributed suggestions. Some of them have not made it onto the list yet because I haven't got to reading them yet. I plan to do so when i get a chance. Feel free to contribute any further suggestions.

Book review: Paul Miller- A praying life

A praying life
Paul Miller
Buy: christianaudio, amazon, book depository, koorong

In A Praying Life, Paul Miller writes about how important prayer is to the Christian life and about learning to pray in the midst of the distractions and troubles of everyday life.

I really appreciated how honest this book was. He didn’t come across as someone who thinks they have it all together when it comes to prayer, instead he comes across as a fellow learner. The book is heavily illustrated with examples from the authors own life, particularly his struggles in parenting a disabled daughter. These examples help the book not just to be good theory on prayer but practical help too.

I “read” the book in audiobook format. Although the recording quality was a little uneven in patches it was a pleasant listen.

The book has a lot of good things to say so I wouldn’t recommend reading it through quickly. It would probably be better to just read one chapter at a time and stop to think and pray about what you had read.

Since reading this book I have found myself praying more. I recommend it.


Review copy provided by christianaudio reviewers program.

Featured song: David Crowder Band- How he loves

Book review: Peter Greer & Phil Smith- The poor will be glad

The poor will be glad
Peter Greer & Phil Smith
Buy: Koorong, Amazon, Book depository, christianaudio

The poor will be glad addresses how Christians can help the poor escape poverty through microfinance and employment based solutions.

This book does cover some of the same ground as When Helping Hurts (see review). When helping hurts is more comprehensive in regards to a theological foundation for poverty relief so I would recommend reading that first. The poor will be glad also does deal with theology and the unhelpful ways Christians sometimes try to assist but the main focus of the book is on microfinance and related programs. Microfinance is the giving of small loans to the poor at fair interest rates to facilitate the starting or development of interest generating businesses. Many consider microfinance a good way to help the poor leave poverty and be able to provide for their families. The authors temper their enthusiasm with some much needed warnings including issues particularly affecting church run or Christian microfinance projects.

The book is full of beautiful photography from communities where microfinance is having an impact.

This book will be useful for those involved in running or supporting microfinance organizations. It will also be of interest to anyone interested in exploring the ways the church can help solve the problem of poverty. I recommend it.

Learn by listening

I've long been a podcast listener and have more recently become hooked on audiobooks. Both provide a great way to learn something new while doing non-brain intensive tasks like cleaning, walking or commuting. Here's 2 resources I like-

Worldwide classroom
Worldwide classroom provides free access to lecture audio and course notes for all the lectures of 20 seminary level theology courses from Covenant Theological Seminary. Some content does require registration to access but this is free. Course topics include apologetics and outreach, biblical theology, christian ethics and old testament history.

Librivox
Librivox provides free audiobooks of works that are in the public domain (eg. no longer covered by copyright). The books are read by volunteer narrators but generally the narration quality is good. Christian authors available on the site include C.S Lewis (unfortunately only one of his books), Saint Augustine and John Calvin. In regards to fiction, I've been enjoying the Anne series by L.M Montgomery.  Some librivox recordings are available in more file formats at Project Gutenburg

Featured song: Francesca Battistelli- Beautiful, Beautiful