1. One book that changed your life
I'm glad it doesn't say "The one book." Now, of course, I'm assuming you know that the Bible would be my answer to every question. Well, except #6 and #7. (My flesh asked me to say that there are parts of the Bible that do apply to #7. Shut up, flesh.) That'd be too easy, so just mentally supply "other than the Bible" to each.
Defense of the Faith, by Cornelius van Til. I say that, even though I'm no longer a total van Tilian. But the book was revolutionary to me in nailing down the all-effecting and inescapable role of presuppositions, coupled with the fact of the noetic effects of sin. (That is, our fundamental views and presuppositions color how we see everything, and those presuppositions are tainted by the universal mental effects sin.) This cured me forever of qualing before the Experts in psychology, science, etc. -- because if you start wrong, you'll finish wrong.
Also, van Til's introductory words about theology pretty well nailed my conversion to full-out Calvinism.
As I say, I'm not a total van Tilian; but you can easily see his influence in my own online attempt at apologetics.
Other books in this category would include Machen's What Is Faith? (as I discussed at some length here), and Garry Friesen's Decision-Making & the Will of God.
2. One book that you’ve read more than once
Just one? Ay yi yi. Well, Tolkien wrote The Lord of the Rings as one book, so that can count. Right? I read it several times before marrying, and Valerie and I have read it to each other several times; plus I've read it to our two older kids. Doing this forced me to read the poetry, which I had always pretty much skipped, and to appreciate both its cleverness and its relevance to the story.
Others would include Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Herriott's All Creatures Great and Small series, and some books by this guy named stephen king.
3. One book you’d want on a deserted island
Well, I said the Bible should be assumed, but I have to say it again. I love Buggy's answer:
"Shipbuilding Technology & Education by The Committee on National Needs in Maritime Technology."
Having said all that, it's a really hard choice. Maybe Calvin's Institutes? Or Charnock's Existence and Attributes of God? Yeah, one of those, I think.
And my one-volume Hebrew-Greek Bible.
4. One book that made you laugh
In a happy way? All Creatures Great and Small did, on a number of occasions (same answer as Kim's).
Also the National Lampoon parody Bored of the Rings -- but it's pretty profane in parts, so don't read this as a recommendation. But I love this part (I paraphrase from memory):
It was then that Goodgulf began to guess at the true significance of the ring.
He was, as usual, dead wrong.
In a not-happy way, Jack Deere's Surprised by the Spirit; just an absolutely sad, pathetic book.
5. One book that made you cry
Oh, now this is embarrassing.
The most recent to do that is... oh my gosh, I really shouldn't say this in public. (Drums fingers, looks away.)
Okay, okay. The most recent book to make me tear up considerably is... is.... Oh, boy.
It's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
If you've read it, you won't need me to tell you which part (and please, don't post spoilers) -- and I'll bet you agree. If you haven't read it, then boy, am I in for it.
Previous books that teared me up would include -- well, the scene Eowyn and the Nazgul in LOTR always does it to me. Okay, there's one with better literary bona fides.
6. One book that you wish had been written
S. Lewis Johnson's Systematic Theology.
A second: scholarly, high-level in-depth OT commentaries by Charles Lee Feinberg. (I spoke to him about this, as did many others; alas, to no avail.)
7. One book that you wish had never been written
Oh, boy. Just one? Well, Surprised by the Spirit is a really bad, depressing book, as I said. No doubt it's done a lot of harm. I'd hoped Deere would be overwhelmed by critical responses, and maybe come back at least towards Biblical faith, but I saw Deere went further down the path with one on hearing voices.
I wish neither Clinton had ever been published, because America had so come to its senses that they had no place in American public life except as cautionary, Boogeyman-type tales, and no publisher would touch their garbage. I could wish similarly for the Christian public as to books by Hinn, Robertson, Copeland, and their ilk.
8. One book that you are currently reading
To Be Continued?, by Sam Waldron.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read
Oh boy; again, Just one? I've started and not finished so many. The Christian in Complete Armor, by Gurnall. That's for personal profit.
Someday I'll probably read Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth, by Gerstner, though detailed reviews indicate it's quite the hatchet-job riddled with inaccuracies and inexcusable misrepresentations. (Like, for instance, this review.)
That was fun. Thanks, Kim. Hm, whom to tag? I know: I'll tag Chris Anderson, and Carla Rolfe.
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9 comments:
Oh, I knew there was a reason I like you! You are a Herriot fan!!
At the rate I'm going with Existence and Attributes of God I'll need a desert island to make me finish it.
I'm going to read the The Lord of the Rings for the first time this year; I'm reading it out loud to my 12 year old. It should be good.
My answers weren't funny, either. I'd like to be funny some day.
I wasn't trying to be funny. This is just like eighth grade all over again. Thanks so much for the memories.
Could you speak up a bit on that re-readable author? I think you were whispering.
I do have a question for you. Is SS good, or is SS bad?
Don't listen to Buggy. He always says he wasn't trying to be funny, but I think he's just being annoyingly self-deprecating.
Do you know what he means when he uses the term "SS?" He says you will know. I say you may not.
Yes'm, I absolutely do know what he means.
Buggy, the way she handled that whole complex of events forced my estimation of her as a writer to jump a bunch of notches.
We just sort of chuckled at the first book, the writing was so amateurish. OK story, very poor as literature. The second was slightly better, the next few each improved. I think the fifth for the first time had us actually unable to put it down for some sequences.
But that sequence in the sixth -- I read it one way, and took it one way... and then, when we started talking about it... whoa!
I read bored of the rings a long, long time ago, but I still remember the part with Bilbo taking pity on Gollum,
"It's a pity my gun is out of bullets"
or something like that. I laughed for a long time.
I also would not recommend that one for general consumption - but at the time I was less discerning.
Okay, I did the meme. Thanks for tagging me and making me remember all over again that I don't have nearly the time to read that I would like, and just how much I miss it. You're SO mean!
lol... just kidding :o)
SDG...
some books by this guy named ...
Oh come on. He's not that bad (well, there are exceptions, but generally speaking). Especially if you're going to admit to reading Harry Potter later.
S. Lewis Johnson's Systematic Theology
Amen! While we don't have the writings, in God's providence we do have the audio.
Well, the deed is done.
Thanks for affording me the privilege of showing off how well-read I'm not.
I owe you one.
DJP, would be cool if you did a "Currently reading" like Phil has on Pyros. I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be interested...
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