I've been following this series of posts on Together for the Gospel as well, and have been very encouraged by the example of diligence in reading these men demonstrate. I absolutely love to read, whether fiction or nonfiction (I realize this conversation is primarily about nonfiction), but the bigger problem for me is how much reading my schedule allows. I am also somehat of a book junkie, so I collect as well as read. It pains me to write all over books as Mr. Mohler encouraged, but I do it when I must. I actually prefer to keep a notebook with me and write my notes in there, but I know it is just more convenient to have it in the book.

As far as most influential books on my life... hard to say for sure... I definitely can't list them in order so I'll just mention a few.

- "Humility: True Greatness" by C.J. Mahaney
- "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald Whitney
- "A Godward Life" by John Piper
- "Life As A Vapor" by John Piper
- "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper
- "i am not but i know I AM" by Louie Giglio
- "Not Even a Hint" by Josh Harris =)
- "Passion & Purity" by Elizabeth Elliott
- 10-volume compilation Spurgeon sermons ;)
Brian Whalen | Homepage | 01.26.06 - 5:55 pm | #

I enjoyed your blog about reading but please don't be too harsh about blogging.

I live in Ukraine and am a missionary and have no access to Christian literature in the English language and find that I must use the internet/blogging as part of my spiritual food as well as use it to communicate my ministry!

I enjoy reading your blog as it is very interesting and informative. Keep up the good work! I believe someday you will both be called to live out your faith in an even more dramatic way than you are now!

God Bless!
Michelle Knisley | Homepage | 01.27.06 - 3:03 am | #

wow! great stuff! How about you guys? i'd love to see what's in your library. i never can find enough GOOD books to read. :-)
jacqui | Homepage | 01.27.06 - 6:58 am | #

Brian: Great man! Thanks for sharing.

Miss Knisley: We do not mean to put down blogging or the Internet. Obviously, we have a blog and we read a great many. Our purpose was to remind of the incredible wealth of godly wisdom that has gone before us... Much of which, I might add, is now available for free on the Internet.

Jacqui: We'll put a list together and share it with you all this weekend, okay?
Alex Jordan Harris | Homepage | 01.27.06 - 9:06 am | #

Oooh, Alex, I would love to see your reading list! I'll be looking forward to your post on that.

I found it interesting to see how much Dever, et al, emphasized reading authors from the past. Most of my life, I've only read relatively recent authors, and it's only now that I am starting to read authors from earlier eras (like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Jonathan Edwards).

I would never want to become overly focused on these authors from the past, because I think too much focus on them can lead to glorifying the past more than it deserves. Also, getting stuck in past modes of thinking can also make us somewhat irrelevant in the present.

That said, I have found it highly enriching to dig into history and particpate in theological/philosophical conversations that happened across multiple centuries. Although there are differences between their worlds and ours, it's amazing how much things have remained the same over time. And because the issues dealt with centuries ago are much the same as the ones we deal with today, it's amazing how relevant these authors can be, even if they wrote several centuries ago.
J | Homepage | 01.28.06 - 6:32 am | #

I too love to read anything I get my hands on and have enjoyed stopping by this blog.

I especially could relate to Tim Challies comment in this post regarding how his blog postings are "almost always connected to times of spiritual edification". My blog is inspired by the same concept as my writings are direct reflections of my daily quite time with God in His word.

Finally, I admire you two guys for your love for reading and totally agree that the way to write better is to read quality material. Keep up the good work!
Janna | Homepage | 01.28.06 - 2:46 pm | #