20 books August 30, 2010

Some time ago in July Catronia put together her 25 books that had ‘made an impact on her’ – you can find them here.

At the time I put together a list and then forgot about it, so I’ve completed my list but it only has 20 books and it does include theology!

1. The Lion the witch and the wardrobe, C.S Lewis remember Dad reading it to me and then reading it for myself when I was about 8 years old, and read it numerous times afterwards.

2. The cross and the switchblade,  D. Wilkerson my first real encounter with city mission. I read in after finishing my a-levels before going on to university I was struck by the immensity of their experience and the courage of David Wilkerson.

3. To kill a mockingbird,  Harper Lee  GCSE core text and great novel that highlights a number key issues including racism and discrimination.

4. The irresistable revolution, S. Clairborune book I read at College and found it be one of the most provocative, challenging and inspiring books I’ve read; particularly influential on my thinking.

5. Pilgrim’s Progress, John Buyan another book Dad read to me as a child and was very inspired by the allogary although I’m sure I didn’t get half of it!

6. Please Mrs Butler, Allan Alhlber,  a poetry book- funny and true to school life. I even read one of the poems in church when I was younger.

7. Lucy and Tom go to school, Shirley Hughes I liked a number of Shirley Hughes books when I was young, but this was my  particular favourite.

8. Animal Farm, George Orwell My first encounter with Orwell and became more interested in modern history and politics after reading it.

9. The expanded chocolate teapot, D. Lawerence particularly helpful through a difficult stage in my life when moving on to secondary school and the angst around that.

10. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens this is here because it was  a real achivement actually reading it all!

11. Psalms -from the Bible mostly attributed to David, one of my favourite books of the bible because of its imagery, poetry, and honesty in prayer and the spiritual life.

12. Life after God, D. Coupland really got me thinking about what life would be like without religion and consumerism taking hold, also highlights some of the postmodern problems.

13. Expecting the impossible C. Leonard a book of eight stories of missionaries and people that were doing great things for God, really inspiring for me when I was about 9 or 10 years old and expecting that God would do things in my life as well!

14. Beyond the good samaritan: community ministry and mission,                   A. Morisey read in my first year at college when encountering urban mission for the first time it had a profound effect on my thinking.

15. The cost of discipleship D. Bonhoeffer discovered  Bonhoeffer at university and read this while doing a module on his life and works. It was transformative in my thinking of grace and discipleship, and returned to it again two years later.

16. Letters to a student, Donald J. Drew  particularly helpful as I prepared to go off to university.

17. Love in a box Emma Carwell this book is about the work of Operation Christmas Child, and was given to me by my guitar teacher who was very involved in its work and used to be involved in checking and packing the boxes.

18.The unnecessary pastor, E. Peterson and M. Dawn brillant book provocative and thought prokoving about the the vocation of pastoral ministry. Could have easily included more Eugene Peterson books but thought I’d restrict myself!

19. New Baptists New Agenda, N. Wright after reading this book my theology and understanding of ‘baptists’ expanded and decided I really was a Baptist by conviction.

20. Resident aliens: life in the Christian colony, S. Hauerwas and W. Willimon, particularly influential in my thinking about the subversive and costly nature of discipleship in relation to the kingdom of God.

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