Jimbo's Jots

As you know, I do not read a great deal. I almost have to find a “cause” in order to read. Most of my reading plan is connected to either church related reading (think minister book club), the fall men’s Bible Monday Bible study, or counseling sessions.

Having said that, here are some books I would recommend if you are looking for something to be encouraged or find growth:

• The Singer Trilogy – written back in the mid 1970s by Calvin Miller. Think life of Christ meets C.S. Lewis or J.R.R. Tolkien. In the trilogy, there is The Singer, The Song, and The Finale.
• Scary Close – written by Donald Miller. Scary Close is about Miller’s own struggle to find intimacy and connectedness in relationships. Through counseling and self-reflection, Miller takes the reader on the journey as a “learn from my mistakes”.
• When God Isn’t There – written by David Bowden. Bowden is a relatively new author. He is the creator of “The Spoken Gospel” as a artist and poet. In his book, When God Isn’t There, he wrestles along with the reader about how sometimes we feel God is distant.
• The Blessing – written by Dr. John Trent and the late Dr. Gary Smalley. For a long time, these guys have been some of my favorite authors. In this particular, they retell the story of Isaac, Jacob and Esau when Esau lost the blessing he was entitled to receive from Isaac when it was given to Jacob. How did that change the relationship between father and sons and how did relationship change between two brothers? How does receiving or not receiving a blessing affect us?

I’m going to keep on reading. There IS a stack of books that have been started on my desk that just need me to follow through to finish them. I hope you will be encouraged if you choose anyone of these.

In your reading, be blessed and be a blessing!