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Original poster

Christian books - The Purpose Driven Life

75 replies

oxocube · 14/01/2011 20:32

PositiveAttitude, I love it

Am on day 6 as am taking it one day at a time as you (and the author!) suggested and giving a lot of thought to the questions and discussion points it throws up.

I am going through a very difficult time at the moment but am really encouraged by this book. Thanks so much

Anyone else reading this or would like to re-read and share their thoughts as we work through it?

OP posts:

newlark · 30/01/2011 20:43

No but I'm trying...

MyrrhyBS · 31/01/2011 08:02

I am terrible for cleaning the house, it seems to be never ending, and there is always something else urgent to do (plus I really don't enjoy doing it - much as I'd like to tell myself I'm doing it for God, I'm not convinced...). The living room is generally not too bad, because I have bible study in there once a week, so it gets tidied up for that .

YorkshireCrockpot · 31/01/2011 12:21

Phew!

PositiveAttitude · 31/01/2011 20:56

Flippin heck Yorkshire, if a tidy house is a sign of a good Christian, I guess I have failed again!

PositiveAttitude · 03/02/2011 07:06

Just had loads of fun downloading some free Christian books onto a new kindle. Any suggestions anyone?

MaryBS · 03/02/2011 08:33

I got a bible, American translation, but seems pretty good, for 74p! I'd be interested to know what you've found...

TheProvincialLady · 03/02/2011 08:50

Well I have been inspired by this thread to buy the book, so thanks for starting it oxocube.

PositiveAttitude · 03/02/2011 09:53

Hi Mary, so far I have only got the free books , but here's my list:

The Bible - HCSB version, it seems fine at the moment, not a version I had heard of before, but liking it so far. I have randomly checked out a number of passages and they are good.
The value of a praying mother
Discipline and other sermons
How to live a Holy life
Studies in the life of the Christian
Heaven and its wonders and hell.

Not bad for free, I think. There are loads that I will be taking another look at for pence, too, but dont want to overload myself now and then end up not reading any of them.

What about you, what do you have?

newlark · 03/02/2011 10:24

I've bought a few as well as the free ones:
the ESV Study bible (for when I'm sitting in the coffee shop :))
The purpose driven life
The Power of Simple Prayer
If you want to walk on Water you've got to get out of the boat
Morning and Evening: Daily bible Readings

I've also downloaded a few samples to read before deciding whether to buy or not.

Another free one is Children's Bible Stories - Noah's Ark and other Bible Stories

Have just downloaded the value of a praying mother - thanks PA

PositiveAttitude · 03/02/2011 11:19

Hi Newlark, The only one on your list I haven't already read is the "Morning and Evening daily Bible Readings". What is that one like? I noticed it as I was scrolling through and thought i might look at it more.
The Childrens Bible stories sound good, too. Mine are too old now, but I know they would have loved the fact there was something on my gadget for them.
One I know I am going to get is "The ME I want to be", or something like that. it is the same author as "If you want to walk on water....", which I found really good. (John Ortberg)

newlark · 03/02/2011 11:45

Morning and Evening is a collection of daily devotions one each for the morning and evening each based on a verse from the bible. Charles Spurgeon was a 19th century preacher (I hadn't heard of him until recently but apparently very famous) - the words are old fashioned but have spoken to me very directly on some of the days - you can sign up to get them on a free daily email from the Bible Gateway website.

PositiveAttitude · 03/02/2011 14:02

Oh I might have a trial with the emails and see if i like them.
DH has just finished reading a biography of Spurgeon. I also saw a film a while back about his life. He was something!!! - also our old minister went to Spurgeons college, so we had indoctrination a few mentions of him!

MaryBS · 03/02/2011 20:16

"How to Read the Bible for all its worth" is £6.66 on Kindle :o. A good book, but I paid less than that for a paperback copy

PositiveAttitude · 03/02/2011 22:40

Is the 666 significant?

YorkshireCrockpot · 04/02/2011 08:17

Just wondering what you more seasoned Christians thought of a subject that's come up in purpose driven life (among others). That we're supposed to put God and our church family first over and above our earthly family. I have problems with this. Firstly my new found faith is important to me but my babies and husband most definatly are the most important things in my life? How could I say otherwise- and I wouldn't want it to be any other way! Jesus says to follow him but he wouldn't let someone bury their own father first. I don't really understand! Anyone elses thoughts/ views would be much appreciated on this or anything else that's challenging them.

MaryBS · 04/02/2011 09:08

Yorkshire, a couple of good questions! My take on it is as follows:

Firstly about loving God AND your family. Its not a direct comparison, but I compare this to the worry felt by a mother when she is expecting her second child, and she worries about whether she will love the child as much as she loves the first one. Of course, she will love both of them (hopefully)! Our capacity for love is greater than we give ourselves credit for. I love God AND my family, they're so closely intertwined, that I don't believe I could split them, and more importantly, I don't believe God expects us to either. Each love feeds the other love, I thank God for giving me such a lovely husband and children, and I express love for my family because of the love I have for God. Its not that one can't exist without the other, rather the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, if you see what I mean.

As for Jesus telling a man to follow him without burying his father first. I believe that was for a specific situation, where a man was given an opportunity to become a disciple of the physical Jesus, before Jesus moved on, to his eventual death on the cross (and resurrection). Jesus believed that there was an urgency to his mission on earth, and this is expressed in many passages. Thats not to say we should delay believing in him, because there is plenty of time, because we don't know when Jesus will come again, and nor do we know when we are going to die. So excuses regarding our own faith don't really hold water either. I don't think you can become a Christian in a halfhearted way!

YorkshireCrockpot · 04/02/2011 13:28

Thank you for that brilliant answer Mary it's alot clearer now. There needent be a choice. The latest chapter in I read is saying that love for God, families, neighbours and our relationships with them is what it's all about- echoing what you have written.
I'm glad I picked this book up- it certainly is challenging.

MaryBS · 07/02/2011 22:04

You're welcome Yorkshire :)

Am just reporting back that I am LOVING "If you want to walk on Water you've got to get out of the boat". And I've got a new term, a bit like couch potato - "boat potato". I am NOT going to be a boat potato :o

PositiveAttitude · 08/02/2011 07:03

Love the "boat potato" idea, Mary. I found that book really good too, and snippets of it still come back to me, even years after reading it.

PositiveAttitude · 23/02/2011 20:26

Hows it going OXO ?

PositiveAttitude · 23/02/2011 20:28

a jumping , obviously!

newlark · 24/02/2011 11:22

I'm still going (slowly) with the Purpose Driven Life - have got up to Day 20 - I'm also reading other things alongside (including "The Prodigal God" by Tim Keller which I'm really enjoying).

MaryBS · 24/02/2011 23:17

I am about to start "everyone's normal till you get to know them". Like If you want to get out of the water - also by John Ortberg

PositiveAttitude · 26/02/2011 07:46

Another good one, that, Mary. - love the title, too. Its so true!!

MaryBS · 26/02/2011 10:30

I saw a copy of The Purpose Driven Life in the Oxfam shop in Ely today... just in case anyone is interested!

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