Yet he want books!

From Spurgeon's famous sermon on 2 Timothy 4:13 where Paul asks Timothy to bring him his books/parchments:

We do not know what the books were about, and we can only form some guess as to what the parchments were. Paul had a few books which were left, perhaps wrapped up in the cloak, and Timothy was to be careful to bring them. Even an apostle must read. . . . A man who comes up into the pulpit, professes to take his text on the spot, and talks any quantity of nonsense, is the idol of many. If he will speak without premeditation, or pretend to do so, and never produce what they call a dish of dead men's brains—oh! that is the preacher. How rebuked are they by the apostle!

He is inspired, and yet he wants books!

He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books!

He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books!

He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books!

He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books!

He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!

The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "Give thyself unto reading." The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains, proves that he has no brains of his own.

Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master's service. Paul cries, "Bring the books"—join in the cry.

Books, anyone?

As the year is fast approaching to its final countdown, many avid bloggers (and readers) have shared their lists of top books of 2008 that they have read. Their appetite for good books (Challies led the pack by reading 80+ books this year!) is really an encouragement. I have been a bit slack this year, my excuse is I have to read lots of non-theological literature as well including leadership, management, and the like. Just for your interest, a recent Wall Street Journal article "Bush is a book lover" reported the number and range of books that President Bush has read in 2008; apparently he too likes to read.

I have compiled the list of the Christian books below for your perusal, just in case you are wondering what you want to read during summer (if you are in my part of the world). Click on the hyperlink to see their review or comments on each book listed:

Tim Challies
Don’t Stop Believing by Michael Wittmer
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
The Reason for God by Tim Keller
Christless Christianity by Michael Horton
Unpacking Forgiveness by Chris Brauns
Love or Die by Alexander Strauch
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson

Honorable mentions: The Courage To Be Protestant, Do Hard Things, A Tale of Two Sons, Why We’re Not Emergent, He Is Not Silent, and Touching History.

Seth McBee
1. The reason for God, Tim Keller
2. Jesus: Made in America, Stephen J. Nichols
3. God is the Gospel, John Piper
4. Vintage Jesus, Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears
5. Why We're Not Emergent, Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck
6. A Tale of Two Sons, John MacArthur
7. Simple Church, Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
8. The Law and Its Fulfillment, Thomas R. Schreiner
9. Death by Suburb, David Goetz
10. Game Day for the Glory of God, Stephen Altrogge

Dave Bish
1. You can change - Tim Chester.
2. Worship Matters - Bob Kauflin.
3. Alarm to the Unconverted Sinner - Joseph Alleine.
4. Miracles - C.S. Lewis.
5. Francis Schaeffer: An Authentic Life - Colin Duriez.
6. The Reason for God - Tim Keller.
7. The Kingdom and The Power - Peter Leithart.
8. Dominion and Dynasty - Stephen Dempster.
9. Death by Love - Mark Driscoll.
=10. Lectures to my students - CH Spurgeon.
=10. But is it real? - Amy Orr-Ewing.

Special mentions: Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament edited by D.A. Carson and G.K. Beale, On the Incarnation by Athanasisus