Book Sale

Last week, friends as desiring GOD let everyone know about a book sale they'll be having this week.

today they asked people to recommend books that have been especially helpful to people.

so here's my go at that.

1. Seeing and Savoring JESUS CHRIST. this book was an eye opener for me on how much i don't think deeply on or treasure enough the person of JESUS CHRIST. it helped me begin to ask the FATHER to enable me to view CHRIST as the most precious person in my life. it also helped me see how hard it is for people's hearts to change from a man-centered view of life to a GOD-centered view of life. i thank the LORD for this book.

2. For Your Joy. after thinking deeply about how i didn't treasure CHRIST as the best, highest, most valuable person in the whole universe, and begging CHRIST Himself to draw me into this kind of love relationship with HIM, my heart broke more and more for the lost. not just the lost that look like the lost, but the lost that fill our churches each sunday. the people who confess a boring and marginalized god who seldom resembles the CHRIST of the Bible. this book helped me reach out to them with SPIRIT inspired truth of the Gospel.

3. Let the Nations be Glad. this was actually the first book by piper that i read. i found it incredibly indicting to my understanding of GOD. it helped me take the church off of the KING's throne; it helped me take man off of the pedestal, and contrary to most pastors today, it helped me see that the church is NOT the hope of the world, but that JESUS CHRIST alone is.

4. GOD is the Gospel. i read this book with some brothers of mine in our local church. this book was began a firestorm of problems for us (as most GOD-centered books do). it was amazing how thoughts about GOD being the best gift of the Gospel was so offensive to other believers. it was like most people thought a heaven without the GOD who created it being there at all would be just fine. it reminded me of my depraved tendency to elevate myself and my family and my church above the true Biblical purposes of GOD.

5. Brothers We Are Not Professionals. this book continued my quest for a life and ministry that was defined by scripture and not post-50's evangelical traditions and platitudes. it helped me see ministry as more than being a salesman and promoter and event manager and ceo. it helped me rediscover truths that were written by GOD Himself in HIS word about how HIS shepherds were supposed to act, look and smell.

so there's my top 5 books by pastor john piper. i thank the LORD for him.

on a side note, let me say this. although i am dearly thankful for the ministry of piper, i am so very grateful that the LORD, through HIS Word has called me to a deep abiding knowledge of JESUS CHRIST. HE alone is the source and hope of my salvation. HE alone is my teacher and the author and perfecter of my faith. HE alone is my ROCK and SHIELD. HE alone. john piper is just a man, and a man i think who knows his place in the world....infinitely below the position of our KING JESUS CHRIST. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the LORD who is the SPIRIT." -2 Cor. 3:18