Tag: J. I. Packer

Books I’ve Read in 2009

~ K ~ 1 Comment

Here’s a list of books I’ve read in 2009. More a list for myself than for the rest of the world but feel free to offer comments if you’re so inclined.

  1. Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges
  2. When People Are Big and God Is Small by Ed Welch (3rd read)
  3. God’s Plans For You by J. I. Packer
  4. Relationships by Tim Lane & Paul Tripp
  5. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
  6. Holy Ground: Walking With Jesus as a Former Catholic by Chris Castaldo
  7. It’s Your Time by Joel Osteen
  8. Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
  9. Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross by Nancy Guthrie
  10. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus by Nancy Guthrie 
  11. Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
  12. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
  13. Counterfeit Gods by Tim Keller

I actually think I’ve read more than that but that’s what I’ve got off the top of my head for now. I’m actually surprised at how much I’ve read this year. I usually start a lot of books but never finish them but with the exceptions of those noted “in progress,” I’ve completed the reading of all those other books this year in their entireties. Also, I most recently enjoyed Holy Ground (which is the book I’ve most recently completed). Here’s a brief commentary: Continue reading “Books I’ve Read in 2009” →

In search of an identity… Christianity.

~ K ~ 2 Comments

CrossWho am I… as a Christian?

As a Bible-believing Christian, this topic could be endless.

Under the banner of Christianity,  I am a number of things:

  • a sinner (Romans 3:23)
  • lost without Christ (John 14:6)
  • redeemed and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:13-14)
  • God’s child (John 1:12)
  • bought with a price (I Corinthians 6:19)
  • a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
  • God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

The list goes on. But what does that mean for me as an individual?

I read God’s Plans For You by J. I. Packer in the hopes that I’d get some kind of divine revelation as to who I’m supposed to be. Nothing of the sort happened. Although I did gain some further insight as to what kind of individual God wants me to be.

An erroneous thought circulating in Christian circles is that, above all things, God wants us all to be happy. Above all things, God wants Christians to be holy. Achieving that apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit is no easy task. What does the pursuit of holiness mean? (Another good book for me to read.) It means going after the things that are pleasing to God and pursuing the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Here’s where God has led me in my Christianity so far:

That’s about as individual as it gets right now. There’s nothing profound or earth-shattering in this post. It’s simply an attempt to get me to figure out who I am as a Christian.