Bookworms

Wow, not hard to tell that final papers and exams are coming up, this blog is a fantastic method of procrastination!
Well, this year, Joey has turned into a hardcore book-buyer, pretty sure he comes home every other week or so with another one, and even joined a book club! I am a huge cheap-skate, so sometimes i don't appreciate it right away, but then after thinking about it, I think books are a pretty good thing to spend money on, and we both have been learning a lot. Probably him more than me, 'cause he gets to read them more, but I have read a few this year...

My number one recommendation so far this year: "Reaching for the Invisible God", by Phillip Yancy. I have read a few of his books, and generally like them all, but this one is amazing to me. This is a book for everyone to read, whether you don't believe in God, or whether you have grown up believing for almost your entire life. It is REAL, made me realize that I'm not the only one who still has tons of questions, and with the tendency to become cynical with the church and 'christianity' at times. Shows how we are still humans, living the Christian life, and how that doesn't usually progress like the people on the covers of '7 steps to being a perfect christian' or all those other books claim it is. I don't know if i'm really getting the point across, but it is HONEST, and a lot to think over. I usually read a book in a couple of days, this one has taken me a really long time to read.

Another good one: 'God in the Alley', by Greg Paul. I'm pretty sure that's the name of it, but not 100%. He started a 'church' for the inner city in Toronto, only it's not really a church in the traditional sense of the word. Anyway, his focus is on 'being God' to others, and 'seeing God' in others. Even in broken lives, in this fallen world, we can see glimpses of his beauty, and can be that to others. It's about seeing these small glimpses everywhere, even in flawed relationships, a reflection of the One who is perfect in this beauty.

umm....i'm just starting "Blue Like Jazz", by Don Miller, of which I've heard rave reviews. I'm a couple chapters in, and again, i can say HONESTY. no attempt to hide flaws, which is something i need to see, because 'perfect' people make me feel depressed and hopeless. How can we learn if we are not honest with ourselves and with others? Miller is really artistic too, the way he frames things is really cool, challenges me to really look at things, deeper than what i see at first glance. Yes, i did just say 'really' three times in that sentence. This paper-writing is getting to me!

so, probably no one read this comment, i don't know if i would on someone else's blog! I like pictures a lot more :) Hope it convinces someone to read these books though, lifechanging!