New Book Meme

My bro-in-law tagged me. He's the one that set up my blog in June; each day I learn a little more about the how and what of blogging. So, since HE tagged me, I better respond. Seriously though, words and books are some of my favorite topics, so here goes:

Here are the questions for the current meme:

1. One book that changed your life:

I was a Christian for two years when I was introduced to True Spirituality. It did change my thinking about what it meant to live believing the supernatural was real. It was the first Schaeffer book I read and it always brings me back to why I believe what I do and how to live it out. Reading the rest of his books and having a chance to meet him and hear him teach four times from 73-84 continued to shape me. Though he was not at English L'Abri the shelter there continued to challenge, encourage and teach me why I trusted God even though I didn't understand all of the whys.

2. One book that you've read more than once:

I have to say the series, The Narnia Tales. I've read them once each decade since the 70s, now it is time again. There is much more of an interest in these since the Movie, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe came out. I cant' wait to see how they handle the rest of his tales.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:

I'd like to sound really literate and say, Les Miserables like Rick did (and he's the one that loaned me his copy decades ago. I finally read it two years ago) but I think actually a collection of Shakepeare's works would be great. I'd finally be able to sit for hours and days and soak up His stories.

4. One book that made you laugh:

I'll never forget being in a motel in the middle of Missouri doing a recruiting trip for the school I worked for when I was delighted with Kurk Vonnegut's collection of short stories, Welcome to the Monkey House. I've always wondered what my neighboring rooms thought I was doing in there laughing so.

5. One book that made you cry:

Of Mice and Men. I read it on the school bus when a junior in high school. I didn't have a world view that helped me understand this tragedy. It broke my heart and I wept.

6. One book that you wish had been written:

One that helps me understand better God's sovereignty and pain and evil. I believe there are folks who understand this better than I and I have read some of their books, but it still baffles me. Guiness's Doubt: Faith in Two Minds was extremely helpful but I'm ready for Doubt, part II: living in a fallen world and how to remain joyfull.

7. One book that you wish had never been written:

I don't have to think long on this one. There is a book called The Way Home written in the early 80s. I could never remember the name of it and kept calling it No Way Out. It describes a legalistic rule list that equates holiness for a woman with complete misunderstanding of women as individuals in their home and in their culture. Much wrong exegesis and sentiment. Any who knows me know I am not a feminist but next to Pride's book I look like one.

8. One book you're currently reading:

I've read half of Esther Meek's Longing to Know and I'm re-reading it. Superb evaluation of Polanyi's concepts of knowing. I haven't read much philosophy so am very much an outsider here, but she helps the likes of me to start to understand how we know what we know.

9. One book you've been meaning to read:

Uncle Tom's Cabin. This has been recommended to me so often by family (Rick), friend (Debbie Scholz_+) and heroes (Steve's fav professor at Harvey Mudd, Bill Allen and his wife). I've just begun but have by sidetracked by Larry Crabb and Nancy Pearcey and a few spy novels to boot.

My tags will come later in the day.