The Innkeeper by John Piper
What if Jesus returned to the place of his birth, the inn in Bethlehem,
on his final trip to Jerusalem for the passover and His crucifixion?
While finishing up some work I was listening to my podcasts for
background as I stumbled upon
John Piper reading his poem, The Innkeeper.
Immediately I stopped everything on which I was working, was drawn back
2000 years, and tears came to my eyes as I heard the story. My wife came home, I asked her
to listen, and the same thing happened to me: The artfully crafted
words gripped my imagination and my heart to see the tender love of God
bring the ultimate comfort to a man who had seemingly lost everything
due to a providential tragedy.
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MacArthur LifeWorks Library for Libronix
MacArthur’s LifeWorks Library integrates seemlessly into the
Libronix
Digital Library System. Containing the full-text of almost all of
Dr. MacArthur's books
, it is an amazing value, especially at such a low
price. I have actually found the digital version to be more useful than
the print version.
MacArthur uses many Bible references in parentheses
to validate his points when he writes (as he should), and it is really
not feasible to look up each and every one of the thousands as you
read; however, within Libronix, just hovering your cursor over the text
brings up a preview of the referenced Bible passage so you don't have
to interupt your reading. You can also search all of his works for a
reference to a particular verse you may be studying to see what he (or
other authors you may have in your Libronix library) have said. It contains the full text of the following books:
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5 Books to Read Every Year Until I Die
In the message I taught,
The Gospel in Radical Hospitality, I
referenced a list containing five books that I want to read each year,
every year, until I die. I have received multiple (like at least 3, and
in the tiny sphere of my influence that's a ton) requests to publish
that list. These are books (mostly short books and therefore
inexpensive books, so even the poorest of you will be able to own them
and read them) that have had a
significant impact on my thinking. They teach me things that I need to
hear, not just once, but every year. My flesh (Romans 7:14-25) is
powerful, and i praise God for books that God has used and yearly
continues to use to kill my flesh and to reveal himself to me:
- The Bible (Some plans to help guide your reading can be found here; I have found M'Cheyne's plan very helpful, and For the Love of God - vol 1 & vol 2
- by D.A. Carson makes it even better. This is the only non-negotiable
book on this list, and I hope it is a non-negotiable at-least-annual
reading for you as well)
- The Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney
- Words to Winners of Souls by Horatius Bonar
- Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper
- The Cross He Bore by Frederick Leahy
In forming such a list, I reserve the right to add to it or amend it.
Nevertheless, I cannot help but publishing a quick runner-up list.
These are books which I would read each year if the limitations of time
and the burden of so much unread material were not present, I would certainly annually find my nose in these books as well:
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