Books I'm Reading

Who has time to read with a 2 year old and 3 month old?  I love reading, but the reality is that I rarely have time or the mental capacity to read anything more sophisticated than Curious George or Go, Dogs, Go.

But here is a quick look into what I am reading before bed or early in the morning:

Poke the Box by Seth Godin

Actually, I finished it 3 months ago while on bed rest.  A quick, repetitive read.  But good for those of us who need a little more inspiration when stepping outside the box and/or taking risks. Borrowed from my Dad.  He heard Godin speak at the 2012 Global Leadership Summit.

Be the Mom by Tracey Eyster

Another easy read.  A book written for moms (obviously) who are struggling with the many things that come along with mothering (attitude traps, discipline, structure, self-image...)  Short easy chapters with reflection questions at the end for personal application.  (It's like the author knew the reader was going to be interrupted 50 times during each chapter and have attention span issues.)  Mother's Day gift from my mom

7 Men and the Secret of their Greatness by Eric Metaxes

I'm only on chapter 4, but this book is going to be on my top 10 (so are his other 2 books: Amazing Grace and Bonheoffer).  Maybe I'm a little bias, but Metaxes is a brilliant author with an ability for retelling a story descriptively yet concisely. (Never mind that Bonhoeffer was some 400+ pages.)  These seven short biographies have inspired me to read more about their lives.  It would make a great Bible study or sermon series (albeit unconventional) or supplement to a history class.  (Drew makes fun of me that I have read his other two books one and a half times.  Wilberforce and Bonhoeffer were SO inspirational that I wanted to make sure I knew their stories thoroughly.  I'm convinced that one way to not repeat the horrible tragedies of slavery and the Holocaust is to KNOW the history and study the worldviews of the culture at the time.) Video Promo for 7 Men. Gift from my kids for Mother's Day. Thanks, Drew, for giving them the idea ;)

No Other Gods: confronting our modern-day idols by Kelly Minter

I started this study last summer, but with the death of Nana and pregnancy sickness, I didn't finish.  The study is primarily based on a few verses in 2 Kings:  "They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods...Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols..." (17:33a, 41a)  I never realized the significance of this passage before reading it in this study.  They worshiped God, but also other things.  Convicting, but necessary in the maturing process of my faith.

Whew!  Off to go read one of these before one of the kiddos wakes from their nap...