Becoming a Contagious Christian
Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg Scripture Press 1994 £5.99
Ever since I became a Christian, I realised I had a duty to share the Good News with those who did not know God. For a long time, I thought of this duty mainly in terms of verbal witness, which I have never been good at. Then I came to realise that it was important that my life should attract people to God, and not repel them. For a time, I hoped that that might let me off the hook as far as verbal witness was concerned. However, then Hybels and Mittelberg came along with their emphasis on the need for both an attractive lifestyle and appropriate verbal testimony. The basis of both must be - and this is the punch-line - ‘the cultivation of meaningful, honest relationships with non-Christians’.
Decision Making and the Will of God
Garry Friesen Multnomah Press 1980 £4.99
Making decisions about jobs, a life partner, buying a car, holiday plans and other aspects of one’s career is often very difficult, and remains so to the end. God promises to guide his children (Pr 3:5,6). Every Christian knows that the Bible and prayer have a lot to do with it. But I was brought up to think that a key factor in decision-making was a verse from the Bible standing out as if ringed by a halo, or some idea or remark or event turning up out of the blue. The thesis of Freisen’s book is that although God does sometimes guide by means of a ‘Macedonian call’ (Acts 16:9), he normally does so through our own thoughts and deliberations, as we weigh up the factors involved in different courses of action. What we have to do is to pray that our motives may be pure, that we do not have a selfish agenda, and that God will prevent us from taking an unwise step. If we proceed along these lines, we are in a ‘no lose’ situation.
The Practice of the Presence of God
Brother Lawrence Mowbray 1980 £3.99
My third book is another one which deals with the subject of prayer. I make no apology for this duplication, because prayer is so important in the Christian life: ‘the Christian’s vital breath’ as one poet has put it. This classic book emphasises that we can and should pray on and off right through the day and night. This idea has transformed my life over the last ten years. Now, whenever a problem crops up, or whenever I hear of someone else’s need, I take it to God in prayer there and then, if at all possible - and it usually is. Why wait until your next fixed time of prayer. You will probably have forgotten all about it by then.
Bash - a portrait by his friends
John Eddison (ed) Out of print
This is the biography of a largely unknown but immensely influential youth leader, the Rev E J H Nash; generally known simply as Bash! There are many aspects of Bash’s life which are worthy of emulation, but there is one which has changed my way of praying. Bash would take a promise of God from the Bible and pray on the basis of it; saying, in effect, ‘God you have promised this: I’m claiming it’. For example, James 1:5,6 tells us: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all with out finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt’. This promise applies to anyone who lacks wisdom; and it is an unequivocal promise that wisdom will be granted in response to a prayer of faith. We must of course be careful to understand promises in the Bible correctly, and be sure that they pertain to us today and that we meet the conditions for them. However, if this is the case, then we should pray with confidence on the basis of the utter reliability of God’s Word. We may have to wait, but the answer is assured.
The Life Application Bible
Kingsway £39.99, Hardback
The fact is that no book is remotely comparable to the Bible in terms of its life-changing effect. I came across the Life Application Bible about five years ago, and there is no doubt that it has put new vitality into my daily reading of Scripture. The beauty of it is that it enables the reader to start at any point, and to read as much or as little as he or she has the time to spend in reading and thinking about it. Each page carries brief, helpful notes; some to explain difficulties and others to suggest an application to one’s own life. I have used it for several years and am constantly recommending it to others. It is expensive, but it makes a perfect present.
