With shorter days and cooler temps on the horizon, I'm eager to head indoors and delve into a strong cup of coffee and a good book. I always try to gather a selection of reads ranging from the spiritual to the biographical to the fictional. Here's a summary of this season's literary choices. Feel free to share what you're reading; I'm always interested in finding good books and need to gather ideas for winter!
The gospels: yep, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I'm appalled to say I've never read them straight through and am interested in exploring four different men's perspectives of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ. Plus, I'm hoping this spiritual journey will prepare my heart and mind for the Christmas season.
It's about time that I make time for this one; it's been calling my name from it's perch on the bookcase for a couple years now. Three Cups of Tea is the story of a mountaineer turned humanitarian who takes on poverty and oppression in the Taliban's birthplace one school at a time. After a failed attempt to climb K2 in the Karakoram mountains, Greg Mortenson drifts into a poor Pakistan village, emaciated and defeated. There he is overwhelmed by the villagers' kindness; he recovers his strength and makes a promise to return and build a school one day. This book unravels the building of not just that one promised school, but 54 others.
Another long-standing bookcase warmer, Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food explores the great fallacy of our American diet and calls us back to real, healthful food choices that will, in his projection, decrease our country's cancer and chronic disease epidemic. A thoughtful, more scientific read, this book choice will be beneficial but not the most palatable for my dominant right brain!
Ah yes, the one I'm most eager to crack open! in 2008, Running of Faith's Jason Lester became the first person with a disability to finish the Ultraman World Championship (yes, that would be a ULTRA Ironman Triathlon Championship Race.) With the use of only three limbs, he competed in one of the most demanding endurance races in the world - swimming 6.2 miles, biking 261.4 miles, and running 52.4 miles! This is Jason's story of how he has braved unbelievable physical and emotional adversity to become an elite athlete and inspiration. The coolest part is he gives all the glory to God. I have a sneaking suspicion this one's going to be one of my new favorites.
A short read, Timothy Keller's The Prodigal God is supposed to take a fresh perspective on one of the most familiar parables; the prodigal son. Several people have recommended this one to me and it's my first Keller book to read.
This one's an indulgence. I'm not going to lie; I really enjoy Nicholas Sparks! Here's his latest. A love story, I'm sure; probably set in a small North Carolina town with a twist at the end. Mindless reading at its best!
That's the end; I best get to reading! But before I go, here are some lake pictures from this weekend. Some of my community group gathered for food, fellowship and skeet shooting at Champlin Farms before heading off to see the second half of the Auburn game. WAR EAGLE!!
After pushing through a strenuous strength workout, I was craving simple, delicious and healthy. So I decided to up my lycopene intake and grabbed a can of whole, peeled tomatoes from the pantry to serve as the main ingredient of dinner.
