Christian Book Notes

I was asked earlier this week what five books I would recommend to a Christian who wants to get serious about starting a library for his or her own edification. I started to answer only to realize that I had no idea what five books I would recommend for starting a library. So, I am asking you to help me as I continue to mull this over. Which 5 books (the Bible being assumed and therefore I need 5 more!) would you recommend to begin someone’s library.

What I am wanting:

I am thinking of books for a “seasoned” believer first and foremost though I am thinking I can come up with a separate list for the new believer as well.

I am thinking of books that transcend secondary doctrinal differences though many of these doctrines are of the utmost importance. Therefore, I am thinking of books that apply to any Christian in any denomination.

So, here is what I am asking: Please give me 1-5 books that you believe every Christian must own or you believe to be necessary to start a library. Also, a 1 or 2 sentence offering your reason as to why this book should make the list would be very helpful.

If you offer a book with a valid reason as to why it should be included, I will enter your name into this Winsday’s drawing. (Trust me, it will be worth it!) If you have already answered this on Facebook, I will include your name in the drawing.  Also, feel free to discuss this amongst yourselves below in the comment field.  I will ultimately run a series of posts of the five books that I would recommend and, Lord willing, I will be able to do a giveaway featuring those five books!

Introduction

I would like to take today to introduce you to the Framework Productions ministry. Framework Productions is committed to promoting cultural change by glorifying the works of God through music and drama. They are a para-church organization with a mission to produce art (music and drama) that glorifies the Creator. Framework desires to undergird Christian artists as they strive to sustain our culture with unique works of beauty and Truth. Their mission is to foster and encourage Christian artists to illuminate the Biblical worldview in today’s culture by producing superior music, drama and fine art.

Framework Productions is affiliated with and supported by Chuck Colson who has been a leader in cultivating a Christian Worldview in all of life through his Prison Fellowship and Break Point Ministries.

Sample Videos

You can check out two of the music videos they have produced.  The first one is called The Maze and is performed by Jeff “JDUB” Williams.  This video won first place at the Digital Media Showcase.

This second video is of the producer, Michael LoPresti, explaining why he is working with Framework Productions.

Framework Productions and Christian Book Notes

The reason why I am introducing this ministry to the readers here at Christian Book Notes is because I have been asked to develop and oversee a Christian worldview book review site. This website is an affiliate website is called the Christian Worldview Bookshelf. It is designed to be a more critical look at one or two books a month.  Our goal is to eventually engage Christians in conversation about living out one’s faith.

We are blessed to be supported and sponsored by ChristianBook.com who has graciously offered their web support in the formation of the website as well as their immense purchasing power.

This month we are featuring Kimberly Powers’ book Escaping the Vampire.  This book is an important resource for parents and youth and children ministers as the Twilight vampire series continues to sweep the world.

You can follow the Book Shelf on Facebook or keep up to date with everything that is going on at Framework Productions at the parent Facebook page, Framework Productions.

Going Forward

While I am excited about the opportunity that has been presented because of the modest success of Christian Book Notes, I do not intend to quit writing the current style of reviews here.  My prayer is that both websites will continue to bring glory to God as well as edify the saints.  Each site has a specific purpose and it is my intention to maintain a separation between the two except to advertise what is going on on the other.

Please check out the Corporate Framework Productions website and familiarize yourself with its contents.  It is our hope that through music, movies, and now books, we can be an aid to the church in cultivating a Christian worldview.  God bless.

Since starting this website about one year ago to the day, I am going to take this entire week off from posting reviews on the website.  My family has been living in an unsettled state for over a year and now that we have finally moved into a house (renting) in the community where I am serving as a pastor, I am going to take the next week off from the website to better enable us to settle in to our new home.  I realize this means I will probably take a “hit” on readership, but at this point, I am perfectly content with that.

I do have many, many books lined up for reading and reviewing.  I also have some interviews and giveaways in the pipeline that will be sure to please the reader.  However, I intend to spend the next week settling in for the first time in over a year and doing some personal reading though I am sure I will write about those, too!

God bless and thank you to all who read Christian Book Notes and make this website popular.  Stay tuned–I promise to come back and hit the ground running.

We have been trying to figure out a way to set apart the book giveaways from the actual reviews themselves and this is what we came up with.  In two weeks, we will begin to host book giveaways on a regular basis–every Wednesday.  Only we will be calling it “Winsday.”  Each “Winsday” we will announce a new giveaway that will last until the following Monday at noon Eastern Standard Time.  Directions to enter each giveaway may differ so you will have to pay attention to how you can enter.

Unfortunately, we will not have our first “Winsday” giveaway until November 11, but, stay tuned as there is a pretty huge giveaway in the works between now and then.  Until then, from our family here at Christian Book Notes to yours, we pray that you have a wonderful and Christ-honoring Thanksgiving.

Jennifer Bogart of Quiverfull Family is our most recent winner.  Congratulations, Jennifer, I pray your children enjoy these two wonderful picture books. 

Stay tuned for an exciting announcement regarding future giveaways at Christian Book Notes.

The two winners for the Dave Ramsey giveaway are:

• Norm Hollabaugh–The Total Money Makeover
• Jon Walls–Financial Peace Revisted

The winners were selected using random.org.  Thank you for all who entered and stay tuned for more giveaways each Winsday!

Congratulations to our winners of the Paul Washer Giveaway. Jacob A. Davis won a copy of The Truth About Man. Michael Pittman, who writes at Transplant Ministries and is on Twitter @LawGrace, won a copy of The One True God. Stephen Newell, of the Silent Holocron and on Twitter at @Stephen_Newell, won the grand prize of both books. Stay tuned every Wednesday for a new give away. God bless.

Congratulations to our winners, Kelly Banning and David Smithey. They were selected from among the comments and Tweets for the autographed copy of Building your Financial Fortress. A Special thanks to the author, Kevin Cross, who signed and sent these books to Christian Book Notes. Please stay tuned as we have more giveaways queued up and ready to go here. The best way to stay up to date is to subscribe to our RSS Feed or our e-mail.  God bless.

With a click of the left mouse button at Random.org, my oldest son “selected” number 41.  Number 41 on my list was on Dr. Dennis Phelps who is Director, Church-Minister & Alumni Relations and is the J.D. Grey Professor of Preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

I would like to thank everyone for entering. Stay tuned as we have more opportunities to win books as well as some good books coming up for review in the near future.

My daughter Sarah came home yesterday afternoon.  She is doing well though the next year is going to be a rough year with pending surgeries to fix the cleft palate and the special feedings not to mention our three older boys as well!

I cannot express in words how encouraging reading the prayers left in the comment field have meant to me and my family.  There were many nights I would read over them as a way to point myself back to Christ.   Knowing that there were people who do not even know me are out there praying was a neat experience.  I am sure that must be how missionaries feel.

At any rate, with my daughter coming home, we have drawn and contacted our winners.  While I wish I could give something to everyone, I am not able to do so.  So, here are our winners in the order of the prize packages.

Set 1: The Grand Prize–David Crawford
Set 2: Barrs/Baucham prize–Jody Gates (Jody is a homemaker, mom, and pastor’s wife who blogs about how to make Christ the center of your life at JodyLynne.blogspot.com.
Set 3: Devotional prize–Chadwick Banning
Set 4: Calvinism prize–Joshua Holowell
Set 5: ESV Study Bible–John Parker

I again thank everyone for their prayers and for signing up for my reviews. Keep looking for more contests and give aways. We have quite a few in store. God bless and thank you again.