Poulsbo Community Church

Summer is a coming. Do you remember when you were a kid working on a summer reading list. Maybe your teacher gave it to you at the end of the school year. Maybe you got it from your local library which offered a reward for reading a certain number of books those glorious 3 months between the end of one grade and the beginning of another. Maybe the last thing you wanted to do with your summer was read more books. My mother being a school librarian when I was in grade school, well she kept us busy reading.

As you put together your summer reading list can I offer some recommendations? It’s true that much of my reading involves Bible commentaries, theological works, and ministry material, but at the same time I’m always working on a good book, and no they’re not all Louis L’Amour novels.

Someone gave me an electronic book for Christmas, an Amazon Kindle. There are a lot of classic books that you can download to your Kindle for free. So recently I’ve enjoyed these books and let me to tell you, they are full of theological content.

So here’s my rec’s to keep you reading over the summer.

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Abby my oldest daughter was reading this in her English class, so I read along with her. This novel, one of the earliest English novels, is full of rich theological reflection. The main character learns contentment in his want. Over the course of his 30 years on the island, his prayer requests change from God “Lord deliver me from my trials” to this “Lord deliver me from sin.” A great read!

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

What an amazing adventure story that at its heart is about the mercy and justice of man and God. The movies don’t do this book justice. If you haven’t read it you are missing out. And it’s just not for dudes; I know women who love this book too.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

I referenced this text couple sermons back. Because of this book Abraham Lincoln would refer to Harriet Beecher Stowe as the little lady who made the big war. Uncle Tom may just be my favorite character in all of literature. As I mentioned in my message, the great irony of the text is that Tom, a man who is born and dies a slave, is the most set free character in the whole book because of his Christian faith. Read this one with Kleenex nearby. I can guarantee this book will find a place in your top 5 reads of all time.

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

James MacDonald referenced this work in the I Really Want to Change . . . So, Help Me God series. Dr. Jekyll is under the delusion that he can control and indulge his sinful passions in his alter ego, Dr. Hyde. For anyone who has ever thought I can enjoy this sin and at the same time keep it from mastering me, this book is for you.

Enjoy! And if you just can’t help yourself, go ahead and throw a few Louis L’Amour westerns in as well! Oh and by the way I must say don’t let this reading replace your daily Bible reading. Remember 5 chapters of the Bible a day keep the pastor away . . . or is it the devil away. . . . I get them confused.