Bookwi.se – Page 213 – A few thoughts about books, kindles and Christianity

How to Track the Price of Kindle Book

July 27, 2011 by Adam Shields

I fairly frequently get asked how I find all of the sale and free books that I post on Bookwi.se. One of the best tools I use is ereaderiq. There are three main ways I use ereaderiq, price watch a specific book, search for free or sale books, and to notify me when a book … Read more

Streetwalking with Jesus: Reaching Out in Justice and Mercy by John Green

July 27, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Not all of us are called to minister to male prostitues, but all of us are called to work out Micah 6:8 “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” for ourselves.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition (until July 27, the kindle edition is on sale for $3.99)

I have been aware of John Green and his ministry almost as long as it has been around. Green was finishing up a Master’s degree at Wheaton College as I was starting my undergrad. We did not know one another, but I knew of him and what he was doing. There were Wheaton students from very early on volunteering. Until 5 years ago when I moved from Chicago to outside of Atlanta, I would see John regularly at Wheaton events, especially those alumni events that were trying to get alumni in urban ministry together.

After a Couple Months: Kindle With Special Offers

July 24, 2011 by Adam Shields

It has been a while since I have had a reading tools post. But after a couple months of using my new kindle, I thought it might be time to give my impressions. The current generation of kindle comes in two basic options (Wifi only or 3G/Wifi), each with a Special Offers or a regular version. I decided to get the Wifi only version with Special Offers. Mostly because it was the cheapest kindle at the time. Since I purchased my kindle (for $114), the Wifi only Kindle now regularly has a refurbished Wifi only Kindle in stock (with a same as new warranty) for $109. And more importantly, a couple weeks ago, a 3G/Wifi Special Offers Kindle was introduced for $139. I believe this is the best deal right now.

Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson Book 3)

July 21, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Some new friends, some characters die.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook
(Kindle Edition is lendable if someone wants to borrow the series)

The series is aging. Percy is now in 8th grade. Annabeth is trying to live with her Dad and Stepmom again. Tyson has found a home and Grover has found two new children of the Gods that need to make their way to Camp Half-Blood. Percy is still the main and center character, but he is not in charge of the quest, in fact he is chosen to join the quest at all.

Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson Book 2) by Rick Riordan

July 21, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Friends are important.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook

In the second book of the series, Percy is getting comfortable in his role as one of the half-bloods and excited about going back to camp for more training. But as normal, the mosters that seek after the children of the Gods cause problems and another adventure is started.

The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways That Jesus Is the Way by Eugene Peterson

July 18, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: We often live like Jesus is the Life, sometimes like Jesus is the Truth, but often forget that Jesus is the Way. It is a path that we are to follow, not just a belief that we are to ascribe.

This is the second time I have started this book. A couple of years ago, I got bogged down and did not finished it. Because it was the only one of Peterson’s series of practical theology that I have not read, I decided that I should go back and read it again. This time I got it. That is not to say that it is an easy book to get through, I still think it is the weakest of this series. It is a bit disjointed. The beginning of the book talks about the reasons that we need to follow Jesus. This section primarily revolves around the passage of Jesus saying he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Peterson says we spend a lot of time on Jesus being the truth and the life, but we do not often think a lot about how Jesus is the way.

Welcoming Justice: God’s Movement Toward Beloved Community by Charles Marsh and John Perkins

July 11, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Very few topics get more to the heart of Christian love and community more than racial, class and economic reconciliation.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition

I first heard about John Perkins in the spring of 1992 as I was preparing for a summer missions trip with Wheaton College. We read one of his books (cannot remember which one, but according to his Wikipedia page, only A Quiet Revolution was published in 1992, now out of print). Later that year, after working for a summer in Houston with kids in a long term homeless shelter, attended my first Christian Community Development Association meeting. It was there that I first heard John Perkins speak. Since think I think I have read almost everything written by or about him. He truly is one of the modern prophets that has done much to change the direction of the modern Evangelical church. So I am always surprised how many people have not heard of him. A the last Catalyst conference, Perkins was one of the main speakers and I saw dozens of tweets quoting him and many questioning why they had never heard of him.

No new posts until July 15.

July 8, 2011 by Adam Shields

I am heading out of town to go backpacking early tomorrow morning. No computer or phone access, so no new posts until July 15th. Have a good week

Read Again: Scripture and the Authority of God by NT Wright

July 8, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: I do not know any book that takes the reading, study and importance of scripture more seriously than this book.

Normally I do not read a book so quickly after I read it the first time. But I am going backpacking next week, and the group decided to read two books in advance so we can discuss them as we are hiking. This group of guys has been going on a trip together since spring of 1995 (17 trips total). We are all in quite different places since we started, we have all graduated from college, completed 5 masters degrees, a PhD and an MD between the six of us. We are all now married and have 16 children between us. We now live outside of Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Minneapolis, Atlanta and Dallas. We work as a nanny, a family practice doctor, a Hebrew/Old Testament professor, a missionary, a trader and a computer consultant for an HR firm.

Luke by John MacArthur

July 7, 2011 by Adam Shields

Takeaway: Learning scripture from a variety of teachers is important.

I have decided I am going to try a different format of scripture reading. The main issue for me is that I read too much and too quickly and that after a while I start reading scripture in the same way as I read everything else. So I am being intentional, repetitive and trying to slow down as I read scripture.

I picked up this bible study a while ago when it was offered for free on kindle. I decided to start with Luke intentionally in part because I had this bible study and wanted to be intentional in reading a diverse group of authors as I read about the book I am actively reading.