Showing posts with label 2017 reading challenges. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2017 reading challenges. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

2017 Completed Challenge: Reformation Reading Challenge

Reformation Reading Challenge
Host: Me, Operation Actually Read Bible, sign up here
October 2016-October 2017

1) Why The Reformation Still Matters. Michael Reeves and Tim Chester. 2016. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2) Rescuing the Gospel: The Story and Significance of the Reformation. Erwin W. Lutzer. 2016. Baker Books. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
3) Beyond the 95 Theses. Stephen J. Nichols. 2016. P&R. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4) Three Treatises. Martin Luther. 1970. Fortress Press. 316 pages. [Source: Gift] 
5) The Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan. 1678. 301 pages. [Source: Bought]
6) A Little Book on the Christian Life. John Calvin. Edited by Buck Parsons and Aaron Denlinger. 2017. Reformation Trust. 132 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7) God Alone. Teaching Series. (DVD) R.C. Sproul [Source: Gift?]
8) The Reformation: What You Need to Know and Why. Michael Reeves and John Stott. 2017. Hendrickson. 100 pages. [Source: Review copy]
9) Martin Luther In His Own Words. Jack D. Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer, editors. 2017. Baker Books. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10) Here I Stand. A Life of Martin Luther. Roland H. Bainton. 1950. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]
11) Luther and the Reformation. R.C. Sproul. 2011. Ten 23 minute messages. [Source: Gift]
12) Reformation Heritage Study Bible--KJV. Edited by  Joel R. Beeke, Gerald Bilkes, and Michael Barrett. 2014. Reformation Heritage Books. 2218 pages. [Source: Birthday Gift in 2014]
13) The English Reformation and the Puritans. Michael Reeves. 2014. Ligonier Ministries. Twelve 23 minute messages. [Source: Gift]
14) The Legacy of Luther. R.C. Sproul, editor. 2016. Reformation Trust. 308 pages. [Source: Review copy]
15) A Survey of Church History, Part Three: A.D. 1500-1620.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]
16) A Survey of Church History, Part Four: A.D. 1600-1800.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]
17) A Survey of Church History, Part Five: A.D. 1800-1900. W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]
18) A Survey of Church History, Part Six: A.D. 1900-2000. W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]
19) Reformation Sketches: Insights Into Luther, Calvin, and the Confessions. W. Robert Godfrey. 2003. 151 pages. [Source: Library]
20) Martin Luther: A Spiritual Biography. Herman Selderhuis. 2017. Crossway. 288 pages. [Source: Review copy]
21) Godspeed: Voices of the Reformation. David Teems. 2017. Abingdon Press. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]
22) ESV Reformation Study Bible. 2015. Edited by R.C. Sproul. Reformation Trust. 2560 pages. [Source: Gift/Bought]
23) Saints of Zion. Jeff Lippencott & R.C. Sproul. 2017. Ligonier. 67 minutes. [Source: Gift]
24) The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New. Marty Machowski. Illustrated by Andy McGuire. 2015. New Growth Press. 269 pages. [Source: Library]
25) Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World. Eric Metals. 2017. Viking. 416 pages. [Source: Borrowed from friend]
26) Sword of the Wicked. Richard Sibbes. 1577-1635. [Source: Bought]
27) A Description of Christ. Richard Sibbes. (1577-1635, Sibbes lifespan). 29 pages. [Source:Bought]


28) The Bruised Reed. Richard Sibbes. 1630. [Source: Bought]

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, January 28, 2017

2017 Reading Challenges: Back to the Classics

Back to the Classics 2017
Host: Books and Chocolate (sign up)
January - December 2017
# of books: 6-12

Classic with a number in the title: 1984. George Orwell. 1949. 268 pages. [Source: Bought]
A Russian Classic. The Karamazov Brothers. Fyodor Dostoevsky. Translated by Ignat Avsey. 1880/2008. 1054 pages. [Source: Library]
A 20th Century Classic Out of the Silent Planet. C.S. Lewis. 1938. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899. The Warden. Anthony Trollope. 1855. Oxford World's Classics. 294 pages. [Source: Bought]
A classic by a woman author. No One Hears But Him. Taylor Caldwell. 1966/2017. Open Road Media. 212 pages. [Source: Review copy]
A classic published before 1800. The Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan. 1678. 301 pages. [Source: Bought]
A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title.  The Horse and His Boy. (Chronicles of Narnia #5) C.S. Lewis. 1954. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
Classic in Translation: Three Treatises. Martin Luther. 1970. Fortress Press. 316 pages. [Source: Gift] *All three treatises were published in 1520, this English translation is from 1970.


1.  A 19th Century Classic - any book published between 1800 and 1899.

2.  A 20th Century Classic - any book published between 1900 and 1967. Just like last year, all books MUST have been published at least 50 years ago to qualify. The only exception is books written at least 50 years ago, but published later, such as posthumous publications.


3.  A classic by a woman author. 


4.  A classic in translation.  Any book originally written published in a language other than your native language. Feel free to read the book in your language or the original language. (You can also read books in translation for any of the other categories).


5.  A classic published before 1800. Plays and epic poems are acceptable in this category also.


6.  
An romance classic. I'm pretty flexible here about the definition of romance. It can have a happy ending or a sad ending, as long as there is a strong romantic element to the plot.


7.  A Gothic or horror classic. For a good definition of what makes a book Gothic, and an excellent list of possible reads, please see this list on Goodreads. 

8.  A classic with a number in the title. Examples include A Tale of Two Cities, Three Men in a Boat, Slaughterhouse Five, Fahrenheit 451, etc.


9.  A classic about an animal or which includes the name of an animal in the title.  It an actual animal or a metaphor, or just the name. Examples include To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, The Metamorphosis, White Fang, etc. 


10. A classic set in a place you'd like to visit. It can be real or imaginary: The Wizard of Oz, Down and Out in Paris and London, Death on the Nile, etc.

11. An award-winning classic. It could be the Newbery award, the Prix Goncourt, the Pulitzer Prize, the James Tait Award, etc. Any award, just mention in your blog post what award your choice received.


12. A Russian Classic. 2017 will be the 100th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, so read a classic by any Russian author. 



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

2017 Goals: Read 12 Bible Commentaries

In 2017, I am making it a goal to read twelve Bible commentaries.

I want to read three books in the "Exalting Jesus…" commentary series

1)
2)
3)

I want to read three books in the "Preaching the Word…" commentary series

1) Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and On Earth. Douglas Sean O'Donnell. 2013. Crossway. 1090 pages. [Source: Bought]
2)
3)

I want to read three books in the "Thru the Bible…" commentary series by J. Vernon McGee

1) Thru the Bible: 1 and 2 Samuel. J. Vernon McGee. 1976/1997. Thomas Nelson. 308 pages. [Source: Bought]
2) 1 and 2 Kings. J. Vernon McGee. 1976/1996. Thomas Nelson. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
3)

I want to read three books in the "Be…" series Warren Wiersbe

1)
2)
3)

-------- Other commentaries

  1. Unveiled Hope: Eternal Encouragement from the Book of Revelation. 1997. 244 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Saturday, December 17, 2016

2017 Challenges: Cloud of Witnesses

Cloud of Witnesses
Host: Operation Actually Read Bible (sign up)
Dates: January - December 2017
# of Books: I am aiming for 8

1) Prevailing Prayer. D.L. Moody. Foreword by Erwin Lutzer. 1987/2016. Moody. 143 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2) Thru the Bible: 1 and 2 Samuel. J. Vernon McGee. 1976/1997. Thomas Nelson. 308 pages. [Source: Bought]
3) Three Treatises. Martin Luther. 1970. Fortress Press. 316 pages. [Source: Gift] 
4) The Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan. 1678. 301 pages. [Source: Bought]
5) 1 and 2 Kings. J. Vernon McGee. 1976/1996. Thomas Nelson. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6) The Parables of Jesus. James Montgomery Boice. 1983/2016. Moody. 232 pages. [Source: Review copy]
7) A Little Book on the Christian Life. John Calvin. Edited by Buck Parsons and Aaron Denlinger. 2017. Reformation Trust. 132 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8) The Titanic's Last Hero: A Startling True Story That Can Change Your Life Forever. Moody Adams. 2012. 120 pages. [Source: Bought]
9) Here I Stand. A Life of Martin Luther. Roland H. Bainton. 1950. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]
10) Martin Luther In His Own Words. Jack D. Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer, editors. 2017. Baker Books. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]
11) The Cross: God's Way of Salvation. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1986. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
12) Knowledge of the Holy. A.W. Tozer. 1961/1978. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
13) Meditations on the Trinity. A.W. Tozer. 2017. Moody. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
14) Sins We Accept. Jerry Bridges. 2013. NavPress. 59 pages. [Source: Bought]
15) Basic Christianity. John Stott. 1958. 179 pages. [Source: Bought]
16) DVD: The English Reformation and the Puritans. Michael Reeves. 2014. Ligonier Ministries. Twelve 23 minute messages. [Source: Gift] 
17) The Wisdom of God: Letting His Truth and Goodness Direct Your Steps. A.W. Tozer. Edited by James L. Snyder. 2017. Bethany House. 190 pages. [Source: Review copy]
18) A Description of Christ. Richard Sibbes. (1577-1635, Sibbes lifespan). 29 pages. [Source:Bought]
19) A Survey of Church History, Part One: A.D. 100-600.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift] 
20) A Survey of Church History, Part Two: A.D. 500-1500.  W. Robert Godfrey. Thirteen 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift] 
21) A Survey of Church History, Part Three: A.D. 1500-1620.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift] 
22) A Survey of Church History, Part Four: A.D. 1600-1800.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]  
23) A Survey of Church History, Part Five: A.D. 1800-1900.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift] 
24) A Survey of Church History, Part Six: A.D. 1900-2000.  W. Robert Godfrey. Twelve 23-Minute Messages. [Source: Gift]
25)
26)
27)
28)
29)
30)
© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

2017 Reading Challenges: Operation Deepen Faith

Operation Deepen Faith
Host: Operation Actually Read Bible (sign up)
Dates: January 2017 - December 2017

I. Wonderful Words of Life

Bible Reading Goals:
  1. New English Bible. 1970/1990. Illustrated by Horace Knowles. 973 pages. [Source: Bought]
  2. Holy Bible. 21st Century King James Version (KJ21) Edited by William D. Prindle. 1888 pages. [Source: Bought]
  3. Pursuit of God Bible -- NIV. 2013. 1587 pages. [Source: Gift]
  4. Reformation Heritage Study Bible--KJV. Edited by  Joel R. Beeke, Gerald Bilkes, and Michael Barrett. 2014. Reformation Heritage Books. 2218 pages. [Source: Birthday Gift in 2014]
  5. RSV Bible. 1977. Oxford University Press. 1904 pages. [Source: Gift]

II. Christian NONfiction
  1. Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. 2017. Moody. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  2. The Character of the Church. Joe Thorn. 2017. Moody. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  3. The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning. Joe Thorn. 2017. Moody. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  4. The Life of the Church: The Table, Pulpit, and Square. Joe Thorn. 2017. Moody. 128 pages
  5. A Christian's Pocket Guide to Loving the Old Testament. Alec Motyer. 2015/2016. Christian Focus. 144 pages. [Source: Borrowed]
  6. My Heart. Julie Manning. 2017. B&H. 224 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
  7. No Little Women. Aimee Byrd. P&R. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  8. Openness Unhindered. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield. 2015. Crown & Covenant. 200 pages. [Source: Bought]
  9. Prevailing Prayer. D.L. Moody. Foreword by Erwin Lutzer. 1987/2016. Moody. 143 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  10. Thru the Bible: 1 and 2 Samuel. J. Vernon McGee. 1976/1997. Thomas Nelson. 308 pages. [Source: Bought]
  11. Three Treatises. Martin Luther. 1970. Fortress Press. 316 pages. [Source: Gift] 
  12.  None Other. John MacArthur. 2017. Reformation Trust. 134 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  13. Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus Into The Everyday Stuff of Life. Jeff Vanderstelt. 2017. Crossway. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  14. 1 and 2 Kings. J. Vernon McGee. 1976/1996. Thomas Nelson. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  15. The Parables of Jesus. James Montgomery Boice. 1983/2016. Moody. 232 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  16. The Good of Giving Up. Aaron Damiani. 2017. Moody. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  17. Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, eds. 2017. Crossway. 1008 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  18. A Little Book on the Christian Life. John Calvin. Edited by Buck Parsons and Aaron Denlinger. 2017. Reformation Trust. 132 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  19. Reading the Bible Supernaturally. John Piper. 2017. Crossway. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  20. The New City Catechism Devotional. Collin Hansen, ed. Introduction by Timothy Keller. 2017. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  21. The Curious Christian. Barnabas Piper. 2017. B&H. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  22. Jews Don't Need Jesus…and Other Misconceptions: Reflections of a Jewish Believer. Avi Snyder. 2017. Moody. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  23. Finding God in My Loneliness. Lydia Brownback. 2017. Crossway. 174 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  24.  Reset: Living a Grace-Paced Life in a Burnout Culture. David Murray. 2017. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  25. The Titanic's Last Hero: A Startling True Story That Can Change Your Life Forever. Moody Adams. 2012. 120 pages. [Source: Bought]
  26. Through the Eyes of a Lion. Levi Lusko. 2015. Thomas Nelson. 240 pages. [Source: Bought]
  27. Surprised by Suffering. R.C. Sproul. 1994/2010. 214 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  28. Alive in Him: How Being Embraced by the Love of Christ Changes Everything. Gloria Furman. 2017. Crossway. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  29. Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue. R.C. Sproul. 1990/2010. 256 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  30. Joni: An Unforgettable Story. Joni Eareckson Tada. 1976. 205 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  31. Here I Stand. A Life of Martin Luther. Roland H. Bainton. 1950. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]
  32. The Work of Christ: What the Events of Jesus' Life Mean For You. R.C. Sproul. 2012. 224 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  33. The Cross of Jesus: What His Words From Calvary Mean for Us. Warren Wiersbe. 1997. 144 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  34. The God I Love. Joni Eareckson Tada. 2003. 368 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  35. Unveiled Hope: Eternal Encouragement from the Book of Revelation. 1997. 244 pages. [Source: Borrowed] 
  36. Martin Luther In His Own Words. Jack D. Kilcrease and Erwin Lutzer, editors. 2017. Baker Books. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  37. The Story of Reality. Gregory Koukl. 2017. Zondervan. 208 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  38. Give Them Truth: Teaching Eternal Truths to Young Minds. Starr Meade. 2015. P&R Publishing. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  39. Hope: The Best of Things. Joni Eareckson Tada. 2008. 32 pages. [Source: Bought]
  40. The Imperfect Disciple. Jared C. Wilson. 2017. Baker Books. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  41. Chasing Contentment. Erik Raymond. 2017. Crossway. 160 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  42. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God. Mark Jones. 2017. Crossway. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  43. Taking My Life Back. Rebekah Gregory and Anthony Flacco. 2017. Revell. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
  44. The Reformation: What You Need to Know and Why. Michael Reeves and John Stott. 2017. Hendrickson. 100 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  45. The Good Book: 40 Chapters That Reveal the Bible's Biggest Ideas. Deron Spoo. 2017. David Cook. 397 pages. 
  46. God's Story in 66 Verses. Stan Guthrie. 2015. Thomas Nelson. 256 pages. [Source: Bought]
  47. The Whole Message of the Bible in 16 Words. Chris Bruno. 2017. Crossway. 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  48. The Cross: God's Way of Salvation. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. 1986. Crossway. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
  49. Conversion: How God Creates a People. Michael Lawrence. 2017. Crossway. 144 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  50. Knowledge of the Holy. A.W. Tozer. 1961/1978. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
  51. Fearless Living in Troubled Times: Finding Hope in the Promise of Christ's Return. Michael Youssef. 2017. [August] Harvest House. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  52. Meditations on the Trinity. A.W. Tozer. 2017. Moody. 320 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  53. How To Read and Understand The Biblical Prophets. Peter J. Gentry. 2017. Crossway. 144 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  54. New Testament Words for Today. Warren Wiersbe. 2013. 207 pages. [Source: Bought] 
  55. Sins We Accept. Jerry Bridges. 2013. NavPress. 59 pages. [Source: Bought]
  56. The Will of God is the Word of God. James MacDonald. 2017. B&H Books. 216 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  57. Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia. John Dunlop, MD. 2017. Crossway. 208 pages.  [Source: Review copy]
  58. Basic Christianity. John Stott. 1958. 179 pages. [Source: Bought]
  59. Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering. Kelly M. Kapic. 2017. IVP. 197 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  60. How Does Sanctification Work. David Powlison. 2017. Crossway. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
  61. Matthew: All Authority in Heaven and On Earth. Douglas Sean O'Donnell. 2013. Crossway. 1090 pages. [Source: Bought]
  62. The Wisdom of God: Letting His Truth and Goodness Direct Your Steps. A.W. Tozer. Edited by James L. Snyder. 2017. Bethany House. 190 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  63. The Legacy of Luther. R.C. Sproul, editor. 2016. Reformation Trust. 308 pages. [Source: Review copy]
  64. A Description of Christ. Richard Sibbes. (1577-1635, Sibbes lifespan). 29 pages. [Source:Bought] 
  65. Lifted: Experiencing the Resurrection Life. Sam Alberry. 2010/2012. P&R. 142 pages. [Source: Borrowed]

Goals: Read 52 books.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Friday, December 9, 2016

2017 VT Reading Challenge

Feel free to copy/paste as little or as much of this list as you need. You can replace the _ with an X or a ✔ (copy/paste if you want this bold one) when you finish reading a book. If you list here the books you read, that may help other people decide what to read.

This list was obtained from http://www.challies.com/resources/the....

Goal: +52 books
Progress: ? books

The Light Reader

✔ 1. A biography
Martin Luther: The Man Who Rediscovered God and Changed the World. Eric Metaxas. 2017. Viking. 416 pages. [Source: Borrowed from friend]
✔ 2. A classic novel
 Adam Bede. George Eliot. 1859. 624 pages. [Source: Bought]
_ 3. A book about history
✔  4. A book targeted at your gender
Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth. 2017. Moody. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]
✔ 5. A book about theology
Three Treatises. Martin Luther. 1970. Fortress Press. 316 pages. [Source: Gift]
✔ 6. A book with at least 400 pages
New English Bible. 1970/1990. Illustrated by Horace Knowles. 973 pages. [Source: Bought]
_ 7. A book your pastor recommends
_ 8. A book about Christian living
✔ 9. A book more than 100 years old
Great Expectations. Charles Dickens. 1860. 640 pages. [Source: Library]
✔ 10. A book published in 2017
The Heart of the Church: The Gospel's History, Message, and Meaning. Joe Thorn. 2017. Moody. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]
✔ 11. A book for children or teens
Giant Pumpkin Suite. Melanie Heuiser Hill. 2017. Candlewick Press. 448 pages. [Source: Review copy]
✔ 12. A book of your choice
The Silent Gondoliers. William Goldman. 1983/2001. 128 pages. [Source: Library]
✔ 13. A book about a current issue
Gosnell: The Untold Story of America's Most Prolific Serial Killer. 2017. 347 pages. [Source: Library]

The Avid Reader

✔ 14. A book written by a Puritan
A Description of Christ. Richard Sibbes. (1577-1635, Sibbes lifespan). 29 pages. [Source:Bought]
_ 15. A book by or about a missionary
_ 16. A book about Christian living
_ 17. A commentary on a book of the Bible
_ 18. A book about the Reformation
✔ 19. A book about theology
Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth. John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, eds. 2017. Crossway. 1008 pages. [Source: Review copy]
✔ 20. A book recommended by a family member
A Christian's Pocket Guide to Loving the Old Testament. Alec Motyer. 2015/2016. Christian Focus. 144 pages. [Source: Borrowed]
_ 21. A book with a great cover
_ 22. A book on the current New York Times list of bestsellers
_ 23. A book about church history
✔ 24. A book of 100 pages or less
The Apple and the Arrow. Mary and Conrad Buff. 1951/2001. HMH. 80 pages. [Source: Bought]_ 25. A book of your choice
✔ 26. A book that won a prize
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. Jean Lee Latham. 1955. 251 pages. [Source: Bought]

The Committed Reader

_ 27. A book from a theological viewpoint you disagree with
_ 28. A book about Christian living
_ 29. A book about apologetics
_ 30. A book of your choice
_ 31. A humorous book
_ 32. A book based on a true story
✔ 33. A book about prayer
Prevailing Prayer. D.L. Moody. Foreword by Erwin Lutzer. 1987/2016. Moody. 143 pages. [Source: Review copy]
_ 34. A book of poetry
✔ 35. A book with a one-word title
Scythe. Neal Shusterman. 2016. 448 pages. [Source: Library]
_ 36. A book by Sinclair Ferguson
✔ 37. A novel by an author you have never read before
Twelve Angry Men. Reginald Rose. 1954/2006. 79 pages. [Source: Library]
_ 38. A book about Christian living
_ 39. A memoir or autobiography
_ 40. A play by William Shakespeare
_ 41. A book of your choice
✔ 42. A book written by an author with initials in their name
Out of the Silent Planet. C.S. Lewis. 1938. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
✔ 43. A book by a female author
No One Hears But Him. Taylor Caldwell. 1966/2017. Open Road Media. 212 pages. [Source: Review copy]
_ 44. A book about theology
_ 45. A book published by Crossway
_ 46. A self-improvement book
✔ 47. A graphic novel
Message to Adolf. Osamu Tezuka. Translated by Kumar Sivasubramanian. 1983/2012. Vertical. 648 pages. [Source: Library]
✔ 48. A book you own but have never read
Hiroshima. John Hersey. 1946/1989. 152 pages. [Source: Bought]
_ 49. A book targeted at the other gender
_ 50. A book about Christian living
_ 51. A book of your choice
_ 52. A book about race or racial issues

The Obsessed Reader

_ 53. A book you have started but never finished
_ 54. A book about church history
_ 55. A book about holiness or sanctification
_ 56. A book about science
_ 57. A book used as a seminary textbook
_ 58. A book on the ECPA bestseller list
_ 59. A book about productivity or time management
_ 60. A book of your choice
_ 61. A book about spiritual disciplines
_ 62. A book about parenting
_ 63. A book about Christian living
_ 64. A book by Iain Murray
_ 65. A book about business
_ 66. A book about theology
_ 67. A book about marriage
_ 68. A photo essay book
✔ 69. A book of comics
And the Beagles and the Bunnies Shall Lie Down Together. Charles M. Schulz. 1984. 100ish pages. [Source: Gift]
✔ 70. A book about the Second World War
The Librarian of Auschwitz. Antonio Iturbe. Translated by Lilit Thwaites. 2017. 424 pages. [Source: Library]
✔ 71. A book by a Puritan
The Bruised Reed. Richard Sibbes. 1630. [Source: Bought]
_ 72. A book about preaching or public speaking
_ 73. A book of your choice
_ 74. A book about suffering
_ 75. A book about evangelism
_ 76. A book by your favorite author
_ 77. A book you have read before
✔ 78. A Christian novel
Moonbow Night. Laura Frantz. 2017. Revell. 384 pages. [Source: Review copy]
_ 79. A biography of a Christian
_ 80. A book about the natural world
✔ 81. A novel for young adults
Blood Red Snow White. Marcus Sedgwick. 2016. 320 pages. [Source: Library; Audience: YA, Adult]
✔ 82. A novel longer than 400 pages
The Karamazov Brothers. Fyodor Dostoevsky. Translated by Ignat Avsey. 1880/2008. 1054 pages. [Source: Library]
_ 83. A book about history
_ 84. A book about the Bible
_ 85. A book recommended by a friend
✔ 86. A book published by P&R Publications
No Little Women. Aimee Byrd. P&R. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
_ 87. A book with an ugly cover
_ 88. A book by or about a martyr
_ 89. A book of your choice
_ 90. A book about Christian living
_ 91. A book about church history
_ 92. A book about money or finance
_ 93. A book about leadership
_ 94. A book by John Piper
_ 95. A book about theology
_ 96. A book for children or teens
✔ 97. A book about sexuality
Openness Unhindered. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield. 2015. Crown & Covenant. 200 pages. [Source: Bought]
_ 98. A book about writing
_ 99. A book about current events
_ 100. A biography of a world leader
✔ 101. A book about the church
The Character of the Church. Joe Thorn. 2017. Moody. 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]
_ 102. A book of your choice
_ 103. A book about a hobby
_ 104. A book written in the twentieth century


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Sunday, November 27, 2016

2017 Cloud of Witnesses Reading Challenge (Sign Up)

This will be the FIFTH year I'll be hosting the Cloud of Witnesses Reading Challenge. I hope you'll join me! I welcome back former participants! And I hope to see some new participants as well this year!  I'd love to show you that reading "from the Cloud" isn't intimidating and scary. The dates for the challenge are January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.

The title of this reading challenge comes from Hebrews 12:1-2, which reads "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (KJV) If the KJV isn't quite for you,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (ESV)

For an author to qualify for this reading challenge, they must be among "the cloud of witnesses".... in other words, they must be dead. (They must also be Christian.)

What I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see is for people to share what they're reading. So I will be posting check-in posts every month on the 20th. Share what you're reading, what you've read, favorite quotes, favorite authors, favorite resources, talk to me, talk to others!

I will be sharing a LOT of quotes, more than likely, on twitter. If you want to follow me, I'm @operationbible. If you're also on twitter, you can tweet me quotes if you want, or let me know what you're reading!
I think it isn't always easy for readers to pick up Christian classics. Perhaps because it isn't always easy to know exactly where to start. Perhaps because people think that they will be difficult to understand--that the language will be too difficult, the style too complicated. Perhaps because people question if a book will still be relevant. 

I believe that there are some AMAZING, GREAT, WONDERFUL, MUST-MUST-MUST reads out there waiting to be discovered.

I would be open to hosting read-alongs for Christian classics if you are interested let me know.
The following list is NOT comprehensive by any means. It is just a small sampling of authors that count towards the challenge. 

  • Jerry Bridges (1929-2016)
  • Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015)
  • Brennan Manning (1934-2013)
  • John Stott (1921-2011)
  • D. James Kennedy (1930-2007)
  • James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000)
  • Phillip Keller (1920-1997)
  • Bilquis Sheikh (1912-1997)
  • Loraine Boettner (1901-1990)
  • J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988)
  • Francis Schaeffer (1912-1984)
  • Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)
  • Catherine Marshall (1914-1983)
  • Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981)
  • William Barclay (1907-1978)
  • Watchman Nee (1903-1972)
  • C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)
  • A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)
  • Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957)
  • A.W. Pink (1886-1952)
  • Peter Marshall (1902-1949)
  • Charles Sheldon (1857-1946)
  • Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)
  • G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945)
  • G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)
  • R.A. Torrey (1856-1928)
  • B.B. Warfield (1851-1921)
  • Hudson Taylor (1832-1905)
  • Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)
  • A.B. Simpson (1843-1919)
  • Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)
  • E.M. Bounds (1835-1913)
  • Andrew Murray (1828-1917)
  • Alexander Whyte (1836-1921)
  • Egerton Ryerson Young (1840-1909)
  • J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
  • Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899)
  • Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
  • Charles Hodge (1797-1878)
  • Thomas Guthrie (1803-1873)
  • J.W. Alexander (1804-1859)
  • John Newton (1725-1807)
  • Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
  • George Whitfield (1714-1770)
  • John Wesley (1703-1791)
  • William Law (1686-1761)
  • Richard Baxter (1615-1691)
  • John Owen (1616-1683)
  • John Bunyan (1628-1688)
  • Stephen Charnock (1628-1680)
  • John Flavel (1627-1691)
  • Matthew Henry (1662-1714)
  • Martin Luther (1483-1546)
  • John Calvin (1509-1564)
  • Brother Lawrence (1605-1691)
  • Thomas Watson (1620-1686)
  • Thomas Manton (1620-1677)
  • Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
  • Saint Augustine (354-430)
So what "counts" for this challenge? Well, the goal is to get you acquainted with different authors. So any reading material will count: no matter the length. It can be an article of a few pages; an individual sermon or a collection of sermons; it can be a book of quotes by that person; it can be a biography or autobiography about the person; you might find full-length books available online, or individual sermons online. And of course it doesn't matter if it's a book-book, e-book, or audiobook.

So how do I find books? Some authors will still be in print. Others won't be. Plenty of qualifying books can be found at Amazon for Kindle or Barnes & Noble for Nooks. Plenty can be read online or downloaded as pdfs. 

A great place to begin might be Free Grace Broadcaster. They've got subject-themed newsletters with articles by various authors. Topics include "The Work of Christ," "Worship," "Heaven," "The Resurrection." I also recommend Christian Classics Ethereal Library. 

So how many books are required? 

If you're completely new to christian nonfiction (christian living, theology, bible commentaries, bible studies, etc.) then I'd like to challenge you to read ONE or TWO books. If your first attempt is too tough, or proving not-for-you, try again. Don't assume that just because one author isn't working for you, that no author will. 

If christian nonfiction is something you're comfortable reading, I'd like to challenge you to read four to six books for this challenge. 

Sign up for the challenge by leaving a comment on the blog. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Monday, November 21, 2016

2017 Operation Deepen Faith


I am changing things up from previous years. There will be only two parts. (Not eight like last year). Sign up for one or the other, or both! (A blog is not required. But if you do blog, do share a link.) To sign up 'officially,' leave a comment on this post. The challenge is from January 2017-December 2017.

I want the challenge to focus more on sharing and community-building. I will have check-in posts on the twenty-eighth of each month. Your checking in will be optional, of course. But I hope you do!  In addition to monthly check-in posts, I encourage you to follow me on twitter (@operationbible) and tweet me as often as you like regarding what you're reading and/or studying, what you're looking forward to reading, etc. One last thing, consider adding me and fellow participants to your blogroll, and cheer on other participants by reading reviews and leaving comments.

I. Wonderful Words of Life. Goal: Read the Bible. The goal isn't to read the Bible following a specific plan or by a certain date. The goal is to read the Bible. For some that might mean reading the Bible once a year. For others it might mean reading the Bible over two or three years. What matters is that you incorporate reading the Bible into your life. 

Looking for a plan? I've got a list:
  • Back to the Bible's 21 Day Bible Reading Challenge (John only)*
  • Back to the Bible's 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge (Genesis, Matthew, Mark, Luke only) (link to pdf file)*
  • Back to the Bible's 6 Month Bible Reading Challenge (Acts through Revelation, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes only) (link to pdf file)*
  • 5X5X5 Bible Reading Plan (New Testament Only, 5 Days A Week, 5 Minutes a Day) (link to pdf file)*
  • Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (25 readings per month) (link to pdf file)
  • Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (Book-at-a-Time) (25 readings per month) (link to pdf file)
  • (Whole) Bible in 90 Days Plan (link to pdf file)
  • John MacArthur's NT Plan (read a book 30 days in a row)
  • Woodrow Kroll's Plan (read whole books at a time; read a whole book of the Bible in one sitting)
  • Professor Horner's Bible Reading Plan (link to pdf file)
  • M'Cheyne Bible Reading Plan (link to pdf file)
  • 52 Week Bible Reading Plan, Different Genre Every Day (link to pdf file)
  • Legacy Reading Plan (No set daily readings, but, set monthly readings) (link to pdf file)
  • Back to the Bible's Chronological Plan (lists readings month by month, the link to January)

II. Christian Nonfiction. Don't be afraid to give it a try. Read some theology. You choose the number of books to aim for. A beginner might not feel comfortable committing to more than one book. And that's fine. I want to challenge you to start somewhere. This challenge is for everyone. Not just for people who want to commit to reading twenty!  

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Books about God (his attributes, his character, his names, the trinity)
  • Books about the birth, life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ; His person, his work. 
  • Books about the Bible (how to read the Bible, how to study the Bible, how it's translated, the history of translation, why it's reliable and trustworthy, why it's inerrant and infallible, etc.)
  • Commentaries on specific books of the Bible (Ezekiel, Gospel of John, Romans, etc.)
  • Books about Bible characters (Moses, Abraham, David, Elijah, Ruth, Mary, Peter, Paul, etc.)
  • Books about prayer and/or fasting
  • Books about worship, praise and thanksgiving, music in church, etc.
  • Books about church life, church growth, church leadership, church discipline, etc.
  • books about missions (evangelism, outreach, discipleship,  service, local and global)
  • sermon collections (book, ebook, websites of teaching ministries, etc.)
  • biographies/autobiographies of theologians, preachers, missionaries, other Christians 
  • books about pain, suffering, grief, and tough questions
  • books about apologetics 
  • books about other religions, specifically books about other religions written from a Christian point of view
  • topical books offering a Christian perspective on any subject (marriage, family life, parenting, finances (getting out of debt), dieting, starting a business, being single, fostering or adopting children, war, terrorism, politics, etc.
  • books about end times 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible