<![CDATA[73. reading]]>This weekend was marked by the big move from NE Minneapolis, where I’ve been living since April, back to Saint Paul. Now, any move can be difficult, but mine was made rather arduous by virtue of how many friggin’ books I own and have to tote around with me whenever I change residence (which, thankfully, isn’t too often).

Last night while doing some unpacking and sorting of books into their respective places on shelves, I realized that there were a lot of Christian and religious books from my college days and that it was high time to get rid of them. For one reason or another I’ve held onto them, mainly because I bought them and they represent a link with my religious past, but last night I decided that it’s time to clean house in a literal and metaphorical sense and break ties once and for all with that past. So, this afternoon, I took a box and a bag full of books over to Half Price Books and got $18 for the lot. Not a lot, but it was a tangible something at least.

To give you an idea of the sorts of reading I was assigned to read in college (and some were also gifts from my parents), as well as the kind of thinking and worldview I was surrounded by growing up, here is a complete bibliography of the books that were sold this afternoon:

  • Arthur, K. (1992). Lord, I want to know you. Portland, Or. : Multnomah.
  • Arthur, K. (1995). Lord, teach me to pray in 28 days. Eugene, Or. : Harvest House Publishers.
  • Bevere, J. (1994). The bait of Satan: your response determines your future. Orlando, Fla. : Creation House.
  • Bruner, K. D., & Ware, J. (2001). Finding God in The lord of the rings. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House.
  • Cahill, M. (2004). One thing you can’t do in heaven (5th ed.). Rockwall, Tex: Biblical Discipleship Publishers.
  • Dalbey, G. (2003). Healing the masculine soul: how God restores men to real manhood ([Rev. ed.). Nashville, Tenn. : W Pub. Group.
  • Fry, S. (2000). I am: the unveiling of God. Sisters, Or. : Multnomah.
  • Gerali, S. (2006). Teenage guys: exploring issues adolescent guys face and strategies to help them. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan.
  • Guyon, J. (1984). Experiencing God through prayer. New Kensington, Penn. : Whitaker House.
  • Hamilton, V. P. (2001). Handbook on the historical books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Academic.
  • Hybels, B., & Neff, L. (1987). Who you are when no one’s looking: choosing consistency, resisting compromise. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press.
  • Köstenberger, A. J. (2002). Encountering John: the Gospel in historical, literary, and theological perspective. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Academic.
  • LaHaye, T., & Jenkins, J. B. (2001). Desecration: Antichrist takes the throne. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House.
  • LaHaye, T. F. (1996). Understanding the male temperament: what women want to know about men but don’t know how to ask (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich. : Fleming H. Revell.
  • Laszlo, M. (1998). Mission possible. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers.
  • Lucarini, D. (2002). Why I left the contemporary christian music movement. Carlisle, Penn.: Evangelical Press.
  • MacArthur, J. (1994). The Gospel according to Jesus: what does Jesus mean when He says “follow me”? Grand Rapids, Mich.:  Zondervan
  • Marrs, T.D. (1992). Dark majesty: the secret brotherhood and the magic of a thousand points of light. Austin, Tex. : Living Truth Publishers.
  • Means, P. (1999). Men’s secret wars. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Revell, 2006.
  • Noland, R. (1999). The heart of the artist: a character-building guide for you & your ministry team. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan Pub. House.
  • Packer, J. I. (1993). Knowing God (20th anniversary ed.). Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
  • Piper, J. (2003). Let the nations be glad!: the supremacy of God in missions (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich. : Baker Academic.
  • Piper, J. (2008). Spectacular sins: and their global purpose in the glory of Christ. Wheaton, Ill. : Crossway Books.
  • Piper, J. (2009). This momentary marriage: a parable of permanence. Wheaton, Ill. : Crossway Books.
  • Piper, J. (2006). When the darkness will not lift: doing what we can while we wait for God and joy. Wheaton, Ill. : Crossway Books.
  • The practice of the presence of God. (1982). Springdale, PA. : Whitaker House.
  • Schreiner, T. R., & Caneday, A. B. (2001). The race set before us: a biblical theology of perseverance & assurance. Downers Grove, Ill. : InterVarsity Press.
  • Smalley, G. (2004). The DNA of relationships. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers.
  • Sweet, L. (2003). Carpe mañana. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Zondervan.
  • Tenney, M. C. (2001). Interpreting Revelation: a reasonable guide to understanding the last book in the Bible. Peabody, Mass. : Hendrickson Publishers.
  • Toomey, S. K. (1986). Mime ministry: an illustrated, easy-to-follow guidebook for organizing, programming, and training a troupe of Christian mimes. Colorado Springs, Colo. : Meriwether Pub.
  • Weary, D., & Hendricks, W. (1990). I ainʼt cominʼ back. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers.
  • Welch, E. T. (1997). When people are big and God is small: overcoming peer pressure, codependency, and the fear of man. Phillipsburg, N.J. : P&R Pub.
  • Westermeyer, P. (2001). The heart of the matter: church music as praise, prayer, proclamation, story and gift. Chicago, Ill. : GIA Publications.
  • Wilkinson, B. (2000). The prayer of Jabez: breaking through to the blessed life. Sisters, Or. : Multnomah.
  • Williams, T. M. (2005). The heart of The chronicles of Narnia: knowing God here by finding him there. Nashville, Tenn. : W Pub. Group.
  • Witherington, B. (1995). Conflict and community in Corinth: a socio-rhetorical commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Eerdmans [u.a.].
  • Wood, R. C. (2003). The gospel according to Tolkien: visions of the kingdom in Middle-Earth. Louisville, Ky. : Westminster John Knox Press.

Scientists say the human body is worth about $4.70 in materials – that is, the various chemical components that go into the physical making of a person. Of course, the actual value of a human life is worth infinitely more—but as mere flesh and blood, we’re pretty cheap.

For all of the 28 years that I spent learning about Christianity; the hours spent reading the Bible, sitting in church, and praying – that all comes out to a whopping $18. That’s about four times what the human body is worth, but I wish that time had been better spent. However, I wouldn’t be who I am without that, so maybe it’s not a total waste.

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