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Five
Books That Had An Impact On Me
by Debora Galeuchet
1. The Bible
I love the Bible! I love it because it is God's word to
us. The Bible gives me answers to questions like: What is the
meaning of life? How do I get to heaven? Why is there so much
sin in the world? In addition to these 'great' questions, the
Bible provides a lot of practical guidance like: What is
important in a partnership? How can I be a good friend? What
is true success? How do I please God? The Bible is absolutely
reliable and without error. God does not change and so the
Bible is as relevant to us (and me) as it was at the time when
it was written. The Bible introduces me to God and equips me
in his service. It is a living word and through the Holy
Spirit it often speaks to me in a personal and powerful way.
2. If you want to
walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat,
by John Ortberg
In this book John Ortberg uses the example of Peter and
invites us to get out of our comfort zone and to walk on the
water. He writes that God’s calling for all of us is to live a
life on the waves where we are totally dependent on the
presence of Jesus. Ortberg writes about failure with a new
perspective by pointing not to the sinking Peter but to the
disciples who stayed in the security of the boat and didn’t
step outside of their comfort zone. This book raised a new
desire in me to experience more of God's presence and power in
my life. It made me reflect on areas in my life where I need
to step out of my “security boat” and walk on the water so
that the impossible becomes possible - also in my life.
3. The Great
Omission, by Dallas
Willard
In this book Dallas Willard writes that many Christians
never live a fulfilled life because they live a Christian life
without discipleship. Jesus called us to follow him in a very
practical way. We are not disciples if we are not continually
being changed in our heart and in our everyday life. Real
obedience towards Christ –Willard writes – will turn our lives
upside down. This obedience can be learnt by spiritual
exercises such as solitude and silence, prayer and fasting,
study of the Bible and worship, fellowship and service as well
as confession of sins. These spiritual exercises create a
"fertile environment" in which our inner being can be
transformed. If you are not satisfied with your poor spiritual
life this book can challenge you (as it challenged me) to walk
in the footsteps of Jesus who takes you by his hand and leads
you into a life of true fulfillment.
4. William Booth
- The General next to God,
by Richard Collier
This book tells the story of how William and Catherine
became the founder of The Salvation Army. It describes not
only the life of William Booth but also the emergence and
growth of The Salvation Army. In the book there are also
numerous drawings and black-and-white photos. The explanations
are very lively and vivid so I could imagine the situation
directly before my mind's eye. In this book many details are
given which are not mentioned in other biographies - for
example, the emergence of The Salvation Army in Germany and
Switzerland (including the struggle of the Confederation
against this new movement) or the work of Bramwell Booth, the
son and successor of William Booth. This book challenged me to
be courageous and to dare to go new ways. It is also a strong
testimony of God’s faithfulness towards his people and what is
possible when his people follow him without compromise.
5. Devotional
Classics, by Richard
Foster and James Smith
As a follower of Jesus I don’t want to hold back, I want
to walk in his ways without any fear. I want to be transformed
into the person God meant me to be. In this book, Richard
Foster and James Smith show that a life of devotion to God can
be a feast. It explores texts of significant spiritual authors
of different centuries for our personal devotional time.
People such as Augustine, Luther, Kierkegaard, Brother Lorenz
and Henri Nouwen write about their own journey into a deeper
level of intimacy with God. This whole book was/is an
invitation to me to deepen my dedication to Jesus Christ and
to grow in my friendship with him.
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