I didn't do too bad last year. I finished close to 40 books and got half-way through probably another 20. Many of these I need to still write reviews for. The format this year will be similar to last year with a few minor changes. As always this is flexible...as new books come out and my desires change so does my reading plan. I ended up reading a far amount of books this year that I did not plan on, and I am certain the same thing will happen again this year.

This year's list will be broken up into six categories: Classical, Theological, Biographical, Historical, Pastoral, and Personal. This year I am going to focus on personal and biographical, hoping to read at least one book per month from each of these categories. Then I hope to read 8 books from the pastoral and classical categories. In the theological and historical category I hope to read a book every two months, or 6 books this year. That should leave me with 52 books--that would be one per week. It'd be great if I could do more...but that is my goal. Some of these books I still need to buy. Here are the books with links to purchase them if you so desire:

Classical

Finish:
Anatomy of Secret Sins by Obadiah Sedgwick
Precious Remedies...by Thomas Brooks

The Institutes of Christian Religion by John Calvin
Christ's Counsel to His Languishing Churchby Obadiah Sedwick
Christ's Last Disclosure of Himself by William Greenhill
The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton
The Almost Christian Discovered by Matthew Mead
A Lifting up for the Downcast by William Bridge
The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie

Historical

Finish: 2000 Year’s of Christ’s Power: Volume Two by NR Needham

2,000 Years of Christ's Power: Part One by N.R. Needham
The Story of Christianity Justo Gonzalez
Early Christian Doctrines J.N.D. Kelley
The Early Church by Henry Chadwick
Theology of the Reformers Timothy George

Biographical

Finish:
Christ Is All: The Piety of Horatius Bonar
Letters of C. H. Spurgeon
Letters of Samuel Rutherford

THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF JOSEPH ALLEINE
Memoirs of Thomas Boston
RICHARD SIBBES by Mark Dever
Wesley: And the Men Who Followed Iain Murray
A Scottish Christian Heritage Iain Murray
Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God by David McCasland
Samuel Rutherford by Kingsley Rendell
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor DA Carson
God's Bestseller: William Tyndale by Brian Moynahan
A Quest for Godliness by JI Packer
George Whitfield (2 Vol.) Arnold Dallimore
Martyn Lloyd-Jones (2 Vol.) Iain Murray
John Calvin: A Heart for…. Buck Parsons (Editor)

Pastoral

Finish:
A Jesus-Shaped Ministry by Ajihith Fernando
A Pastor’s Sketches by Ichabod Spencer
Handbook of Church Discipline by Jay Adams

The Christian Ministry by Charles Bridges
Jesus Christ: The Prince of preachers... by Mike Abendroth
Dear Timothy: Letters on Pastoral Ministry by Tom Ascol
The Christian Pastor's Manual by John Brown (compiler)
The Work of the Pastor William Still
The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor by John Stott
Preaching to a Post-Everything World by Zack Eswine
Kindled Fire by Zack Eswine
How to Help People Change by Jay Adams

Personal

Finish: When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey
True Spirituality by Francis Schaeffer

Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp
Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Timothy Lane/Paul Tripp
Seeing with New Eyes by David Powlison
Wordliness by CJ Mahaney
A Quest for More by Paul Tripp
The Christian Counselor's Casebook by Jay Adams
Craftsmen by John Crotts
Running Scared Ed Welch
Speaking Truth In Love by David Powlison
Instructing a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp

Theological

Finish: Pierced for Our Transgressions by Steven Jeffery, etc.

Young, Restless, and Reformed by Colin Hansen
NT Theology by Thom Schreiner
The Courage to be Protestant by David Wells
The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Mark Noll
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

As you may have noticed the format here at Borrowed Light has changed. Instead of switching this blog over to Wordpress I will be staying here at Blogger. So, you can look forward to regular posting again. I hope to be more deliberate in blogging this year. We'll see.

I want to deepen my reading by reading more biographies. Who are the people of faith that you wish to explore? Who seems to have written the best biographies of Christian leaders?

Here is the bad news. As of January 1st 2009 this website will no longer be updated.

Here is the good news. As of January 1st 2009 I will be regularly posting on the **New** Borrowed Light. I'll give you the link as soon as it is finished.

It feels about like a decade since I have posted anything. I am trying to determine if I will even bother blogging anymore. I am either going to take it more serious or give it up all together. Here are a few links to chew on:

Russell Moore challenges parents to discipline their children. "In short, a parent who will not discipline is denying the doctrine of hell." Read the rest here. (HT: JT)

Josh Harris offers his preaching notes to us.

These words by Carl Trueman need to be read: Here We Go Again

My favorite rapper, Flame, has been nominated for a Grammy.

Finally, an Amillenial Eschatology Chart

Matt Schmucker gives advice on pastor's dealing with discouragement. You should read it, with a name like Schmucker it has to be good.

I love Iain Murray. He has new audio available on the Puritans.

Thabiti gives advice on a member responding to a divisive elder

I don't think this one will be toned down for awhile. Tom Ascol again responds to David Allen.

Justin Buzzard gives us 20 books to read in your twenties. I've got three years left and have read six of them.

Tony Reinke explains what legalism is

Kirk Wellum has some great thoughts On Churches.

This article has been floating around in various places. It was orginally in Sinclair Ferguson's excellent book In Christ Alone. And has been posted for us to view on the Ligonier website: Santa Christ?

Wow:
(HT: Timmy)

I won't post the picture here--but with having some Native American heritage something about this pic resonates with me.

Great D.A. Carson interview (at least I'm assuming it's great--haven't had the chance to listen yet) over at Church Matters.

This was a neat story about 3 time Super Bowl Champion Je'Rod Cherry: Cherry Hopes Hollow Ring Will Save Children.

Steve McCoy hooks us up with new Tim Keller audio on Preaching to the Heart.

If you are near the St. Louis area this sounds pretty cool: A Global Networking Dialogue.

The Resurgence has posted free media of a recent Parenting Conference with Tedd Tripp.

This post generated some heat. Tom Ascol discusses three events that widened the divide between the SBC and Calvinism. Be sure to read all of the comments.

Here's a promo for the latest book all of your friends will want for Christmas--give it a few months and maybe your church will be having a seminar:
(HT: Riddleblog)

Remedy #7 and Devices

"By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin"

In other words Satan tempts us to flirt with sin. This is Satan tempting us to walk by the harlot's door while assuring us that we will not enter in. For remedies:

• Dwell upon those scriptures that do expressly command us to avoid the occasions of sin, and the least appearance of evil. (1 Thess. 5:22)
• Consider that ordinarily there is no conquest over sin, without the soul turning from the occasion of sin. (In other words the alcoholic probably will not quit drinking until he stops visiting bars)
• Consider that other precious saints, that were once glorious on earth, and are now triumphing in heaven, have turned from the occasions of sin, as hell itself
• Consider that the occasions of sin, is an evidence of grace, and that which lifts up a man above most other men in the world.

Quick Thoughts:

Since reading this chapter a couple of months ago the Lord has used this section frequently to combat sin in my life. If Satan can get us to walk by the harlot's door, to sit with the drunkard, to dwell upon evil thoughts, etc. then he will soon have us ensnared by those things. The advice Brooks gives in this chapter is wonderful. The thing that has stuck with me most is remedy number two: We will not get conquest over sin until we forsake the occasion for the sin. If you know when you are more apt to fall it is a good idea to avoid those situations. Simple, yet profound.

Extracted Elixir's:

"We must shun and be shy of the very show and shadow of sin, if either we tender our credit abroad, or our comfort at home." (66)

"God will not remove the temptation, except you turn from the occasion." (67)

"To rush upon the occasions of sin is both to tempt ourselves, and to tempt Satan to tempt our souls." (68)