Searching for God knows What by Donald Miller

As I quite enjoyed listening to Donald Miller audiobook "Million miles in a thousand years" I thought I would check out some other of his books. I always enjoyed Miller's humor which brought in some deep thoughts as well.

While I was in London I had a chance to start reading Blue like Jazz, which is more about his search for truth and finding it, as Miller says, Christian spirituality. I was wondering why he didn't just say Christianity, but I guess that might be to broad and even have negative connotations when compared with some people in christian circles.

Ted Dekker - The Bride Collector review

It's been way to long. But it seems I'm equally slow with reading as I am with writing new blog posts. Lately, I'm trying to finish Ted Dekker's The Bride Collector, but it's taking me longer then I was hopping for.

Although I've never read anything by Dekker before, except "The House" which was written by Dekker and Peretti, I was sure his books were great. Maybe because I saw the movie "Three" 2 years ago.

What starts as a great suspense thriller is somewhat watered down by the shallowness of the main character love story, in my opinion. At first, the serial killer is super smart and FBI agents can't get a single lead on his next move only to conclude that his is psyhotic thinking that he is serving God while he is actually serving the Devil by killing beautiful girls.

Paradise, who comes from a mental institution and is supposed to have powers beyond the sound mind, ends up being a "regular girl" with a low self esteem. I'm sure there should be more trauma from seeing her father killing her mother and himself while she was younger then "just" thinking "he could never love someone like me".  As the main character Brad is struggling to admit that he is falling in love with Paradise, I feel that their difference is not extreme enough. She is just not unlovable enough to make the love story a bit more dramatic. While she thinks that a guy like Brad can/will never love her, Brad doesn't think about it at all until suddenly he realizes she is beautiful, and hurt as well, from inside then all the good looking  girls he ever met.

I'm afraid that on a scale of 1 to 5, this one would end up between 2-3. I was just annoyed to much with the love story and the serial killer who converted from God's servant to devil's demon by just one sentance "maybe you are not serving God, but the Devil".

If you are Ted Dekker fan and just can't pass his books, you can get the book with another 10% by the end of May on Bookdepository, just by clicking the link above. Just enter "May11" at checkout.

Take care and read well.

D

Book review: Redbreast by Jo Nesbo

Some time ago I bought "Readbrest" by Jo Nesbo really cheep. It was translated into Croatian and less then $5 in my local grocery store. A lot of pages, so I said, why not. It's been a while since I read crime historical thriller anyways.

The book is one of many about Harry Hole, Norwegian police officer, this time chasing after a possible assassin who bought a very expensive but somehow he is driven to discover that it's all connected with some WW2 military men 50 years ago.

Reading: Jesus wants to save Christians

As I'm staying for couple of days in London with some friends and relatives, I've started reading Jesus wants to save Christians, by Rob Bell. Amazing book. I have had a chance to see some of NOOM-a videos that Rob produced in last couple of years, and I know I was quite surprised by his approach and his insight.

But in this book as he goes to explore slave mentality and pharaon syndrome that is easily overtaking Christian groups, I was excited about reading stuff I haven't heared of before. Never really gave much thought to it.

Notes: Leadership as an Identity

Today we finished with chapter 5 talking about adequacy. Or better yet, inadequacy. It was a great hour and a half. To be honest, I find that Loritts writes a bit too much in white or black scenarios, as if everything is either-or. And I must say that it doesn't speaks to me in that way. But the idea of having 3 other man discussing about it makes all the difference.

Reading: Heroes of faith: David Livingstone

Some time ago I finished another Heroes of faith book about D.L. Moody, and immediately picked this one up in my local Christian library. But! I took me more than a month to start reading it. Not sure why, I just kept on putting it aside. So far I've read about 30 pages and felt in love with this Livingstone guy. I guess, cause I always wanted to be somewhat of such an character. At age thirteen David Livingstone worked 14 hour shifts in factory, after that spent 2 hours studying Latin only to come home and read until midnight. Only so he could earn enough money to go study medicine in London and go to be a missionary in Africa. I was so impressed by this that I found the book grabbing my attention even more then D.L.Moody biography did.

Read: If you want to walk on water you've got to get out of the boat

So, some time ago I finished listening to an audio book from John Ortberg called "Everybody's normal till you get to know them". Although I like listening to books, I've figured out I only like it for the books I've already read. Otherwise I would "read" it too fast. Well, I've decided to check this Ortberg guy a bit more so I went to Bookdepository.com and searched for some other of his books. Eventually I ended up ordering Zondervans miniature edition, not really knowing what miniature edition means. My wife had a good laugh about it when the book arrived 10 days later. It's a mini pocket size, that's for sure.