Pathetic

[ReformedDave]

Here's the current best seller list of "Christian" books this month. Look how many are about 'me, me, me'! Very few are even remotely about God.

Top 50



March 2007
Ranking Title Author/Publisher
1 Moments Together for Couples Dennis & Barbara Rainey, Regal (Gospel Light), c
2 Get Out of That Pit Beth Moore, Integrity (Nelson), c
3 The Five Love Languages Gary Chapman, Northfield (Moody), p
4 Facing Your Giants Max Lucado, W Publishing (Nelson), c
5 The Seven Pillars of Health Don Colbert, Charisma (Strang), c
6 God's Promises for Your Every Need: 25th anniversary ed. J. Countryman (Nelson), p
7 Ever After Karen Kingsbury, Zondervan, p
8 90 Minutes in Heaven Don Piper with Cecil Murphey, Revell (Baker), p
9 Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods Rick Warren, Zondervan, p
10 Captivating John & Stasi Eldredge, Nelson Books (Nelson), c
11 Wild at Heart John Eldredge, Nelson Books (Nelson), p
12 Praying God's Word Day By Day Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c
13 White Chocolate Moments Lori Wick, Harvest House, p
14 Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World Joanna Weaver, WaterBrook, p
15 God's Answers for Your Life: 25th anniversary ed. J. Countryman (Nelson), p
16 Having a Mary Spirit Joanna Weaver, WaterBrook, p
17 The Way of the Wild Heart John Eldredge, Nelson Books (Nelson), c
18 The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren, Zondervan, c
19 My Utmost for His Highest Oswald Chambers, Barbour, p
20 Kingdom Principles Myles Munroe, Destiny Image, c
21 Love and Respect Emerson Eggerichs, Integrity (Nelson), p
22 For Women Only Shaunti Feldhahn, Multnomah (WaterBrook), c
23 Family Karen Kingsbury, Tyndale, p
24 Jerusalem Countdown, revised John Hagee, Frontline (Strang), p
25 The Confident Woman Joyce Meyer, FaithWords (Hachette), c
26 199 Treasures of Wisdom on Talking With God Andrew Murray, Barbour, p
27 The Bible Promise Book: New Life Version Barbour, p
28 Half Price Living Ellie Kay, Moody, p
29 Battlefield of the Mind Joyce Meyer, FaithWords (Hachette), p
30 Prayer Philip Yancey, Zondervan, c
31 More Devotions for Dieters Dan Dick, Barbour, p
32 The Hope Chest Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p
33 What Every Christian Ought to Know Adrian Rogers, B&H Publishing Group, c
34 My Utmost for His Highest (updated) Oswald Chambers & Jim Reimann, ed.; Discovery House (Barbour), p
35 Jack Bauer's Having a Bad Day Tim Wesemann, Life Journey (Cook), p
36 Heaven Randy Alcorn, Tyndale, c
37 Love and Respect Emerson Eggerichs, Integrity (Nelson), c
38 Every Young Woman's Battle Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn, WaterBrook, p
39 David Beth Moore, B&H Publishing Group, c
40 Voices of the Faithful Beth Moore, Integrity (Nelson), c
41 Prayers for Emotional Wholeness Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, c
42 Lies Women Believe Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Moody, p
43 Jerusalem Countdown John Hagee, Frontline (Strang), p
44 Blue Like Jazz Donald Miller, Nelson Books (Nelson), p
45 For Men Only Shaunti & Jeff Feldhahn, Multnomah (WaterBrook), c
46 Plain and Fancy Wanda Brunstetter, Barbour, p
47 Before I Wake Dee Henderson, Tyndale, p
48 Safe in the Shepherd's Arms Max Lucado, J. Countryman (Nelson), c
49 Woman to Woman Joyce Meyer, FaithWords (Hachette), c
50 The Power of a Praying Wife Stormie Omartian, Harvest House, p

[LaVonne]

I am currently reading Captivatingand must say that it is very much about God! My husband has read some others on this list by John Eldredge and they are books that challenge man...my husband has done much Bible study through these books.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by CareyM

I am currently reading Captivatingand must say that it is very much about God! My husband has read some others on this list by John Eldredge and they are books that challenge man...my husband has done much Bible study through these books.

Here's a synopsis- From Publishers Weekly
"John Eldredge became the Robert Bly of evangelicalism with his blockbuster Wild at Heart. Now he teams up with his wife, Stasi, to encourage women to connect with their deepest desires. To facilitate this, the Eldredges reveal in the first chapter what every woman's three core desires are: to be romanced, to play a role in her own adventures and to display beauty. (This formula will be familiar to Eldredge's fans, as Wild at Heart offered a similar tripartite model of men's desires.) The rest of the book is an extended reflection on these three impulses. Drawing heavily on popular films to prove their points, the Eldredges warn that most women tend to become either controlling or needy. Godly women, in contrast, should see God as the ultimate lover, and look to Eve (and not, say, J. Lo) as their model. Also, women should form close, intimate friendships with one another, à la Ruth and Naomi or the ladies in Fried Green Tomatoes. These are all unoriginal themes, which evangelical women's writers have been recycling for years. Christian readers who embrace a robust egalitarianism will not find the Eldredges' perspective congenial. Regardless, the book is likely to fly off the shelves, purchased by all those women who gave Wild at Heart to their husbands, brothers and dads." (Apr. 14)


Doesn't sound like a study about God.

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Here's a synopsis- From Publishers Weekly
"John Eldredge became the Robert Bly of evangelicalism with his blockbuster Wild at Heart. Now he teams up with his wife, Stasi, to encourage women to connect with their deepest desires. To facilitate this, the Eldredges reveal in the first chapter what every woman's three core desires are: to be romanced, to play a role in her own adventures and to display beauty. (This formula will be familiar to Eldredge's fans, as Wild at Heart offered a similar tripartite model of men's desires.) The rest of the book is an extended reflection on these three impulses. Drawing heavily on popular films to prove their points, the Eldredges warn that most women tend to become either controlling or needy. Godly women, in contrast, should see God as the ultimate lover, and look to Eve (and not, say, J. Lo) as their model. Also, women should form close, intimate friendships with one another, à la Ruth and Naomi or the ladies in Fried Green Tomatoes. These are all unoriginal themes, which evangelical women's writers have been recycling for years. Christian readers who embrace a robust egalitarianism will not find the Eldredges' perspective congenial. Regardless, the book is likely to fly off the shelves, purchased by all those women who gave Wild at Heart to their husbands, brothers and dads." (Apr. 14)


Doesn't sound like a study about God.

What if it draws us closer to God or helps us to have a deeper relationship with God?

You know, sometimes as Christians we can get in a rut and we need fresh perspectives.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by CareyM

What if it draws us closer to God or helps us to have a deeper relationship with God?

You know, sometimes as Christians we can get in a rut and we need fresh perspectives.

I think the issue is is this: What is the quality of that relationship? Not quantity, but quality. Anyone can have a relationship. An abusive husband and his wife have a relationship.

Is our relationship with God ,God centered or us centered? Is it about serving Him or is it about how to get more out of this relationship (Him serving us)

Is our closeness with God done on His terms or is it just us THINKING we are drawing closer to God. What are the motives.

See there is a right way and a wrong way to do anything, including serving God.

Now Im not saying this is true of the book you are reading because I have not read it

[LaVonne]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I think the issue is is this: What is the quality of that relationship? Not quantity, but quality. Anyone can have a relationship. An abusive husband and his wife have a relationship.

Is our relationship with God ,God centered or us centered? Is it about serving Him or is it about how to get more out of this relationship (Him serving us)

Is our closeness with God done on His terms or is it just us THINKING we are drawing closer to God. What are the motives.

See there is a right way and a wrong way to do anything, including serving God.

Now Im not saying this is true of the book you are reading because I have not read it

What I'm reading right now is (in the current chapter I'm in) dealing with how women will either be controlling or despondant in many areas in their life...we do this instead of trusting God either out of fear or vulnerability (there are many other reasons as well). I'm only on page 58 and I really don't want to take the time to recap everything.

My point is, if a book draws us closer to Jesus...or rather the thoughts do, what's wrong with that? No one person has all the answers and not everything you read in a book is going to be totally right. (Except the Bible) I think some of you guys are making an issue out of nothing.

[BoredOutOfMyMind]

Who authored this list?

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by BoredOutOfMyMind

Who authored this list?

Sorry 'bout not posting it.

Christian Booksellers Association-

www.cbaonline.org

[Thumper]

This should be the theme song for the North American church world.

Originally Posted by Toby Keith

Uh huh, thats right
We talk about your work, how your boss is a jerk,
We talk about your church and your head when it hurts.
We talk about the troubles youve been havin wit your brother
bout your daddy and your mother and your crazy ex-lover.
We talk about your friends and the places that youve been,
We talk about your skin and the dimples on your chin.
The polish on your toes and the run in your hose,
And God knows were gonna talk about your clothes.
You know talkin about you makes me smile, but every once in a while,

I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about i
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my,
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.
I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me,) I wanna talk about me-e-e. (me, me, me)

We talk about your dreams and we talk about your schemes,
Your high school team and your moisturizer cream.
We talk about your nana up in muntzi, indiana,
We talk about your grandma down in alabama.
We talk about your guys of every shape and size,
The ones that you despize and the ones you idolize.
We talk about your heart, bout your brains and your smarts,
And your medical charts and when you start.
You know talkin about you makes me grin, but every now and then,

I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about i,
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my.
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see.
I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me,) I wanna talk about me-e-e (me, me, me)

(I wanna talk about me) mmmm me, me, me, me, me
(I wanna talk about me) mmmm me, me, me, me, me

You, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you,
I wanna talk about me!

I wanna talk about me, I wanna talk about i,
Wanna talk about number 1 oh my, me, my.
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see,
Oh I like talkin about you, you, you, you usually, but occasionally,
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me) I wanna talk about me-e-e
I wanna talk about me! (me, me, me) no me-e-e! (me, me, me)

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Thumper

This should be the theme song for the North American church world.

Yep.