If Books Could Speak

Posted on February 22nd, 2005 by hanfaith.
Categories: Deep Thoughts, General.

I used to joke with my parents about their bookshelf. If books could speak, there would be an all-out war in the Traphagen living room. I, myself, wouldn’t consider it wise to place Walvoord next to certain reformed authors.

My parents bookshelf tells the story of their Christian journey… one through many different schools of thought.

So today, I was thinking about my bookshelf. What story does it tell about our family?

Well firstly, there are the books that my husband has kept from his Word of Life college days. We got rid of most of those, honestly, but he did keep a few. I wouldn’t have felt it necessary to keep any of Charles Ryrie’s books, but Phil sat under his teaching and thought he was a funny old guy.

Then there are our pre-marriage books. This was when we were introduced to Piper. Two copies of “Desiring God” grace our shelf.

And then we entered into the theological book collection days. So now we have quite a few:
Pipers:
- When I don’t desire God
- The Passion of Jesus Christ
- Counted Righteous in Christ
- The Dangerous Duty of Delight
- A Godward Life (I & II)
- Don’t Waste Your Life
- Let the Nations Be Glad
Mike Yaconelli:
- Dangerous Wonder
- Messy Spirituality
- Core Realities of Youth Ministry
John Stott:
- The Contemporary Christian
Gary Thomas:
- Sacred Marriage
- Sacred Parenting
Poythress:
- Understand Dispensationalism
Dillard & Longman:
- Introduction to the Old Testament
Paul Tripp:
- Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands
- Age of Opportunity
William Edgar:
- Truth in All Its Glory
Cowan & Gundry:
- Five Views on Apologetics
Gundry:
- Five Views on Sanctification
Cornelius VanTil:
- Christian Apologetics
Jacob Neusner:
- A Rabbi Talks with Jesus
Geerhardus Vos:
- Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments
James C. VanderKam:
- The Dead Sea Scrolls Today
Cornelius Plantinga Jr.:
- Engaging God’s World
Gundry, Carson, McCormack, Seifrid, Lane, Molnar Wainwright:
- Justification: What’s at Stake in the Current Debates
Sinclair B. Ferguson:
- The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction
Tom Holland:
- Contours of Pauline Theology

Many of these books are hand-me-downs from my parent’s classes at Westminster. We couldn’t be more grateful! (and big props to the Westminster Bookstore who carries most of these books)

What books do you think we are missing from our collection?

9 comments.

Mom

Comment on February 22nd, 2005.

I want to know what books are on Éva’s bookshelf!

Hannah, you would like Reframing Paul by Mark Strom. You would also like Splintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkien’s World (really!) by Verlyn Flieger. I’m sending you a book about Christianity and the Arts (the replacement for the book I returned for you).

And you are so right, our bookshelves are full of milemarkers from our journey through life! Since we are in Lent, I must remind you of one of my favorite books Ben Hur, which is ever so much better than the movie. But a set of books that will always be treasured in my heart are the Pooh stories that we read to you for so many years.

Ahh, books. You can never have too many (except when you are moving and have to carry them up stairs).

the Sagely Dad

Comment on February 23rd, 2005.

I’ll add an amen to Reframing Paul…a paradigm shifter for sure.

And I’m jealous that you have Dillard and Longman on the OT. I’d like to read that some day.

Hannah Faith

Comment on February 23rd, 2005.

Dad: You’re welcome to borrow it next time I see you. I purchased it when I was taking B. Wilder’s course at the Study Center.

Mom: My children’s books are some of the most cherished books I own… and I have shelves and shelves of them! In our new house design (if it all works out), I’d like to have bookshelves all along the loft railing… and keep all my childrens books there. I’d love to read Ben Hur. I never finished it. I’ll have to try and see if I can find a copy anywhere!

Roger

Comment on February 23rd, 2005.

I’m such a loser. Most of our books are christian fiction (me) or christian romance (my wife).

Hannah Faith

Comment on February 23rd, 2005.

That’s ok, Roger! I have many more books than are listed above and many just for pure enjoyment. I’ll admit, it’s hard for me to find a Christian fiction book that I think is well written, but I do enjoy reading them (I’ll read anything, pretty much). My favorite type of Christian fiction is historical. I’m not really into American history, but I love world history.

Roger

Comment on February 23rd, 2005.

I find Ted Dekker to be a very good writer. I couldn’t imagine any complaints about his stuff being “well written”. In case you’re bored…

Amy

Comment on February 23rd, 2005.

What a neat post. My husband and I love books, too. I am embarassed to say I only recognized one author from your list. I am reading Brennan Manning’s “The Ragamuffin Gospel” right now. We do a lot of book borrowing from my parents and from my brother-in-law. We are great Tolkien fans and also enjoy C.S. Lewis’ writings. We love Pooh bear and read them out loud to each other before we even had children! A very interesting book I read this summer was about a missionary to South America, the book is called “Bruchko” by Bruce E. Olson.

Hannah Faith

Comment on February 24th, 2005.

That’s an excellent book, Amy, (Bruchko) - I remember reading it myself some years ago and enjoying it.

Probably my favorite adult fiction books are the Jeeves and Wooster series by P.G. Wodehouse. Those are hard to beat!

the Sagely Dad

Comment on February 24th, 2005.

Jeeves and Wooster are a Traphagen family tradition; we all love them. If anyone ever comes across the BBC video versions, snatch them up…very well done and hysterically funny

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