Too many books to read

The book pile just keeps growing and growing. And, to be honest, I don't really like reading. It's somewhat of a necessity for my job though, and I enjoy the fruit of reading.

At any rate, I am just about done with Shattered Dreams. Next I will be trying to decide between:

• The King Jesus Gospel, by Scot McKnight
• Speaking of Jesus, by Carl Medearis
• The Wounded Healer, by Henri Nouwen
• The Faith of Leap, by Frost & Hirsch
• Torn, by Jud Wilhite
• Simply Jesus, by N.T. Wright
• Surprised By Hope, by N.T. Wright
• Journeys To Significance, by Neil Cole

Of course, that doesn't even count the pile of books I have that I'm not really interested in (most of which were free). There are also a few books I've already read that I would like to read again. Dang. I'm tempted to say I need a course in speed-reading, but I really don't like to read fast when it's devotional or spiritual formation type reading. I prefer one or two chapters a day. It makes for slow reading, but I feel like it sinks into my soul better that way. Though there is an occasional book that I just can't put down.

Lately I've also been thinking about the most impactful books I've read. I would have to say Brian McLaren's 'New Kind of Christian' probably tops the list. I can still remember reading the very first paragraph, and I knew it was going to be good. I would also add 'Blue Like Jazz' by Don Miller, and 'Messy Spirituality' by Mike Yaconelli as favorites, but there are just bunches of books that have been a huge influence on me... books by McKnight, Dan Kimball, Henri Nouwen, Frost & Hirsch, Reggie McNeal, Buechner, and... ugh... the list could go on and on. Shoot, not to mention Max Lucado and Philip Yancey and the like. So... even though I still don't consider myself a reader, reading has been a very big part of my spiritual growth process - and life.