Book Review – The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

If you’re doing the summer intensive, this book was like a breath of fresh air as you’re chugging up a steep hill. After getting all intellectual with Piper, heart-challenged with Chan, and brain-numbed by Calvin, this famous work of allegorical fiction serves as a nice break.

That’s not to say that this book isn’t deep. There’s so many layers throughout this story, I’m sure I didn’t even dive into the first half. Bunyan has taken the Christian life and personified it into a traveler by the name of Christian (and later, his wife Christiana). Christian’s journey begins when he realizes that his city is destined for destruction and the only way out is to travel to the Celestial City. Along the way he makes friends – namely Faithful and Hopeful. They meet others by the name of Despair, Mr. Crafty, Mr. Wordly, and dozens others. They are tempted. They are mocked. They fall more than a few times. They are forced to go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Sound familiar? Christian and Christiana’s travels are incredibly easy to identify with. I think ‘s of the things that makes this book so powerful and why it has been so popular for over 300 years. You can’t help but read it and think, “Yes! I’ve been there!”

The way that Bunyan personifies the obstacles, challenges, and encouragements we face throughout our Christian lives are so real and so vibrant. When both characters reach the end of their journey, you can’t help but sigh, feeling as though you’ve arrived as well.

Perhaps the best parts are the times when the Lord comes to their aid. Be it through direct intervention and help, the assistance of another traveler, or encouragement through the Bible (each chapter is laden with the characters quoting Scripture), God’s hand through their lives is so amazing and so…I don’t know, WOW!

If you are going to read any book this summer, pick this one up. If you want to trudge through the old English, you can download free copies all over the place. I paid for the contemporary English version, feeling like my mind needed a break after Portrait of Calvin.

This is a book every Christian should read – so read it!

Tough Girl Summer Reading Intensive Challenge

If you were following this blog last summer, you will remember the Tough Girl Summer Challenge I issued. The goal of the summer challenge was to make the most of these lazy summer days and do something that matters. If you didn’t do it or if you did it and really enjoyed it, I would highly recommend doing it again.

This year, I’d love to invite you to participate with many high schoolers and college students at my church who are participating in what we call “Summer Reading Intensive.”

The goal? 5 books to stretch your mind, heart, and faith in 3 months. That equals out to one book every two weeks.

Why are we doing it? Simple – we need to read! How amazing is it that we can spend time with heroes of the faith like John Calvin? That we can hang out with fantastic preachers like John Piper and Francis Chan? We’d never miss the opportunity to spend face to face time with these guys – and we can…through books.

Here’s the list of books. Our group is getting together every other week to talk about the book we just read. If you decide to read along, feel free to post your comments, questions, and reflections here. I will post a review of each book after I read it.

Book 1 – Think by John Piper (you can download a free copy here): June 24

Book 2 – Crazy Love by Francis Chan: July 8

Book 3 – Portrait of Calvin by T.H.L. Packer (you can download a free copy here): July 22

Book 4 – The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan: August 5

Book 5 – Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: August 19

If you’re a total nerd like me, feel free to join our summer intensive Facebook group. We will have study guides for each of the books (a couple written by yours truly )

So, are you up for the challenge? Ready to work out those mind, heart, and faith muscles this summer? I’d love to have you join me!

P.S. If you decide to do last year’s summer challenge, the FIRST thing on the list is to read five Christian books. Well, isn’t that something…