Biography Challenge for Christmas Break

I know that reading is probably the last thing you would consider as enjoyable at this moment. You are probably busy reading, studying, and writing in order to ensure you survive this semesters final gantlet called "finals week." I am praying for you my beloved brothers and sisters.

But, I want to suggest a way to encourage your soul over this Christmas break. Why not plan to read a good Christian biography? I really enjoy reading theology books, but what often brings me the most encouragement is to read a good biography of a faithful Christian who has traveled the pilgrim path before me.

Here are a few good reasons to read a biography of a faithful Christian:

1. It gets me outside of myself and into the sufferings of another child of God. It reminds me that suffering is the common lot of all people in this fallen world and that Christians have resources to endure suffering with joy in Christ.  
2. It helps me see my blind spots. We can often become myopic, only seeing things from our own culture and times. Reading of saints from bygone eras helps me overcome my temptations to chronological snobbery and cultural blindness. 
3. It reminds me that God has been our dwelling place in ages past and is, therefore, my hope in years to come. That is to say, God has been faithful to believers in the past and that encourages my trust in him as I look to the future. Biographies remind me that our labor is not in vain, even when it might feel that way at times, because God is at work in history. 

So, I encourage you to read a good biography (or listen to one using audible or christian audio). Here are few good ones you might consider

• Any of Piper's books in The Swans are Not Silent series (each on contains a short biography of 3 people with great application)
• Through Gates of Splendor or Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliott (on Jim Elliot and the 5 missionaries martyred in Ecuador in the 1950's)
• A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliott,
• 8 Faithful Women by Michael Haykin
• 10 Who Changed the World by Danny Akin is the one I plan to read / listen to (it is available on kindle for 2.99 and you can add an audible version that syncs to kindle for another 2.99).

There are lots of other good ones. I you are interested in one and want to know if it is worth picking up, email me and I'll see what I can find out. Also, you can check out the church library to find some biographies (click here).

Enjoy.