The Challies Reading Challenge: 2017 Recap, and the 2018 Challenge

It’s that time of year again: a recap of the last year, and planning for the next year.  Tim Challies continues the yearly reading challenge, with a revised version for 2018 – the details are available here.

For 2017, I started with the ‘light’ list and soon expanded to the ‘avid’ reader list of 26 books  — reference this original post  and mid-year update.  As of this point in December, my book count has exceeded the target of 26; 33 books completed, and nearing the end of one more (Richard Barcellos’ Getting the Garden Right).

What I like most about this ‘reading challenge’ is that it sets a goal and keeps me focused, to be more intentional about reading and completing books, to actually read through the many books now on my Kindle as well as many of the free audio (Christian Audio free books, plus Librivox) and free e-books.   As with this year, for 2018 I’ll just pick from some of the categories, and read as many as I can.  Challies’ plan creates a large gap, from 26 to 52 books.  For my busy work/home schedule, 52 books for the year is not likely (unless all the books were really short, but why do that just for targeting a number?), but somewhere in the 30 to 40 books range is possible, when including audio books plus Kindle reading (with a cellphone/reader stand for the kitchen counter adds reading time) and the many paperback books I received free this last year.

Posts about the books I read this year:

• The Divine Covenants, by A.W. Pink
• A Life of Character, by J.R. Miller
• Andrew Bonar’s Commentary on Leviticus 
• Sketches of the Covenanters by J.C. McFeeters; and The Lord’s Day: Its Presuppositions, Proofs, Precedents, and Practice, by Sam Waldron, in the Mid-Year Update Post
• History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, volume 1 by J.H. Merle D’Aubigne
• The Forgotten Spurgeon, by Iain Murray
• Taking God at His Word, by Kevin DeYoung; The Passionate Preaching of Martyn Lloyd Jones by Steven Lawson; and The Fallible Prophets of New Calvinism, by Michael John Beasley — in this post
• The God I Love: A Lifetime of Walking with Jesus, by Joni Eareckson Tada
• The Defense of the Faith, by Cornelius Van Til
• Covenant Theology: From Adam to Christ
• Be Worshipful: Glorifying God for Who He Is (Psalms 1-89), by Warren Wiersbe
• The Whole Christ:  Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance – Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters
• Taking Hold of God: Reformed and Puritan Perspectives on Prayer, by Joel Beeke and Brian Najapfour

For reading in 2018, this is my list so far (subject to change), from various categories in Challies’ list:

• A Biography:  Mary Slessor of Calabar: Pioneer Missionary  (Amazon kindle version free)
• A Book About Christian Living:  Practical Religion, by J.R. Miller
• A Book by an Author Who Is No Longer Alive:  Christianity and Liberalism, by J. Gresham Machen
• A Book with at least 400 pages:  Ongoing reading of Charles Spurgeon sermon volumes (currently in volume 14, 1868)
• A Book of your choice: Who Are the Puritans? By Errol Hulse
• A Book about Theology:  Altar to an Unknown Love: Rob Bell, C.S. Lewis, and the Legacy of the Art and Thought of Man, by Michael John Beasley
• A Book about the Early Church:  The Confessions of St. Augustine (Librivox)
• A Book Written by a Puritan:  The Works of William Perkins, volume 1
• A Book of Your Choice: Understanding the Times: A Survey of Competing Worldviews, by Myers and Noebel
• A Book About Theology / Book of Your Choice: Understanding Genesis: How to Analyze, Interpret, and Defend Scripture, by Jason Lisle
• A Commentary on a Book of the Bible:  Be Delivered (Exodus): Finding Freedom by Following God (The BE Series Commentary), by Warren Wiersbe
• A Book About Christian History: The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity, by Mark Noll
• A Novel by an Author You Have Never Read Before:  Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn
• A Book About Theology:  Scripture and Counseling: God’s Word for Life in a Broken World, by Bob Kellemen
• A Memoir or Autobiography:  Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story, by Steven Curtis Chapman (a Christian Audio featured book)
• A Self-Improvement Book:  Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest, by Edward T. Welch
• A Book about Prayer: Necessity of Prayer, by E.M. Bounds
• A Book by R.C. Sproul:  Pleasing God
• A Book You Read in the Last Three Years:  J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings (Kindle version here)
• A Book Written in the Nineteenth Century:  Spurgeon, Life in Christ: Lessons from Our Lord’s Miracles and Parables
• A Book About History: A Country of Vast Designs: James K. Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent, by Robert W. Merry
• A Book About War: The Miracle of Dunkirk: The True Story of Operation Dynamo, by Walter Lord
• A Book About Heaven: Heaven on Earth, by Thomas Brooks
• A Book About Relationships:  Speaking the Truth in Love, by David Powlison
• A Book About Church History: The One Year Christian History
• A Book by Jerry Bridges: The Transforming Power of the Gospel
• A Book by Albert Mohler: The Gathering Storm: Religious Liberty and the Right to Be Christian
• A Book about the Bible: The Most Misused Verses in the Bible, Surprising Ways God’s Word Is Misunderstood, by Eric J. Bargerhuff