Think

Typically, reading anything written by John Piper is like eating spinach. I know it's good for me, but I don't particularly like the taste or texture. Piper's book Think is different. It's smaller than other books of his that I've chomped through and it's more personal and "on the street", something I can more easily identify with. Ironically, I think because he gets fairly personal and less heady in this book, I am able to more easily connect with it.

Here are a couple excerpts that I really like:

• [This book is] mainly for the Christian - in or out of school - who wants to know God better, love him more, and care about people. (p 16)
• It's about using the means God has given us to know him, love him, and serve people. Thinking is one of those means. I would like to encourage you to think, but not to be too impressed with yourself when you do. (p 17)
• ...the serious thinkers may be humble. And the careless mystics may be arrogant. The aim of this book is to encourage serious, faithful, humble thinking that leads to true knowledge of God, which leads to loving him, which overflows in loving others. (p 20)
• Without a profound work of grace in the heart, thinking puffs up. But with that grace, thinking opens the door of humble knowledge. And that knowledge is the fuel of the fire of love for God and man. (p 21)
• Some of my notions about God went up in the flames of biblical truth. (p 26)
• ...the soul would have no rainbow if the eye had no tears. Some joys are only possible on the other side of sorrow. (p 26)
• ...all training is painful and frustrating on the way to skills that later become second nature and lead to greater joy. The person who will not embrace the pain and frustration will remain at lower levels of achievement and joy. (p 47)
• ...the golden rule of reading implies: work hard with your mind to understand what an author intended to convey. (p 45)

I like the recurring theme: know God better, which leads to loving him more, which leads to loving people in deeper and more God-like ways.