Most Influential Books in My Life

Fellow blogger and Crossroads Student Pastor Chris Brooks posted something today that was such a great exercise, I wanted to give my readers a chance to weigh in:  What are the five (or six!) most influential books in your life?  Here's my list:

Try as I might, I'm unable to whittle my list down from 6. Here’s my half-dozen, in sequence, rather than order of importance…

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I love this story because it ignited my passion and appetite for reading. I really did fancy myself Josephine March!

2. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. This timeless tale of life’s hurts, heartbreaks and scars making us “real” and able to experience love is as relevant in my life today as it was when I first read this story. Love, love, love.

3. Collected Poems of Robert Service by Robert W. Service. No book so much as this one sparked my love for words and my desire to write. I am forever indebted to Mr. Service for his artful telling of “The Cremation of Sam McGee”!

4. Improving Your Serve by Charles Swindoll. This book is etched in my heart. In the midst of a generation of people seeking the spotlight (during the 1990′s), Swindoll called for God’s people to revisit the teaching and example of Jesus about living the life of a servant. Powerful.

5. Rediscovering Church by Bill and Lynne Hybels. The story of Willow Creek Community Church. The single most inspiring story I have ever read. I wept through almost the entire book as God gently spoke to me about what my husband already knew…it was time to plant a church. Pivotal.

6. Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones. This one had to make the list! It has changed everything about the way I write!

So...what are yours? Leave a comment and share them with us!