One of my college professors, Dr. Jeff Myers, used to say, “You’ll be the same person 5 years from now that you are today, with the exception of 2 things: Who you spend time with, and the books you read.” It turns out, that statement has yet to disprove itself.  And as Rick Warren says, “Leaders are readers.” I know. Call it cheezy, but it doesn’t doesn’t make it untrue.

I set out at the beginning of ‘09 to read a book a week.  I didn’t quite succeed, because a few of them took a while to digest, but I didn’t do half bad.  I can’t even begin to tell you the influence books have had on my life, and therefore, (hopefully), the lives of those around me.

I haven’t included magic books, because you don’t have access to them, making listing them pointless.  Out of what I read this year, here are the 10 non-fiction, non-magic books that made the biggest difference in my life, in no particular or special order:

1. The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, by Timothy Keller

2. Don’t Know Much About History: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned, by Kenneth C. Davis (Okay, this didn’t impact the way I live, but it did give me TONS of perspective on the history of our nation, and it was one of the coolest history books I’ve ever read.)

3. Sex God, by Rob Bell (I recently finished this since visiting Pattaya, Thailand, and the new perspective was incredible.)

4. The 4-Hour Work-Week, by Timothy Ferris (I read this in 2008 and loved it, and recently re-read it by getting the new expanded and updated version.)

5. Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus (One of the most quotable books I’ve ever read!)

6. It, by Craig Groeschel

7. The Way to Love, by Anthony De Mello (This book took me 2 years to fully read/process, and is by far the shortest book on this list. It’s life-changing.)

8. Meatball Sundae, by Seth Godin

9. Tribes, by Seth Godin

10. The Message, Eugene Peterson (While I’ve been studying the Bible since a kid, I’ve always done so by chapter or individual verses. I use this version to quickly read entire books or sections of the Bible, and I like the perspective gained by reading an entire book in one sitting.)

What about YOU? What were some of YOUR favorite books from this year?  After all, 2010 is coming quickly, and I’ve got a new reading list to create!

We actually got here last night, and have had the last 24 hours to get reacquainted with Thailand.  We basically spent the day rummaging around Bangkok and doing our best to stay awake. It’s our initial effort in allowing our bodies to adjust to the 12 hour time change.

As I re-experienced Thai culture, I was once again reminded of the importance of being here.  There are “Spirit Houses” everywhere. They’re seemingly in every house, restaurant, and public building, in parks, and on street corners, and they’re a small sign of both sorrow and hope.

While a lot of the audiences I perform for in America seem to be running away from anything spiritual, the Thai people thrive on it.  While we’re all desperately trying to make sense of the world, the majority of people in Thailand are doing so through some form of spirituality.  The problem is, they’re just as unfulfilled because the path they’re on is an unending circle of deception.

However, at the same time, there is hope.  Hope found in the fact that the people here haven’t given up on their search for genuine spirituality.  They’re desperate to find it.  There are times in the U.S. that I am overwhelmed by how comfortably numb American audiences have become to the deception all around them. And those few who don’t seem numb, seem to be running from God.  And that doesn’t make any sense either, because they’re chasing after love.  And as Erwin McManus once wrote, “God is love.  To run from God but chase after love is maddening.”

All of our souls are craving something genuine.  The Thai people are neither numb to those cravings, or running away from them.  They’re desperately chasing both God and love.

The problem is, like many Americans, they’re looking in the wrong places. While Americans are usually obsessed with searching for approval from everyone around them, people here in Thailand are doing everything in their power to earn approval from God, (or “gods”, or “spirits”, or whoever/whatever the “powers at be” are).  If only there were enough people here to take the time to show them that they don’t have to earn it, but instead, just accept it…I can’t imagine what would happen through them.  ”Fully devoted followers” would quickly be a phrase that would accurately describe them.  Honestly, it’s something that already describes them.  They’re just following the wrong path.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I find myself increasingly thankful that there is nothing I can do to earn my God’s love, approval, or acceptance.  He is far too massive, holy, and perfect, and I’m far too full of pride, lust, fear, and selfishness.  Yet my God’s affection is far greater than my list of imperfections, and therefore, his desire for and pursuit of me justified sacrifice, his grace was and is perfectly sufficient, and he loves me just as I am.

Through that comes hope and freedom.  I don’t have to pay respects or give money to gold statues with big bellies, or even build little houses for spirits to dwell in.  I have hope and freedom that is only found through a relationship with the one true God, who through grace, accepts me and truly loves me, just for the asking. It wasn’t made possible by what I did or could do for him, but what he did for me.

Over the next 3 weeks, we’ll be sharing that same message of truth, hope, love, and freedom with people all over the country of Thailand.  We’ll be in private international schools, impoverished slums, and everything in-between.  We’ll be utilizing the unique talents and abilities that we’ve been given to share from a platform that few people can develop as quickly as we can in environments like these.  We’ll be using an art form that is truly universal, that crosses all age boundaries, cultural boundaries, and language boundaries, and engages any person from any walk of life!

Thailand is already desperately searching for truth, love, and purpose! We’re just here to show as many who live here as possible that they’ve been cleverly deceived into believing a counterfeit form of spirituality.  Our hope is that they will open the eyes of their hearts, and clearly see that rules and religion always fail, and the unconditional love offered from the one, true God can free them from the unending circle of spiritual performance.  Unlike we often do when performing for and speaking to audiences in America, we aren’t here to ask the people of Thailand to search. That’s something they’re already doing.  We’d just like to help re-direct their journeys, and point them to a love and acceptance that actually lasts.

Many here may believe that acceptance is found in building little “houses” that guard off “bad spirits” – spirits that can wreck your life, or even your chances at love. But we’d like to introduce them to the God who created them, the real love that He offers, and the true Spirit that can satisfy the deepest cravings of their souls.