This is the book I've been reading that has inspired so many ideas about church planting - believe it or not.  It's an excellent book for anyone interested in the details and history of Special Operations, but if you have been getting into this paradigm for church that I have fleshing out on this site you may enjoy reading it for that angle.

Incredible account of a SEAL mission gone wrong and the amazing escape and survival of a member of that 4-man team.  It is written by the only SEAL who lived through that horrific ordeal.

The author of this book is from British Special Forces, the SAS.  I drew a great deal of inspiration from his humility and the way he protected his mind and humanity against excruciating circumstances.

Nearly everything I wrote under the title of Uncertainty came from revelations as a result of reading this book.  I really liked "getting to know" the author and it made the story so much more thrilling to have felt that connection.

Detail rich pages on the most successful Special Operations missions in history made this a great read for me.  In terms of re-thinking church life, I gleaned a great deal of insight from the introduction and first chapter, where the author describes what a Special Operation really is and is not.  I has helped me to define what I am looking for instead of the "conventional" church models of today.

This is THE book on Army Special Forces (Green Berets).  The author has unique access to the making and training and Special Forces warriors and we reap the benefits of that perspective.  I drew a lot of the concpet of doing church as a "By, With, and Through" the community effort from reading this book.

Sorry for the lack of an image for this one, but it had to be included.  There is nothing more important for the follower of Jesus than the ability to hear his voice among the many "voices."  The late Bob Benson has done more to help connect me to God's voice than any other author or mentor.  There is nothing military about this book but it is certainly the key to living the "special forces" lifestyle I'm writing about.

Another Bob Benson book with no image... but if you can get your hands on a copy of this book, don't ever let it go.  The author teaches from John 15 in such a unique and thrilling way!  You can instantly declutter your life and attach yourself to the Vine by taking in the Truth in these pages.

Perhaps my favorite author of all time, Bob Benson has helped me understand what it really means to be a follower of Jesus.  First and foremost, it is about being - not doing.  I think these books are out of print but it's worth the looking to get ahold of a copy.  If you struggle with a "works-based" Christian life, this book can help liberate you.

This is the book that launched servant evangelism.  If evangelism has been out of touch and undoable for you, this book is a must read.  It will take a lot of the fear from evangelism and actually add some fun to it.

Redefining "spiritual warfare" is absolutely essential if we are ever going to see any lasting fruit from it.  This book lays out how love, kindness and generosity are actually used as spiritual weapons to destory dark strongholds in our cities, our churches, our families - anywhere that needs a change in atmosphere.

Conspiracy of Kindness developed the idea of servant evangelism, but leaves the readers feeling like it something for a group or an entire church to do as a program, or in project form.  While the projects are great, Outflow goes even further to equip the readers to live our daily lives in the Spirit of kindness, love and generosity.

Something about this book gripped my heart in the first page.  It was one that I could not put down.  I read it in a matter of 2 days, but I didn't want it to end.  From the military history perspective, the stories are incredible.  Everything I learned and wrote, spiritually speaking, about being "behind enemy lines" was gleaned from this book.

An entire book devoted to the history of Special Operations raids and rescues.  This book is inspiration in the most raw form - people doing amazing things against incredible odds, in order to save the life of another.  It doesn't take a great deal of extrapolating to draw spiritual insight from this book.  It isn't written like a thriller novel, but like news pieces instead - which made the reading a great deal more "real" to me.

Although don't really agree with everything conclusion in this book, I needed to read it.  It will truly challenge your religious thinking and force you to become better acquainted with the a very real Jesus instead of the Sunday School version most of us have settled for.

Another book that forces thinking and compells the reader to turn to the Holy Spirit for instruction and discernment.  Again, I do not accept every conclusion in the book but on the whole it is a vitally important piece to the way I believe followers of Jesus must pursue their relationship with him and with the world around them.

I got permission from the author to post an excerpt from this book.  You can view it here.  The subtitle to the book says it all.  "Shedding religion to find God."  If you think you've done that already, Palmer will challenge you to go even further in pursuit of the Real God.

Dr. Cole was a great hero of mine.  Having the divine fortune to have spent some time with him only drives home the significance of this book.  Every male of 13 years and older should read this book at least once per year.

It could take a year or more to read and digest everything in these 3 volumes.  I truly believe that Watchman Nee heard from the Holy Spirit in the writing of these books.  They are not easy reading but they are well worth the effort.

The cornerstone of my initial thinking on the idea of a "special forces" minded Christian comes from Galatians 6:1.  Particularly the part that instructs our restoration of others be done with the "spirit of gentleness."  This book by C.S. Lewis can do more to help you approach people from the perspective of their pain than any other that I know of.  Lewis perfectly articulates his own pain, questions, doubts, hopes, everything surrounding the loss of his wife.  This book will give you access to the fellowship of suffering.

Christians often settle for too little rather than asking for too much.  Lewis has really helped me to understand what intense glory God desires to place upon his children.  The book will change your prayers and expectations from God.  This is really the only way we can reach other people - by understanding the weight of Glory God wants for people.

The most unintentionally prophetic book ever written.  Lewis has been given some divine insight into the spiritual darkness that attacks humanity.  These fictional correspondences between two demonic imps will pull the curtain back on problems and trials of your life, just like it did for me. 

My favorite book of all time.  Another unique, prophetic book from C.S. Lewis that has cut at my core and revealed a truth from God I would have never seen.  This is certainly not easy reading but it is the first C.S. Lewis book to have really captured me so I enjoyed it before I had yet "acquired the taste" for his writing.

The first half is really the best of the book.  It came along at a time in my life when I really needed it.  It will help you to follow God, take risks, and do what you are afraid to do.