Some Summer Reading
Today is almost like a holiday for me. It's vacation-eve. To celebrate, I wanted to give you a sampling of what I've read the past six months.
In the past, I've done this list just prior to Christmas. However, between seminary and my own personal reading, my book reading has grown exponentially. So, with no lesson on the schedule for this week and my mind halfway on vacation already, I decided to put this list for your perusal.
My goal in doing this annually is two-fold. 1. I want you to see what I'm reading. 2. I want to give you some ideas for either personal reading or as gifts for Father's Day, Anniversaries, or even for vacation.
As always, this will not be a comprehensive list. It's just some books I want to highlight that I hope you are interested in as well.
Just a note, for the first time I can remember, I'm now reading most of my books in the Kindle format. Of the books I list below, only two were read traditionally. (As such, I will include an Amazon.com link for every book I list.)
Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel. Don't let this book fool you. It is written primarily to single people who desire to one day be married. It lays out practices and principles for a single, Christian man or woman to stay focused on Christ, finding the right guy or gal and having a successful marriage. If you're married, you can learn a thing or two, but know it is geared for single people. If you're single, I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I love Francis Chan books. This is the third book of his I have read. Forgotten God is all about the Holy Spirit and how he works in the life of a believer. It's not overly charismatic, but it also asks more conservative believers to open up their minds to how the Holy Spirit works in their lives. It's a great book that will enrich your ideas about God and the role of the Holy Spirit.
God Built by Steve Farrar. Honestly, this is the best book I've read all year, and that says a lot. God Built breaks down the story of Joseph to show God's providence in all circumstances. He uses great anecdotes to drive home his point that in your life God is in control of everything, from storms to employment.
Criticism Bites by Brian Berry. I need to give full disclosure. I was given this book free to read and review prior to release. It doesn't cloud my opinion but I wanted you to know. Criticism Bites is all about dealing with criticism, especially in the ministry. We are all criticized and most people don't handle it well. Berry lays out the various criticisms we receive, then provides ways we can deal with those criticisms. Very practical book.
Hurt People, Hurt People by Sandra D. Wilson. I read this book for a seminary class on Christian counseling, but it's a great read for anybody. The premise of the book is that we all hurt from something - upbringing, rejection, etc. - and we in turn hurt others as a result. It provides way to overcome the hurt we have and strives to make us treat others better.
Pop Goes Religion by Terry Mattingly. I bought this book many years ago at a discount book seller and just got around to reading it. I loved it. It opened up my eyes to what qualifies as faith amongst our celebrity culture. The book is a series of essays and columns by Mattingly, a seminary professor and pop culture columnist. He writes about areas where Christianity and pop culture intersect. It challenges the way we view Christianity and fame. Very thought-provoking read.
The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg. We all want to be better. Ortberg writes a book that seeks for us to maximize our potential in Christ. He gives practical ways we can overcome our shortcomings to be the believers Christ calls us to be.
The Truth of the Cross by R. C. Sproul. Sproul lays out the purpose for the cross and why it's so important to Christianity. Sproul is an unabashed five-point Calvinist so some of this book delves into his Calvinistic views. If you know that going in, it makes for a much sharper read, whether you're a strict Calvinist or not.
That's just a highlight of my book reading. I hope it helps.
In the past, I've done this list just prior to Christmas. However, between seminary and my own personal reading, my book reading has grown exponentially. So, with no lesson on the schedule for this week and my mind halfway on vacation already, I decided to put this list for your perusal.
My goal in doing this annually is two-fold. 1. I want you to see what I'm reading. 2. I want to give you some ideas for either personal reading or as gifts for Father's Day, Anniversaries, or even for vacation.
As always, this will not be a comprehensive list. It's just some books I want to highlight that I hope you are interested in as well.
Just a note, for the first time I can remember, I'm now reading most of my books in the Kindle format. Of the books I list below, only two were read traditionally. (As such, I will include an Amazon.com link for every book I list.)
Going All the Way by Craig Groeschel. Don't let this book fool you. It is written primarily to single people who desire to one day be married. It lays out practices and principles for a single, Christian man or woman to stay focused on Christ, finding the right guy or gal and having a successful marriage. If you're married, you can learn a thing or two, but know it is geared for single people. If you're single, I HIGHLY recommend this book.
Forgotten God by Francis Chan. I love Francis Chan books. This is the third book of his I have read. Forgotten God is all about the Holy Spirit and how he works in the life of a believer. It's not overly charismatic, but it also asks more conservative believers to open up their minds to how the Holy Spirit works in their lives. It's a great book that will enrich your ideas about God and the role of the Holy Spirit.
God Built by Steve Farrar. Honestly, this is the best book I've read all year, and that says a lot. God Built breaks down the story of Joseph to show God's providence in all circumstances. He uses great anecdotes to drive home his point that in your life God is in control of everything, from storms to employment.
Criticism Bites by Brian Berry. I need to give full disclosure. I was given this book free to read and review prior to release. It doesn't cloud my opinion but I wanted you to know. Criticism Bites is all about dealing with criticism, especially in the ministry. We are all criticized and most people don't handle it well. Berry lays out the various criticisms we receive, then provides ways we can deal with those criticisms. Very practical book.
Hurt People, Hurt People by Sandra D. Wilson. I read this book for a seminary class on Christian counseling, but it's a great read for anybody. The premise of the book is that we all hurt from something - upbringing, rejection, etc. - and we in turn hurt others as a result. It provides way to overcome the hurt we have and strives to make us treat others better.
Pop Goes Religion by Terry Mattingly. I bought this book many years ago at a discount book seller and just got around to reading it. I loved it. It opened up my eyes to what qualifies as faith amongst our celebrity culture. The book is a series of essays and columns by Mattingly, a seminary professor and pop culture columnist. He writes about areas where Christianity and pop culture intersect. It challenges the way we view Christianity and fame. Very thought-provoking read.
The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg. We all want to be better. Ortberg writes a book that seeks for us to maximize our potential in Christ. He gives practical ways we can overcome our shortcomings to be the believers Christ calls us to be.
The Truth of the Cross by R. C. Sproul. Sproul lays out the purpose for the cross and why it's so important to Christianity. Sproul is an unabashed five-point Calvinist so some of this book delves into his Calvinistic views. If you know that going in, it makes for a much sharper read, whether you're a strict Calvinist or not.
That's just a highlight of my book reading. I hope it helps.
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