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June 2010
Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging
by Brennan Manning
Recommended by Archie Wanamaker
It seems that many of us in our journey in Christ struggle with the idea that we are truly loved and accepted by God, just as we are and not as we should be. I believe this disconnect with our Heavenly Father’s love affects not only our trust in God but also our ability to love ourselves and one another. We can only love, as we ourselves are loved. In a world that seems to demand a performance based acceptance in everything we do, it seems both counter cultural and counter intuitive to believe that our Father in heaven truly accepts us just as we are. I had a conversation with Grady Shuman this past week and he reminded me of this wonderful book by Brennan Manning, who is a man that not only intellectually understands his heavenly Father’s love but one who has experienced such love from The Father. For those who long to know that they are loved and who long to express His love to others, this may be an instrument of God’s grace for you in your journey home. |
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May 2010
Tozer on the Holy Spirit
excerpts from A.W. Tozer
Recommended by John Seckman
John Seckman highly recommends, "Tozer on the Holy Spirit," a collection of passages from A. W. Tozer's work in the form of a 366-day devotional. Born in 1897 and called to pastor in 1919, A. W. Tozer wrote dozens of Christian books during his 66 year lifetime. His simple style and deep convictions about the nature of God and the Holy Spirit come through loud and clear in each passage. The book is also timely since many of his passages relate to the calling of the church and the role of the Holy Spirit in directing the church's activities. |
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April 2010
Handbook to Prayer
by Dr. Ken Boa
Recommended by Archie Wanamaker
Dr. Ken Boa: “Spiritual growth is impossible apart from the practice of prayer. Just as the key to quality relationships with other people is time spent in communication, so the key to a growing relationship with the personal God of heaven and earth is time invested in speaking to Him in prayer and listening to His voice in Scripture.”
I have used “Handbook to Prayer” as a tool to help guide me in my prayer life over the years. I have found that by using Scripture as a guide to prayer, my mind is renewed in His word and my heart is enriched through greater intimacy with our Father. I trust you too will find the One who calls us each by name as you seek Him through prayer from His word. |
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March 2010
Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God
by Francis Chan
Recommended by Mark Elliott
What's in a question? When we look at the unfolding conversation of Matthew 22 we see the Religious leaders of Jesus' time posing situations and questions for the mere purpose of trapping Jesus, attempting to expose Him as a fraud. In the midst of this dialogue, an expert of the law steps forward to test Jesus with a question, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied directly from the Hebrew Scriptures stating: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." He knew that these "experts" would be very familiar with this prayer-the Shema was central to everything they believed.
But Jesus was calling these leaders to move from a system of belief to a radical love relationship with the Creator of the Universe. This thinking, in their minds, was beyond revolutionary it was just plain crazy. Jesus knew something they did not know, He knew that to fall in love with the Heavenly Father would not just change their thinking it would transform their lives.
In his book entitled, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed By a Relentless God, Francis Chan invites us to take an uncomfortable look at our lives asking ourselves the question, "Do I really love God with all my heart, soul and mind.?" Chan states, "Our goal as people who follow Christ should be no less than becoming people who are madly in love with God." The really crazy thing is the more we fall in love with God the more we realize how madly in love He is with us! |
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February 2010
More than a Carpenter
by Josh McDowell
Recommended by Arol Wolford
"More Than A Carpenter" is one of my favorite books, and with a circulation of over 15 million copies it shows that a straight-forward Christian message is a story many do want to hear. This book tells a great deal about Jesus and simply but powerfully depicts His life, death and resurrection.
I believe this book would help anyone who is seeking comfort from our Savior. |
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January 2010
Searching for God Knows What
by Donald Miller
Recommended by Brad Lantis
In "Searching for God Knows What," Donald Miller follows up his immensely popular "Blue Like Jazz" with an intimate, and at times humorous, look at his own journey of faith. My heart resonates with Miller's as he yearns for redemption, and for a closeness with God like we (mankind) once had in the Garden. While this book is really engaging on many levels and actually enjoyable to read, do not be surprised if it also leads you to pause and consider your relationship with Jesus in a new and fresh light. |
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December 2009
The Prodigal God:
Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
by Timothy Keller
Recommended by John Seckman
This book unpacks the parable of the lost son in a whole new light. It’s not just about the lost son but also his brother, the righteous one, and their relationship with their father. Our own attitudes about God can be found in both brothers. The lessons are applicable to everyday life as we struggle with our own rebelliousness as well as our righteousness. |
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November 2009
The Valley of Vision:
A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
Edited by Arthur Bennett
Recommended by Bob Albee
I was given this book several years ago by a friend and it has become one of my all-time favorite books.
In it are found the prayers and devotions of 14 leaders of the Puritan Movement which occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries but had influence at least until the time of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892).
The book is not about how to pray, but a book of prayers that inspire me to know my Lord better and to acknowledge His complete knowledge of me. The authors know God deeply and intimately and yet have a desire for more. You need not guess where their hearts are because they reveal their innermost thoughts in their prayers in a humble manner; yet, they consistently know the source of their ongoing transformation and the love of a 'Father' who will never fail them.
The language is poetic and beautiful even though I must look up an occasional word.
I recommend the book for anyone who wants to know what goes on inside the mind and heart of those who can confidently be called 'men of God'. |
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October 2009
Sacred Marriage
by Gary Thomas
Recommended by Archie Wanamaker
The subtitle to this book is “What if God designed Marriage to make us Holy more than to make us Happy”. If you are seeking a deeper understanding of how God uses the paradigm of marriage to form you into greater Christ-likeness, you may find a great deal of truth in this book. Above and beyond any other book that I have read on marriage, this book by Gary Thomas is the single one I recommend to those who are seeking to know Christ and to see His life work through their marriage. There are no tips or techniques, but deep truths of how God transforms people through the context of marriage.
“Marriage is the greatest test in the world…but now I welcome the test instead of dreading it. It is much more than a test of sweetness of temper, as people sometimes think; it is a test of the whole character and affects every action.” T.S. Eliot |
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September 2009
Epic: The Story God is Telling
by John Eldredge
Recommended by Rutledge Beacham
I believe all can relate to this book since we are all in the "middle of God's story".
Life, for the most of us, feels like a movie we've arrived to forty minutes late.
In our lives, good things happen along with tragic things. What does this mean?
Each of us was born into the middle of God's great story and each of us has a crucial role to play. |
