The Best Of

Here are several of the best books I read this past year. Teens, I would encourage you to pick one (or more) of them up for your reading pleasure. Just to get rid of a few excuses right away. First, if you can’t buy it, I’ll let you borrow my copy. Second, if you don’t think you have the time, these are all pretty short books and I’m sure 30 minutes less TV, internet or video games every now and then wouldn’t hurt. Third, if you really just aren’t into reading, my answer is this, like I have said many times before, we cannot be the Christians God desires us to be if we do not read. So with those things in mind, here is my list.

Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s Will | Kevin DeYoung

If you have ever wondered about God’s will for your life, then this book is for you. Kevin does a masterful job of sharing exactly what God’s will is for each of us. If you are content to do nothing with you life, you might not enjoy this book but If you have a desire to live your life for God, this book will be a great encouragement in doing so.

Humility: True Greatness | CJ Mahaney

I’ll just day, this is a must read!

The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith | Tim Keller

It is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking and living like the older brother in the story of the so-called “Prodigal Son”. Keller warns of the dangers of living like either of the sons in the story and points us to our spendthrift God.

What is a Healthy Church Member? | Thabiti  Anyabwile

I know, you think, why should a teen read a book about what kind of church member I should be. Well, this book, though the title speaks of church membership, could be accurately titled “What is a Healthy Christian?” and would be well worth the time to read.

Worldliness: Resisting the Seduction of a Fallen World | CJ Mahaney

We tend to think of worldliness as an external thing. Mahaney and several others do a great job of challenging the reader that at it’s heart worldliness is an issue of the heart, a message that we all need to be driven into our lives.

And one that I half-way read in ’09 and am going to finish in ’10…

The Bookends of the Christian Life | Jerry Bridges & Bob Bevington

So far so good…I mean, so far so great. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think. And btw, many of the themes that run throughout the book are the same that we have been looking at this school year in the book of Galatians.

Resources of the Month

I just wanted to mention the discounted resources that are available in the church bookstore during the month of March. The cd, God Makes No Mistakes by The Men of Calvary, is one that everyone should have in their music library. If you can’t tell by that statement, it is one of my personal favorites. The book, Bible Explorer’s Guide by John Phillips, is a great tool to help us in the task of properly understanding the Word. I’d encourage you to check both of these resources out. If you want to hear the cd, there will be one playing while the bookstore is open. Don’t forget, they are both 25% off their regular price.

Book of the Month

A little while ago I wrote a post about the book “Alone With God“. You can read it here. I just wanted to mention that the book is being featured as the “Book of the Month” in the church bookstore. You can purchase it there starting tomorrow at a discounted rate. I would encourage any of you that do not have it to do so. It will be an investment well worth the money. Tomorrow you can read a review of it on the back of the church bulletin if you want to hear a little more about it. The only other thing I can add to what the bulletin was to say is that is has been one of the books that has challenged me the most in my walk with the Lord. The bottom line is that you should get it and read it and then read it again in about 6 months and then read it again in about 6 months and well, you get the point.