Read Any of These?

It doesn’t take much poking around our house to discover that we love books. They take up space in almost every room in the house including the………uh-ummm, bathroom. We read on vacation, in waiting rooms, in bed, in coffee shops, on planes, on trips and in used bookstores. Hardback or kindle, internet or magazine, audio book or paperback any will do. Here are some of our favorites that have been shaping our lives and thinking over the last year. Have you read any of these?

The Indwelling Life of Christ – Major W. Ian Thomas
In this All of Him in All of Me subtitled book, Thomas reminds us that our best efforts to live the Christian life fail because it takes Jesus Christ living His life through us by His Holy Spirit. Thomas and his wife are the founders of Torchbearers Schools, one of which Daniel attends.

The Cross Centered Life – C.J. Mahaney
Keeping the Gospel the main thing is easier said than done. Mahaney not only encourages us to let the cross define our lives but also gives some practical suggestions to center every day around the cross.

The Grace and Truth Paradox – Randy Alcorn
“Truth without grace breeds a self righteous legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world away from Christ. Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ.” Alcorn reminds us that both are essential and inseparable.

The Prodigal God – Timothy Keller
While we often consider the idea of “prodigal” in negative terms, by definition it means recklessly extravagant and can apply to the Heavenly Father’s extravagant love for us. Both sons were alienated from the father, but Keller particularly focuses on how the Elder brother’s legalistic morality was just as self-seeking.

The Emotionally Healthy Church – Peter Scazzero
Scazzero contends that, “It is not possible for a Christian to be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature.” He then gives helpful ideas for individuals and church leaders to take an honest look at themselves and encourages them to live in vulnerability.

What’s So Amazing About Grace? – Phil Yancey
Yancey is a word artist who paints a beautiful picture of God’s grace toward us. He reminds us as children of God, “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

Grace Awakening – Chuck Swindoll
Wanting Christians to live in grace and be released from legalism, Swindoll writes to awaken us. He encourages us to be ministers of grace as well and asks, “1. Do you add to others’ guilt, or do you lessen it? 2. Are you the type who encourages another’s liberty or restrains it?”