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November Recommendations
The Way of the Lord: Christian Pilgrimage Today
by Tom Wright Buy from amazon.com Buy for Kindle
This accessible book was recently recommended to me as useful preparation for the St. George’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land this month. Written by Anglican bishop and eminent biblical scholar Tom Wright, The Way of the Lord is less a guide to the physical sites travelers to the Holy Land usually see than it is a spiritual reflection on the various ways we come to know God using biblical geography as metaphor. This is an excellent book for all of us seeking to journey more deeply into faith. – RLS+
October Recommendations
King's Cross: The Story of the World in the Life of Jesus
by Tim Keller Buy from amazon.com Buy for Kindle
Few, if any, current Christian leaders and authors have greater gifts for connecting the story of the gospel to contemporary culture than Tim Keller. His latest book, King’s Cross, is a look at the life of Christ as told in the Gospel According to Mark. Keller’s central idea is that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus represent the central organizing narrative for our own lives as well. This is a particularly useful book for those attending the Rector’s Forum this year on Mark’s gospel. – RLS+
September Recommendations
byJohn Scott Buy from amazon.com Buy for Kindle
Issues Facing Christians Today
by John Scott Buy from amazon.com Buy for Kindle
The church and the world lost a truly great Christian witness in late July with the passing of John Stott at the age of 90. Anglican pastor and theologian, as well as a true evangelist in the very best sense of the word, Stott was the author of dozens of books and mentor to countless priests and church leaders in the Communion today. In a very modest gesture to honor his legacy, I recommend two of his works this month: his classic introduction to the faith entitled, Basic Christianity, and his book on contemporary moral issues, Issues Facing Christians Today, updated in 2006. – RLS+
August Recommendations
What Are People For?
I am tempted to say, if you have not read Wendell Berry before, “shame on you!” In fact, many of you are familiar with this Kentucky writer’s novels, short stories, and poetry. Berry has also been known for many years as one of our nation’s best cultural critics. Though originally published more than 20 years ago, this collection of essays is an excellent introduction to Berry’s writings, offering incisive and moving commentary on the economy, politics, nature, and other writers. I have enjoyed returning to this book in recent days and suspect you might enjoy it too. – RLS
Desiring the Kingdom
With stints at a Bible college, Catholic universities, and a home now at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jamie Smith defies simple classification. Recognized as a “rock star” in philosophical theology, Smith explains, in a book that is both scholarly and accessible, that we are not the facts we know or even the things we believe. Instead we are most fundamentally oriented and identified by what we love. And, he writes, “rather than being pushed by beliefs we are pulled by [what] we desire.” — By church member Molly Powell
July Recommendations
A Glimpse of Heaven
Compiled and edited by Richard Leonard and JoNancy Linn Sundberg (Howard Books, 2007)
From the beginning of the church, Christians have contemplated the promise of heaven as a means of expressing our hope in God’s resurrection promises and living our lives now in the light of eternity. This book offers brief meditations on heaven from a diverse collection of Christians ranging from the fourth century St. Cyril of Jerusalem to the 20th century
C.S. Lewis, from Julian of Norwich to the contemporary television preacher Tony Evans. – RLS+
Why I Believe in a Personal God: The Credibility of Faith in a Doubting Culture
George Carey, Archibishop of Canterbury Buy from amazon.com
Carey tells the story of a conversation he had with a prisoner. “Well,” the man said, “nobody believes in God these days, do they!” Writes Carey: “I asked him to give me one good reason why I should not and he fell silent in helpless confusion, unable to give one coherent thought to back up his remark. What he was doing, actually, was expressing an attitude, not an argument. He is not alone. Western society … has created a climate that makes it difficult for us to comprehend the supernatural.” But more is possible. A numbness of soul or a hazy system of belief are not the only options. In his book (and in his speaking) Carey holds out enormous possibilities for a living faith. – TJ
June Recommendations
Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling
A senior editor at Christianity Today International, Andy Crouch has served as executive producer of the documentary films Where Faith and Culture Meet and Round Trip and was editorial director of the Christian Vision Project from 2005 to 2008. He is a member of the editorial board of Books & Culture and serves on the board of Fuller Theological Seminary. – TJ
The Moviegoer
This month’s selection is neither a new book nor a work of Christian devotion or theology. Rather, I recommend a novel that many regard as a 20th century Christian “classic:” The Moviegoer by Walker Percy published in 1960. I am currently rereading this novel about a young professional man in New Orleans whose strange detachment from life is disrupted, leading to a new-found capacity to encounter love and meaning. Walker Percy was an important southern Christian novelist and essayist, and this debut novel offers a rewarding and thoughtprovoking experience. I recommend The Moviegoer to those looking for a good summer fiction to read. – RLS+