Diamond

My wife has mentioned Karen Kingsbury many times over the years and has read many of her titles. “A Thousand Tomorrows” focuses on the relationship between a circuit rider and a barrel racer. Have read through enough of the book to know my wife will like this title. The book is a clean read, grounded in Christian values, describes the struggles of…[Read more]

“Reactivity” by Paul David Tripp is a great read for improving human relationships, whether online or in person. While the book appears to target more online relationships, the principles are also applicable to in-person relationships.

Around 170 pages, some of the points made include:

– What should be the norm in our social media discu…[Read more]

“Five Views On The New Testament Canon” by Stanley Porter and Benjamin Laird is a great read on as the title mentions: differing views on how the New Testament books were selected to be in the Bible. Around 280 pages, the book centers around a few key questions:

– What determined would be the New Testament Canon?

– What is the definition of a…[Read more]

“Preaching” by David Overdorf is a great read for any preacher or teacher (regardless of experience level) wanting to better communicate the Bible in a simpler (but not simplistic) way. Around 240 pages, the book addresses many topics, including:

– Preach according to the unique way God created you (in other words, just be yourself instead of…[Read more]

“The Pastoral Epistles” by Osvaldo Padilla is another great title in the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (TNTC) series. Like other entries in the series, there are many things to like about this book:

– Easy to read and understand.

– Smooth flow from chapter to chapter (not a choppy read).

– Appropriate technical level for the pastor and…[Read more]

“Redeeming Productivity” by Reagan Rose is a great read for anyone wanting to improve their productivity for God’s glory. Around 150 pages, some of the great points made include:

– Why living for just ourselves is empty.

– Instead of competing and comparing with others, do what God has called you to do.

– Importance of a daily morning routine…[Read more]

“Reactivity” by Paul David Tripp is a great read for improving human relationships, whether online or in person. While the book appears to target more online relationships, the principles are also applicable to in-person relationships.

Around 170 pages, some of the points made include:

– What should be the norm in our social media…[Read more]

“Reading The Bible Around The World” is a great read on the different ways various cultures interpret the Bible. The title describes the viewpoints from the perspectives of North American, European, African, Latin America, and Asian cultures. The book is easy to read and understand, flows smoothly from chapter to chapter, contains a helpful…[Read more]

“A Just Mission” is a great read challenging people to do mission work different from the popular paternalistic and “I know better than you” approach used by some in the Western world. Around 200 pages, some of the many topics addressed include:

– How poor countries are dependent on the Western world for financial support and the resulting…[Read more]

“Zero Hour America” is a great wake up call for our country to either turn back to its spiritual roots or go down the drain like other countries have over the centuries. Around 200 pages, some of the many topics covered include:

– Questions we need to ask ourselves.

– 2 extreme attitudes in our country today.

– The 3 basic choices Americans…[Read more]

“Liturgical Mission” by Winfield Bevins is a good read for anyone with some sort of church background, whether liturgical or non-liturgical. Around 200 pages, the book addresses many topics, including:

– The tension between the old church traditions and new trends.

– Contributing factors to the growth of church liturgy and liturgy is making a…[Read more]

“Wrestling With Job” by Bill Kynes and Will Kynes is a great read on the biblical book of Job. After reading through enough of this title, here’s what I like:

– While an academic read, the book is relatively easy to read and understand.

– Smooth flow from chapter to chapter.

– Contains many examples of “Digging Deeper Comments” where the…[Read more]

“Workers For Your Joy” is a great read for anyone wanting to become a more productive and fruitful servant in a local church. Around 300 pages, many topics are covered, including:

– 5 characteristics of desirable pastors.

– 2 ways humility is portrayed by servants and how God takes initiative in developing humility in us.

– 7 characteristic on…[Read more]

Practically everyone talks to themselves, whether verbally and mentally. “Hold That Thought” by Gem Fadling is a very good read for monitoring the thoughts we allow into our minds and how to respond to those thoughts. Around 180 pages, the book covers many topics, including:

– Be careful of dwelling only on the thoughts that come to our mind…[Read more]

“The Religion Of American Greatness” by Paul Miller is a great read for anyone interested in evaluating the concept of American nationalism. The author appears to be a conservative evangelical and has concerns on where extreme nationalism can take our wonderful (and in my view, the best) country. Around 300 pages, the author addresses many topics,…[Read more]

“Embracing Rhythms Of Work And Rest” is a great read on the importance of working well and having appropriate times of rest. Around 220 pages, many topics are covered, including:

– Practicing a sabbath and having times of solitude and quiet is a way to show trust in God instead of our flesh.

– God prepares the way when we take times of res…[Read more]

Great read on the importance of working well and having appropriate times of rest. Around 220 pages, many topics are covered, including:

– Practicing a sabbath and having times of solitude and quiet is a way to show trust in God instead of our flesh.

– God prepares the way when we take times of rest.

– What trusting God can look like when we…[Read more]

“The Call To Follow” is a great and countercultural read on being a good follower in a day and age of constant self-promotion and an emphasis on being an effective leader instead of being a good servant to others. Around 200 pages, the book covers many good points, including:

– Helpful and harmful statements about leadership.

– Definition of…[Read more]

“Necessary Christianity” by Claude Alexander is a great read for the follower of and believer in Jesus Christ on what he/she needs to do as commanded in the Bible. I attended the church Alexander serves a few years ago and live in the area. Hence, my interest in the book.

The title covers many good points, including:

– The mature Christian knows…[Read more]

“The Military Guide To Disarming Deception” is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about spiritual deception that is so prevalent in today’s world. Around 230 pages, the book addresses many relevant topics on the subject and here’s what I like about the title:

– Easy to read and understand.

– Contains many good spiritual and…[Read more]