11/29/2021 – From Carl’s “favorites” book post yesterday: 2022 Book Recommendations
Thanks Carl! Good idea! We share three from your 2021 list, that is what happens when men start hanging out together!; even as we continue to apply our unique gifts to His kingdom. And Nancy, has four Elizabeth Elliott books on the shelf across the room from me, including your “Shadow of the Almighty.” I just ordered “Praying the Bible” by Whitney on my Kindle. I am already praying the Word, psalm 145 daily in particular. So, a chance to ramp it up.
I was going to include Focus on the Family’s 10 hour seminar – “The Truth Project, going back a couple of decades, but I just note it here. That seminar remains a great group bible study. When I facilitated a group in Houston, we would listen to a segment then discuss that segment the following week, tying bible reference support to it. The Christian community still needs the “Christian Worldview” mindset that was absent for us growing up. The remnant millenials that were home-schooled or went to one of the few Christian worldview schools get it. Well, I guess I have included it now, a seminar within a book recommendation list. haha
Of course, my first (3) here are Bible reference tools.
- “Halley’s Bible Handbook” by H.H. Halley (first edition 1924) – of course the summary for each book of the bible. But, the maps, interspersed photo illustrations, history and archaelogical sections are rich and articulate. I’ll go with the pioneer messenger, albeit with recent history archaelogical finds that are missing. (i.e. -Dead Sea Scrolls – Qumran)
- “Matthew Henry Commentary” by Matthew Henry // I might be leaning more lately to John Gill’s free online commentary for every verse of the Bible:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/
- “Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli – In spite of the fact that it seems that there is an ever dwindling number of souls that want to engage in rational discussion of “Who is God? ; Who is man? And what is our relationship to God?: I have worn out the pages of this little book. On a first time read, it is better to have by your bedside at night, to read little by little, for it is otherwise can be like taking a drink of water from a fire hose.
- “Three Philosophies of Life: Ecclesiastes –Life as Vanity; Job –Life as Suffering; Song of Songs –Life as Love by Peter Kreeft // through the cycle of life: hell on earth to purgatory on earth to heaven on earth. The Kingdom of God is now by His grace. (A 2021 book for me)
- “7 More Men and the Secret of Their Greatness” by Eric Metaxas (*)
(*) : Martin Luther / George Whitefield / George Washington Carver / General William Booth / Sergeant Alvin York / Alexander Solzhenitsyn / Billy Graham // Once again, it is not about the messenger but aim high. (another 2021 book)
- “Jesus the King “ (previously published as “King’s Cross”) by Timothy Keller – From 2011, I listened to Keller’s Mark commentary at least three times cover to cover on daily commutes over the years.
- “Shackleton’s Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Arctic Explorer” by Margot Purcell // Once again, aim high above yourself where you don’t think you can go and God will bring you home. He calls us to participate, even sharing in His sufferings. (Even in prayer, “hope that is seen, is not hope.”)
- “Saints Who Battled Satan” by Paul Thigpen, Ph.D. – As I have said often of late, given our world today: “The world is not scary , it is just evil.” Stand fast to His glory!
- “The Confessions of Saint Augustine” by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine ( 354 – 430 A.D.) – Funny, 17 centuries dated and Augustine’s early rebellious life could just as well be a present day story that speaks to young people in search of meaning. It is a book of praise, pointing to an all-loving and unfathomably gracious God.
- “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky – My father used to say that the 19th century Russian novelists were the country’s theologians, perhaps even doubling as sidewalk preachers. So, it is with this classic.
- “The Book of Mysteries” by Jonathan Cahn (365 mysteries, a daily devotional) – through the path of the Hebrew language , one can be caught on the mysteries of His Word, it is like unpeeling an onion, that may just go on forever. (We will never fully comprehend God Almighty, praise God!)
- “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Eric Metaxas and Timothy J. Keller – I got caught up at the end in the footsteps of Bonhoeffer in his walk, some say a “dance” to the gallows, just prior to the end of the ‘third reich”.
How did he do it? Answer: By the grace of God alone. Pray in advance!