I realize that some of you have already come and gone from your vacation. However, I love discovering new books and am always grateful when others share their top picks. Let me know if you have a few you think I would like.

A Grace Disguised, Jerry Sittser
If you are going through the process of grieving or simply trying to understand some of the painful seasons of your life, I highly recommend this classic book, recently re-released.

An Altar in the World, Barbara Brown Taylor
I liken this to Brother Lawrence’s classic, Practice of the Presence of God only Brown finds God in the mundane physical world.

Booked,  Karen Swallow Prior
Prior brilliantly and poetically draws upon classic literature to tell her story of falling in love with books and God.

Falling Upward, Richard Rohr
Rohr offers a new paradigm for understanding one of the most  profound mysteries of life: how our failings can offer us the opportunity to grow. (I do want to note, that I am not in agreement with all of Rohr’s understanding of Scripture.)

Help, Thanks, Wow, Anne Lamott                                                                                                                                                 Reverend Anne condenses prayer into three categories: see title above. The normal insightful, irreverent, Anne Lamott that we’ve come to expect but thankfully without the f bomb and her normal rantings about politics.

Holy Ghost Girl, Donna Johnson
I was nearly breathless while reading this. I am still stunned that she could have endured such a tragic childhood and yet emerged with seemingly no trace of bitterness towards the church.

Joni and Ken, Ken and Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni’s most vulnerable book yet. Don’t read this looking for an expose. Read it if you want to understand how God has used their marriage to make them holy.

Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me, Ian Morgan Cron
Brilliant, tragic, raw, and outrageously funny. When I wasn’t flinching.

Refuse to Do Nothing, Kimberley McOwen Yim and Shayne Moore
Sometimes, large scale global issues make me feel so overwhelmed that I simply turn away and relegate myself to prayer. These two soccer moms show us that all of us are capable of more.

The Spirit of Food, Leslie Leyland Fields
One of my favorite books from the past few years. Leslie lives and writes in Alaska. She compiled a treasury of work from her peers who all understand the inherent spirituality of food.

Torn, Justin Lee
While I disagree with Lee’s conclusions on God’s involvement in our expression of sexuality, because this is perhaps the most polemic issue of the church today, we need to read this book (as well as Hill’s) and work to understand the conflict.

Troubled Minds, Amy Simpson
It is rare to find a book which combines psychology, personal story, and the church. Simpson has succeeded and this book is a must read for all pastors and church leaders.

Washed and Waiting, Wesley Hill
Hill asks the seminal question, “How do the gospel, holiness and indwelling sin play out in the life of a Christian struggling with same-sex attraction?” Hill comes to the conclusion that though healing is not possible, obedience is.

(Not all of these books are new releases but I feel they are all worthy of your time.)

I am currently reading:
The Book of Genesis, Ronald Hendel
The Autistic Brain, Temple Grandin
Walk in the Light and Twenty-Three Tales, Tolstoy

Waiting to receive from the library:
Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg