Favorite Reads from 2011 and the January Giveaway

In no particular order, with this word of caution: Remember that a recommendation doesn't mean I agree with every word written by an author. I do, however, believe it's an edifying book that won't lead you astray in your Christian walk. As always, measure a book by God's Word and use the discernment He's given you.

1) Humility by C.J. Mahaney: Mahaney instructs with passion and compassion and much practicality. Not one to leave the reader wondering where to begin in cultivating a spirit of humility, he lays out clear suggestions wrapped in reminders of God's grace. This is one of my top recommendations for family and church unity.

2) Why We Love the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck: "The church manifests itself in churches. And churches do certain things and are marked by certain characteristics." 
In case you haven't noticed, there's a huge attack on the local church today. And it isn't coming from the pagan. As I was flipping through an "anti-church" book at Barnes and Noble, I was deeply grieved. Even if you're settled in your belief in the importance of being part of the local church, you must make sure your children understand why. The lie that we can just gather at Starbucks and not be under the authority of or accountable to a local church body will face our children at every turn. In this book, DeYoung and Kluck provide a sound primer, infused with much humor, for why being part of your local church is important. I literally shouted, "Go Kevin!" while reading this book. :)

3) Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung: This book radically changed the way I look at knowing "God's will." Truly a must read that will free you from the bonds of fear-based indecision.

4) Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians by D.A. Carson: Oh, how I wished Carson had written one of these expositions for many more books of the Bible! This is a short and edifying read, packed with much wisdom and encouragement and conviction. Don't miss it! It's very understandable, and while I've finished reading it on my own, each morning I'm reading through it with our children. Carson is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.

5) Gilead by Marilynne Robinson: My personal reading in 2011 was very weak on fiction, and I'm reminded of it over and over by Ink. I'm glad I finally gave this book a try, though, for I was immediately captivated by Robinson's beautiful prose as well as her insight into the human heart as she shares the story of an aging father writing to his very young son. It's one time that I wished I was reading on a Kindle BECAUSE I was wanting to highlight so many passages!

6) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Don Whitney: This book has caused quite a stir in some circles as Whitney has been accused of embracing mysticism and making a "discipline" out of things that aren't really disciplines of the Christian life. That said, this was still one of my favorite reads last year, one that I'll re-visit often, and one that all of our children will read. I didn't find anything "mystical" about Whitney's writings, and he's heavy on Puritan quotes. I think any of us can turn suggestions into legalism. That's often the reader's fault, not the author's. Highly recommended.

7) Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper: I know. I'm just now reading this. Actually, we're reading it together during our group time. Technically, it should be a 2012 book, but I wouldn't want to wait that long to recommend it. Everything we do should be for God's glory, and Piper clearly demonstrates how that truth manifests itself in our everyday living.

8) Spurgeon's Sermons on Prayer by C.H. Spurgeon: If you can only read one book about prayer this year, read this one. Spurgeon encourages and admonishes while sharing his passion for prayer as only he can. You will find your prayer life infused with much faith and hope after reading his sermons. (Valley of Vision and Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer are wonderful books for teaching us what to pray and how to pray based on Scripture.)

9) Grieving, Hope, and Solace by Albert N. Martin: This is the one book I'd give to someone who has known the death of a loved one. I read this in a couple of days in December, and I was blessed by the compassion and encouragement that were strongly grounded in God's Word. The author has been there, and his determination to grieve in a manner that glorifies the Lord is a testimony of God's grace in his life. His words spur those of us who are grieving to do the same. While he specifically focuses on the hope we have in Christ Jesus when we die, this book is perfect for the unsaved, too, including a very strong presentation of the gospel.

10) The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Carl Trueman: I can tell my comprehension is improving when I can read something by Trueman and actually "get it." This is a seemingly neglected gem of wisdom that every Christian should read.


From the product description:
Fifteen years ago in The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, historian Mark Noll warned that evangelical Christians had abandoned the intellectual aspects of their faith. Christians were neither prepared nor inclined to enter the intellectual debate, and had become marginalized. Today Trueman argues, "Religious beliefs are more scandalous than they have been for many years"-but for different reasons than Noll foresaw. In fact, the real problem now is exactly the opposite of what Noll diagnosed¯evangelicals don't lack a mind, but rather an agreed upon evangel. Although known as gospel people, evangelicals no longer share any consensus on the gospel's meaning. 



"If the church as a whole is losing its ability to be 'salt and light' in the culture, it is not because its members have no opinion of the films of Bernardo Bertolucci, no appreciation for the poetry of Emily Dickinson, and no regular slot on the Charlie Rose show. More likely , it is because they do not have a solid grasp of the basic elements of the faith, as taught in Scripture..." ~Trueman


I can't NOT give away one of these books, you know. In fact, I'm giving away two:
Basics for Believers AND Why We Love the Church. If you have one of the books already, you can always bless someone else with your winning copy.


Just leave a comment letting me know your favorite book read in 2011. Only US entries please, and be willing to provide your phone number if you win, since I'll be shipping directly from Amazon. Ok, if you didn't have a favorite read, I'll include you, too, if you leave a comment letting me know to put your name in the drawing.


I'll announce the winning name next Friday, January 13th.


Happy Reading!
Trisha