In his early adult years, Lee Strobel lived
as an atheist, heavily influenced by Darwinian
theory. After becoming a Christian he re-examined
his old beliefs, realizing he had been deceived
by scientific theories that seemingly disproved
the existence of God. In this book he details
what he has since learned from science that
irrefutably points to God's existence.
Shattered Dreams
by Larry Crabb
Psychologist Larry Crabb helps readers learn
that disappointments are never random, but a
piece to a larger puzzle. This moving book discusses
how pain can cause persons to discover our hunger
for God, creating opportunities for the Holy
Spirit to awaken us to real growth.
What's
So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey
With his refreshing
writing style, Philip Yancey writes wonderfully
about the topic of grace. His illustrations
are compelling and his insights are provoking.
The
Jesus I Never Knew (Limited Edition) by Philip Yancey
Yancey begins
with the premise that Jesus was a radical
during his time on earth, and he would still
be a radical today. He challenges modern Christians
to leave their comfort zones to truly contemplate
the extreme message of salvation.
Loving God by Charles Colson
Colson is an outstanding story
teller who has an uncanny knack for clearly
illuminating truth. In this book he helps
us know how to love God by understanding the
nature of God’s love for us.
Paul by Walter Wangerin
Told in chronological
order by those nearest Paul, this depiction
of the early church apostle is highly readable.
It will give you great insight into the beginnings
of the New Testament church.
A New Kind of Christian: A Tale
of Two... by Brian D. McLaren
Using a story format, McLaren describes a frustrated
minister’s journey from the confinement
of rigid fundamentalism to a more expansive
understanding of God. You might not agree with
all its ideas, yet you should find it to be
a mind-stretcher.
The Sacred
Romance: Drawing Closer to... by Brent Curtis and
John Eldridge
Though this not a self-image
book, it offers much to those struggling to
understand their special status before God.
Their thrust is to encourage readers to set
aside life’s “arrows” of pain
and failure in order to respond favorably to
God’s call to romance with him.
The Return of the Prodigal
Son: A Story... by Henri Nouwen
Nouwen describes his fascination
with Rembrandt’s great painting of the
prodigal son, then gives interpretations of
the painting and the parable found in Luke
15. Few other books draw its readers into
an understanding of godly love as skillfully.
Love
Is A Choice : The Definitive Book... by Hemfelt, Minirth,
and Meier
This book provides
an excellent explanation of codependence and
how to break its grip. It can be used as a
road map for learning healthy psychological
independence.
Into the Depths of God: Where
Eyes See... by Calvin Miller
Giving insights into
the subject of godliness, Calvin Miller draws
upon his appreciation for art and music as he
describes the journey of developing inner character.
His Needs, Her Needs:
Building an... by Willard F. Harley
This book gives a clear explanation
of the differing needs experienced by husbands
and wives, and provides insights into creating
an understanding home atmosphere.
Rumors of Another World By Philip Yancey
This is a must read for those who have wondered
about the relevance of God or who have felt
disenfranchised by the Christian community.
Using his usual creativity, Yancey encourages
his readers to find the supernatural within
natural occurances. His writing is brilliant
and inspiring.
The Five Love Languages By Gary Chapman
Do you know how best
to illustrate love to your mate? Chapman explains
how each person receives love differently. A
task of successful marriages is the learning
of your mate’s love language and responding
accordingly. This book is a primer in the use
of empathy at its highest levels.
The Five Love Languages of Children By Gary Chapman,
with Ross Campbell
A follow-up to his best seller, The Five
Love Languages, this book focuses on ways
to communicate most effectively with children
by first learning to recognize how to reach
their hearts. This book is a creative description
of effective interactions with your youth.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A classic book
clearly spelling out the rationale for believing
in Christ. It is a must read for anyone trying
to figure out God’s desire to draw us
toward him.
Inside Out by Larry Crabb
Psychologist Larry Crabb
identifies how the Christian life can
never be what God intended it to be until
we learn to let God live within, giving
our entire selves to him. He discusses
how we find fulfillment by putting far
less emphasis on externals, learning instead
to be fully yielded to his direction.
Healing
Conversations: What to Say When... by Nance Guilmartin
An excellent resource book
detailing how to respond to individuals who
are going through trials and traumas. It gives
many illustrations related to those in grief,
who have suffered loss, and who are perplexed
by undesirable circumstances.
Root of the
Righteous by A.W. Tozer
This book is a compilation of devotional writings
of the late Dr. Tozer. Its theme is to develop
the root system of believers rather than merely
focusing on external appearances.
