The Myth of a Christian Religion by Gregory A. Boyd
The kingdom of God is in opposition to the kingdoms of this world. However, the church has often muddled this truth. This has resulted in conflicting values and idolatry. This book addresses twelve issues from racial justice to the stewardship of the planet. Engaging with questions that the modern church faces, Greg Boyd discusses what it looks like to practically live the kingdom of God and to truly look for his kingdom to come. Reading this book really inspired me with the beauty and the simplicity of Jesus’s Gospel and His kingdom.
Holier Than Thou: How God’s holiness helps us trust Him by Jackie Hill Perry
We often say we trust God, but our lives disagree. We still have unbelief. We live in idolatry instead of loving God with our whole heart. However, if we truly can understand God’s holiness, then we can fully trust Him. His holiness transcends any other attribute. Without His holiness, God is not justice, love, or any other word you can think of to describe Him. And, until we understand that God’s holiness is the very core of who He is and ultimately the core of our faith, we cannot be holy or appreciate the sovereignty of God.
Every Moment Holy Volumes 1 & 2 by Douglas Kaine McKelvey
These books are ones I keep beside my bed to pray through nightly. They contain my favorite liturgies of all time.
Praise, lament, grief, hope.
The first volume has many different themes, from liturgies for coffee and diaper changing, to moving and holidays. The second volume is primarily about different stage of death and grief. Regardless if you are fan of liturgy or are familiar with liturgy, I think you will love the poetic liturgy in this book. Oh, and did I mention they come with soft leather covers and silk ribbon markers?
Unwanted by Jay Stringer
This book is unarguably the best book on sexual brokenness that I have ever read. Jay Stringer focuses mainly on pornography, but I think it could apply to any type of sex addiction.
We often try to put a ceiling on our sexuality as a way to control our unwanted behaviors. What if instead we looked beyond the symptom to the wound underneath, and invited Jesus there to know us and heal us? We as a church and individuals can be so much more then what we have been.
I believe this book is a prophetic voice of wisdom calling us to become the wholesome and fully alive, sexual individuals we were created to be.
The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
I really love this book. So often books about finding deep communion with God are ones set in solitude the middle of forest. However, Rich Villodas lives in New York surrounded by people and noise… yet he knows what it is to be quiet and present.
This book discusses how to become deeply rooted in Christ and Christ-like values. We don’t need to leave this world to not be part of this world. We can be trees who put our roots deep to find water and stability, and become places for the world around us to experience Jesus, not only in remote locations, but the middle of a noisy, crowded city.
With Open Hands by Henri J.M. Nouwen and Sue Monk Kidd
This little book is another one of prayers, simple prayers reminding me that I am human and God is God. Encouraging me to open my hands and release all of my sin, my unbelief, my pain and my doubt. To give everything to Jesus and wait for Him to fill me.
I love the format of this book. Each page has a prayer followed by a blank space to simply sit and reflect and open my hands to God.
