Favorite Books for 2011

The link is for the list of Gary Thomas' favorite books from 2011. I respect Gary Thomas and his work, so I recommend his list.

I also highly recommend "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, but haven't read the others on his list. I'm adding them to my list for 2012. I'm also looking forward to reading Gary's new book "Every Body Matters." It sounds like it could have some similarities to another book that I read this year "Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God Not Food" by Lysa TerKeurst


One of my favorite books from this past year was "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt. For more info and his challenges check out the book's website.

Giving: Unlocking the Heart of Good Stewardship

My dad found a book in a basket at his local Christian bookstore and bought copies for his Sunday School class. From what he told me and what I read online it looks like a book that packs a powerful punch.

Book Description from CBD:

"As part of the Pursuing Spiritual Transformation series, Giving demonstrates how good stewardship is more than a responsibility---it's an adventure. As you study the connection between your wallet and your heart, you'll learn how money management is a powerful tool for shaping your character. You'll discover how giving is as much a part of spiritual growth as prayer and Bible study. And you'll learn about the rewards of cultivating wise financial habits and a generous heart. Above all, you'll find out how a lifestyle of giving reflects the heart of God, who freely gives his best to you. Includes seven sessions and a leader's guide."

Giving: Unlocking the Heart of Good Stewardship, Pursuing Spiritual Transformation
By: John Ortberg, Laurie Pederson, Judson Poling

Publisher: Zondervan / 2000

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

For more infomation check out the book's website.

Courageous by Randy Alcorn

Randy Alcorn, one of my favorite authors wrote an incredible novelization of the "Courageous" screenplay by Alex and Stephen Kendrick. Courageous will be in theaters on September 30.

Back of Book says:

"As low enforcement officers, Adam Mitchel, Nathan Hayes, and their partners willingly stand up to the worst the world can offer. Yet at the end of the day they face a challenge that none of them are truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood. While they consistently give their best on the job, good enough seems to be all they can muster as dads. But they're quickly discovering that their standard is missing the mark.

They know that God desires to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, but their children are beginning to drift farther and farther away from them. Will they be able to find a way to serve and protect those who are most dear to them?

When tragedy hits home, these men are left wrestling with their hopes, their fears, their faith, and their fathering. Can a newfound urgency help these dads draw cloer to God...and to their children?"

Randy Alcorn delivers a powerful message to Men/Husbands/Dads. If the challenges presented in this book were lived out the world would change one family at a time.

Stephen and Alex Kendrick have also written a book, "The Resolution for Men" to help men in their role of being a godly leader in their family and in their world.

For additional resources go here.

Courageous by Casting Crowns

Radical by David Platt

I don't often recommend a book that I haven't actually read, but I am doing it this time - read "Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream" by David Platt. I've been reading from his website and taking advantage of the resources offered to help us grow in our faith through Bible reading, prayer and service all to bring glory to God.

See this interview with Focus on the Family to learn more.

I read the first chapter on-line here. I'm waiting for the book from my local library, but am pretty sure it is a book I will end up owning. Pray for me as I begin the radical experiment...

The website shares this:

"What part of the Gospel is optional?

It’s easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily…

But who do you know who lives like that? Do you?"

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst

“Skinny Jeans” Represent a New Curse for Diet-Conscious Women Lysa TerKeurst takes readers on a spiritual journey with physical benefits in new book.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “If only I could put on those skinny jeans, my whole world would fall into place and put a permanent smile on my face”?

In her new book, Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food (Zondervan,January), popular author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst calls this the curse of the skinny jeans. Just because we’re wearing smaller-sized jeans doesn’t mean we are happier, more content or more fulfilled. And when those cupcakes and chips start calling our names with their promises of sugary highs and salty pleasures, we gain the weight back and the vicious cycle of gaining, losing and gaining again continues.

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman’s desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn’t a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction.

“God made us capable of craving so we’d have an unquenchable desire for him, and him alone,” says Lysa. “Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our misguided cravings to the only one capable of satisfying them.”

Women struggling with unhealthy eating habits can break the “I’ll start again on Monday” cycle, and start feeling good about themselves today. Lysa, in her conversational style, helps women learn to stop beating themselves up over the numbers on the scale. “We need to define ourselves by our obedience, not a number on a scale,” says Lysa. “The scale does help measure our progress, but it can’t tell us
everything.”

Readers will discover that weight-loss struggle isn’t a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and will learn how justifications that lead to diet failure can be replaced with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. Made to Crave plus a healthy diet plan will lead to a healthy weight goal—and growing closer to God in the process.

This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for women to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan they choose. This is a book to help women find the "want to" in making healthy lifestyle choices.

Food can fill our stomachs but never our souls.
Possessions can fill our houses but never our hearts.
Sex can fill our nights but never our hunger for love.

~ Above Info Taken from Press Release

Francis Chan: GIVE NOW

Just read a quick review that I wanted to share about a new children's book by Francis Chan - "Ronnie Wilson's Gift":

Francis Chan | Francis Chan: GIVE NOW | FamilyFiction.com

Never lend books...

“Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are books that other folks have lent to me” ~ Anatole France

If you have a good book, don't lend it just give it away.