I think there are at least five types of books every person should read each year to help them grow. Here are twenty-five suggestions to get you started.
Spiritual Formation
Articles that address the process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and for the sake of others (II Corinthians 3:17-18).
Yolo, Shit and Snap–why they don’t gain you influence
Engaging unchurched people is often difficult to do. We churched people use different lingo and different jokes. It’s hard to know how to build the bridge from here to there so “they” can become one of “us”: churched.
Or more importantly, a follower of Christ.
Personally, relating to unchurched people isn’t that abnormal for me. Not that it’s any easier, it’s just that I’ve grown up doing it. I homeschooled all twelve grades, but when I was nine years old I started playing Little League baseball. I played four years of Little League and then got invited by our local public school to play for the Junior High team. After two years of Junior High, I moved up to the High School team. There I played two years on the varsity team—starting center fielder.
When God Wants to Hug Me, He Sends a Rainbow
Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of Mom’s accident. Today, I’d like to share an article she wrote several years ago that is meaningful to us as a family–especially now that she’s gone. Written by Rachel H. Witmer God said to Noah, “I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my […]
When Joy Is Touched with Pain
I don’t understand why God took Mom four days before my wedding. Now that our son, Kenaz, is born—she misses that as well. I don’t understand His purposes. But I do know that I can’t place my security in anything or anyone on this world. I can pursue people. I can seek to deeply connect with my family. I can pour my heart into ministering to those God leads across my path, but I can’t place my security in them. That belongs to God. He created me. He designed me. He’s where I’ll find full security and approval. And moments of pain are moments to worship Him. Those moments are reminders to not allow the joys of this earth to dictate us, for they are incredibly shallow in comparison to the joy of relationship with Christ. And one day we’ll see Jesus. He’s the glorious Person of Heaven. He’s what we live for. He’s who we die for. Heaven isn’t about living in eternal luxury; it’s all about living in eternal fellowship with Christ.
If pain keeps my eyes fixed on Him, and if joys of this earth can sometimes distract my eyes from Him, then I really can be thankful when my joy is touched with pain.
A Volcano to My Faith
I have wrestled intensely with questions during the last year. Simple questions, that avoid being answered. I assume if you have ever experienced something that shook your faith at its core, you also struggled with these questions: “Why?” “Where was/is God?” “Is there any meaning to this?” Losing Mom is to my faith like a […]
Trust in a God Who Takes Away What I Love
Today is my Dad’s birthday; his first without Mom. One of the things I’ve watched him do a lot this year is first-things without Mom.
