Four great reads

If you are looking for some out-of-the-ordinary reading this summer, I have a bunch of great titles to share, from Bible study help to a love story.

Want some thought-provoking philosophy from one of the greatest minds alive today? Peter Kreeft’s The Best Things in Life is very satisfying. Kreeft asks the question, “What would happen if Socrates spoke to modern-day man?” This is a collection of twelve Socratic dialogues on a plethora of topics. This man got more than his fair share of intelligence–but thankfully the rest of us can sit at his feet and learn.

If you are interested in biographies, missions, and/or foreign cultures, try Anneke Companjen’s Singing Through the Night: Courageous Stories of Faith from Women in the Persecuted Church. This brand new book tells the bittersweet true stories of eleven Christian women in many countries around the world. What they have endured for the love of Christ is humbling. Woven through the stories are practical applications for the reader, including study questions at the end of each chapter.

Just the name “D.A. Carson” gets respect in these parts. He is one of, if not the finest New Testament exegete alive today. He is absolutely brilliant and yet his writing is accessible to everyone. Carson’s For the Love of God is one of those books that will never be shelved out of my reach. When I first received both volumes of this devotional, they were sitting on my bed and my dad stole one. He hardly ever borrows my books–and he has yet to give this one back. I see him with it nearly every day during his Bible study.

With two entire years of Bible reading (using the M’Cheyne schedule, slightly but practically modified) and daily reflections and teaching on one or more of the passages, I honestly do not see how one could ever outgrow these books. I have started using volume 1 (since Dad still has volume 2 :smile) and….wow.

Last but not least, Brian Sibley’s Through the Shadowlands: The Love Story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman is a great alternative to the typical romance book. This is real-life love and commitment amidst the pain and confusion of a fallen world. The author is one of the foremost experts on C.S. Lewis’s life and draws on his research for the movie bearing the same name to write a beautiful tribute to the beloved author.