What’s on my nightstand

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Here are some books currently on my nightstand that I’m hoping to read in the next few weeks. Have you read any of these? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments!

On my nightstand

Jesus the Messiah: Tracing the Promises, Expectations, and Coming of Israel’s King

I bought this book on sale over Christmas and then was excited when Kregel sent me another one to review. I bought this book because I love tracing the development of Messianic thought from the Old Testament to the New. The author – primarily out of Dallas Theological Seminary – present a newer way of understanding how to read the Old Testament Messianic texts in light of the New Testament. Can’t wait to dig into this one, although it looks pretty dense so it may take me a while. Typically, when books are strictly academic, I’ll ‘chew’ on them for a bit and come back to them later. Does anybody else do that?

Everything: What You Give and What You Gain to Become Like Jesus

I received this book by Mary DeMuth at the Allume Conference. It has been on my list to read for a while, and even more so now that I’ve started to follow Mary’s blog and purchased her yummy cookbook.

Here’s why Mary says: “I don’t write this book as a condemnation or as a sermon. The last thing I want to do is provide a ‘how to be the best Christian in ten easy steps’ guide. I pen these words as a fellow struggler who is learning that what we think about God matters, how we allow Him to reign in our hearts matters, and how we obey Him in the moment matters. It all matters. Everything.”

Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved

When I was 7 years old, I asked Jesus “into my heart.”  So, this is a book that’s currently at the top of my reading pile. I’m hopeful it will help me untangle the cultural trappings of our faith for a more biblical one, but I’m also hopeful it will help me become a better presenter of my faith too.

Here’s a blurb from the publisher: “Greear unpacks the doctrine of assurance, showing that salvation is a posture we take to the promise of God in Christ, a posture that begins at a certain point and is maintained for the rest of our lives. He also answers the tough questions about assurance: What exactly is faith? What is repentance? Why are there so many warnings that seem to imply we can lose our salvation?”

Defending the Faith: Apologetics in Women’s Ministry

I interviewed Mary Jo Sharp – Assistant Professor of Apologetics at Houston Baptist University – for my Bible Study series and was deeply impressed with her grace under fire as much as the degree of her intellect. (this lady is one smart cookie). So, I was eager to get my hands on a copy of her latest book to find some insight on incorporating apologetics into Women’s Ministry.

More on the book: “Popular apologist Mary Jo Sharp issues a personal challenge for sisters in Christ to approach their faith on an intellectual level, along with a compelling call for women’s ministries to help women love God with their minds by incorporating apologetics into their programs.”

The Psalter Reclaimed: Praying and Praising with the Psalms

I’m slated to receive this book by scholar Gordon Wenham today! I’m pretty excited about it because I loved his commentary set on Genesis. I bought this book because I don’t have difficulty understanding what the Psalms are saying – but I do have difficulty trying to apply them in a present context. This book promises to help with that!

From the publisher: “One of the most respected Old Testament scholars of our time introduces us to the history of scholarship on the Psalter and provides hermeneutical guidelines for interpreting the book— making accessible to us the transforming messages of the Psalms.”

On my virtual nightstand

These books are on my virtual nightstand. I don’t have a kindle, but I use the free kindle reader app for my iphone.

Cat and Dog Theology: Rethinking Our Relationship with Our Master

My sister, Caroline, recommended I read this book. Aside from the fact that the author is basically calls the reader either a “dog” or a “cat,” I think this book has some real promise. I love practical theology books – or any type of theology book that someone is brave enough to remove from the realm of academia.

From the publisher: “The God given traits of cats (You exist to serve me) and dogs (I exist to serve You) are often similar to certain theological attitudes held by many Christians in their view of God and their relationship to Him. Using the differences between cats and dogs in a light-handed manner, the authors challenge this thinking in deep and profound ways. This life-changing book will provide a new perspective and vision for God as we delight in the God who delights in us.”

Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

I cannot believe I haven’t read this book by Elyse Fitzpatrick yet. It comes highly recommended, but it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the heap after deadlines and mommyhood.  However, once I am finally able to pick it up, I suspect it will be one of those transformative books you end up raving about to your friends.

More on it: “Fitzpatrick shows how a genuine transformation of identity leads to a transformation of our daily lives. Those who struggle with either legalism or lawlessness will find encouragement to return to God’s love, the source of authentic and lasting change.”

Reflections on the Psalms

I am halfway through this book, and can’t think of a single reason why I haven’t finished it. I bought the book because, well, it’s by C.S. Lewis – as if you need another reason – and it’s on the Psalms (my book de jour in 2013). In typical C.S. Lewis style, he makes shortwork of those pesky questions in the Psalms – like how are we to understand all of David’s requests for divine “revenge” and cursings?

 

Reach: How to Use Your Social Media Influence for the Glory of God

I bought this book because I was sick of the tired of the word “Platform” – which seems to have become a sanitized way of referring to self promotion. Later, I connected with one of the authors  – Laura Krokos – via twitter and was impressed by both her heart for God’s Word and God’s Commission. You can check her out at her site Missional Women.

 

What are you reading? Share what books are currently on your nightstand!

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