Matt
Another Gospel by Alisa Childers
Really enjoying this book, and I’m so glad I finally got to it this year! Currently on Chapter 10 right now, entitled Hell on Earth, where Alisa is addressing questions, and, misconceptions, about the realities of hell, sin, punishment, and God’s holiness. As the title of the book suggests, her aim is to show the teachings of progressive Christianity (and the history of it), and hold them up to the light of Scripture, to see what is inside, and what is not in line with God’s word.
To-Read: The Collected Works of Jupiter Hammon
Christine
The Irrational Season by Madeleine L’Engle
A colleague recently introduced me to the Crosswicks Journals, the memoirs of Madeleine L’Engle (famously known for the Wrinkle in Time children’s fantasy series). The Irrational Season is the third of her memoirs, and its unique timeline follows the seasons of the church calendar including Advent, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Reflecting on each, Madeleine draws readers in through personal narrative while connecting them with deeper theological themes. I fell in love with her writing from the first page, and it even inspired some of my own! If you’re a deep thinker that loves beautiful words, don’t miss this series from one of the greatest writers of our times.
To Read Next: A Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle
Bethany
Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making by Andrew Peterson
According to the website description, “Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, WORLD Magazine each named Adorning the Dark as one of their books of the year.” If you are a musician, artist, writer, etc. and seek to express your Christian faith – whether it be overt or subtle – in your work, then this read is one from which to glean contemplations and insights. Throughout the pages, the author incorporates a pleasant mix of candid advice and real world experience in regard to Christian creativity.
I am amused by the distinct sense this book gives off as being a more efficient way of communicating what Andrew Peterson might say to anyone if given the chance to have a very long, fulfilling conversation over coffee. What’s especially fascinating to me are his reflections on Christian industries and the crossover with the secular, as navigating these communities is part of my particular vocation. I also find it refreshing how this book is inspirational, and yet it brings a meaningful dose of reality into the sometimes inflated worries and expectations that artists generally tend to have.
Another interesting bonus is how the author provides a number of book, song, and poetry recommendations for the reader to check out and, although not everything is my cup of tea, the list is fun to explore to say the least. All in all, I’m so grateful to be journeying through this book (it came as a timely gift – thank you, Petry family) and have really enjoyed reading it so far!
To Read: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
Isabella
Habakkuk by Dannah Gresh
For the last 6 weeks, I’ve been working through Dannah Gresh’s Habakkuk study with the women at my church. Dannah’s exploration of Habakkuk is comprehensive and thoughtful. She doesn’t stay exclusively within the pages of Habakkuk, but explores the book of Daniel, Hebrews, and Romans as well. She also does a great job of exploring history too, showing readers how different books and events in the Old Testament are connected. What I love most is that this study is all about faithfulness. During the last several months, I have struggled to understand God’s purpose for the pandemic. I often felt more fearful than faithful. To my delight, this study stepped right into those questions and helped me wrestle through them. I am walking away feeling refreshed and close to God. The only small grievance I had with this study is that there are a few errors throughout. I didn’t feel these took away too much from the study (other than leaving me confused in a few spots!)
To-Read: Jude: Contending for the Faith in Today’s Culture by Jackie Hill Perry
