Top 10 Books for 2024 1-5

 Today I'll share the remainder of my favorite reads for 2024.

5) Ignite by Nelson Searcy. I love Searcy's passion for the church and for people. I have most of his books in my library, and I've heard him present at a leadership conference in which we were both teaching. This is an excellent book for church planters and for pastors serving churches that need to relaunch (like me). He shares the tools he used to grow his new church plant in New York into a strong, vibrant congregation. I first read this book a few years ago, and felt it would be helpful to re-read it as I have begun serving as a pastor of a church that needs to rebuild. I'm putting some of his suggestions in action.

4) Transformational Church by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer. This is another re-read in 2024. One of the missing components in many churches is discipleship. Evangelism is one side of the Great Commission coin; discipleship is the other side. Churches that see people's lives transformed by the power of God are churches that disciple their members. The authors give many helpful insights on how churches can begin to do that.

3) In Search of a Confident Faith by J. P. Moreland and Klaus Issler. This book has so many highlighted passages, underlined paragraphs and notes written in the margin I hardly know where to start writing about this book. The authors address how to deal with the doubts one may have about God and faith. They point out the differences between distractions of the head and distractions of the heart. They point out how hurts in the past can impact our beliefs now and offer some help to conquer those past hurts. This is a very good book for pastors and lay persons alike. None of us are beyond having periods of doubts in our own lives, and this book can help us address those.

2) Wide Awake by Erwin Raphael McManus. The author challenges us to stop settling in our lives and to begin to live our best lives now. He (like myself) believes that God has an amazing plan for each of our lives. Our lives can never be full until we understand what that purpose is and begin to live it. Each of us had dreams when we were younger, but as we grew up those dreams often faded away. Perhaps we need to reawaken those dreams and dare to become the people God created us to become. This book can help you do that. 

1) The Unstuck Church by Tony Morgan. Drum roll please! This is my favorite book for 2024. It must be because I read it twice in a row, and I've never done that with any book. As a region minister in our denomination for 14 years, most of the churches I worked with were stuck and didn't know what to do to get unstuck. Now that I am a pastor again, I am in a church that is stuck. Every day as I read this book I found things that I can do and things the church can do to get unstuck. The author warns the reader on the back cover that this book will offend you, and he's right. Some of the things he writes hurt, but they need to be said, and we need to listen. If your church is stuck, and research indicates that at least 80 percent of the churches in American are, then you need to read this book.

This is my list for 2024. These books spoke to my heart and were timely for my current situation. I believe they are all worthwhile reads for anyone in church leadership. I will close by mentioning that if you click on the link and order any of these books I may receive a small compensation, but this is not the reason I publish this list each year. I want others to know what I have found helpful to my life and ministry.

Top 10 Books for 2024 6-10

 Regular readers of this blog know that I average reading about 50 books each year. I just finished my 50th book for 2024, so I thought I might as well go ahead and share my top 10 reads for the year. This year I re-read a lot of books I had previously read. I also didn't read as much fiction as I had been reading. After being called to serve as pastor of North Madison Baptist Church I thought I had better retool my pastoral skills! That eliminated the Star Wars books! Anyway, here are my favorite reads 6-10.

10) The Church and the Single Mom by Jennifer Barnes Maggio. I have a burden for the single moms living in our community. According to the past census report, there are 1,700 single-parent homes in our county. I would assume at least 1,500 of them are single-moms. I am encouraging our church to begin a ministry to serve these individuals, and I admitted to them I didn't have a clue how to begin. Reading this book is helping me identify some ways we can begin to serve this population.

9) The Post-Quarantine Church by Thom S. Rainer. This was one of my re-reads. Covid hit most churches hard. People stayed away from church even when it was announced that it was safe to return. Those churches who thought they would return to normal once the pandemic ended were wrong. We now live in a new normal, and only those churches that can adjust to that new normal will thrive. Rainer points out that there are now three groups of people the church must serve: Digital-only who are unable to attend church services, Digitally-transitioning are those who are mostly connected to the church digitally but may attend occasionally; and Dual citizens who are connected to the church both through digital ministries and in person. This is a very good book for pastors and lay leaders to read who want to know how to move forward.

8) The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. I have never published my top ten list without at least one book by Maxwell being on the list. He is a must read for anyone in a leadership position. In fact, I have his latest book on my desk which I will start reading next week. I have read the referenced book several times and heard him teach from the book. It has shaped my leadership style more than any other book or class. I only wish the book had been available earlier in my ministry.

7) I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. This book is not an easy read but one that I found very helpful. It is a book that points out the blind faith that atheists and skeptics must have in order to sustain their rejection of God and shows how reason and logic will always point one to belief in God. I love reading apologetics, and this is one of the best to give you a reason for your faith and give you some tools you can use to share that faith with others.

6) The Deconstruction of Christianity by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett. Deconstruction is a new term in our postmodern age. It refers to the process by which people walk away from their faith in God. Several well-known Christian authors and musicians have announced in the past few years they no longer believe in God. Countless others have made the same choice. I read this book to help me understand what is happening and to give me some tools to use if someone comes to me saying they are in the process of deconstructing. This book did not disappoint. If you have not known someone yet who is going through deconstruction of their faith, you will. This book can help you work with those individuals.

Tomorrow I'll share the final five books that made my favorite list for the year.

What to read?

 Anyone who has followed this blog for some time knows that I love to read. My goal is to read 50 books a year, and I am on track to do that again this year. The vast majority of books I read are non-fiction although during the Covid shut-down I started reading non-fiction books as well. Now that I have returned to pastoral ministry my reading is more focused on ministry and theological books. Unfortunately, this presents me with a problem.

I really miss the Lifeway bookstores. The reason I miss them is that I could go in and check out the books before I bought them. Today, I was in Louisville and stopped at a shopping center that has a Barnes and Noble bookstore. At first, I thought they were gone as well as a Whole Foods store was in the building they had previously used. As I drove through the center I realized they had moved into a smaller building on the other side of the center. When I entered I found that their religion section contained mostly popular books and offered nothing related to ministry or theology.

Most of the books I buy now come from Amazon. As I'm reading, I may find a reference to a book that seems like it would be a good one to read. When I order it I am sometimes disappointed. The book may not be what I expected it would be. Sometimes the font is so small or light that I find it difficult to read. Some books are written at such an elementary level that they offer little worthwhile, and others are written for an academic audience that makes me think the author was more interested in impressing people with his or her knowledge of big words than in offering something that would be worthwhile to the average reader. Occasionally, I find that the book is so poorly written or edited that it is almost unreadable. Several books have gone into the trash can after reading just a chapter or two. Having published books myself, I remember my editors insisting that the books were edited properly, clear in what they were saying and readable. I wonder what has changed. Of course, these problems could largely be avoided if it was possible to review the book before purchasing it, but that has become very difficult to do.

This year I have focused on re-reading some of the favorite books in my library. Fortunately, there are many! As I read them I find there are many things written in them I've forgotten or overlooked in my earlier reading. I just finished one published in 1993. It now has much more highlighting and notes written in the margin that it had after my earlier reading. Yes, some of it is outdated, but a lot of it still makes sense in 2024. I found some things I hope to introduce into the church in the coming year.

I know the brick-and-mortar bookstores are unlikely to return, especially the Christian-oriented ones, but I miss them. They provided a service to those of us in ministry that online shopping never will. Their demise is just one more thing that has disappeared from our world that this old man misses.

Top ten books of 2023 1-5

Yesterday I began listing my top favorite reads for 2023. All the books I listed yesterday were books I have previously read that remain in my library. Today's list includes some of the books I read in 2023 as I began a serious study of the attributes of God. If your congregation is like many, a lot of the folks sitting in the pews do not truly understand the attributes of God. Even more, they do not understand how those attributes can affect them. I know that because, while I have mentioned some of His attributes from time to time in sermons, I've never done a series of messages on those attributes and why it's important to understand them. But, before I could do such a series I needed to study those attributes in more depth myself, and that is the reason why I've began this study. 

5.    Any study of the attributes of God would have to include the book Knowing God by J. I. Packer. This book is essential reading for someone to better understand the nature of God and His attributes. The fact that over one million copies of this book have been sold testifies to its importance for the serious student. 

4.    God the Father Almighty by Millard Erickson is another book that has been very helpful in my study. The author begins the book by explaining why it's important to study the nature and attributes of God. He then addresses some of the criticisms others make about the traditional view of God, and then he begins to discuss some of His attributes. I found the book very enlightening and well-written. 

3.    I have a great affection for Bob Russell, the former pastor of Southeast Christian Church, a megachurch in Louisville, Kentucky. This past year I re-read his book When God Builds a Church which tells the story of Southeast Christian Church. Russell comes across as one of the most humble people I've met. During his ministry there I had several opportunities to join hundreds of local pastors for luncheons the church held to share ministry ideas. In this book Russell shares 10 principles for growing a church. While most of us will never pastor a megachurch, the principles apply to any size church. I truly believe this book should be in every pastor's library.

2.    Divine Attributes by John Peckham was one of the more difficult reads with hundreds of footnotes and a little more academic language than most books I read. However, I ranked it #2 in my list because of its depth in discussing God's attributes. Peckham brings both philosophical and theological questions into the discussion which I found helpful. My only negative was that I wish he had addressed more of God's attributes than he did.

1.    Drum roll please. My number one book for 2023 is None Greater by Matthew Barrett. I love the subtitle, The Undomesticated Attributes of God!  As it says on the back cover, "For too long, Christians have domesticated God, bringing him down to our level as if he is a God who can be tamed." The author points out that God is worthy of worship because He is high and lifted up, His attributes far above mankind. I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone serious about studying the nature and attributes of God.

Here's my top ten for another year. To give you an idea of what I'm reading as I begin 2024 I am working on A Church for the 21st Century by Leith Anderson, Ignite by Nelson Searcy and Human Freedom, Divine Knowledge, and Mere Molinism by Timothy Stratton. All three are books I've read previously, but I find they are applicable to the church I currently serve, and it's helpful to have a refresher.

I hope you have a reading plan for the new year that will allow you to provide leadership to your church, your family and your community. An investment in books is an investment in yourself. The time spent reading is also an investment in your future success.

Top 10 books of 2023

Each year at this time I publish a list of my top ten favorite reads for the year. This year I read 75 books, many of them re-reads of books I have in my library that I have previously read. I choose books based on my interests, of course, and to address what is going on in my life. 2023 has been a year of transition for me as I finished one church as a Transitional Pastor and a few months later assumed the same role in another church. I have also embarked on a study of the attributes of God which may or may not become my next book. This has been a fascinating study as I have been studying His attributes at a much deeper level than I have before. In this post I will list books 6-10 and will complete the list tomorrow.

10.    Since doing this I have never had a top 10 list that did not include a book by John Maxwell, and this list is no different. Thinking for a Change is one of my re-reads. In the book Maxwell challenges the reader to begin to think differently, to focus our thinking on the things that matter most and to practice more creative thinking. If we keep thinking the same thoughts we will keep doing the same things and get the same results we've been getting. Maxwell not only provides theory but gives plenty of practical suggestions for how to think for a change. It's a really good book. 

9.    Turnaround Strategies for the Small Church is not only a re-read, but it's a book I read twice this year. The author, Ron Crandall, provides twelve key factors necessary in turning a small church around. My copy has a lot of highlights, and I've taken several pages of notes to help me remember some of the key points of the book. If you are serving in a smaller church that seems to be stuck, I highly recommend this book.

8.    The Post-Quarantine Church is another re-read for me plus another book I read twice this year. Thom Rainer does a great job of pointing out that many church leaders assumed once the Covid pandemic passed that things would return to normal only to find out that didn't happen. The two churches I served this year have not regained the numbers they had pre-Covid. Rainer suggests that the pandemic presents six challenges and opportunities that will determine the future of our churches. This small book is a quick read, but it is one that contains a lot of important information for church leaders.

7.    Another re-read this year was They Like Jesus but Not the Church by Dan Kimball. Many churches struggle to attract young people and see the ones raised in their churches leave once they get old enough to make that decision. We incorrectly assume that these young people are abandoning God, but the author points out that what they are abandoning is what they often find in our churches. He addresses six things that the younger generation consistently points out as the reasons they are leaving churches. Church leaders need to understand the thinking of the younger generations and address their concerns or we will continue to see them ignoring the church as irrelevant to their spiritual growth.

6.    Yes, this book is another re-read. Tomorrow I'll get to some books I added to my library in 2023, but I've ranked PastorPreneur by John Jackson as my sixth favorite read this year. As someone who has spent his ministry serving in bivocational roles I consider myself an entrepreneur. The author believes that the successful pastor in the 21st century will be one who combines ministry with an entrepreneurial mindset. I completely agree. In the book Jackson talks much about vision and how to communicate that vision to the congregation. My copy is heavily highlighted with a lot of notes in the margins. I really like this book. The book I read was published in 2003, and it appears an updated version was released in 2011. The updated version is the book I've given you a link to.

Tomorrow we will highlight my top five books. Remember, leaders are readers so I hope you have a stack of books to start on in 2024. I know I do!

Star Wars

 I've admitted here before I am a Star Wars fan. I've watched the films numerous times and have all of them on video. A few years I decided to begin reading the books, and during the Covid quarantine I read several of them. The last I knew there were 381 Star Wars books published not counting comics and those for children. I've read 139 of them.

The funny thing about this is that before I began reading these books I seldom read a fiction book. I probably didn't average reading one fiction book a year before I began reading the Star Wars books. My reading was focused on ministry, leadership, personal growth, theology and similar interests. I thought reading fiction was a waste of time. I was wrong. For one thing, it's better than watching endless hours of TV. More importantly, it allows your mind to think about possibilities you may have never thought of before. I never got too excited about space before reading these novels, but now I try to watch the Space Station fly over every chance I get. No matter how many times I watch that amazing spectacle I think of how perfectly fine-tuned God created our universe that we can know exactly the time and the location that the Space Station will pass within our viewing range. Currently, I'm excited about the green comet that is expected to be viewable in my location on February 2. I think it's the first time in 50,000 years it has been close enough to earth to be visible. I doubt I'll get a second chance to see it if I miss it this time!

Star War books are the classic story of the battle between good and evil. Like many good novels, it often appears that evil will win, but somehow good seems to triumph. I have to admit as well that I often find disturbing parallels between the Senate and the evil Emperor in these novels and our own current government. The treacheries and deceit found in these books could easily come out the front pages of our current newspapers. After reading these books it could become easy to get a little paranoid any time our government seeks to reassure us that everything is fine!

One of the things I like best about these books is that it costs me nothing to read them. I have a large library of books that I have spent a small fortune to obtain. These Star Wars books are accessed through an app called Libby. I simply use my library card from our local library and can access any book that is available through that library. Since our library is connected to a larger group of libraries that means I have a large collection of books I can read on my phone or laptop. Everyone of these Star Wars books have been obtained this way saving me a lot of money. Depending on your library you may have tens of thousands of books available to you on virtually any subject you can think of that you can read without ever leaving your home. 

Leaders are readers. This app is a great opportunity for you to increase your reading with no cost to you. I encourage you to check it out.

A ministry habit that reaps great rewards

Last week I wrote about the value of creating and following good habits for success in life. Today I want to share one habit I began years ago that has provided great rewards for me. As regular readers of this blog know, I read a lot. The shelves in my library are overflowing with books. The problem of reading a lot is remembering what you read and finding it again when needed. As a student at Boyce Bible School in the 1980s a professor taught us a simple trick he followed and which I have followed since then.

When I read a book I keep a highlighter nearby to mark important thoughts. When the book is finished I record those thoughts in my computer in folders I've established. There is a file in my Word program marked "Book Notes." In that file are hundreds of folders with different subject titles. I go through the book I just finished looking for the highlighted items and type those items word for word into the proper folder. At the end of the item I have the identification number for the resource. 

Each book is numbered using the Dewey Decimal System. The book number and page number is placed at the end of the item I just put in the appropriate folder. For instance the ID for that notation might be 231 BIC: 47. I now have the quote, the book number and the page number so I can go immediately to that resource. There's no more trying to remember the exact quote, which book it's in or what page it's on.

Does it take time to do that for each book? It sure does, and there's times I don't want to do it. But over the years I've learned that no matter how much I'm sure I'll remember the quote and where it's at in my library, I won't. Taking the time to record that information makes it much easier to find it later when I'm preparing a sermon or writing a book. The work upfront pays off on the back end. I can give proper recognition to the original work and I don't lose my train of thought searching for the resource.

When one begins his or her ministry it's possible to not have that many books, and you might think you won't need such a filing system. However, it doesn't take long before those book shelves begin to fill up. Without a good retrieval system those quotes you were sure to remember will get lost in the shelves, and you'll spend hours trying to find it. No minister has the time to spend trying to find the information he or she needs to properly prepare the sermon.

Maybe you have a better system, and that's fine. Find one that will work for you and use it faithfully.

Favorite books of 2020 (6-10)

 Each year I post a list of my favorite reads for the year. I try to read 50 books each year. Sometimes I read a few more, and some years I don't quite reach my goal. This year, with the Covid restrictions on travel, I managed to read 125 books.

I did something else different this year. I seldom read fiction. In fact, it is very unusual if I read more than one fiction book a year. Since I knew I would be reading a lot more this year, and since I enjoy Star Wars so much, I decided to read some of the books of that series. I thought they might give me some background stories that would make the movies more enjoyable. I was right! However, I didn't realize how many Star Wars books there are. Currently, there are nearly 200 adult Star Wars books plus quite a number of books written for youth, comic books, and others. More are being written. This year I managed to read 67 of them. While a few were not that good, most of them were very well written and enjoyable to read.

I will not include any of them in my top ten favorite books of the year but will focus only on the non-fiction books I read. Today I'll share numbers 6-10, and tomorrow's post will include the top five.

10. Christianity and Liberalism, new ed. by J. Gresham Machen was first published in 1923 as a defense of orthodox Christianity against the rising tide of liberalism that was becoming so prevalent in seminaries and churches. His commentary and warnings about the dangers of liberalism are as true today as when they were first written. As he points out the differences between Christianity and liberalism he correctly identifies the reason for their differences. He writes, "It is no wonder, then, that liberalism is totally different from Christianity,, for the foundation is different. Christianity is founded upon the Bible. It bases upon the Bible both its thinking and its life. Liberalism on the other hand is founded upon the shifting emotions of sinful man."

9. When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself was written by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. Most churches want to help people who request their assistance, but many churches struggle knowing how to best provide that help. The authors consider the case of the person who comes to the church requesting help in paying the electric bill. If they are able to do so, many churches will pay the bill, but perhaps the real problem is the person lacks the self-discipline to keep a stable job. The authors do a great job of identifying the true characteristics of poverty and provides ways churches can address them. While going deeper into a person's life is more time-consuming and challenging it often does allow the church to help the individual make lasting chances in his or her life.

8. Pastor as Public Theologian was written by Kevin Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan. This is a book I had previously read and found it so helpful that I re-read it again this year. At one time it was recognized that every pastor was a theologian first, but that is no longer the case. As the book points out, "Contemporary ministry has been the victim. . .of images of leadership that are not borrowed from scripture, but from the surrounding culture - the pastor as CEO, as psychotherapeutic guru, or as a political agitator." Pastors themselves often see their role as being another helping professional alongside therapists and counselors or that of a manager. The authors point out that this confusion about the biblical role of the pastor is one reason for so much of the theological confusion that exists in our churches. Rather than complaining about the theological deficits that exist in the congregation, pastors need to reclaim their role as theologians. This means that theological study cannot be something that pastors try to fit into their schedules but that they see such study as their duty. Personally, I believe this is a must-read book for anyone called into pastoral ministry.

7. Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church was written by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder and Brad Griffin. The authors are on staff at Fuller Theological Seminary and used research assistants to help them study and analyze numerous churches who are reaching young adults. Most churches claim they want to reach youth and young adults, but they struggle to do so. This book is a great tool to help churches reach out to those age groups, but the recommendations they make will cause some churches to feel great discomfort. One of their first recommendations is giving young people keychain leadership responsibilities. As they point out, whoever holds the keys has the power to keep people out or invite them in. Churches that effectively reach youth and young adults invite them in to assume leadership roles. Too many churches see young people as the future of the church, but the churches reaching these young people see them as leaders in the church now. Youth and young adults do not want to sit on the sidelines. They want to be engaged now in worthwhile roles and activities. This research-based book provides important information to the church serious about reaching young people.

6. EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches by Dave Ramsey. This is another book I had read earlier and wanted to re-read this year. I believe that pastors are by necessity entrepreneurs and leaders. Ramsey's book brings the two together. While this is a business book that describes how his business was founded and operates today, it has plenty of transferrable principles that will help pastors. Even before the pandemic, major changes were taking place in society and in our churches. Trying to pastor today using the concepts taught in seminary 10-20 years ago won't get the job done. Some say we have to think outside the box, but I'm not sure there is a box anymore! It's important that we are led by the Holy Spirit and by an entrepreneurial spirit to lead our churches through the rapid changes currently taking place. This book will help the reader look at challenges in a different light and seek new solutions to the new challenges we face.

Tomorrow I will share my top five books of 2020.

Favorite books for the first half of 2020

With the shelter-in-place that's been in effect during much of 2020 I've spent a lot of time reading. This year I've done something I haven't done in the past. I've been reading a lot of fiction. More specifically, I've been reading books from the Star Wars story. Yes, I enjoy Star Wars so I decided to read  some of the books rather than just watching the movies over and over again. What I didn't realize is that there are over 350 of them including young adult, ebooks, etc., and the list keeps growing. I doubt I'll get them all read!

However, I've also been reading non-fiction and thought since we are beginning the second half of the year I would share some of my favorite reads so far this year.

By far, my favorite read (based on the amount of highlighting and margin notes) is Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach by Kenneth Keathley, a theology professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As the subtitle indicates, this book looks at theology from a Molinist perspective. I found it very interesting as the author looks at the differences between Calvinists, Arminians, and Molinists regarding salvation. He replaces the TULIP approach of Calvinism with a ROSES approach.

I also enjoyed reading Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger Olson, a professor of theology at George W. Truett Seminary. This was probably the most helpful book for understanding Arminian theology that I have found. Olson is very kind to Calvinism but clearly addresses the myths many Calvinists believe about Arminianism.

No year goes by without me reading at least one book by John Maxwell. This year it was The Leader's Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders. This book discusses the importance for leaders to develop other leaders. This is a book that is greatly needed in much of the church world today as we in ministry do not always do a great job of developing leaders in our churches. Of course, it is equally important that all organizations invest in leadership development. This was a good read.

Sometimes in our efforts to help others we actually do them harm. This is the thesis in When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. They emphasize that good intentions are not enough. Churches have to find ways to provide assistance to those needing it without making them dependent upon that assistance. Every church with a ministry to the poor should read this book.

The final book I'll mention is It's Dangerous to Believe: Religious Freedom and Its Enemies by Mary Eberstadt. Most Christian leaders understand that we are facing religious freedom challenges today that we've not seen before in America. The author points out how recent laws and court decisions as well as the attacks on many university campuses towards Christian viewpoints are serious threats to religious freedom. I found this book very enlightening.

I would recommend each of these books to any church leader.

Use this time wisely

It's been a long time since the nation, and the world, has slowed down like it is right now. Most of us have been told to stay in place, and with few places to go to, there's not much reason to go out anyway. My wife and I are in the "high risk" category, so we've been staying at home with the rare trip to the supermarket or to grab something to eat. We are seldom eating out much right now, but I will occasionally go out primarily to help some of the local businesses have some money coming in.

A lot of people are growing frustrated with the limitations that have been placed on us. Rather than getting upset over something we have no control over, it would be far better to determine how to best use this time that is given to us. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5 to "redeem the time." That means that we are to use our time wisely.

Rather than spending your days laying on the couch binge watching Netflex or Hulu, spend this time reading good books, reading the Bible, praying, and listening to what God might be saying to you. It's possible He's been trying to get your attention for some time, but you've been too busy to listen. Well, you're not too busy now, so spend some time with Him. You can also listen to good podcasts and live feeds that encourage and bless you. They were be more profitable that listening to 24-hour news channels that have nothing positive to tell us.

I began the year reading through the New Testament for my morning devotional. During this downtime in everyone's life I finished that and started studying the book of Ephesians for my devotional time. In addition, I've read 24 other books this year. My wife is ready to buy stock in Amazon or cut off my membership! I'm trying to find a publisher for a book I've completed, and I'm working on another book. With the nicer weather my wife and I spend some time on the back deck enjoying the sunshine and one another. If it gets too hot, or we've been in the sun long enough, we move to the front, shaded porch. Most days I call or text 2-3 people to ask if they are doing OK and if they need anything. We go for walks.

Because the libraries are closed in our area I downloaded Libby, an app that lets people check books out of their library. The app is free and works great. You can check out up to ten books at a time for 14 days, and you're able to renew them. They also carry audiobooks which some people prefer. This app has helped me not have to pay for all the books I've read this year!

Have you been wanting to research some topic of interest? This is a great time to go deeper into some subject you find interesting. Several of the books I've read this year were purchased for research for the one I'm writing.  Of course, the Internet can provide a lot of useful information you can use in your research, and this downtime gives you extra time to look for that information.

Most of us assume that church (and life) will look different after this is over. Now is the time to reflect on what that might look like. I know of at least one live streaming event that will address this coming up soon. Earlier this week I had a conversation with a pastor who is asking what the future holds for the church as we move past this crisis. He and his staff are spending some time trying to figure out what that future might be and how they can prepare for it.

This can also be a great time to declutter your office, closets, garages and basements. These are things we usually say we want to do when we get to them. I don't know of another time when you can better get to them.

When this is over, and it will be, you don't want your greatest accomplishment for this time to be that you saw every episode of The Office. Use this time wisely. Spend time with God and with your family. Invest in yourself and your interests. Allow yourself to relax and refresh.

Need something to read during the pandemic?

Since many of us are ordered to remain in our homes except for essential reasons, it might be a good time to think about reading that book you've been putting off because you've been too busy. Or, if you don't have a book you've been wanting to read you may be wondering what would be a good one,

This year has gotten off to a slow start for me, and my wife and I have been staying in for the past two weeks already, so I've read a lot more than usual this year. I've already read 20 books this year, about to complete a couple more and have three more on order.  Let me suggest four books for you to consider from the ones I've read this year. I will warn you, Amazon is focusing on shipping essential items first, and instead of getting a book you order in 2-3 days it may take 2-3 weeks. I've actually received used books from third party sellers quicker than I've got new ones from Amazon.

One book I enjoyed reading is The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision by Kevin VanHoozer and Owen Strachan. While many pastors view their ministries as counselors, leaders or motivational speakers, the authors remind us that our most important role is that of theologian. We are called to help our congregations think theologically about all aspects of their lives. We also serve the same role as we relate to our communities. As we relate to persons within our communities we have the opportunity to speak to the issues important to them through the eyes of sound theology. I would certainly recommend this book to any pastor who has not read it.

Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael Emerson and Christian Smith is another book I found very interesting and helpful. The authors conducted a survey of 2,000 white Evangelicals and an additional 200 face-to-face interviews to gather their views on the racial issues affecting our nation. The results were quite interesting and helps us to better understand the racial divide that exists in this country.

Those who know me won't be surprised that John Maxwell's latest book, The Leader's Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders is on this list. I often write and talk about the importance of developing leaders. This book provides a lot of helpful information on how to identify potential leaders and develop them. No organization can rise above its leadership so it's important to constantly be seeking and developing leaders.

The final book I'll recommend you consider reading is The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. He begins the book by describing finite games and infinite games, Finite games have fixed rules and an agreed-upon objective that when reached ends the game. Infinite games are played by known and unknown players, lack fixed rules and have no finish line. So often people talk about winning or being the best. The problem with such language is that it suggests that they are playing a finite game, and business and ministry neither one is a finite endeavor. The book is written for business people, but I found so much in it that spoke to ministry.

Let me share an early quote in the book that really struck my interest. Sinek wrote, "In the Infinite Game, the true value of an organization cannot be measured by the success it has achieved based on a set of arbitrary metrics over arbitrary time frames. The true value of an organization is measured by the desire others have to contribute to that organization's ability to keep succeeding, not just during the time they are there, but well beyond their own tenure." To me, this should speak to every pastor, every church leader, every denominational leader. We get so caught up in buildings, budgets and baptisms (all of which are important), but we forget that we are in this until Jesus comes. What is ultimately important is not just what we accomplish this year but what we are accomplishing for the Kingdom of God for all eternity.

Happy reading!

More Christians defend the Bible than read it

For my devotional reading right now I am reading through the New Testament using The Message and reading J. I. Packer's book A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life. In my reading a couple of days ago I read in 1 Timothy where Paul challenged Timothy to "Stay at your post reading Scripture...." That same morning I was reading in Packer's book how the Puritans expected the parents, especially fathers, to study the Scriptures so as to be able to teach their children. When they returned home from the church service the fathers were to examine the family to see how well they retained the sermon and to answer any questions any of the family might have about what they had heard. In order to do that, they had to first learn the faith themselves.

When I read these passages I thought about how much more difficult it was for Timothy and the Puritans to study the Scriptures than it is for us today. On one shelf in my study is a row of Bibles of various translations. On the opposite side of my study is nine shelves of commentaries and other Bible study helps. I realize that as a minister that might be more than most people would have, but the fact is each of us has access to that much, and more, aids to understanding the Scriptures. The question is, how many of us are spending time reading and studying the Scriptures.

During a stint as a Transitional Pastor in one church I invited the congregation to join me in reading through the Bible in one year. Several did so. One family read through it together with their children. A long-time Christian man told me it was the first time he had ever read through the Bible in a year. A few talked about how difficult it was, especially when they came to some of the OT passages that challenged their concepts of God being loving and merciful. Many told me that reading through the Bible in that way was a good experience.

As a pastor, I wanted people to read and study the Scriptures as much as possible. We spend a lot of time defending the Scriptures against those who challenge its authenticity. We complain that the courts have taken Bible reading out of the schools. But, many of us spend little to no time in personal Bible reading and study. That's obvious by some of the comments Christians make and how some live their lives. We expect our pastors to teach us what we need to know. More than once I've heard someone explain that they left a church because they "weren't being fed." How about feeding yourself? You're an adult. Feed yourself. Yes, the pastor has a responsibility to teach the people who listen to him or her, but each person as a responsibility to feed themselves from the richness of the Scriptures.

One other thing needs to be said, unfortunately. Some of what some pastors teach is poison to one's soul. Some seminaries produce ministers who have a very low view of the Scriptures, who do not accept them as inspired or authoritative. Such ministers teach things that are not biblically sound which can do great damage to those who listen to them. People sit in these churches week after week listening to such sermons and conducting their lives according to what they are hearing without realizing the faulty message they are hearing. They do this because they do not take time to study the Word for themselves.

The Bible is the inspired Word of God given to us to teach us sound doctrine and instruct us how we should live our lives. Every Christian should be a student of the Scriptures and should spend time every day reading and studying it. If this is not your habit, I pray it will become so.

Start the new year off with a good book

In my last two posts of 2019 I shared my favorite ten books for the year. For the past several years I've averaged reading 50 books a year although the number was less in 2019. Some have asked how I can read so many books in a year. In fact, someone recently told me they have not read that many in their entire lives.

First, there are many people who read far more than one book a week. Last week I saw one person post the list of books he had read in 2019. He had read 65. One well-known leader claims to read 125 or more books a year. The voracious reading habits of such people as Warren Buffett, Mark Cuban, Bill Gates and others are well-documented.

Secondly, I have always loved reading. We didn't have a lot of books in our home growing up, but my mother made sure I went to the public library as often as I wanted. As a young child I probably read as many books as I do now. I read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn numerous times and all of the Hardy Boys mystery books. Every week we went to the library where I would turn in the books I had read that week and pick up more. I do not know anything a parent can do to better prepare their children for life than to instill in them a love of reading.

For years I've shared my top 10 books on FB, but what about the ones I don't list. Some may wonder about those books. Virtually all of them are non-fiction. I seldom read more than one or two, if that many, fiction books a year. Most of them are ministry, business, leadership or theology books. These are the things that most interest me so I concentrate on learning more about them. Occasionally, I will throw in a book that is related to history or military or a biographical look of someone I want to know more about.

As I start a new decade I am reading Jesus Drives Me Crazy!: Lose Your Mind, Find Your Soul by Leonard Sweet and Connecting: Healing Ourselves and Our Relationships by Larry Crabb. Both of these are re-reads that have been sitting in my library since I last read them a few years ago. Jesus Drives Me Crazy is my devotional reading right now. In Sweet's unique style he reminds us of how the wisdom of Jesus seems crazy to the way normal people think and live, and yet it is living according to this wisdom where true life is found.

Crabb is a well-known therapist whose book challenges Christians to form healing communities to bring about true healing for hurting people. He writes, "We have made a terrible mistake! For most of this century we have wrongly defined soul wounds as psychological disorders and delegated their treatment to trained specialists. Damaged psyches aren't the problem. The problem is disconnected souls. What we need is connection! What we need is a healing community!"

In the last mail I received in 2019 came The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. In this book the author asks, How do you win a game that has no end? Baseball has nine innings; basketball is played in two halves; football games last four quarters. There are a set number of players that can be on each team. The way one scores is clearly laid out in the rules. At the end of the game the team that scores the most points wins.

However, life isn't like that. Businesses, organizations, families and churches play an infinite game with no defined end point. While the organization may enjoy successes along the way, the game never ends. Sinek claims that one of the reasons many organizations struggle is because their leaders are playing an infinite game with a finite mindset. He seeks to change that mindset in this book. I have already started reading it and finding it an excellent read.

Several times in my life I have read through the Bible in a year. This year I decided to read through the New Testament. I usually read a different version each time, and this year I decided to use The Message.

What books are you planning to read in this new year? Pick some good ones because they have the power to change your life.

Closing Christian bookstores

It appears LifeWay bookstores will all be closed by the end of 2019. They will join Family Christian and Cokesbury who have also closed their bookstores in the last six years. These brick-and-mortar stores were just not able to compete with Amazon, CBD and the various megachurch bookstores.

The closest LifeWay bookstore to me was about an hour's drive away. When we would go into that city I would often stop in and pick up a couple of books, but, like many people, most of what I bought came from Amazon. The prices were hard to beat, and the books would come straight to my front door. I didn't have to drive two hours in hopes of finding a book I wanted.

Still, I hate to hear about the stores closing. They brought employment to some really fine people. Plus, I like to look at a book before I spend my money on it. Online reviews do not always paint a very accurate picture of what is found inside a book. Several that I have bought online, thinking they were one thing, turned out to be something much different when I started reading them. A lot of these I've just tossed. So much for saving money!

It's odd because a week ago I was in that LifeWay store for the first time in months. I told my wife I had heard they were closing, and I wanted to go there one more time. They had completely rearranged the entire store so I had trouble finding anything I was interested in. I also noticed that much of the store was filled with "Jesus Junk." While that might appeal to some, I go to a bookstore to buy books, not stickers to put on my car's rear window. In fact, that stuff had taken over much of the store leaving much less space for books. I still found a couple I thought were good and likely made my last purchase in a LifeWay store.

Years ago we rejoiced at Wal-Mart coming into our town. Within a few months a number of local stores, many of which had been in business for decades, closed. Their empty buildings still sit along Main Street reminding us of a past that future generations will never know. Over the years Wal-Mart has changed, and not for the better, but it remains nearly the only place in town to buy what we want. Those small stores that served the community so well will never be back.

Now we are seeing the same thing happening with Amazon. Local brick-and-mortar stores, even those associated with larger companies, continue to close their doors. Their workers lose their jobs, but the communities lose even more. They lose the connection they once had with their local stores and those who ran them. Their children's sports teams lose their sponsors. The schools lose the financial support many of them provided. None of those connections are possible with a distant online store who might provide good prices and service but cares nothing about the community.

As a capitalist I understand how these things happen. As an older American who remembers what it was like to go into some of these old stores with wooden floors and mammoth cash registers sitting on wood display cases I'm saddened by what is happening.

Thank you LifeWay, Family Christian and Cokesbury for your years of faithful service to the Christian community.

Current reading list

Last week I shared my top ten favorite reads for 2018. Today I want to let you know what I'm currently reading and the books in my to-read stack.

For my morning devotional read I am working through O. S. Hawkins' book The Nehemiah Code: It's Never Too Late for a New Beginning. Anyone interested in leadership in any endeavor would be advised to study the book of Nehemiah. This particular book is perfect for devotional study with short chapters that focus on the act of rebuilding.

Redefining Truth: Delusions of Replacing God and Calling Evil Good by David Fiorazo is one that I just started reading a couple of days ago. Although I'm just into the first few chapters I'm finding it interesting partially due to its current examples of how our society is changing the whole concept of truth.

Sitting on the shelf waiting their turn are

• The Forgotten Church: Why Rural Ministry Matters for Every Church in America by Glenn Daman. I wrote an endorsement for this book and read a draft copy at the time. This is a very worthy read for anyone serving in smaller or rural churches, and I want to work through it slower this time.
• Scientism and Secularism: Learning to Respond to a Dangerous Ideology by J. P. Moreland. As I mentioned last week, I try to read at least one book a year by this author so I went ahead and ordered this one to get it on the list early.
• Leading with Integrity: The 28 Essential Leadership Strategies of Solomon by Pat Williams. Pat Williams is the senior vice president of the Orlando Magic and a great leader and motivational speaker. I'm looking forward to reading this book.
• Come Thirsty: No Heart Too Dry for His Touch by Max Lucado. This will be my next devotional read. Lucado's books are always encouraging and inspiring.

Leaders are readers. I hope you have a stack of books sitting on your shelves waiting to be read. Just don't leave them there too long. Don't believe the lie that says you are too busy to read good quality books. The fact is the work you've been called to do demands you read. Some of the busiest and best known leaders in America today read 2-3 hours every day, and some read more than that. Paul told young Timothy to study to show himself approved, and that is needed advice for everyone in leadership, especially church leadership. We begin with the Bible and then add other quality books to feed our faith and to help us better understand the world in which we live and serve.

The pastor's library

I've written numerous times about how important a good library is for a minister. When I first began my ministry in 1981 my books would fit in a three foot section of one book shelf. As I sit here typing this I am looking at five seven foot tall bookshelves filled to overflowing plus two four foot bookshelves also filled. I realize some ministers have basements filled with bookshelves, but I feel pretty good about the books I've accumulated as a bivocational minister. Plus, I've given away and sold around 100 of my ministry-related books over the years.

Of course, at some point this becomes a problem. In a couple of months I will turn 70 years old. I am nearing the end of a term as the Transitional Pastor of a nearby church and have no idea if another similar ministry will be offered to me. I keep telling my wife I don't want her stuck with these books, and yet I struggle getting rid of most of them...just in case!

Recently I was talking to the wife of a pastor friend of mine. He has retired but is serving as an interim pastor. When they moved from their parsonage she gave away many of his books and boxed up the rest. He now has to tell her if he needs certain books so she can get them for him. As she explained, they moved into a much smaller house, and it wasn't possible for him to have shelves for his books. Maybe I just need to downsize to force myself to part with most of my library!

At some point I'll find a solution that makes sense and is one I can live with. Until then, I encourage you younger readers to invest in good books. I realize books are expensive today, but they still make a great investment for anyone involved in ministry. Don't be afraid to invest in quality books written by respected authors that speak to challenges you or your church are facing or that address issues important to you.

I also encourage you to not limit your reading to theology and ministry related books. To be effective in ministry it's important to understand people and the things that impact their lives. I have a number of books that focus on business issues, secular leadership, personal finance, and understanding the reasons people act and think as they do. I not only want to be able to exegete the Scriptures; I want to be able to exegete our culture as well so I can speak to it.

Earlier this year I boxed up some of my books, cut my name off the front page and sold the box at one of my auctions. About a month ago I stopped at a yard sale and found 2-3 of those books in the sale. I checked, and there was the place where I had cut out my name so I knew they were my books. I did a quick calculation and decided I had paid about $200.00 for the books in that box. It sold for about $5.00, and now the books are showing up in yard sales! There's a lot about that which could upset me, but it didn't. My prayer is that God will bring those books into the lives of people who need to read the material found in them. If reading those books transforms their lives that will be far better than them remaining on my shelves gathering dust until I decide to read them again.

The church library

I've posted articles here before about the importance of church libraries. In my former ministry, when I would visit the churches I served, I always enjoyed checking out the church library. I felt I could tell a lot about a church just from looking at their libraries. However, I've never discussed what I was looking for or what I consider a good church library.

Obviously, the size of the church will often determine the size of its library. I don't expect a small, rural church to have a large library as I would expect to find in a larger church. Regardless of size, what's most important is the quality of the books available.

I want to see a well-rounded collection of books that includes some that will appeal to anyone regardless of where they are in their spiritual journey. Some would be more popular reading selections while others would require a deeper level of understanding of the Christian faith. I want to see some books on theology, apologetics, church history, as well as autobiographies and biographies of Christian leaders. There should be books that explore challenges people face such as marriage and parenting, personal finance, and personal growth. I want to see practical books on evangelism, teaching, planning,, conflict, and leadership.

Persons in charge of the church library should ensure that newer books are added regularly to the library while not overlooking older books that still provide great value to the reader. They should be willing to listen to suggestions people make about the books to be added to the library. At the same time, they should strive to make sure these books are theologically and doctrinally solid. Frankly, not every book that is listed as a Christian book should be added to a church library due to its weak theology.

Many smaller churches struggle to have the funds to maintain a quality library. What we did in the church I pastored was ask people to donate money to a library fund or to purchase new books they wanted to see added to the library at a local Christian book store. Later, we added a line item in our budget for books. Again, it's important to check the donated books to ensure they are appropriate for the church library. If not, it can lead to problems so be careful with that suggestion.

One thing you do not want to do is ask people to donate their used books to the library. You will likely end up with a lot of old books that people want to get rid of that have little if any value in the 21st century. You may end up making a few trips to the dump and trying to soothe the hurt feelings of those who donated the books.

A church library requires a lot of work to maintain properly, but it is a valuable resource for a church to offer people. As we all know, books are expensive and some in our churches may not have extra money to purchase good Christian books. Having those books in the library can be a wonderful tool to promote spiritual growth among its members.

New books for a new year

The past couple of days I shared my top 10 favorite reads for 2017. Today I want to let you know what I'm reading now and some of the books on my to-read shelf. The books I'm currently reading are

Knowledge and Christian Belief by Alvin Plantinga. The author is  Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Notre Dame. The majority of his books are written for fellow academics. I heard this was one written for the general reader. I definitely do not want to read any he wrote for academics! Although I find this a difficult read, it has been one that is most interesting and helpful.

Whatever Became of Sin by Karl Menninger. This book was written in 1973. Menninger illustrates how many of the things that were once called sins became illegal acts. This made those acts subject to the courts rather than the church. Later, another shift occurred when many of these acts were classified as diseases. When this occurred the person committing the acts came under the care of the doctors and psychologists. Each of these shifts removed the act further and further away from being an act of transgression against the commandments of God. I do not agree with everything the author discusses in the book, but it does help me better understand why many people now reject any notion that they are sinners in need of a Savior.

Ghosts in the Fog by Samantha Seiple. For decades the US government denied reports that the Japanese invaded Alaska during World War II. This book tells the story of this invasion. I am finding it an incredible story and read about half of the book in one sitting.

Some of the books on my to-read shelf are

Surprised by Hope by N. T. Wright
Praying the 23rd Psalm by Elmer Towns
Night by Elie Wiesel

I also plan to re-read a number of books in my library this year. It's time to revisit some of the books that have impacted my life in the past to see if I can glean some new nuggets of gold from them.

I hope you have a reading plan for 2018.

Suggested books

Every year about this time I share a mid-season report of some of the books I've read this year. Today, I want to list five of the books I've read so far this year. They are not listed in any specific order but are books that have impacted my life and ministry. If you are looking for some reading to help you grow as an individual and a Christian, I would recommend these to you.

Grace Is Greater: God's Plan to Overcome Your Past, Redeem Your Pain, and Rewrite Your Story by Kyle Idleman. The author is currently the teaching pastor at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY, the fifth largest church in America. I recently read this book as part of my morning devotions. Idleman points out that God's grace is far greater than anything you have done or experienced. Sometimes those of us who have been Christians for a number of years forget just how powerful God's grace is. This book helped me rediscover that.

Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis J. Beckwith and Gregory Koukl. Beckwith is a professor of philosoply and Koukl is head of an organization dedicated to training Christian thinkers. This book is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to better defend their Christian beliefs. Their primary focus is on moral relativism, the belief that there are no absolute moral absolutes but everyone must be free to choose for themselves right and wrong. They powerfully demonstrate how dangerous such beliefs are when carried out to their logical conclusion. They write

For to deny the existence of universally objective moral distinctions, one must admit that Mother Teresa was no more or less moral than Adolf Hitler, that torturing three-year-olds for fun is neither good nor evil, that giving 10 percent of one's financial surplus to an invalid is neither praiseworthy nor condemnable, that raping a woman is neither right nor wrong, and that providing food and shelter for one's spouse and children is neither a good thing nor a bad thing.

And this is just in the introduction! Although moral relativism may be the mantra of our society today, it is an evil philosophy that is doing great damage. This book will help the reader address such a worldview when it is encountered.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport. Too many of us try to multitask in order to accomplish more. We believe if we can do several things at one time we will get more of our work done faster. I've certainly thought that in past years. Newport shows how such work is often shallow and actually leads to us accomplishing less. He writes, "To produce at your peak level you need to work for extended periods with full concentration on a single task free from distraction. Put another way, the type of work that optimizes your performance is deep work." He then goes on to demonstrate how to shift from shallow work to deep work. This book is not written for ministers, but I found a lot in it that certainly transfers to what we do.


Taking Pascal's Wager: Faith, Evidence and the Abundant Life by Michael Rota. Essentially, the Blaise Pascal Wager, as it came to be known, stated that if one accepted Christianity as true and learned at the end of his life that it wasn't, that he had not lost anything. On the other hand, if one rejected Christianity and came to the end of his life and learned that it was true, he has lost everything. Another way of looking at it is that if it is even 50 percent possible that Christianity is true it is rational for one to commit to living such a life. Rota builds on this argument and presents a powerful argument that Christianity is true. I will warn you...this is not a quick read, but it is a very worthwhile read. The book stretched me at times, and I grew as a result.


Designed to Lead: The Church and Leadership Development by Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck. Churches are called to do many things. One of them is to develop leaders, and it is in this task that too many churches fail. Leadership development requires intentionality and a commitment to the task. The authors insist, "Developing leaders must be a burning passion, a non-negotiable part of the vision of a local church and her leaders, or it will never become a reality." They go on to share several ways churches can go about leadership development.

It's always a dangerous thing to recommend a book because each of us have different needs and different books speak to different needs. Still, these are some books that I would certainly recommend to anyone in church leadership or anyone wanting to grow in their faith. Happy reading!

Favorite reads of 2016 1-5

Today I'll finish my top 10 list of my favorite reads for 2016. Yesterday, I listed 6-10 so if you haven't seen it you can find it here.

5. Growing God's Church: How People Are Actually Coming to Faith Today by Gary McIntosh. McIntosh is a professor at Talbot School of Theology and a church consultant who knows what he's talking about. All of his books are must reads for anyone in church leadership. He and I were speakers at an event earlier this year, and I had a great time talking with him about this book. You need this book in your library.

4. Why Christian Faith Still Makes Sense: A Response to Contemporary Challenges  by C. Stephen Evans. This is a very readable book that will help you respond to the skeptics and critics of Christianity. As you can see from these next few books, this year I was very interested in books on apologetics and how to speak to unbelievers. I'm convinced it will become increasingly more important to know how to do this in the future.

3.  Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical by Timothy Keller. Anyone involved in ministry today knows how difficult it can be to talk to persons who are skeptical about God.  Keller lives and ministers in New York City. He is surrounded by persons who question the existence of God, and he has learned how to communicate with them. He shares that knowledge in this book and teaches the reader how to share his or her faith with skeptics. I found this book extremely helpful.

2.  Has Christianity Failed You? by Ravi Zacharias. Here is another one of my favorite writers on apologetics. I listen to Zacharias on his podcasts as well as read his books. Many people have left the church because they feel God has failed them. The author points out that individual Christians and the church might fail us, but God never will. His arguments will be very helpful to me as I run into people who feel that God has abandoned them or failed them in other ways.

1. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller. I knew when I read the first chapter that this would be my favorite read for this year, and it was. Suffering is common to all of us, and Keller shows how God is always with us in our suffering and walks us through it. Christians need to read this for their own spiritual understanding, and church leaders certainly need this book as they minister to others who are going through the various trials in their lives.

This is my 2016 list. Each of these books have deepened my understanding of God and how I can better serve Him. I hope if you decide to read them you'll find them as helpful as I have.