Skip to main content

Books I'm Reading

Image result for it isn't supposed to be this way lysa

It's Not Supposed to be This Way Lysa Terkeurst

 I just finished this, and I'm probably going to immediately reread it.  There is an openness and rawness in Lysa Terkeurst's voice throughout this text that resonates authenticity and vulnerability.  Instead of throwing herself (or you) a pity party, though, she responds with compassion, empathy, encouragement, and God's Truth.  Whatever your "it's not supposed to be this way" is, Terkeurst's reflections and message is for you.
Image result for rachel held evans Inspired

Inspired by Rachel Held Evans

 I was hooked before I ever finished the introduction where Evans discusses growing up in the church and being the subject of leadership meetings and interventions!  Preach!  

 If you have ever struggled and wrestled with the stories in the bible and how to read them, tried to tamp down your doubt, or forced your literary eye to go blind as you read the bible, Evans is speaking to you.  I am a literary scholar (that sounds very arrogant, but please don't read it that way) who grew up in the church.  The more I studied literature, the more how I read the bible changed.  I struggled with that for years because it seemed almost blasphemous.  Evans does a masterful job of discussing the genres of the bible and incorporating amazing scholarship into her discussion.  

 This is a beautiful and refreshing discussion of the bible as literature and what to do with it.

 Jesus Feminist

Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey

 I've had such interesting responses to this title alone! Ha!  Regardless of your political leanings, church affiliations, or beliefs about gender, I would strongly, strongly encourage you to pick up this book.  And, if you are a woman, please, please pick up this book.  

 Sarah Bessey does a phenomenal job of illustrating Jesus's view on women, and it just might not be what you think it is.  This is not a pro-woman but anti-man, women vs men discussion at all.  It is an amazing discussion of Jesus and women and life that will speak to you on so many levels. 

 Rising Strong - AudiobookThe Gifts of Imperfection (ebook)Image result for brene brown i thought i was the only one

Brene Brown (All of her books)

 I can't say enough good things about Brene Brown's amazing work with shame research.  Brown speaks to the soul, to the very depths of who you are, how you respond to disappointments and shame, and why you react that way.  Her balance of research-based and anecdotal writing has a depth of authenticity that is unmatched.  Wherever you are in your life, whatever season you are in, Brown will speak to you.

 Image result for the land between jeff manion

Jeff Manion does a great job of teaching through a mix of personal anecdotes, bible study, and other's stories.  He discusses that land between we unexpectedly find ourselves in at times, and he does so through the lens of the Israelites.  A great read for anyone in the wilderness!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

You are Enough

Middle School Angst I met her in 7th grade. Her name was Angie. And she hated me. And that is a problem when your class is a whopping 100 kids, and you only have one honors class for each subject. Thank God she wasn’t musical at all, or we probably would have had every single class together in junior high and maybe even high school. She didn’t go out of her way to be mean to me; she just made it blatantly obvious that she hated me whenever she got the chance. You know, run of the mill 90s girl drama before social media (thank you, Jesus, for that small blessing). I survived middle school with Angie, and we moved on to high school. We had many of the same friends, but I took more of the sporty, involved route, and she took more of the rebel, party route. We still had tons of classes together, and she still expressed her hatred of me whenever she had the chance, still with no explanation. Finally, during my junior year, we were in a club together, and we were elected Pre...
12 comments
Read more

Bitter or Better?

Orange is, in Fact, NOT the New Black I walked into a birthday party a few days after getting out of prison, only to be met with shock--not because I was there, but because I was there and looked like a normal human being.  These were people I have known my whole life, and the consistent theme of the night was, “you look so good.” To be completely honest with you, I didn’t really think that much of it during the evening.  No, it wasn’t until I walked into church the next morning and again was met with the same looks of shock and the same comments of, “wow, you look so good.” Now, by this point, I have to admit, I started to get a bit of a complex.  I was definitely wondering how terrible I must have looked before I went to prison for everyone to be so amazed at the fact that I am tan, healthy, and rested!   And then it hit me. People were amazed at how I looked because, in reality, we have no idea what prison is actually like!  We know what...
10 comments
Read more

More than I can Handle

“If God closes a door” and Other Cliches that should be Retired: I grew up on Christian cliches. They were plastered on posters in my Sunday School rooms, tossed around freely at church camp, and generally spouted every time the church doors were open. “God will never give you more than you can handle.” “If he leads you to it, he’ll lead you through it.” “When God closes a door, he opens a window.” “Let go and let God.” “God helps those who helps themselves.” “If it’s God’s will…” “Jesus, take the wheel.” Okay, that last one might be a country song and not a Christian cliche, but it fits, right?! I’d love to take apart each one of these cliches, and maybe someday I’ll do a series on them, but today, today I just want to think about one of them. The first one. The biggest offender. “God will never give you more than you can handle.” False. Not true. Bold-faced lie. “God will never give you more than you can handle,” but... I’m not entirely sure where this cliche originat...
6 comments
Read more