The Past Few Weeks with Me and My Kindle

Just finished a few excellent books. I don’t know about you, but it seems God always puts just the right book into my hands at just the right time. These past few weeks have been no exception. Among the gems:

– Two books by Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel and All Is Grace. Really excellent books by a man who struggled most of life with alcoholism but learned in the process the true depth of God’s love and grace. Highly recommended.
– The Myth of a Christian Nation, by Greg Boyd. Whether or not you agree with his conclusions, this is a must read for those on either side of the argument regarding whether America is or ever was a “Christian Nation,” and how much the church ought to be involved in political and governmental affairs.
– Unlocking the Heart of the Artist, by Matt Tommey and Ray Hughes. This book is for those struggling with their artistic gifting, how to express it properly and fully both in the world and within the church, what God thinks of the creative gifts He has given to His people, and the pitfalls to watch for if you’re an artist wanting to do the thing you were created for.
– Angry Conversations With God: A Snarky But Authentic Spiritual Memoir, by Susan Isaacs. This book is a bit outside my normal preferred genre but it’s a hilarious and highly recommended glimpse into the mixed up, funny, sometimes heartwrenching, true and honest struggles of one woman who took God to marriage counseling. Most people will find something in this book that really hits home.
– Answers to Prayer From George Muller’s Narratives. This is the fantastic true story of George Muller and his building and maintaining orphanages in the late 1800s and early 1900s, all without once asking a single human being for money or assistance. He determined early on that he would never, ever ask for money but would rely only on prayer to raise money for his orphanages. Several decades (and thousands of orphans cared for and educated) later, he continued to prove God’s faithfulness.