a book a month

The new year is always a good time to start some new habits and make some new (or renewed) commitments. At the bare minimum, I think it is a good resolution to continue to broaden the world you live in this year.

I agree with G.K. Chesterton who said "the lunatics mind moves in a perfect but narrow circle. A small circle is quite as infinite as a large circle, but though it is quite as infinite, it is not so large".

The smaller and tighter the circle we live in, the less healthy we are. A believer who has a global perspective and lives in a big world has more compassion and is more energized for the gospel. I know I don't have to tell you that the next few years will bring about rapid change that will alter all of our lives at a staggering pace. We honor God by the way we move into that expanding world.

A great way to broaden the circle in your world is to become a prolific reader. It is an increasingly important discipline especially in a media driven world to take your eyes and mind off of a computer or television screen and put them on to the pages of a book.

So, as a kind of encouragement to all of us to read at least one book a month this next year, I want to share with you 12 books I have read recently that I particularly enjoyed:

1. What's So Great About Christianity by Dnish Dsouza. Dsouza is a brilliant philosopher and apologist who writes and thinks with great clarity. I'm glad he's on our side.

2. The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman. There are more honor students in China than there are students in the United States. Imagine what will happen when they all get internet access. Friedman has an effective way of helping us understand how the world is changing.

3. Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. This is one of the classics that every Christian should read. His criticism of the materialist is especially current.

4. The Rise of Christianity by Robert Stark. One of the best books I have read on the reason Christianity took over the Roman Empire. Written from the perspective of a non-Christian socioligist -it is objective, concise and inspiring.

5. From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas Friedman. Although this book was written about 25 years ago, this is a very good explanation of the political issues at play in the Middle East.

6. Putting Amazing Back into Grace by Michael Horton. This is an important book for a better understanding of the theology of salvation and grace.

7. Presidential Courage by Michael R. Beschloss. An inspiring look into the inner workings of the White house throughout history and how many of our presidents made unpopular decisions at crucial times in order to bring about positive change.

8. The River of Doubt by Candice Miller. The incredible story of how a retired and aging Theodore Roosevelt came to terms with his mortality in the Amazon.

9. The Bible and the Future by Anthony A. Hoekema. By far the best book I have read on the subject of eschatology. Whenever someone asks me what I think about future times, I just want to hand them this book. I don't see how anyone can say it better.

10. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. A powerful insight into one families tragic journey from Afghanistan to the United States. The movie is also very good.

11. Aristotles Children by Richard E. Rubenstein. The fascinating story of how Greek philosophy was rediscovered after the crusades.

12. God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis. A list like this wouldn't be complete without at least one book by Uncle Clive.