a book a month in 2009

Last year at this time I made the suggestion that we all commit to reading at least one book a month. In keeping with that tradition, here is the next installment of my suggestions for "a book a month":

1. The Reason for God by Tim Keller. Keller is one of those guys who can explain things in a way that makes you say "I wish I'd thought of that". The book pokes holes in many of the objections people have against the concept of God.

2. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This past year I dusted off my old copy of this great Christian classic. It reminded me of why Lewis has had such an impact on me through the years.

3. Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan. If you want to know why your world atlas looks the way it does, you have to go back to Paris in 1919. A fascinating look at one of the most important years in modern world history.

4. In My Place Condemned He Stood by J.I. Packer and Mark Dever. A terrific study into the meaning of atonement.

5. Modern Physics and Ancient Faith by Stephen Barr. A physicist takes a skeptical look at the meaning of the universe and to his surprise finds himself on the side of ancient religion.

6. Dying in the Land of Promise by Donald E. Wagner. If you have ever wondered what happened to the descendants of the first century church- this book is part of your answer.

7. A History of Christianity in Asia by Samuel Moffitt. You know how Christianity moved west into Macedonia, Rome and Europe, but do you know how it moved east into Persia, India and China? This book tells the fascinating story of Christianity's eastern advance.

8. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. In my five years on the personnel committee of the International Mission Board, I have observed that a high percentage of young missionaries going on the field have read and been captivated by this book. Read it if you dare.

9. Sailing the Wine Dark Sea by Thomas Cahill. Most of the framework for Western culture was providentially built upon the foundation of Greek philosophy. This book explains how that happened.

10. St. Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox by G.K. Chesterton. A brilliant biography about a brilliant theologian written by a brilliant apologist.

11. Christ and Culture Revisited by Dan Carson. Carson is voice of impeccable reason and intellect in the debate over how Christians should engage culture.

12. Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Bersheers. Driscoll isn't for everyone, but I enjoy his earthy, plain spoken style of teaching and writing.