It’s the end of another year. Can you believe it? I’m sure
I’ll be writing 2016 on everything for at least another month because I can’t
believe 2017 is here already! Whether I like it or not, time is flying and it’s the
time of year where I like to think back on what books I’ve read and compile a
list to share. So let’s get to it!
In no particular order the following books made my 2016 best
reads list.
Create vs. Copy
by Ken Wytsma. This book is a gem. I learned a lot about theology of creation
and how it informs, inspires and spurs on creation and innovation in my own
life in community with others. I enjoyed this book so much I wrote more about
it and the personal impact it had on me in a blog you can read here.
The Circle Maker by
Mark Batterson. After reading and loving Praying Circles Around the Lives of Your
Children by Batterson a couple years ago (review of this one is also on the
blog if you’d like to learn more), I was thrilled when I received The Circle
Maker as a gift from my friend Monica. Batterson tells story after story of
transformation taking place in so many lives because of prayer. While reading
this one, I felt compelled to wake up a little earlier than I normally would
(read: I only hit snooze once instead of 3 or 13 times), to spend a few minutes
praying intentionally for people in my life. I have to tell you, I had some
incredible conversations with the very same people I was intentionally in
prayer during this time. Pausing, acknowledging God is at work for all people
and He is good in and through all circumstances, changes everything.
Play with Fire
by Bianca Olthoff. Rather than describe
the book here, head on over to the blog to read through a fun conversation Bianca
and I had about Play with Fire.
Women of the Word
by Jen Wilkin. “The Bible is a story about the reign and rule of God” make for
wise words from Wilkin. This little book is packed with insightful truths and
practical helps regarding reading and understanding the Bible. I wish this book
had been around 20 years ago! Wilkin identifies for the reader, the main theme
of the Bible is creation-fall-redemption-restoration. We see the same 4 big
ideas told over and over throughout the smaller narratives found from Genesis
to Revelation. She also offers 4 practical ways to engage with scripture which
will help us remember the Bible is about God. Yes the Bible informs us and our
lives, but only through the lens of who God is. Reading and learning as much as
I did from Wilkin inspired me to write a 2 part series on Reading the Bible
which you can find here and here.
Favor with Kings
by Caleb Anderson. Nehemiah. What a story right? Favor with Kings is a look at
the memoirs of Nehemiah as He was used by God to lead the charge to rebuild the
city walls around Jerusalem with the Israelites who had recently returned home
from exile. The overarching idea of the book is every person has a mission from
God and the mission is always about people. Nehemiah led in the rebuilding of
the wall, but more importantly, the rebuilding of morale and joy for God’s
people.
Giddy Up Eunice
by Sophie Hudson. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover but I
completely did on this one and I’m glad I did. The title alone captured my
interest and I just had to read a book titled Giddy Up Eunice. This is a book
for the ladies. And it’s not full of potpourri, butterflies and doilies. Hudson uses hilarious and insightful storytelling
to discuss three very different stories found in the Bible of the unique
relationships between Elizabeth and Mary, Ruth and Naomi and Lois and Eunice.
All stories are of very different circumstances, yet all with the underlying
truth women need each other. We need women older than us who can mentor,
encourage us and pass on their wisdom to us. And in return, we need to do the
same for the generation of women rising up behind us. I may have genuinely cried
laughing reading this one. Pick up two copies because you’ll want to gift to an
important woman in your life too.
Hope Heals by
Katherine and Jay Wolf. I may have cried a river reading this book but for a
different reason than above. I first heard of Katherine and Jay’s story via a
video clip of them at Catalyst West several years ago. And last February, I
watched Katherine talk about her life streaming from The If:Gathering
conference. In her mid-twenties and with a newborn and Jay in law school,
Katherine suffered a massive stroke. Hope heals recounts the story from both
Katherine and Jay’s unique perspectives. What I loved most about the book is
while they wrote it to share their story of stroke and recovery; they did so in
a way telling of the story of God. It’s about who He really is and the hope and
healing only He can bring. Earlier this year I drove to a little Christian book
store in Brea, CA to meet Katherine and Jay for a book signing. Katherine told
me, “the story is God’s; we just told it.” It’s a beautiful read and I highly
recommend you snag this up, along with a box or 30 of Kleenex.
One Thousand Wells
by Jena Lee Nardella. Here again I judged a book by its cover. The tag line of
the book reads, “How an Audacious Goal Taught me to Love the World Instead of
Save it.” Intriguing, am I right? An early twenties Jena, in a unique
partnership with the band Jars of Clay, set out for Africa determined to build
1000 wells and bring clean water to communities in need. Throughout the book
she shares about struggles with working with the band, the struggle of bringing
foreign aid to areas of desolation and maybe the most poignant of struggles,
learning to live out the Christian faith like Jesus, despite status quo.
The Hatmakers were frequent flyers in my house this year. I
read 3 of Jen’s and 1 of Brandon’s. Here we go:
For the Love by
Jen Hatmaker. This book is about grace. It’s about accepting and extending
grace. I enjoyed the random recipes
she threw in here and there throughout and some quotes of some of her
followers. It’s simple, full of grace - for the love - with a bit of typical
Jen humor throughout (such as the rant about yoga pants. If you don’t know what
I am talking about, stop reading and immediate look up Jen Hatmaker Yoga Pants
on YouTube).
7: An Experimental Mutiny
Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. Jen
takes minimalism to a new extreme with her 7 month long hiatus of excess. Jen
leads her family on a major downsizing experiment to rid the excess and refocus
their dependence upon God. Jen chooses 7 areas of her life where she lives in
excess and for the duration of a month for each, she lives on only 7 of
whatever the theme is for that month. For example, one month she purges her
closets of clothes and literally wears the same 7 articles of clothing every
day for a month. Another month it’s food. She eats a variation of the same 7
foods for a month. Throughout the book
Jen shares about the lessons learned throughout the experiment. I loved this
book. It’s hilarious, honest and inspiring. I’ll read this one again. It
certainly caused me to consider areas of my life where I live in excess and am
missing out on living life closer to God because of it.
Interrupted by
Jen Hatmaker. Interrupted tells the story of Jen and her husband Brandon as
they go through a season when they began to question the Christian status quo
and they began to wonder if Jesus really meant what he said and did. Because if
he did intend for his followers to live lives reflective of what he said and
did, this changes everything about everything. It means Jesus cares much more
for how his followers treat the people around them, than carrying out the
traditions of religion. Of the three Jen Hatmaker books I read this year, this
was my favorite.
Barefoot Church
by Brandon Hatmaker. In Jen’s book 7, she tells a story about an Easter service
she and Brandon went to one year with Shane Claiborne as the guest speaker. At
the end of the service, Claiborne creates space for people to leave behind the
shoes they walked in with because later that night, he was going to take them to
the local homeless community. Both Brandon and Jen were so struck by this
unconventional offering. It seems to me the idea for Barefoot Church was
birthed from this experience. Brandon shares about the journey he and Jen took
as they left their previous safe Christian world (much like Jen wrote about in
Interrupted and embarked on a church plant dedicated to being both a gathering
and a sending church community. This book is not a model for how to do church.
Rather, it’s a story of their church planting experience. I took away some
valuable insights and overall, enjoyed this book.
So that’s it! It’s been a good year of great reads!
Here’s a list of what I’m currently reading followed by
what’s next on my list.
continue reading
