January 2022 was a great reading month for me. Here are the books I read that month:
Family Firm by Emily Oster
Pretty good book on making decisions as a family. The first section on coming up with family values and having those guide your decision-making as a family was the best part of the book. The second half dragged a bit and seemed to overcomplicate common sense decisions. Review HERE.
Spirit and Sacrament by Andrew Wilson
Wilson argues that churches need both an emphasis on liturgy (sacrament) and gifts of the Spirit. This was the most compelling argument for continuationism (the position that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit like tongues and prophecy continue in today’s church age) I have read. While not fully convinced of his take on the miraculous gifts, I am convinced that we must seek an encounter with the living God in worship as Wilson suggests.
Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn’t the American Dream by Brian Fikkert and Kelly Kapic
One of the most important books I’ve ever read. It cuts through most of the debate around politics and the life of the church by refocusing on Scripture’s story for alleviating poverty and working for social change. I’m still working through the ramifications of the book in my own thinking.
Jesus and John Wayne by Kristen Kobes Du Mez
This book has definitely gotten a lot of buzz in recent years, so I wanted to read it to see what all the fuss was about. It’s a history and critique of conservative evangelicalism from the 1950’s to the present day. Some of the connections and implications of the book seem to be a stretch. It wasn’t as compelling as the buzz made it seem to be.
Personal Kanban by Jim Benson and Tonianne Barry
An important book on productivity. Personal Kanban has two guiding principles: visualize your work and limit of how much you’re doing. Definitely worth the read to get a better handle on the swirling amount of stuff we all have to do in modern life.
God of All Things by Andrew Wilson
A short, almost devotional-like, book on how every day things point to God. An easy read which will increase your wonder and awe for our Lord.