Fall '09 Must Reads!

Growing up, my dad would always say, "There are a lot of good books out there. Don't waste time with those. Read great books." He is right. I heard somewhere that over 400,000 new titles were released last year...400,000! You'll never be able to read all those titles, and it can be hard to know what to read when there are so many choices. To help choose wisely, I always try to find out what is coming out before it releases so I can decide what I want to grab. With a flailing economy, people are buying books less and choosing carefully, so I figured I would give you the five fall books I can't wait to read. In no particular order...

1. Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of The Holy Spirit by Francis Chan. Fans of Chan's bestselling book, Crazy Love, have been chomping at the bit for a second title. Finally, they will get what they want. This book will no doubt be a huge hit, and if it is half as good as his last one, it will be an amazing read. (Releases September 1, 2009)

2. Words from The Fire: Hearing the Voice of God in The 10 Commandments by R. Albert Mohler. There isn't a more foundational topic for Christian ethics than the 10 commandments, and there isn't a more brilliant theologian to tackle it than Albert Mohler. Pastors should be especially attracted to this book. (Releases September 1, 2009)

3. Scouting the Divine: My Search for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey by Margaret Feinberg. It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Margaret's work, but this one is even better than I expected. I finished the advance copy in a weekend, and it has changed the way I read the Bible forever. Margaret's stories of discovery and deep Biblical truths will warm your heart and blow your mind. (Releases October 1, 2009)

4. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Timothy Keller. Church planter Tim Keller came roaring onto the scene a number of years ago with The Reason for God. This book, which is about the sin of idolatry, is sure to be powerful and an instant hit. (Releases October 20, 2009)

5. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life by Donald Miller. His NY Times bestseller Blue Like Jazz made Don Miller an instant celebrity; this book makes him a human being. I received a copy a few weeks ago and rediscovered how great a writer he is. A Million Miles is a memoir filled with humor, pain and great takeaways that will undoubtedly connect with Miller's cult following. (Releases September 29, 2009)

So, there is my list. Is there something I missed? Any of these interest you?

Review: Green Revolution

When it comes to books on creation care, there is a lot of worthless fluff out there. Green Revolution by Ben Lowe, however, is a very different kind of creation care book. It is comprehensive, collaborative, and creative. I am excited about this book and not just because I contributed an essay to it. (Wink.) It excites me because it accurately highlights the creation care movement sweeping up Christians and churches all across the world. That is why I decided to both endorse it and review it for Relevant Magazine. Check out my review of Green Revolution here and find out why I believe this book is a "powerfully convincing invitation to join a fresh movement of God."

Healing for a Broken World

Today, I picked up a book for the first time and now I can't put it down. The book is Healing for a Broken World: Christian Perspectives on Public Policy by Steven Monsma. For some time, I have been looking for a book that offers a balanced approach to public policy that all evangelicals--both left-leaning and right-leaning--can rally around. This book just might be it. 

The book has an star-studded and diverse list of endorsements that by itself almost warrants reading the book. From the right, Monsma is endorsed by Chuck Colson, Francis Beckwith, Os Guiness and Joel Belz of World Magazine; from the center or left (depending on how you see it), Ron Sider, David Gushee and Jennifer Butler of Faith in Public Life. The content is equally provocative. Monsma tackles important issues, such as church and state, life issues, poverty, human rights violations, and war. 

If you have not read this book, consider ordering it. If you have read it, let me know if what you thought about it. I'd love to know if anyone feels like I do.