Adam Shields These are my top nonfiction books of the year. I tried for a top 10 list, but gave up and just made it my top books. They are not in order by which is best, but by date read. The links are not to Amazon like I normally do, but the the blog posts about … Read more
This was the second book in a series. The first was free as an audiobook from Audible.com. I am a big fan of Audible and I listen to about 20-30 audiobooks a year. They have been giving away a good number of books lately. Unfortunately, I haven’t liked many of the ones I have listened to … Read more
Takeaway: Solid near term science fiction/political thriller. More Card doing what he does best. Purchase Links: Amazon Hardcover, Amazon Paperback, Kindle Edition, Audible.com Audiobook I LOVE Orson Scott Card. I have read almost everything that he has ever written. I really like the Ender Series. Although there are some ups and downs with that. Orson Scott Card does with … Read more
I just started reading Dennis Fuqua’s new book Living Prayer yesterday. I first met Dennis about 10 years ago when he came to meet with the leadership team of the Chicago Pastor’s Prayer Summit. Since then we have regularly run into one another at either Prayer Summit, Mission America or City Impact Roundtable events. I … Read more
Part of the Ancient Practice Series, “œThe Sacred Meal” looks at practice of the Eucharist (or communion or Lord’s Supper) within the church. This is a unique series and a unique book. I have never read another book on communion quite like it. It is not overly concerned with history (although it brings up some … Read more
Takeaway: Poverty, the reasons for poverty and the ways out of poverty are never simple. Good, rich stories are one way to show the complexity. Purchase Links: Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle Edition I love reading books when I have some outside references to the setting. Part of the book The Magician was set in Paris. We went … Read more
I like the concept of this book, introduce a saint to modern Christians through story and not just biography. Saint Francis, was a transitional Christian and is very relevant to today’s Christians, maybe especially to evangelicals. The weakness is that it isn’t great literature. At one point it talks about the purpose of great art … Read more
Takeaway: Best book I have read on leading prayer in a small group setting Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition Small groups have become a standard among the evangelical church. Especially in large churches, they are the way that you build community, disciple one another, and give and receive care from the church. Many small groups … Read more
Very different feel from the twilight books. This is a faintly science fiction book. It is an invation of the body snatchers story (or at least as much as the Twilight books were vampire books). There is a light romance going on. It is sort of like the Robert A. Heinlein book “I Will Fear … Read more
Frustration is probably the first thing I think about when I think of church prayer meetings. Maybe you have had much better experiences than I have. But when I think about my own church prayer meetings from the variety of churches that I have attended over my adult life, frustration is an accurate word. This … Read more