It is far past due – but here’s a rundown of the 9 books I read in March. This brings my 2024 total to 22 books. Happy reading!
(I must always clarify that I read many books with which I disagree. I learn the most by reading things that do not represent my position.)
A Brave Lament: For Those Who Know Death by Andrew and Christy Bauman
This is a raw reflection on grief. And I mean raw. There is no attempt to pretty up the experience or clean up the emotion. The Baumans share their journey through the loss of a son. It ends with a note of hope. I personally wish the meditation on hope lingered longer.
Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono
This book came up in a conversation with a friend about decision making. De Bono discusses six thinking hats which help guide a team through the decision making process:
WHITE HAT: facts and figures hat
RED HAT: emotional hat
BLACK HAT: the “devil’s advocate” hat
YELLOW HAT: sunny and positive hat
GREEN HAT: creativity, new ideas hat
BLUE HAT: organizing hat
The book is crisp – no wasted word. It is filled with explanation and examples.
A Gospel Primer for Christians: Learning to See the Glories of God’s Love by Milton Vincent
This is a candidate for my “favorite books of the year” list. The book is a tool to preach the gospel to yourself each day. Vincent wrote it under the principle that God did not give us the gospel merely to be converted. Rather, God gave us the gospel in order for us to pursue godliness. The book comes in two parts. The first part provides pithy reflections that a reader can use to preach the gospel to themselves. The second part puts those primers into poetry. This book is right up my alley.
By Name: How to Pray for People and Lead Them to Jesus by Brian Alarid
This book is another recommendation by a friend. Alarid provides a strong case on why we should pray for people and provides a strong mechanism by which we can pray for people. It is filled with inspiration and anecdotes.
Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. by John Mark Comer
I did not need to be convinced by Comer’s argument. I have preached many similar things. He argues for the church to understand discipleship as an apprenticeship. By following Jesus we learn his ways and becoming more like him.
A Season on the Mat: Dan Gable and the Pursuit of Perfection by Nolan Zavoral
A favorite of mine. I have long loved the sport of wrestling. There is no icon greater in the sport then Dan Gable. Zavoral followed Dan Gable and the Iowa Hawkeyes during the 1996-1997 season. You get everything from bus rides to team meals to cutting weight to mat side conversations.
Luke: The Gospel of Amazement (The Biblical Imagination Series) by Michael Card
You might know Michael Card as a musician, but I love Michael Card as a biblical scholar. I read this volume as I prepared for a sermon series through the book of Luke. Card never failed to aid me in some way. He has written a commentary for the other three gospels. I highly recommend them all.
The Road to J.O.Y.: Leading with Faith, Playing with Purpose, Leaving a Legacy by Scott Drew
I read this book in anticipation of the Baylor Bears making a long March Madness run. Unfortunately, they only won one game. Here’s to next year. There is no doubt that I am a Baylor homer. Yet, Baylor homer or not, I’m a huge fan of Scott Drew. I’ve known him to be a great coach and leader of men. This book proves him to be a genuine follower of Jesus.
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism by Tim Alberta
Whoa. This book is an examination of evangelicals in the age of Trump. Alberta, biased no doubt, holds no punches. His thoughts and observations are easy to spot amidst interviews with key players. An eye-opening account no matter your personal perspective.
Jeff Gravens 