Summer
is here, which means you might find yourself with a little more time
for—reading! What did you think I was going to say—watching sports!? Well, we
can always hope. Until then, invest your time in some reading that will be good
for your soul. Here are my recommendations in a few different categories.
For
Children
The
Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis can almost go without
mention here because it is so well-known. If your kids haven’t read through it,
though, it’s well-worth it. Truth be told, however, with each passing year this
series is becoming a better fit for the pre-teen and teen category. You’ll
definitely need to read these books to your younger children, as they will find
them too hard to read on their own.
If
you’d like your child to practice their reading skills while developing some
good devotional habits, consider Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
by Sally Lloyd-Jones. These short devotionals are accessible for beginning
readers from about 3rd grade on up. They would also make for good
family devotions at any time of the year.
My
family has not made it very far through this last series, but I’m hearing
enough good things about The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith to
be able to recommend it to you.
For
Pre-Teens/Teens
If
your pre-teen or teen likes graphic novels, check out the graphic novels of the
Bible produced by Kingstone Comics (www.kingstone.co). The authors have
made every effort to stay close to the text of Scripture with their dialogue,
which makes these graphic novels a fun and engaging way for pre-teens and teens
to get more familiar with the Bible. One note of caution—the drawings of demons
in these novels could be frightening for some kids and even teens. My six- and
nine-year-old kids haven’t been bothered by them, but others might have
different reactions.
Inspirational
Non-Fiction
I’ll
mention several recommendations in this category in rapid-fire fashion:
Unbroken,
by Laura Hillenbrand.
The story of Louis Zamperini, Olympic athlete turned Army Air Force airman
during World War II. After spending much of the war in a Japanese POW camp,
Zamperini found power in Christ to forgive his former captors.
Fire
Road, by Kim Phuc Phan Thi. The story of the little girl in the famous photo
from Vietnam, running down the road naked after being caught in a napalm
attack. She later became a Christian and lived a remarkable life.
D.
L. Moody: A Life, by Kevin Belmonte. The story of the great evangelist and
the institutions he founded. I was particularly touched by stories of Moody’s
humor.
Mission
at Nuremberg, by Tim Townsend. The story of a Lutheran U. S. Army
Chaplain and his efforts to minister to Nazi war criminals during the Nuremberg
Trials.
For
the Glory, by Duncan Hamilton. The story of Olympic legend Eric Liddell
of “Chariots of Fire” fame. Liddell later became a missionary to China to
ministered there during the Japanese occupation in World War II.
Inspirational
Fiction
Safely
Home, by Randy Alcorn.
I’m a man, so I’m not supposed to cry, right? Well, this book brought tears to
my eyes several times. A story about a nominal Christian from the United States
on a business trip to China to visit a former classmate. This beautiful
depiction of faith will touch your soul.
The
Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis. Ever wonder what’s going on in the mind
of a demon—what it might be thinking as it tries to tempt you? C. S. Lewis
humorously and insightfully pulls back that curtain through a series of
fictional letters from an experienced demon to a rookie demon who’s trying to
learn the ropes.
Any
novels by Joel C. Rosenberg. Okay, I might be stretching the definition of
“inspirational” here. These aren’t warm-and-fuzzy, feel-good novels—they’re
stories of war and espionage told against the backdrop of a Christian
worldview. “The Last Jihad” series in particular is set within the framework of
biblical prophecy.
Christian
Living
I’ll
start with two books by Paul E. Miller—“A Praying Life” and “The J Curve.”
These books are fantastic explanations of two subjects we often don’t
understand as well as we’d like—prayer and suffering.
Heaven,
by Randy Alcorn.
It’s hard to long for a place you don’t know much about. Many Christians are in
that place with regard to Heaven, but Alcorn’s book will help fill in the gaps
in your understanding.
Decision
Making and the Will of God, by Garry Friesen. A slightly older book, but
timeless in its advice. Many people are virtually paralyzed in the face of
decisions. That feeling can be amplified for Christians because of the notion
of missing God’s will for your life. This book will help you have a more
biblical understanding of that subject.
Heavy
Lifting
For
those brave souls looking for a challenge!
Salvation
and Sovereignty, by Kenneth Keathley. When most Christians start thinking
deeply about their faith, it doesn’t take them long to get around to questions
about how God’s control over all things can fit together with our ability to
make choices. This book offers a systematic analysis of such questions and—in
my opinion—successfully blends ideas from both the Calvinist and Arminian
positions.
Why
Does God Allow Evil?, by Clay Jones. Who hasn’t asked this question? This
book examines the subject from many different angles and offers some very
compelling answers.
