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BESTOWED (2014)
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FORGED (2016)
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Recommended Reading
Your book bill ought to be your biggest extravagance. (C.S. Lewis).
We love books and believe in the discipline of reading God's word whether that be in the bible or a book focused on unpacking certain text / biblical themes or fictional novels that have a gospel narrative (as so many do). Such are the infinitive depths of God's character and heart for us means we have much to learn regardless of our stage in life or years as a Christian. Books provide a fantastic medium for learning more about Him and the ways of His Kingdom. Hopefully some of the suggestions below will be as impactful in your journey as they have been in ours.
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OUR FAVOURITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME
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Beautiful Outlaw (John Eldredge)
It is a revelation to read such a refreshing and evocative description of the character and personality of Jesus. It is almost impossible to put into words the personality of the most remarkable man of all time but Eldredge does it beautifully. After reading this book I started to understand what He is really like behind the veil of old paintings and stain glass windows that we have become familiar with. |
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Waking the Dead (John Eldredge)
A brilliantly written book which helps men on the journey towards freedom and restoration like no other book I have read. If you are grappling with how the gospels are relevant to you and your life then read this book. |
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Prodigal God (Timothy Keller)
This book would make it into my top 3! It is an insightful and extremely rich interpretation of my favourite story in the bible – the returning prodigal son. Keller reveals depths to the passage in Luke 15 which go way beyond any other teaching I have heard on the passage. If you want to understand the heart that God has for us, His sons, this is a great place to start. |
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Encounters with Jesus (Timothy Keller)
I am a huge Keller fan and this is him at his best. As Keller leads us through various gospel accounts of the life of Jesus he provides profound context to each passage and situation. I am yet to find a modern-day author that teaches with such clarity and depth. Keller has a gift for revealing the hidden depths to the bible whilst never losing sight of what it means for us today. |
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Mere Christianity (C. S. Lewis)
Lewis is probably the most well respected Christian author of the 20th century and this is him at his best. The book provides an extremely well-reasoned explanation of the basis of Christianity and it is a great read for anyone wishing to explore Christianity as a non-believer or for seasoned Christians wanting to firm-up the foundations beneath their theology. |
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The Screwtape Letters (C. S. Lewis)
This book is pure genius. Written as series of letters from a demon to another demon-in-training, it gives an incredibly insightful glimpse into the realm of spiritual warfare. Although with humorous twists, it shows powerfully how spiritual warfare can permeate into our day-to-day lives in ways you have probably never considered. |
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The Last Battle (C. S. Lewis)
It is difficult to pick a winner from the seven books in the Narnia series but I would have to go with the final book, The Last Battle. However, to fully appreciate this book you need to read the first six in the series. This book is a classic tale of good versus evil and a brilliant parable of how Jesus invites us into the battle against evil. The final few chapters of this book also give the most vivid picture of what it will be like when heaven comes and everything is made new. If you have kids, this is a must read with them. |
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Danny the Champion of the World (Roald Dahl)
This was my favourite book as a boy and I can still recall the images that formed in my imagination when I first read the book. It is a wonderful story of a father and son enjoying an intimate relationship together. It is packed full of adventure and it is a great read for any father wanting to know what his son needs from him. This is now my son’s favourite book as well. |
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Mud, Sweat and Tears (Bear Grylls)
When I read this book I experienced for the first time what people mean when they say “I just couldn’t put the book down”. It is a really easy but captivating read and will ignite a fire inside every man for adventure and risk. The life and character of Bear Grylls serves as a challenge to us all to seek more adventure in our lives. |
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Healing the Masculine Soul (Gordon Dalbey)
This is a must-read for all men in my opinion. It is sure to bring freedom and healing to anyone that reads it with an open heart. Read this book if you want to understand better what God intended when he created the masculine heart and how to restore that same heart in you. This book pre-dates the more well-known “Wild at Heart” by John Eldregde and has no doubt influenced the New York Best Seller. |
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I am Your Father (Mark Stibbe)
Mark Stibbe powerfully describes the toxic influence on our society of the “fatherless pandemic” and how the absence of good fathers is the most profound issue in this generation. But he also points the way to the solution, the healing offered from the heavenly Father. I believe that understanding the Father’s heart for us is fundamental to understanding the Christian faith and this book will get you there. |
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Why Men Hate Going to Church (David Murrow)
If you feel indifferent towards church or if aspects of it seem to infuriate you, then read this book. It is a really helpful insight into how many modern church congregations are ineffective at attracting and equipping men to live lives of authentic masculinity. This is not a book about ‘how to attract men to church’ rather ‘how to make church more attractive to men’. |
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BOOKS WE ARE CURRENTLY READING
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Initial Thoughts;
Man this is deep....but so good. Dallas Willard was one incredibly intelligent man and he could explain the Kingdom like no other! |
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Initial Thoughts;
I have been putting this book off because, at over 1,000 pages, it is rather intimidating. That said, I am glad I gave it a go and am really enjoying reading it with my 11 year old daughter.....it will probably keep us going for a year! |
