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12/05/2011
In my last blog I listed several titles one could give as gifts at Christmas and these gifts were Christmas themed--the book had something to do about Christmas!
What other books could you give that would make great gifts, even life changing gifts, that were not Christmas themed? Let me list some of my favorites.
BOOKS FOR MEN AND TEENAGE BOYS
Mark Chanski, MANLY DOMINION--why and how Christian men are to be Christian MEN. Much needed and well conceived. Every Christian man or teenage boy should read and digest this book--then put it into practice!
Rick Philips, MASCULINE MANDATE--DITTO
Stuart Scott, THE EXEMPLARY HUSBAND--
Mega-dittoes!
Laura Hillenbrand, UNBROKEN--the amazing true biography of a young man from Los Angeles who was always in trouble with the law when he was not winning track meets! He ran for American in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, impulsively ran over and shook Hitler's hand when receiving a medal, stole a Nazi flag to take home as a souvenir, enlisted in World War II, his plane crashed in the Pacific and he was adrift at sea for weeks--only to be rescued by the Japanese--and things really got ugly. Men will be challenged and horrified to read about life in a Japanese POW camp,
his liberation at the end of the war, his descent in alcoholism to deal with his post-traumatic stress, his amazing conversion and subsequent return to Japan to forgive his brutal captors. You could not make this story up, but it is all blessedly true and a testimony of God's sovereign grace!
Jerry Bridges, THE GOSPEL FOR REAL LIFE--if I had the power I would make every pastor in America read this book and then preach it to their congregation. It is that good. Great for small groups to work through. It covers all that Christ did for us on the cross and thus why the gospel is what is needed every day.
Jerry Bridges, THE BOOKENDS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE--applies the book above on an everyday basis and helps you climb out of defeat and despondency into trust and obedience in the finished work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
BOOKS FOR WOMEN & TEENAGE GIRLS
Sharon James, MY HEART IN HIS HANDS--the challenging and encouraging and stretching life story of Ann Judson, wife of the first American foreign missionary, Adoniram Judson. She was as amazing as her husband and brought great glory to Christ in her life.
Elizabeth Prentiss, STEPPING HEAVENWARD--the biblical and Reformed doctrine of sanctification worked out in a woman's diary and life. (It has a glowing recommendation in the forward from Elizabeth Elliot.) Gripping!
Nancy Leigh DeMoss, CHOOSING GRATITUDE--how to avoid being an old grump (or a young cynic). A true mind and attitude changer.
Peter Jeffery, BITE-SIZED THEOLOGY--just the right size bites of biblical truth to help a young Christian of any age to grow.
Mark Chanski, WOMANLY DOMINION--the right complement to his book listed above for men.
Jerry Bridges, THE GOSPEL FOR REAL LIFE--ditto above!
Jerry Bridges, THE BOOKENDS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE; mega-dittoes!
BOOKS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN:
Sinclair Ferguson, THE MAGNIFICENT, AMAZING TIME MACHINE--tells the whole flow of the biblical story of getting ready for Jesus' arrival.
R. C. Sproul, THE BARBER WHO WANTED TO PRAY--draws from Martin Luther's little book on how to pray which he taught to his barber who asked Luther how he prayed!
R. C. Sproul, THE LIGHTLINGS
R. C. Sproul, THE PRIEST WITH DIRTY CLOTHES
R. C. Sproul, THE POISON CUP
R. C. Sproul, THE KING WITHOUT A SHADOW-- great children's stories that teach biblical truth in a winsome way.
FOR SLIGHTLY MORE INTELLECTUAL READERS ON YOUR SHOPPING LIST:
D. A. Carson, THE GAGGING OF GOD--shows how God is moved to gag and also how God's Word is gagged by today's "everything is relative" mindset (commonly called "post-modernism").
John Piper, THINK (THE LIFE OF THE MIND AND THE LOVE OF GOD)--small book that packs a punch and challenges to bring your mind into conformity with Christ.
Steven Lawson, PILLARS OF GRACE (A.D. 100-1564)--A LONG LINE OF GODLY MEN--the second volume of his history of the best men in the first 1500 years of Christian history and what they did.
Roland Bainton, HERE I STAND--the best life of Luther to read to understand why the Reformation was needed and how it happened and why we are glad we are not under Roman tyranny.
These should get you started and bless those you give the books to.
Your Book Servant,
Pastor Steve Martin
Posted: 04:10:48 PM :: permalink :: discuss ::