Best Books
Summer reading lists are not just for the kids! Long flights, beach trips, car rides, and mountain vacations all call for a stack of books. I always love to hear what people are reading during their spare time. Here are my top 4 picks for this summer’s bookshelf:
- With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander. I love fiction that teaches something about history and the people in it. Tamera Alexander does a beautiful job of painting a picture of the setting and developing the characters in such a way that you feel as if the characters are your friends. This book is set in the South during the Civil War and The Battle of Franklin. The details are real and gruesome and not for the faint of heart, but the characters are based on real people who experienced it first-hand and found love and courage in the midst of it. Once you begin, you will not be able to put it down, but you will not want the story to end.
- Nate Saint by Janet and Geoff Benge. Most of us have heard of Nate Saint and know the tragic way in which his story progressed, but this biography highlights Nate’s drive and passion for flying and for the gospel in a way I had not read before. The audio book is especially riveting, and I cried visible tears traveling down the interstate as I listened to the final chapters. If it does for you as it did for me, it will create a new passion for and perspective on missions and on whatever work you do.
- Waiting on God by Andrew Murray. Andrew Murray wrote several Christian classics, but this one is my favorite. During college, I travelled extensively. I remember being on one of my first trips and thinking that for the first time, it was just me and God. I read this book, and it had a tremendous impact on my life. It changed my perspective of walking with God and of waiting on His perfect timing. Whatever your stage of life, I am sure it will bless you as you walk with the Lord.
- Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung. When asked how you are, who doesn’t reply “busy”? It has become our standard answer, but even as we say it, we know that it’s normal and wonder how it got to be that way. Kevin DeYoung takes it a step deeper than I had ever considered. The root of busyness could be something far more concerning than we imagine when we take a glance at our crammed daily planners. Crazy Busy is incredibly practical as it points the reader toward the deep spiritual issues that drive our motives as we say “Yes” and “No” to the myriad of commitments with which we are faced every day.
-Summer Schor
All books available at Briarwood Christian Bookstore, 2200 Briarwood Way, 35243, www.briarwood.org/bookstore as well as Sanctuary Christian Books and Gifts, Colonial Promenade in Alabaster.
