A Few Good Reads

“The Unbreakable Laura Hillenbrand”
Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken was the best book I read in 2014. This profile of Hellenbrand from the New York Times gives great insight into her life, difficulties, and writing method. “Zamperini was happy to cooperate with Hillenbrand, but he was 86 and living in California. Once again, Hillenbrand’s illness posed a reporting conundrum. Neither she nor Zamperini could easily fly to meet each other. Over the next seven years, as she researched and wrote “Unbroken,” they would speak by phone hundreds of times but never meet in person.”

“My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2014”
Collin Hansen walks through what he considers to be the top stories in theology and the church from the past year. Honestly I had forgotten how many difficult things happened this year until I read Collin’s list. “So consider my list an admittedly foolhardy attempt—written from the vantage point of an American who subscribes to The Gospel Coalition’s confessional statement—to discern the most important theology stories of 2014. Consider it an opportunity to reflect on whether your priorities align with God’s and a challenge to spread good news in a world that seeks peace but finds none apart from Jesus Christ.”

Bloodlines
With many of the current headlines focusing on race and ethnicity, now would be a good time to read John Piper’s work on the Gospel, race, and racism. It’s only .99 on Kindle right now and is well worth your time. “Sharing from his own experiences growing up in the segregated South, pastor John Piper thoughtfully exposes the unremitting problem of racism. Instead of turning finally to organizations, education, famous personalities, or government programs to address racial strife, Piper reveals the definitive source of hope—teaching how the good news about Jesus Christ actively undermines the sins that feed racial strife, and leads to a many-colored and many-cultured kingdom of God.”

The Mingling of Souls
One of my reading projects for the beginning of 2015 is to work through several new books on marriage, so I’m excited about Matt Chandler’s new book on marriage which is coming out on New Year’s Day. He and Lauren have been honest about many of the struggles in the early years of marriage and this new book explores some things he learned from experience and the Song of Solomon. (You can see Matt and Lauren talking about what they learned from their early years of marriage here.) “The Song of Solomon offers strikingly candid—and timeless—insights on romance, dating, marriage, and sex. We need it. Because emotions rise and fall with a single glance, touch, kiss, or word. And we are inundated with songs, movies, and advice that contradicts God’s design for love and intimacy.)