Staff Picks
Staff Book Recommendations
Come check what which books impacted our staff this year!
Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture
IVP
November 2009
I really enjoyed and appreciated "Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture." The author, Adam S. McHugh, writes out of his own experiences as an introvert. McHugh admits he may exaggerate at points, but he insists that there is a strong bias towards extroversion in the church and he offers this book as a corrective from the other side of the spectrum.
-- Alex
Available for in-store purchase only.
Write Better: A Lifelong Editor on Craft, Art, and Spirituality
IVP
October 2019
"Write Better" is peppered with all sorts of tips and insights into how to become more proficient at writing. It is easy to understand, practical, and I enjoyed how throughout the book, Le Peau would playfully reinforce his points. I would recommend this book for fiction and non-fiction writers alike - it will prove to be an invaluable guide.
-- Alex
Available for in-store purchase only.
Godric
HarperOne
December 1999
Wonderful introduction to the Medieval world.
Available for in-store purchase only.
Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity (The Pastoral series, #2)
Eerdmans
May 1989
As a mentor told me once, "The introduction is worth the price of the whole book." Pastors need to understand what their core vocation is and isn't. In the introduction, Peterson outlines how we have twisted that vocation, and then uses the rest of the book to build a framework of the three key "angles" of pastoral practice: prayer, scripture, and spiritual direction.
-- Josh
Available for in-store purchase only.
The Saints' Everlasting Rest
Regent College Publishing
January 2004
Begun as a deathbed meditation and funeral sermon for himself, Baxter spends much of the work arguing why we all should meditate regularly on the Rest which awaits us in Heaven. His health did surprisingly rally, and this work remains a classic to be consumed by those who are young or old, healthy or sick.
-- Josh
Available for in-store purchase only.
Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
The Penguin Group
April 2006
Really? A book on punctuation? YES! Recommended by Carolyn Hindmarsh in Regent's Academic Writing workshop, this book was a hilarious introduction to English punctuation and its proper use. Buy it. Read it. Laugh. Learn. (And use a semicolon when you're done.)
-- Josh
Available for in-store purchase only.
An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach
Zondervan Academic
October 2007
An education in Biblical studies in of itself. Waltke does an incredible work in unpacking the theological depth of key OT themes in a way that equips his readers to approach the rest of the Scriptures exegetically as well as theologically. A must have for everyone interested in grasping the thematic unity of the OT.
-- Davinson
Available for in-store purchase only.
The Sickness Unto Death: A Christian Psychological Exposition for Upbuilding and Awakening
Princeton University Press
November 1983
If you are in need of a spiritual examination "to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Cor. 13:5) pick up this book! Kierkegaard will not leave one stone unturned in his examination of the workings of sin and the mystery of faith.
-- Davinson
Available for in-store purchase only.
Discourse Grammar of the Greek New Testament: A Practical Introduction for Teaching and Exegesis
Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.
January 2011
Ready to take your Biblical Greek skills for an upgrade? Well, Runge's Grammar incorporates a variety of literary and linguistic techniques to help students grasp the peculiarities of the Koine Greek as ancient Greek writers would have understood them!
-- Davinson
Available for in-store purchase only.
The Seven Storey Mountain
Harcourt
October 1999
A moving autobiography detailing Merton’s journey to God and the Church. Merton’s superb, lucid prose are only matched by his spiritual reflection on the life of faith.
-- Jacob
Available for in-store purchase only.
The Future Shape of Anglican Ministry
Regent College Publishing
May 2004
Based on a collection of lectures delivered at Regent College back in 2000, this book of essays provides helpful perspective on the meaning, content, and reason for Anglican ordained ministry. Ranging from the devotional to the social, you’ll find in these chapters help for discerning the priestly vocation.
-- Jacob
Available for in-store purchase only.
Every Moment Holy, Vol. 1
Rabbit Room Press
December 2017
This book offers words of comfort for every moment -- the mundane and the sacred, reminding us that they are all holy. McKelvey has written delightful liturgy for those domestic days, hurried meal preparations and even the setting of a Christmas tree. These among the other liturgies are sure to fill you with hope.
-- Vivian
Available for in-store purchase only.
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
Zonderkids
October 2019
Simple yet filled with profound spiritual truths, these devotionals will impact kids and adults alike.
-- Vivian
Available for in-store purchase only.
Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World
Atria/One Signal Publishers
October 2021
Katharine Hayhoe is one of the most important voices in the current conversations on climate change and I have been looking forward to reading her book. She carefully explains what is climate change, its impacts and what can be done about it. Most importantly, she writes with hope, grounded in her faith in Scripture. As she promptly reminds us, God has not given us a spirit of fear, "but of power, love, and self-control".
-- Maria Clara
Available for in-store purchase only.
Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength
Brazos Press
August 2021
In her recent release Abuelita Faith, Kat Armas explores how people in the margins offer an important interpretation of the Scriptures. Especially through the lens of marginalized women and the story of her own abuelita, Kat Armas provides a reading of the Bible that can help with texts that often feel uncomfortable.
-- Maria Clara
Available for in-store purchase only.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse
Ebury Press
October 2019
Beautifully illustrated, simple, and wholesome. Through a boy, mole, fox and horse, Mackesy reaches deep into her reader’s soul and evokes an emotional pull—this book preaches a message of innocent bravery.
-- Jameson
Available for in-store purchase only.
Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making
B&H Books
October 2019
Peterson provides a two-part biographical handbook on creating art: the first part deals with his own experience as a burgeoning artist and the second dictates his thoughts on the creative process and its integration with faith. A must read for any poet, artist, musician, writer, or person who wants to explore faith and art.
-- Jameson
Available for in-store purchase only.
