A while ago (like maybe my New Year’s Resolution?) I said I wanted to read more – and read better. Lately I’ve come across a couple of books that I thought I’d share with you – one I’ve read, one I’ve begun, and another was just received today as a gift.
The one I’ve read –
Do Hard Things – A Teenage Rebellion against Low Expectations by Alex & Brett Harris
This is a book written by teens for teens. Now, it goes without saying that I am neither a teenager or have a teenager (at the moment), but I found this book to be a huge encouragement. Alex and Brett Harris have a very popular (teen) website that has already impacted thousands of young people to walk away from the low expectations that our culture sets for teens. This book helped me look at the Hard Things in my life that I find, well, hard. It chronicled many stories of ordinary teens who took a big step outside of their comfort zones (and oh, don’t we love our comfort zones) and accomplished great things for their families, their communities, this nation, the world and most importantly, God. I think I need to get a copy of this book to our friends at Teen Challenge – and I’ll be sending the copy I have to one person I know who has a heart and passion for teens. Watch the mail, Josiah!
The one I’ve just started –
The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
OK, this book was definitely not written by teens :-), though teens could certainly benefit from it. It’s a book that looks at the serious questions that even ardent believers wrestle with today.
Why does God allow suffering in the world? Why isn’t Christianity more inclusive? Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God?
I’m only up to the second chapter, and I confess it is not an “easy” read. But it is a good one. I’m looking forward to digging deeper into these questions and others that the author poses. This first section is called “The Leap of Doubt” and the second part is “The Reasons for Faith”. It’s a very thought provoking book, and I know it will be a challenge to see it through to the end. I think it might be one of those Hard Things that leads to great encouragement.

The one we just got today – as a Thank-you from Woodland Acres Bible Camp

3:16 The Numbers of Hope
by Max Lucado
We have a shortened version of this book that I had read during my quiet time a couple of weeks ago, so I am really looking forward to diving into this one. Gary even said he was thinking about buying it – so maybe he’ll jump in before I get The Reason for God finished! The book includes a 40 day devotional – maybe I’ll get started there!

One more –
Year 4 – The Continuing Adventures of Gary and Stephanie Conrad – As we draw this fourth year on the road to a close, I put together a little picture book of this past year. If you’d like to take a look, you can check it out here!

Happy Page Turning!

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