books I like

Classic stories of hope

The Shepherd of the Hills - If I could only keep one book to read for the rest of my life, it would be this one. Set in the Missouri Ozarks and based on real people, Harold Bell Wright’s timeless tale of right and wrong choices is full of suspense, heartbreak, and ultimately, redemption.

Jan Karon’s Mitford series - If I could be as wise as Father Tim or as supportive as his wife, I’d be happy. But he’s human, too, and completely relatable as he struggles with diabetes, unlikeable people, and whether to retire. Everybody knows somebody like the cast of small-town characters that make up Father Tim’s friends and parishioners.

Black Beauty - Okay, I get it, it’s a horse. But the insight into character and compassion through the eyes of a horse make this a book I’ve kept on the shelf long after my kids were grown. Same with E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan, if the wisdom of a spider or bird is more to your taste. (Somehow hard truths about how to treat others and do the right thing are easier to tolerate coming from an animal.

Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson - I stumbled onto this gem after reading Peace Child by the same author, about remote tribal people understanding Jesus through their practice of exchanging a baby with an enemy tribe, thus ensuring peace to avoid killing one of their own. Turns out that tribe isn’t the only one with a door of sorts for the gospel—many tribes have traditions or legends causing them to literally be waiting for somebody to show up with the gospel.

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd’s masterpiece exposé of the Jim Crow era is particularly applicable as racial tensions rear their ugly heads. One of the best coming-of-age works around.

devotional

The Return of the Prodigal Son - by Henri Nouwen - We can probably all think of someone who’s behavior reminds us of the wayward younger son, or maybe even admit that we’ve needed to “return home” ourselves. But the arrogant elder son? Who, me? Not so much. And I certainly can’t be expected to live up to the unconditional love of the Father—or can I?

Celebration of Discipline - by Richard Foster - This book is just as good now as it was in 1978, when the author was a writer-in-residence at Friends University where I was a student, and it’s even more relevant. Following Christ takes discipline, and Foster gives practical instruction about how to cultivate it.

Get Your Life Back - by John Eldredge - More than one book has been written about the technology overload, the need to unplug, and the stress of constantly being bombarded with the problems of the entire world 24/7. Eldredge offers real, doable, Bible-based suggestions for what to do about it.

practical stuff

Doing Life With Your Adult Children - Jim Burns’ advice is not always easy to take, but if you do, you might annoy your adult kids much less often.

Rhythms of Renewal - Rebecca Lyons shares her own struggles with anxiety and her journey of Rest, Restore, Connect, and Create, to help readers rediscover peace in their daily lives.

When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable - Karen Ehman, an admitted recovering people-pleaser, gives sound scriptural advice for saying '“no” when necessary and taking control of your life and schedule. Turns out that valuing other people’s opinions too much is actually a form of idolatry, putting them in place of God. Ouch.