Epicenter: Why the current rumblings in the Middle East will change your future by Joel C. RosenbergEXCELLENT book! Joel Rosenberg is very knowledgeable about the Middle East as well as the Bible. He became well known when he wrote his first fiction novel, The Last Jihad. However, Epicenter is not a fiction book. He takes his knowledge of the Middle East and combines it with his knowledge of scripture and basically lines out what will need to happen in the world in order for the Biblical prophecies to come true. Read it. It will rock your world.
This is a great book! I am not just saying that because my husband and I know Claude personally, I really think it is a great book. Claude and his wife Rebekah lead a group called "The Traveling Team" which speaks to thousands of college students every year motivating them to embrace God's call on their lives and challenging them to understand God's heart for the nations. It is not just a book for college students - it should be required reading for all Christians.
Mark Driscoll is the pastor of Mars Hill church in Seattle. This is the church that my brother-in-law attends. For some reason, Driscoll is often placed in the same category as some wacky pastors who water down the message of the gospel just to get people in their church doors. I can tell you, that perception is totally wrong. Mark Driscoll sets himself apart from the shallow teachers out there by actually knowing his Bible and not watering it down the message. He sets himself apart from the opposite extreme also by steering people away from the Pharisaical fundamentalism and legalism that is found within Christianity as well. His message and methods are fresh and his style is one that can reach a generation/group of people who have become frustrated with the "churchiness" of the church now days. I enjoyed reading his book. It might be a bit edgy for some people in my home church here in Tulsa, but good nonetheless.
I discovered these books in college while leading small group studies. R. Kent Hughes is a great pastor and teacher and it comes though in his books. The "Preaching the Word" series covers almost all of the books of the New Testament. I only own 4 of them, but they are WONDERFUL resources. Note to any readers: if you are looking for anything to buy me for Christmas or birthday or whatever...you can't go wrong with one of these. I would really like to have the one over Isaiah or the Sermon on the Mount one that he did.
This is a study on the book of Acts and the letters of the apostle Paul. I was fortunate enough to do this study at our church in Oklahoma City and watch the videos of Beth Moore teaching each week. It was a great study. I know some people take issue with Beth Moore on certain issues (which I think are pretty silly, to be frank), but she is by far the best woman teacher of God's Word that I have ever heard or read.
I really enjoy reading about the Holocaust and the experiences of those who survived. This is one such story. Students should be required to read it as part of their history lessons.
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
This is a fiction book and an old one at that (originally came out in the 70's - I think). Anyway, I found it very easy to read and interesting. It is about an atomic attack on the US and the aftermath. It is a bit scary and kind of made me want to store up a few items in a cellar just in case...
Out of America: A black man confronts Africa by Keith B. Richburg
I read this book in college for one of my history classes. While I had a very hard time dealing with the graphic nature of the situations Richburg witnessed and describes, I am glad that I read it. Richburg was a reporter for the Washington Post and stationed in Africa during some of the worst years of African history. He concludes that black Americans often mistakenly glorify the "motherland" of Africa. While he abhors the atrocities of slavery, he concedes that that institution got his ancestors out of Africa and brought them to America, and for that he is grateful. A bit controversial, as you might imagine.
Ministry of Motherhood 
Diapers, Pacifiers and Other Holy Things 
Creative Counterpart 
