Do you ever feel overwhelmed and under-equipped when dealing with everything this life throws your way? That feeling was the impetus for this week’s reflection. I hope these resources will inspire and encourage you to follow Jesus with renewed passion.
1. The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again, by Justin Brierley
Many of you may know Justin Brierley from his 17 years hosting the incredibly popular, UK-based podcast called Unbelievable with Justin Brierley. While at Unbelievable, Justin interviewed hundreds of leading philosophers, academics, and scientists about all sorts of faith-related topics ranging from atheism and abortion to scripture and sexuality.
In this new book, Justin explores the fascinating rise and fall of a movement called New Atheism which, just over a decade ago, happily declared the long-awaited death of God and Christianity. Now, however, many former leaders of New Atheism have either recanted their anti-theism or simply refocused their efforts elsewhere.
This book is well-written, winsome, and impeccably researched. For those who are interested in the ongoing conversation between Christian and secular worldviews, I can’t recommend it highly enough.
2. Giving Jesus Away: Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel, by John Hopper
This newly released book comes from the mind and heart of The Story’s own John Hopper! If you’re looking to develop relationships with non-Christians that lead to deeper conversations about God, this book will be extremely helpful. John’s tender, pastoral heart, brilliant intellect, and attention to detail make reading this book simultaneously stimulating and digestible.
3. Marriage in Transition: Creating Connection through Uncontrollable Change, by Sean and Lanette Reed, and How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever Told, by Harrison Scott Key
No matter how long you’ve been married, or how happy and strong your marriage might be, it’s always a good idea to touch base with your spouse and work on your relationship. To that end, Geo and I – along with thousands of other couples – have found these two books quite useful. I had the opportunity to interview Sean and Lanette recently for an upcoming episode of the Maybe God Podcast, and I found their honest, determined approach to marriage renewal to be both powerful and refreshing.
Harrison Scott Key and his wife, Lauren, joined me for a recently aired interview on Maybe God, and if you haven’t listened already, I hope that you will. Their forthrightness borders on shocking, and their ability to laugh at the pain of their past is contagious. After watching their interview, pick up his book. I promise you’ll be glad you did.
4. Outdated: Find Love That Lasts When Dating Has Changed, by Jonathan Pokluda, and Chasing Love: Sex, Love, and Relationships in a Confused Culture, by Sean McDowell
Throughout the Summer of Love at The Story, I was neck-deep in all the latest writings and research about the modern dating scene. Most of what I was reading was downright depressing, but these two books stood out because of the authors’ candor and unflinchingly Christian values. If you’re single, or you know and love someone who is, pick up one or both of these books as soon as possible.
5. The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope, by Dr. Curt Thompson
Everytime I talk to Curt Thompson, it turns into a free therapy session for me. He is so clear, so knowledgeable, and so approachable that I can’t help spilling my soul’s beans in his presence. That pattern held true in our most recent conversation on Maybe God, where I shared some of my deep, dark grief surrounding the recent death of my mother. True to form, Curt told me exactly what I needed to hear, and I simply couldn’t be more grateful for him.
Reading his latest book felt a lot like sitting in his presence, looking him in the eye, and hearing him speak directly to my heart. If you’ve been in the ‘pit’ of suffering and grief, I hope you’ll pick up Curt’s book and let his words lead you back to hope.
