Posted by darryl on June 20, 2012
Here is a list of the books I’ve read from January to the end of June 2012. I would love to review them all individually, but I don’t have time at the moment, so I’ll put a brief description of each. I was thinking about putting a rating, but these are all very good books for different reasons. The only book I’d probably not whole heartedly recommend from this list is Witherington’s. He makes some odd claims that run counter to the main thrust of his book. I read all these as requirements for classes. I enjoy my classes 
The Peacemaker, Ken Sande – A very practical book that deals with resolving conflict.
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis – Needs no introduction
The Last Battle, C. S. Lewis – The last book of the Narnia series.
The Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis – Letters from a senior demon to a junior demon detailing how to “work with” his “patient”.
Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis – Classic argument moving from the question of “Does God exist?” to the work of the Cross
Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis – The story of how Lewis became a Christian from Atheism
Out of the Silent Planet, C. S. Lewis – Book 1 of Lewis’s science fiction series. Focuses particularly of the foolishness of scientism in one character in particular.
Uprooting Anger, Robert D. Jones – Very practical and convicting book about dealing with our own anger. Have loaned this out, and it hasn’t come back…
Trusting God, Jerry Bridges – Classic book exploring the intersection between the sovereignty and goodness of God
Think Biblically!, John F. MacArthur – Holistic exploration of how a Christian worldview shapes our thinking in a variety of areas
The enemy within, Kris Lungaard – If you buy nothing else on this list, buy this book. Excellent overview of our battle with sin. $2.99 on Kindle
In the steps of Jesus, Peter Walker – Good pictorial guide to the place and times that Jesus lived.
A Harmony of the Gospels, Robert L Thomas and Robert Gundry – It is always good to read the Bible chronologically. This is one of the best gospel harmonies out there.
What have they done with Jesus, Ben Witherington III – Fairly thorough look at Jesus’s “inner circle”. Long and tedious at times, intermixed with some, shall we say, controversial ideas.
Speaking the truth in Love, David Powlison – Exploration of the purpose, person and process of counseling along with the ministry of the word in the context of the local Church.
Blame it on the Brain, Ed Welch – Very good exploration of different conditions that are often regarded as “Psychological” or “Biological”, with principles to help us wade through which ones are biological (brain based) and which ones are not.
Relationships – A mess worth making, Paul Tripp & Tim Lane – My agenda vs your agenda in our relationship in comparison to God’s agenda. Challenging book.
Israel: An Introduction, Barry Rubin – History of Modern Israel. Good book, but lots of reading…
Power Encounters, David Powlison – Out of print. Examining what the author calls “Ekballistic” ministry – i.e. those who claim to cast our demons, and comparing this to how Christ worked. Very good book on the subject, along with How to Meet the enemy by MacArthur.
Addictions: A banquet in the grave, Ed Welch – Dealing with addictions (like you needed me to tell you that). Addiction is a propensity to a particular sin – in this sense, we are all addicts. Thus this book is about addicts helping addicts.
Walter Kaiser, Toward an Exegetical Theology – Very good hermeneutics book focused on Bible study in preparation for expository preaching
Roy B. Zuck, Basic Bible Interpretation – Another very good (and slightly more readable) book on how to understand the Bible.
Jay Adams, Critical Stages in Biblical Counseling – Goes through the first counseling session, the breakthrough session and the closing session of counseling. Probably a book I’ll go back to regularly.
J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for young men – A plea to young men to take a good hard look at themselves. You should be able to find this free online.
Paul David Tripp, Instruments in the Redeemers hands – If you are looking for a second “must have” in the list, this would be it. Broken people helping broken people is how God has ordained this world.
It looks like a lot of books, but is not quite one a week. Some people read much more than this.
If only the contribution survives, what about the things we do? The things we own? The people we love? The children we raise (who frequently don’t even outlive us)? The characteristics of our personality? The place we live? Books go out of publication, monuments become ruins or are completely destroyed and all record of us is removed from the earth. For every name in the history books, there are untold millions of people whose lives are totally forgotten. Once our life is gone, it will be forgotten.