Top 10 books of 2015

Here is my list of the top 10 books I have read this year.

1) Rejoicing in Christ by Michael Reeves

I have only read one other book, Richard Sibbes "The Bruised Reed" that increased my affections for Jesus as much as Rejoicing in Christ has. This book has been most refreshing to my soul as it took my eyes off of me and placed them on Christ.

2) Prayer - Timothy Keller

I'm inclined to say that prayer is one of the hardest if not the hardest disciplines of the Christian life. There are a lot of resources out there but In this day and age it's all about "new practices" that will revolutionize your prayer life. In this book Timothy Keller takes us back to what the Saints of old wrote about prayer. In a way that only Keller can do he has taken their thoughts and made them teachable in the 21st century. His ability to use illustrations to bring their thoughts into light is outstanding. We would do well to listen to the old guys more on all the issues of the Christian walk. I am thankful that he not only taught me about prayer but actually made it so i could put into practice what I learned. Just as Every Good Endeavor was the most applicable book I've ever read on vocation, Prayer is on the discipline of prayer.

3) Baptists in America - Thomas Kidd

In Baptists in America, Thomas S. Kidd and Barry Hankins explore the long-running tensions between church, state, and culture that Baptists have shaped and navigated. Despite the moment of unity that their early persecution provided, their history has been marked by internal battles and schisms that were microcosms of national events, from the conflict over slavery that divided North from South to the conservative revolution of the 1970s and 80s.

4) Wright Brothers - David McCullough

Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize David McCullough tells the dramatic story-behind-the-story about the courageous brothers who taught the world how to fly: Wilbur and Orville Wright.

5) Preaching and Preachers - Martyn Lloyd-Jones

There isnt much I can say about this book that others haven't. It is a must read for new and old pastors alike as well as those contemplating pastoral ministry. This book reaffirmed my lack of calling to be a preacher, but as someone who desires to disciple young men, some of which may be called to ministry, this book was extremely helpful.

6) Young, Restless, Reformed - Colin Hansen

For nearly two years, Christianity Today journalist Collin Hansen visited the chief schools, churches, and conferences of this growing movement. He sought to describe its members and ask its leading pastors and theologians about the causes and implications of the Calvinist resurgence. The result, Young, Restless, Reformed, shows common threads in their diverse testimonies and suggests what tomorrow's church might look like when these young evangelicals become pastors or professors.

7) The Unfolding Mystery - Edmund Clowney

Beginning with Adam and Eve and closing with the last of the prophets, Dr. Clowney takes a fascinating walk through the Old Testament, revealing Christ in places where he is usually overlooked.

8) Fierce Convictions: The Life of Hanna Moore - Karen Swallow Prior

While reading this book, I couldn't help but think of how I had never heard of Hannah More. It is a great travesty that Hannah More has been forgotten as time moves on. It would do every one well to read this book, especially Christians. If you want to see what it looks like to use your God given gifts to impact peoples lives and partake in bringing the Kingdom of God to this world then you should pick up this book.

9) Eight Men Out - Eliot Asinof

The headlines proclaimed the 1919 fix of the World Series and attempted cover-up as "the most gigantic sporting swindle in the history of America!" First published in 1963, Eight Men Out has become a timeless classic. Eliot Asinof has reconstructed the entire scene-by-scene story of the fantastic scandal in which eight Chicago White Sox players arranged with the nation's leading gamblers to throw the Series in Cincinnati.

10) The Drama of Scripture - Craig G. Bartholomew, Michael W. Goheen

The Drama of Scripture is one of the best books I have read in a while. Most Christians approach the Bible as a roadmap to life or a book on how to live their life when in reality it is a story about God. A story about His creation, the fall, redemption through Jesus Christ, and ultimately the restoration of all things. This book gives the reader a great overview of the Biblical Metanarrative.