2011 Reading List

It's high time for a new post on this neglected blog.
Since we are fast approaching the end of 2011, I thought a post with books I have read this year would be a good way to wrap up the year and recall all the books read. I had no real reading goals for this year so any books read or completed were an accomplishment.

1) When People Are Big and God Is Small by Edward T. Welch
I read and used this book for a ladies small group study. We used the discussion questions at the end of each chapter and I added a few of my own. This was probably one of the best Scripturally grounded and eye-opening books I have read. This is one book that one would do well to re-read, perhaps once a year. It is a book whose lessons one must learn over a lifetime rather than a few months or years.

2) 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers
This is an excellent book to understand how to praise God at all times and for all things as His word instructs us. It is a devotional format meant to take about a month to get through. There is much Scripture throughout each chapter which the author uses to write the prayers of praise in this book. One could also read through this book for several months with starting over at the beginning each time. I still have much to ponder and implement by example from this book.

3) Christ Our Mediator by C.J. Mahaney
This was a re-read after a couple years. A great little book to be used as a devotional or meditation. This is another book that is worth re-reading from time to time. I have always appreciated the way that Pastor Mahaney writes about the Gospel and Christ as Savior.

4) The Covering by Hank Hanegraaff
I had read this book before as well, but found it very helpful and grounding to better understand spiritual warfare, God's spiritual armor, and prayer from a proper Biblical standpoint. Some would disagree with the views of this author in regards to spiritual warfare, but I found them balanced and well-grounded in Scripture. One of the main points the author reiterates throughout the books is, "The key to victory in the invisible war is not found in deliverance, but discipleship." This is a very good read for the Christian given our culture's increasing fascination with the occult, demons, witches and exorcisms.

5) This Great Salvation by C.J. Mahaney and Robin Boisvert
Here is another book I used in small group Bible study. A group of 16 went through this book together over seven weeks. We would discuss each chapter using the discussion questions in the book. This book is part of a series for small groups called, "Pursuit of Godliness" published by Sovereign Grace Ministries.

6) Country Doctor: Essays in Memory of Walter E. Eells, M.D.
I discovered this up at a local estate sale and found it both fascinating to learn how medicine was practiced in the northeastern US 60 years ago and also heart-warming with the many accounts of Dr. Eells care for patients and interacting in his community. It was written by his eldest son from interviews with patients, journal entries by his father, and first-hand accounts from his father.

7) PALS Provider Manual by the American Heart Association
This has been a nursing industry related read and also for personal growth. Not necessarily of interest to most I found it helpful as related to nursing practice and learning the recent updates for care of children in emergency situations. Not a recommended read for those squeamish about blood, human anatomy, or emergency situations.

8) Developing a Healthy Prayer Life by James W. Beeke and Joel R. Beeke
I picked this up at a conference in North Carolina. Pastor Joel Beeke was one of the many conference speakers. I enjoyed his talks very much so I wanted to get something from his to read. This book did not disappoint. An excellent aid in becoming more aligned with Scripture in prayer and understanding the purposes of prayer for the believer and how it accomplishes God's purposes in the world. This is another short book with 31 entries that would be excellent as a personal devotion book to read through in a month.

9) When I Don't Desire God by John Piper
This is a book I had been wanting to read for a while. I ordered it this year, but have not finished it completely. Characteristic of John Piper's style, it is Scripturally saturated, pastoral in tone and helpful at addressing problems of the soul in the believer's life.

10) Large Family Logistics by Kim Brenneman
My sister, who is all things organizational and orderly, recommended this book to me to have an idea for how to well-order a daily schedule, time management, personal discipline and much more. The book is quite large and thorough with 47 mostly short chapters. I am still reading through this and enjoying it. It is not just for those of large families but anyone desiring to become more disciplined with time, planning schedules, and making more efficient use of spaces and possessions.

11) Genesis and Job
In our family Bible reading, we started with Genesis and plan to read through the entire Bible chronologically. This was started a couple weeks ago. The elders in our local church are preaching through Acts so we have been in that book for most of the year. We also read through Daniel and Revelation as a family.

12) In my personal reading I have read through the Psalms multiple times this year, Galatians and Colossians, parts of some Old Testament prophets, some of Proverbs, and several chapters from Romans and James.