iCrucified

My Favorite Reads from 2012 

It’s that time of year again! It is the yearly round-up of my favorite reads from 2012. My goal was to read seventy-five books for the year and I ended with seventy-seven. A very special thanks to the many publishing companies (InterVarsity Press, Paraclete Press, Zondervan, Baker Academic, Brazos Press, Bethany Publishing, Tyndale, Baylor Press, and others), publicists, and book review groups (SpeakEasy, Amazon Vine, CrossFocused Review, and more) who have provided me with books for my reading enjoyment. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

The books I’ve listed as my favorites this year are listed below in no particular order. I cannot say any one of them rose markedly above the rest… each of them touched my heart and challenged my thinking in unique and impacting ways. There were several books in the list, which were part of a bigger theme taking place in my life, the idea and pursuit of Christian Intentional Community continues to be an intense passion of mine. Additionally, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and ongoing spiritual transformation are also passionate subjects that continue to capture my attention and heart.

Each of the books listed (again, in no particular order) have accompanying links embedded that will take you to the actual review of the book. If you have specific questions you would like to ask or points you might like to discuss about any of the books, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I’m looking forward to this next year of reading…I’ve set aside a number of books to pick  up some of the studies and interests that were sparked from last year and look forward to sharing my thoughts with you about them as well. Now, here’s the list!

• The Cost of Community by Jamie Arpin-Ricci, C.J.

• Leaving Egypt by Chuck Degroat

• Kneeling with Giants by Gary Neal Hansen

• The Jesus Life by Stephen Smith

• Fresh Air by Jack Levison

• Giver of Life by Fr. John Oliver

• Spiritual Formation by Dian Leclerc & Mark Maddix

• Living into Focus by Arthur Boers

• The Intentional Community Handbook by David Janzen

• The Awakening of Hope by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

 Prayer books are a favorite of mine. Several years ago, I was introduced to written prayers and fixed hour prayers. Since that introduction, I’ve collected and used various prayer books that have been instrumental in teaching me more about prayer and help me to learn more about the continuous practice of prayer. I have listed several of the prayer books I used during the past year as honorable mention favorites. Also, I’ve included Stephen Macchia’s book, Crafting a Rule of Life, as another honorable mention favorite. Stephen’s teaching about creating and living a personal rule of life has been a spiritual discipline I’ve practiced since 2009 when I learned about it for the first time at the Renovare International Conference in San Antonio, TX. I recommend the book and the discipline both.

Honorable Mention:

•  Sacred Space: Prayer Book of the Irish Jesuits

•  Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book

• Crafting a Rule of Life by Stephen Macchia

•  Prayers for Today: A Yearlong Journey of Contemplative Prayer