James (Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible)
Martha L. Moore-Keish WJK Press, 205 pages One might ask, as the author candidly does, why another commentary on James? After all,..
More Stories from this Author
Ash and Starlight: Prayers for the Chaos & Grace of Daily Life
Arianne Braithwaite Lehn Chalice Press, 144 pages Arianne Braithwaite Lehn is a pilgrim. She makes that abundantly clear in this set of..
The Courage to See: Daily Inspiration from Great Literature
Greg Garrett and Sabrina Fountain WJK Press, 376 pages How I love this new book! Let me count the ways. I could..
Winter books: Briefly noted
Dare to Lead Brené Brown Random House, 320 pages Brené Brown continues to apply her principles of vulnerability, shame and courage in..
Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude
Ross Gay University of Pittsburgh Press, 112 pages I was a young pastor when a mentor said simply, “Read poetry.” Many years..
River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey
Sister Helen Prejean Random House, 320 pages Reviewed by Roy Howard with Candy Markman and Terry Horgan One of the most remarkable..
Uproar: Calm Leadership in Anxious Times
Peter Steinke Rowman & Littlefield, 176 pages Peter Steinke is a clear-eyed, skilled consultant whose insights have stood the test of time...
Reading Romans Backwards
Scot McKnight Baylor University Press, 236 pages Be forewarned: Anyone who reads this book will never again think of Romans in the..
Breakfast with Barth
Donald K. McKim Cascade Books, 158 pages Very few people will read Karl Barth at length. Barth wryly chuckled that he was..
Tending the Fire: The Story of a Marriage
Jeannie DuBose Beaver’s Pond Press, 112 pages This is a lovely and wise book by a writer who knows the deep things..
Walk Humbly
Samuel Wells Eerdmans, 112 pages Samuel Wells is well known for his preaching and works of practical theology. Not as many people..
Summer books: Briefly noted
In This World of Wonders Nicholas Wolterstorff Eerdmans, 334 pages This memoir is a series of vignettes, stories and remembrances of a..
One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic’s Guide to Christian Meditation
J. Dana Trent Upper Room Books, 112 pages Thomas Merton once said all Christians should be content with being beginners. Life is..
Who Is My Neighbor?
Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, illustrated by Denise Turu Flyaway Books, 32 pages In recent years Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg..
When Poets Pray
Marilyn McEntyre Eerdmans, 160 pages When asked what advice he would give to pastors, Eugene Peterson said, “Read more poetry.” He may..
The Practice of Finding
Holly W. Whitcomb Eerdmans, 160 pages Seekers get a lot of attention these days. Religious surveys track their movements and motivations. Churches..
On Thomas Merton
Mary Gordon Shambhala Press, 160 pages The renowned novelist Mary Gordon has done what few people can do: say something new about..
The Battle for Bonhoeffer
Stephen R. Haynes Eerdmans 213 pages Stephen Haynes is the author of “Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians” and theologian-in-residence at Idlewild Presbyterian Church..
Jesus According to the New Testament
James D.G. Dunn Eerdmans, 192 pages This book is a summary of James Dunn’s brilliant scholarship over 50 years of teaching on..
Three Hours: Sermons for Good Friday
Fleming Rutledge Eerdmans, 96 pages In this remarkable set of brief sermons on the traditional seven last words of Jesus, Fleming Rutledge..
Baptism books for children
Today Is a Baptism Day Anna V. Ostenso Moore and Peter Krueger Church Publishing, 48 pages The Baptism of Your Child: A..
Almost Everything: Notes on Hope
Anne Lamott Riverhead Books, 208 pages Who doesn’t love Anne Lamott? I know there must be some, but that’s a group I..
Catch Your Breath: God’s Invitation to Sabbath Rest
Don Postema Faith Alive, 93 pages Does a book like this ever go out of favor? I hope not (in the same..
Paul Writes (a Letter)
Chris Raschka Eerdmans, 40 pages The author is a two-time Caldecott Medal winner who has now turned this talent to the letters..
Mornings with Bonhoeffer
Donald K. McKim Abingdon Press, 240 pages “No priest, no theologian stood at the cradle of Bethlehem. And yet, all Christian theology..