Books We Recommend
Devotionals
Invitation to Presence: A Guide to Spiritual Disciplines (Pathways in Spiritual Growth-Resources for Congregations and Leadership)
by Wendy Miller
Wendy Miller invites those who find the classical disciplines a little stuffy and inaccessible to discover a more user-friendly world of the spiritual disciplines embedded in scripture. Miller calls us to explore the disciplines of listening, seeing, and acting, and urges readers to accept Jesus's invitation to "Come and see."
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian (The Practices of Faith Series)
What Dr. Long is also saying to us: "Christians of the world, speak up and be heard!" And then he goes on to say how and why and what we might want to be talking about, in matters of faith, in everyday conversation. Saying what we believe is a gift, even an art. The well chosen word can attract, peek the interest, engage, encourage and convince the listener. You have that ability as you go about your day to day routine.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom
by Henri J. M. Nouwen
Henri Nouwen gives an insightful, raw, emotional response to his "dark night of the soul". This book is a perfect for anyone who is at a cross-roads in their own journey.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Jesus In Blue Jeans: A Practical Guide To Everyday Spirituality
by Laurie Beth Jones
The sequel to the hugely successful "Jesus, CEO" and "The Path", this book illuminates examples from the scriptures to demonstrate how Jesus can serve as a model for daily life.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Partners In Prayer
by John C. Maxwell
Prayer is the bridge that allows pastors and lay people to partner together effectively in ministry. Author John Maxwell knows this to be true because a prayer-partner ministry changed his church and empowered his ministry. Writing in a warm, anecdotal style with lots of practical hands-on help, Maxwell describes how this method of support has been proven time and again in churches of all sizes.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Pivotal Praying: Connecting with God in Times of Great Need
by John Hull
Scripture offers countless examples of men and women who prayed strategically and saw results. Remember Solomon's prayer for wisdom? He received it-and wealth beyond his imagination as well. And how about Hannah's desire for a child? God honored her prayer; her son Samuel became the greatest judge in Israel's history. Pivotal Praying uses these examples and others to illustrate the power of effective-and ineffective-praying. For those seeking to enlarge their prayer vision and alter their circumstances for God's glory, Pivotal Praying is an ideal resource.
Click here for more information on this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
The Word Is Out: Daily Reflections on the Bible for Lesbians and Gay Men
by Chris Glaser
This lively collection of 365 meditations explodes fundamentalist misconceptions of the Bible's stance on homosexuality and offers inspiration to lesbian and gay Christians. Richly written, evocative, and often surprising, this book reinterprets the Scriptures to offer meditations comprised of a brief Bible selection, insightful words of reflection, and a short prayer/affirmation.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
I Want to Be Ready
by Sheron C. Patterson
Dr. Sheron C. Patterson is the senior pastor of Highland Hills United Methodist Church Dallas, Texas. This book provides short meditations based on quotations of famous black persons. Themes include: self-image, generosity, courage, friendship, caring, and concern for others.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Courage to Love: Liturgies for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community
Geoffrey Duncan
Geoffrey Duncan is the church and society consultant for the Thames North Synod of the United Reformed Church in England. He has compiled several popular anthologies of prayer and worship, including Courage to Love, which won a 2002 Forward Magazine award.
Check here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Black, Gay & Christian: (An Inspirational Guidebook to Daily Living)
"Black, Gay & Christian" is a 16 chapter, gay/lesbian affirming, biblically based, spiritual empowerment tool. Over the course of 320 dynamic pages, it provides spiritual direction, motivational support and Christ-centered guidance to practicing Black Gay/Lesbians on how to live proud and fully committed, joy-filled, prosperous, and blessed lives as GLBT Christians without changing their orientation or behavior.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Watch For The Light: Readings For Advent And Christmas
Plough Publishing House
This eclectic collection of longer-than-usual daily readings for Advent through the Feast of the Epiphany succeeds in helping its readers more deeply appreciate the Christmas season. The selections are recent and ancient, ecumenical and even secular, with excerpts from Bernard of Clairvaux, Martin Luther, T.S. Eliot, Thomas Merton, and Anne Dillard, to name a few.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Bread and Wine: Readings For Lent And Easter
Wendell Berry, Dorothy L. Sayers, Blaise Pascal
These 72 brief essays are loaded with inspiring and challenging spiritual insight. The authors are incredibly diverse--Leo Tolstoy, Thomas a Kempis, Meister Eckhart, Martin Luther, Mother Teresa, and John Updike, to name a few. This book will take you through the season of Lent, Holy Week and the glories of Easter. A wonderful thought provoking book to be enjoyed year after year.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
Coming Out to God: Prayers for Lesbians and Gay Men, Their Families and Friends
by Chris Glaser
"In this collection of sixty prayers . . . Chris Glaser opens new vistas to us in prayer, discipleship, and the relationship between spirituality and sexuality. . . . This book is a classic in devotional literature which one will return to again and again".--Merrill M. Follansbee, co-founder of the Sacramento chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
Click here for more information about this book or to order a copy from Amazon.com.
