I am back! And still posting about what I have been reading

The Eden Axiom by Kirk Rogers- This book was actually written by a fellow missionary in Guinea. He did A TON of research on the American diet and the body’s response to it. Most of us know the Standard American Diet (SAD) isn’t good for us, but this book goes into different studies and also gives healthy alternatives; if you enjoyed the documentary Forks Over Knives, this is along the same lines, but the thing I really appreciated about this book is that Rogers brings in the theological implications of our dietary choices as well. 

In Harm’s Way: A View of from the Epicenter of Liberia’s Ebola Crisis by Nancy Sheppard- I have had the opportunity to meet the author Nancy’s son, which is how I heard about this book. Nancy worked in the clinic where Ebola was treated in Liberia. Her account of the outbreak was really interesting and is an interesting and quick read. 

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Quareshi- The title kind of says it all, this is an autobiographical work, but as he is telling his own story, he teaches the reader about the worldview of Islam.  I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to engage Muslims in dialogue. 

Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters by Tim Keller- This book had been on my list to read for quite a while, I love Tim Keller.  He is so intelligent and yet humble, has years of ministry experience he draws on as he turns the reader back to the Gospel all the time. I really was convicted by this book as he challenged me to think about the gods in my life by asking questions like what do I worry about the most? What do I spend my free time thinking about? What one thing do I think would make me happy?  

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky- This book is often referenced or quoted in spiritual growth books. I have been meaning to read it forever. An intern recommended it a few years ago, then I was scrolling through BBC’s top 100 books to read before you die, and it was on there, so I decided to tackle it. Dostoevsky is deep. I made the mistake I have made before in old classics in skimming the setting up commentary to get to the actual plot of the book, only to realize that the commentary is a large part of why this book is so highly regarded, so had to go back and reread that part. I enjoyed the book, can’t necessarily recommend it for everyone, but I enjoyed it. 

Sketchy Behavior by Erynn Mangrum- I pretty much like anything Erynn Mangrum writes, she is just so funny and laid back in her style. This is a young adult novel about a high schooler who accidentally sketches a criminal, the police use the sketch and he is caught, only to escape! Far-fetched? Maybe. Entertaining and relaxing? Definitely. 

The Language of Life by Francis S. Collins- This book really challenged my long held beliefs as far as the earth’s origin. Don’t anyone freak out, I still believe God did it! But I would love some of my Christian friends to read this book and tell me what they think. Collins was the lead researcher in the Human Genome Project; he is also a self-proclaimed evangelical Christian. His book was really interesting, sometimes a little too scientific for me, but what did I expect?