June & July 2024 Issue:
Summer is a wonderful time to catch up on some reading! One of my most vivid childhood memories is being a part of the summer book reading program at the local library. It was great to put aside the required school reading list and read whatever book struck my fancy (and earning free pizza was pretty great too!). Summer reading programs are still going strong today at all of our local libraries. I am thankful for the many books our public libraries offer, but if you're looking for wholesome, spiritually-minded options for you or your family, look no further than our very own church library! Our church library has more than 4,200 titles searchable here by topic, author and title. Below are some good choices for both kids and adults, including a few series to keep your young readers in a book all summer!
Children:
• Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey, Volume I, II, III: This children's series is based on John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and has been adapted for the younger generations. It is also fully illustrated which will keep your little ones engaged with each page.
• The Prince’s Poison Cup and The Lightlings, by R.C. Sproul: These two beautifully illustrated picture books speak to the story of redemption and the need for Jesus to pay the price for our sin.
Big Kids:
• The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson: For the more advanced reader (and any adult for that matter), the Wingfeather Saga by singer Andrew Peterson is a wonderful choice. Written initially for his children, Peterson takes the reader through a beautiful story of a family who sticks together no matter what happens in the evil world around them.
• Where the River Bends, Three Go Searching, The Secret at Pheasant Cottage, Treasures of the Snow, and The Tangle Woods’ Secret, by Patricia St. John: These are new editions of some classic books by Patricia St. John that stir the young to imagine new environments and situations they never thought of while holding onto faith in God.
• Jack vs the Tornado (Book 1 of the Tree Street Kids) by Amanda Cleary Easter: The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine, but their 1990s suburban neighborhood is more than just quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, and Ruthie face challenges and find adventures in every creek and cul-de-sac—as well as God’s great love in one small neighborhood.
• Kingdom’s Dawn (Book 1 of the Kingdom Series) by Chuck Black: Swords, knights, and battles define these captivating tales that parallel biblical events from Genesis to Revelation!
Adults:
For the adult fiction lover, here are a few choices that range from biblical historical fiction to modern day stories and are all full of gospel truth.
• And the Shofar Blew, by Francine Rivers
• Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn
• Voice in the Wind, by Francine Rivers
• Pearl in the Sand, by Tessa Afshar
• The Pharaoh’s Daughter, by Mesu Andrews
If you would like some non-fiction, here are a few biographies of some amazing Christian heroes.
• The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom
• Joni: An Unforgettable Story, by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Being/Becoming Elisabeth Elliot, by Ellen Vaughn
• Bonehoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas
April & May 2024 Issue:
With the warmer weather, it is a great time to pull out a comfortable lawn chair, find a quieter place, and enjoy some good reading. See below for some recent additions to the church library that you may want to consider!
Our church library has more than 4,200 titles searchable here by topic, author and title. Here are just a few:
Highlights:
• None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God, by Michael Barrett
For too long, Christians have domesticated God, bringing Him down to our level as if He is a God who can be tamed. But He is a God who is high and lifted up! One reviewer said, [the author] “leads us to marvel at both how much and how little we know of God.”
• Discovering God Through the Arts, by Terry Glaspey
For many Christians, art sits in the background, existing only for decoration and entertainment. But what if the arts were meant to play a more prominent role? This book seeks to help us discern how works of art offer faith-building, life-changing, and soul-stretching spiritual formation for all Christians.
• Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel, by Russell Moore
We need a church that speaks to the social and political issues with a bigger vision in mind: that of the gospel of Jesus Christ! The signs of the times tell us we are in for days our parents and grandparents never knew. But that’s no call for panic or surrender or outrage. Jesus is alive. Let’s act like it. Let’s follow Him, onward to the future.
• Parenting with Words of Grace, by William P. Smith
Offering practical guidance for grace-filled communication in the midst of the craziness of everyday life, this accessible guide will help us speak in ways that reflect the grace God has shown to us in the gospel.
• Songs of Suffering, by Joni Eareckson Tada
Acting as “song leader”, the author has selected 25 beautiful hymns that speak to the grieving heart. Through personal devotions, she shares her experience with pain and invites us to find comfort as we seek the Lord.
Children’s Corner:
• 3 books by Kristen Wetherell: God Hears Me, God Cares for Me, and God Came Near to Me
• 2 books by Betsy Childs Howard: Polly and the Screen Time Overload, and Arlo and the Great Big Cover-up
Recent Additions:
· The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why are They Going, and What Will it Take to Bring Them Back?, by Jim Davis and Michael Graham
• Taking God at His Word: Why the Bible is Knowable, Necessary, and Enough, and What That Means for You and Me, by Kevin DeYoung
· Go and Do Likewise: A Call to Follow Jesus in a Life of Mercy and Mission, by Amy DiMarcangelo
· Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference, by Timothy Keller and John Inazu
· Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age, by Melissa Krueger
· Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn’t, by Stephen McAlpine
· Questioning Faith: Indirect Journeys of Belief Through Terrains of Doubt, by Randy Newman
· God, Technology, and the Christian Life, by Tony Reinke
· Beautiful People Don’t Just Happen: How God Redeems Regret, Hurt, and Fear in the Making of Better Humans, by Scott Sauls
March 2024 Issue:
With the warm, late-winter air and the calendar turning over to March, we begin to anticipate bulbs blooming, summer birds returning, and new birth all throughout creation. Another thing we may be anticipating is the time when we remember our Savior and the work He did for us on the cross. Easter is not just about bunnies and colorful eggs and chocolate. The preparation through the Lenten season up to Resurrection Sunday provides a great opportunity to immerse ourselves in God's amazing plan of rescue, redemption, and restoration. The library team at EFCCL hopes you consider adding some good reading to your Lenten studies this month—here are some of the many options the church library has to choose from! You can find these on the seasonal shelves and endcaps.
Our church library has more than 4,200 titles searchable here by topic, author and title. Here are just a few:
Children:
• The Donkey Who Carried a King, by R.C. Sproul
• The God Contest, by Carl Laferton
• The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross, by Carl Laferton
• My Friend Jesus: The Gospel for Kids, by Kathryn Slattery
• The Case for Christ for Kids, by Lee Strobel
Adults:
• Scandalous, by D.A. Carson
• Christ Crucified, by Donald Macleod
• Man of Sorrows, King of Glory, by Jonty Rhodes
• Surprised by Jesus, by Dane Ortlund
• And the Angels Were Silent, by Max Lucado
• He Chose the Nails, by Max Lucado
• Six Hours One Friday, by Max Lucado
• Christ from Beginning to End, by Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum
• Rich Wounds, by David Mathis
• Confronting Jesus, by Rebecca McLaughlin
• To the Cross, by Christopher Wright
• One Perfect Life, by John MacArthur
• Cries from the Cross, by Erwin Lutzer
• The Final Days of Jesus, by Andreas Köstenberger
• Witness the Passion, by Richard Exley
• Experiencing the Cross, by Henry Blackaby