“The most exalted outcome of submersion in the risen Christ is the transformation of the inner self to be like him. So the kingdom of the heavens, from the practical point of view in which we all must live, is simply our experience of Jesus’ continual interaction with us in history and throughout the days, hours and moments of our earthly existence….And as a disciple of Jesus I am with him, by choice and by grace, learning from him how to live in the kingdom of God.”
— Dallas Willard (The Divine Conspiracy pp. 307, 310, emphasis in original)
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“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
— Paul the Apostle (Philippians 3:17, ESV)
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One of the most comforting realizations in the world is the realization that, as you are doing something (especially something important), you are not doing it alone. It’s that moment when you think you’re at your end, where your breath is short and you’re about to break, and you feel the brush of a silent friend by your side, the weight of a strong hand on your shoulder. And with that brush and that weight, you know you can keep going.
I thank God that this is how He saw fit to arrange this thing we know as the Christian walk—this living out of the perspective of hope which is ours in Jesus Christ. How wonderfully relieving it is to know that we’re not solo-apprentices, walking around with blindfolds and dim guesses that we’ll get it right somehow in the end. Rather, we’ve been given the brush of many friends, the weight of many hands—some familiar and some mightily strange—to settle our hearts, to remind us that we do not walk alone, and to help us lift our weary, distracted eyes over and over again to the Savior we desperately want to follow.
These friends and hands, even when strange to our minds, are deeply valuable for another reason as well: they challenge us. They force us to open our eyes and to see things that we never knew existed. They bump up against us, rub us in what feels like the wrong way, prevent us from being sloppy or half-baked in our thoughts and conclusions, give us a context to practice real love, and spar with us in our faithful and honest wrestlings towards truth. And we come out somehow more human…and more like Christ…through it all.
This page is meant to give you a glimpse of some of my “sparring” partners. These are some of the voices that have been instrumental in shaping me. Some of them have rubbed against me for years, and others are new to my ears. Some have had immediately monumental, life-altering impact; others have provided little nudges that, while perhaps barely perceptible in their initial touch, have shifted my course just enough to send me later on in a vastly different direction than I would have taken if left to my own devices. I am grateful for all of them; and I hope that, if their voices find their way into your life, they might be a blessing to you as they have been to me.
I have titled this page (and, you may have noticed, the web address for my blog) “thatnewdirection,” for it represents the practical side of what happens when you adopt an eyeglass of hope—what happens when your vision is transformed by the reality of Jesus Christ. You don’t just see differently; you walk differently too. Thatnewdirection refers to the entire outplaying of the orientation of our lives, following the reformation of our vision through the lens of hope. It’s what happens “next.”
So as you journey—as you keep journeying—with Christ as your closest Friend, may He bless you with many others like these friends I’ve listed below who will help inspire you, encourage you, challenge you, shape you, comfort you, and point you to Him.
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Let Us Read…
(For General Christian Life):
- The Bible: Yes, of course this is my first recommendation. We have access to 66 books inspired by God Himself, and for some strange reason, most of us couldn’t describe what was in half of them. If you don’t pick up another book on this list, please pick up this one. I guarantee that, if you dive in, you will find that these God-breathed writings “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” for they are “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Tim. 3:15-17, NIV).
- Me, Myself, & Bob by Phil Vischer: This might be the best book I’ve ever read. Vischer traces the rise and fall of Big Idea, the company which produced VeggieTales, and shares what he learned from the experience on both a business and personal level. To sum it up in the words of Larry the Cucumber, “I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob” (from Dave & The Giant Pickle).
- The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard: This one is long and dense, but deeply worth it. Willard discusses the Sermon on the Mount and what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus, practically.
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer: A Willard fan himself, Comer shares his own story of committing to cutting hurry out of his life and the richness that has come as a result. This was a life-shifting work for me and has since become my commitment as well.
- Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright: Turns out the Christian life is about way more than fire insurance… This is a not-too-scholarly look at the study of eschatology (“last things”) that will leave you really feeling “surprised by hope.” Highly recommend.
- Spirit Wars by Kris Vallotton: You can read a fuller explanation of my experience of this book here, but the short story is that I needed this read to realize how to stay in the freedom Jesus won for me.
- The Men We Need by Brant Hansen: In a culture that deconstructs masculinity fervently, Hansen provides a practical, convicting, and encouraging picture of what it means to be a man—and how beautiful the world can be when men step up to become who they were created to be.
- God Is Good by Bill Johnson: Be prepared to hit the ground running with this one. Johnson writes without much introduction, but you’ll find yourself wrapped up quickly in a convincing and revolutionary realization of the goodness of God and our desperate need to believe that.
- Outdated by Jonathan “JP” Pokluda: One of the things for which I see young adults almost desperately searching is clear, practical, and direct advice on (yeah, sorry, I’m gonna say it) “adulting.” And a big part of this: dating. Pokluda provides refreshingly direct, unflinchingly honest, and immediately helpful insight from his own life and his experience of working with thousands of young adults. Pick this up. Whether you have questions for yourself or for a young adult you know, it’s bound to be helpful.
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: A remarkable work summarizing the core of Christianity, this is a recommended read for anyone who is new to the Christian faith, curious about the Christian faith, or needing a reminder of what’s at the root of the faith they’ve said they’ve believed for a long time.
- The Trinity, Practically Speaking by Frank Macchia: This is the clearest explanation I have ever encountered of the doctrine of the Trinity and why it is necessary for our theology and for our daily life.
- The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller: Keller explores the story that we conventionally know as the “parable of the prodigal son”…and flips it to teach an unforgettable truth.
- The Reason for God by Timothy Keller: This work engages with some of the most frequently-asked skeptical questions about Christianity in a way that is helpful and (beautifully) not patronizing.
- Blessed Are the Misfits by Brant Hansen: If you feel like you just don’t fit in with how church culture typically seems to work, Hansen’s message for you is simple: Be encouraged. Jesus has good news. There’s a place for you in His Kingdom too.
- The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning: This has been a long-time favorite of mine and is a go-to re-read every time I need a reminder that the good news of Jesus is precisely for those who don’t have it all together.
- Prototype by Jonathan Martin: This read is centering. I read it not long after escaping a long and traumatic stint of spiritual abuse at a church. It felt like cleansing water being poured on an aching soul. It reminded me who my real Master is and what my existence is about, and it gave me language to approach the question of how to step back into church again.
- The Abiding Life by Josh Houston: Another centering read, this book is a steady unraveling from the yoke of slavery we so readily pick up, a reminder through the lens of John 15 what it means to truly abide in Christ.
- When God Becomes Real by Brian Johnson: Johnson tells his story of wrestling with panic attacks and crippling anxiety—and how God showed up to set him free.
- Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller: I read this right in the midst of some of the most painful years of my life, following my parents’ divorce. I found it to be thorough, encouraging, and present—definitely the most helpful work on this topic that I have yet read.
- Into the Fray by Matt Mikalatos: If you enjoy my retellings of Scriptural stories, you’ll enjoy this. Mikalatos retells stories from the book of Acts to help them hit home for a modern audience.
- Manalive by G.K. Chesterton: Read this if you need a good laugh and a healthy dose of ridiculous, wonderful joy. You might need a dictionary; but, trust me, it’s worth it.
- Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis: Lewis shares his own story of coming to Christ in a way that is deeply personal, sometimes beautifully abstract, and bound to bring a reassuring smile to your face by the end.
- Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis: A retelling of an ancient Greek myth and a deeply-woven Christian allegory, this is a heart-wrenching and heart-stabilizing story that will leave a permanent (and necessary) mark on the questioning soul.
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: These stories will take you on wonderful adventures that leave you hungry and hopeful for the reality of the Kingdom that Jesus has established.
- The Lord of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: What can I say? He’s a master storyteller. Maybe start with The Hobbit if you want to test the waters before taking the plunge. But if you need some great fantasy, this is where you’ll find it.
- Laugh & Learn Bible for Kids by Phil Vischer: This is the best children’s Bible I’ve ever seen. And I think adults will enjoy it too. Simple, humorous, and engaging, it’s a refreshing walkthrough of the biblical narrative from beginning to end.
- In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen: Short and humbling in Nouwen’s characteristic manner, this is a must-read for anyone seeking to lead or minister “in the name of Jesus.”
- The Reset by Jeremy Riddle: Riddle lifts the veil off of the habits of modern worship and asks the questions we all need to hear in order to return to worship that is truly about Jesus.
- Sing! by Keith and Kristyn Getty: This husband and wife duo gives a fantastic examination of why musical worship is so important—and what to consider when we engage in it as a church.
- Foolishness to the Greeks by Lesslie Newbigin: One of the most impactful books I read in college, Newbigin’s exploration sheds light on a usually-dark corner of academic inquiry with profound implications for daily life: the idea of the “fact/value split” and what it means that we have relegated religious inquiry to the sphere of “values” and “emotions” while pretending that scientific inquiry is the world of “facts.” Be prepared for a wonderful challenge to habitual Western thought.
- Deep Church by Jim Belcher: A thought-provoking conversation excavating the dialogue between the emerging and traditional churches, Belcher’s work is an attempt to pave a third way, modeling what it means for church to be “deep.” This is an academic read, but I also found it helpful in finding language for what went wrong in my past experiences of church wounds—not just to see more clearly what happened but also to see what potential there is for walking forward on a healthier path.
- The Exodus You Almost Passed Over by Rabbi David Fohrman: This slightly-technical but transformative reframing of the exodus narrative, from a Jewish perspective, serves as a deep-dive reintroduction to a topic that is foundational for the entirety of the story of Scripture.
- The Queen You Thought You Knew by Rabbi David Fohrman: In this work, Fohrman digs into the story of Esther, revealing in all its narratival twists and turns a poignant message about justice, responsibility, strategy, and reconciliation.
- Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook by Mark D. Futato: This is basically what it sounds like, an exegetical guide to the psalms. But don’t expect boring, dry, academic prose. Expect to leave from this work with a revolutionary depth of understanding of how to read and communicate the Psalms well. You’ll probably also never look at thunderstorms again the same way.
- The BEMA Podcast: I highly recommend this podcast. Marty Solomon and Brent Billings engage the biblical text from a Jewish rabbinical perspective, offering not only valuable insights into how to handle Scripture well but also into what it means to engage in real discipleship today. Pro tip: Start at the beginning.
- The Brant & Sherri Oddcast: This show has been dubbed by a listener as “refreshingly odd and oddly refreshing.” I would agree. Tune in for a mix of profound thoughts, timely encouragements, helpful perspectives, and wonderful silliness.
- Worship Artistry Podcast: If you’re looking for some great conversations about ministry and life in the worship music world, this is an excellent resource (especially—but certainly not exclusively—for worship leaders and musicians). I’d also recommend their website for well-taught tutorials on over 600 worship songs, structured for use in a church setting with a five-piece band.
- I Used to Think… Podcast: This is a podcast that dives into the stories of people who have changed their minds on various topics. It was started by one of my friends, Patrick Lee. (I’m also on it in episodes 2 and 2.5, so you should totally give it a listen if you want to hear about my biggest mind-change to date.)
- The Chosen: Man, talk about great storytelling. This series brings the gospels to life by imagining the fictional—but plausible—backstories of the people who were chosen by Christ to be His disciples during His time on this planet. Highly relevant, beautifully-captured, emotionally-captivating, and decidedly not cheesy, this is definitely my favorite show.
- Phil Wickham: He’s been my favorite artist since junior high, and I think he taught me how to worship the Lord. The authenticity of his lyrics and the fact that every song directs us to the Lord, even through those seasons which tempt us to look down and shut our mouths, is unique in a world of Christian artistry that sometimes makes it hard to tell if an artist is singing about his God or his wife. Wickham’s call is clear: to keep praising through it all.
- ForKing&Country: Their music is marked by fantastic vocals, harmonies, and rhythms—and a repeated call for honesty, responsibility, and hope. Their newest album, What Are We Waiting For?, is timely and helped get me back on my feet after a series of painful wipeouts and stagnancies.
- Rend Collective: Perhaps most known for defiant joy, this Irish folk rock band is a new favorite of mine because of their resilience, honesty, and commitment to loudly praising Christ.
- MercyMe: Most widely known for their song I Can Only Imagine, this band has been on fire in recent years (in my opinion) for music that burns with truth and pretty much compels you to dance whether you thought that was coming or not.
- Amanda Cook: If you’re needing a peaceful reset or some music that washes out demonic influence and nasty lies, turn here. I’m not kidding, and I’m not exaggerating. The time that Cook has spent with the Lord fighting for truth and peace is evident; and, in my experience, the armies of our enemy don’t like to stick around when her music is heard.
Wow! Miranda, This is amazing! I love the brief book reviews. I am going to need to check a few of these out. Thanks for sharing! Becky C.
ReplyDeleteYou got it! Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to check out :)
Delete- Miranda