Books I’m Reading Right Now

Here are a few of the book I’m reading this month (and still slowly working through a few from a couple months ago). What are you reading?

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund

This is probably my favorite book read so far this year. While many books focus on the person and work of Jesus–which are essential–this book helps us better see the heart of Jesus. The chapters are short but deep, perfect for a morning reading to meditate on throughout the day. This will be a book I strongly recommend moving forward.

Finding the Right Hills to Die On by Gavin Ortlund

You might have noticed that these first two books are both written by authors with the last name Ortlund. They’re brothers; sons of Ray Ortlund; grandsons of Ray Ortlund Sr.. Both are very well written and it’s neat to be reading books written by brothers. This one upholds the importance of studying doctrine while discerning how to prioritize our doctrines. In a day and age where we think every belief, conviction, and opinion is worthy of an all-out-fight, this book will help us know how to preserve both the purity and unity of the church.

Leap Over A Wall by Eugene Peterson

I had never heard of this book, but it’s classic Eugene Peterson: insightful, thought-provoking, very readable, and connects you to the story of Scripture. This book focuses on the life of David through a number of topics, such as imagination, beauty, and sin.

Wilderness Wanderings: Finding Contentment in the Desert Times of Life by Stacy Reaoch

This short book works through the Old Testament wilderness period with a focus on striving for contentment. The chapters are very short, so it’s likely to be read as a devotional.

Christ in the Wilderness: The Wilderness Theme in the Second Gospel and its Basis in the Biblical Tradition by Ulrich W. Mauser

You’ll notice a few books on the wilderness because I’ve been teaching a series on the wilderness period in the Bible. This older, more academic treatment of a very specific topic isn’t a book I’d recommend, mainly for it’s treatment of the Bible through historical criticism, but it does have some helpful gems in it.

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey

Still in the wilderness theme, but this book focuses on the physical wilderness of Utah and Arches National Park. This is more of a fun read that connects my love for the outdoors–including our National Parks–with my study of the theme of wilderness.

 

Bonus: Two Nature Books for Kids

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My daughter and I both love animals. We have a few of these National Geographic “Little Kids First” books, but just got this one on bugs. Since we’ve been stuck inside so much, we’ve also tried to keep our bird-feeder stocked and we’ve used this book, Bird Guide of North America, to identify the birds we see. It’s been a lot of fun!