A lot of us have more sunlight and more playing time come summer, so maybe you’ll want to hang on to these suggestions. But for those who recognize that the eve of a new summer means finding a good read or two to accompany you on your travels or fill up your couch time under the fan, here’s what our staff is recommending right now.
THE DIVINE CONSPIRACY
By Dallas Willard; recommended by Bill Euler
From Richard Foster: “I am struck by the depth of this book. Willard is a master at capturing the central insight of Jesus’ teachings. Perhaps this is because he takes Jesus seriously as an intelligent, fully competent Teacher. He writes ‘Jesus is not just nice, he is brilliant.'”
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY SPIRITUALITY
By Peter Scazzero; recommended by Tracy Hanson
From Amazon’s listing: “One percent of church leaders say that they are doing well in discipling new and young believers. After almost three decades of pastoring New Life Fellowship Church in the bustle of New York City, Peter Scazzero discovered that most people are not being changed in our churches, and, as a result, are not changing the world. Scazzero found two truths to be true: you can’t be spiritually mature while remaining emotionally immature, and unless you slow and quiet your life down for a first-hand relationship with Jesus Christ, little change is possible. The integration of these two truths unleashed a spiritual revolution in Scazzero, in his church, and now in thousands of other churches.”
THE FIRST MAJOR: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE 2016 RYDER CUP
By John Feinstein; recommended by Randy Wolff
From the Amazon listing: “Award-winning author John Feinstein takes readers behind the scenes, providing an inside view of the dramatic stories as they unfolded: veteran Phil Mickelson’s two-year roller-coaster as he upended the American preparation process and helped assemble a superb team; superstar Rory McIlroy becoming the clear-cut emotional leader of the European team, and his reasons for wanting to beat the US team so badly this time around; the raucous matches between McIlroy and American Patrick Reed – resulting in both incredible golf, and several moments that threatened to come to blows; the return of Tiger Woods not as a player but an assistant captain, and his obsession with helping the US win.”
THE GOLFER’S JOURNAL
Quarterly magazine; recommended by Jeff Hopper
From Jeff: “The Golfer’s Journal is a one-year-old quarterly periodical that emphasizes rich, thoughtful writing about course architecture, friendships, revitalization of communities through the game–just about everything you love about golf but don’t get in other golf magazines. And then there is the photography—wow! Don’t balk at the subscription price, because this is like getting four great golf books a year, and there is very little advertising to get in the way.” More here
THE GOLF OMNIBUS
By P.G. Wodehouse; recommended by Lewis Greer
From Lewis: “With this collection, you’ll have a book of short golf stories that will make you laugh and also see the game in a whole new way. To give you a flavor for Wodehouse, here are a couple of quotes:
‘The least thing upset him on the links. He missed short putts because of the uproar of the butterflies in the adjoining meadows.’
‘Golf, like measles, should be caught young, for, if postponed to riper years, the results may be serious.'”
THE GREAT DIVORCE
By C.S. Lewis; recommended by Lewis Greer
From Lewis: “A book I’ve found myself recommending to friends several times in the last couple of weeks. It is not about marriage and divorce, it is about heaven and hell, and the picture Lewis paints in this fictional presentation will make you think about both in terms you may never have considered.”
THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED
By Mark Frost; recommended by Lewis Greer
From Lewis: “Here is a book I recommend to everyone who appreciates either the history of golf or a great (and true) story exceedingly well told. This is both, chronicling not only Francis Ouimet winning the 1913 U. S. Open, but also giving well researched details on both his life and the life of the great Harry Vardon. The movie is good, the book is excellent.”
THE PRODIGAL GOD
By Timothy Keller; recommended by Marty Jacobus
From Marty: “Our Tuesday Links Fellowship read this book together. It brings great perspective on God’s love for us, the human heart and some messages locked inside the parable that are often missed in a Sunday sermon. We took nine weeks and discussed each chapter. Most people will see themselves in both sons. Keller also clearly shows both the intellectual and the common thinker the truth of the Gospel. A close look at this parable reveals how Jesus redefines how a person truly connects to God.”
A SEVERE MERCY
By Sheldon Vanauken; recommended by Lewis Greer
From Lewis: “I suppose everyone has read A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken, but if you are among those who haven’t, put it on your list. A true story of conversion to Christianity, terrible loss, and the ensuing doubt, the book contains letters between the author and C.S. Lewis, who was instrumental in his conversion.”
SPEAKING OF JESUS: THE ART OF NOT-EVANGELISM
By Carl Medearis; recommended by Josh Nelson
From the Amazon listing: “Some of us fear moments when we need to defend our theology and some of us seek them out. Regardless, we often miss the mark because we don’t follow Jesus’ lead. So how do we draw others to God in the midst of these ordinary conversations the way Jesus did?”
STAY: LESSONS MY DOGS TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE, LOSS, AND GRACE
By Dave Burchett; recommended by Randy Wolff
From the Amazon listing: “You’ll be enthralled by this story of a man and his lovable Labrador retriever, Hannah, and what their canine friendship can show us about life, grace, and long walks in the park.”
UNSCRIPTED: THE UNPREDICTABLE MOMENTS THAT MAKE LIFE EXTRAORDINARY
By Ernie Johnson; recommended by Jeff Hopper
From Jeff: “We were blessed to spend some time in Q&A with Ernie Johnson in this year’s Links Players Magazine, but you really want to read his whole story in this book. It captures a life full of hard choices, bad news, amazing opportunity, and joyful mercies. Ernie’s life and family have much to offer your own.”
WHISPER: HOW TO HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD
By Mark Batterson; recommended by Randy Wolff
From the Amazon listing: “The voice that spoke the cosmos into existence is the same voice that parted the Red sea, and made the sun stand still in the midday sky. One day, this voice will make all things new, but it’s also speaking to you now! That voice is God’s voice, and what we’ve learned from Scripture is that He often speaks in a whisper. Not to make it difficult to hear Him, but to draw us close.”