Books I love...

There are so many great books, but this list contains the books that I most commonly recommend to people at my church.

Books on the case for Christianity:

1. Tim Keller's "Reason for God" which answers 7 questions of doubt before offering 7 compelling reasons for God. 
2. Nicky Gumbel's similar and easy read book called "Searching Issues"
3. C.S. Lewis's classic "Mere Christianity" which has such a good argument looking at human morality which points to a Creator.

Books which explain crucial bits of the Bible:

1. Tom Wright is probably my favourite author of all.  I love his theology and his clear writing.  "Mark for Everyone" on the Gospel of Mark is inspiring and spells out why Jesus is worth following!
   
2. I am also a big fan of David Wenham who also has the gift of clear writing that brings alive the message of Jesus.  "Exploring the New Testament" and "The Parables of Jesus".  David's brother Gordon, has written a great partner "Exploring the Old Testament"
   

Exploring Christianity through....

1. psychology: M Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled" and Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie" have really had a deep impact with friends who were some way off from Christianity but started the journey towards Christ by accepting the truths about our human condition in these books.
   
2. fiction: William P Young's "The Shack" which deals with why God allows suffering and Gerd Theissen's "The Shadow of the Galilean" really brings alive the world that Jesus of Nazareth lived and was crucified in.
   
3. autobiography: be warned, these stories will make you realise you're life could be so much more if you were bold enough to live by the faith of these women!  Jackie Pullinger's "Chasing the Dragon" about seeing God's healing and provision in the dark parts of Hong Kong and Heidi Baker's "Alway's Enough".  Now you will believe in miracles!
   

Resources that heal the soul:

1. For those who are married and parents, HTB church has really got a great package of resources, that we use, called Relationship Central.  
   
2. Mary Pytches has written some helpful stuff, including "Yesterday's Child" which explores how our pasts shape the person we are today.
   Churches that offer "Wholeness" courses are perhaps the best place to get healing as someone can pray with you.
   Learning about personality is really helpful as we understand ourselves and others.  Τhe Myers-Briggs indicator is good but Richard Rohr's "The Enneagram" goes quite a bit deeper.