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New Books for Men

Please visit the library and look for the new books. Some of them are displayed separately for easy access.

BIBLE, HISTORY, CHURCH

THE OLD TESTAMENT WRITINGS: HISTORY, LITERATURE, AND INTERPRETATION by James M. Efird.  Dr. Efird states in the Preface that “The purpose . . . of this presentation of the Old Testament writings is to introduce the beginning student to the complex yet marvelous world of the Old Testament, its history, literature, and the religious interpretation of the individual books.”  Leaders of Bible study groups will appreciate this book as a good reference. [In memory of Frank Morrison donated by The Young Men’s Bible Class]
THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH: A Leader’s Guide for Older-Adult Ministry in the United Methodist Church by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr.  As the title indicates this book is written for those who are leaders in the adult ministry of the church.  It discusses the purpose and focus of the ministry, gives ideas for the types of ministry and activities, and includes a list of valuable resources.
RELUCTANT PROPHETS AND CLUELESS DISCIPLES: Introducing the Bible by Telling Its Stories by Robert Darden.  This book is not the usual commentary or translation of the Bible.  As the title suggests, it is written with humor and cartoons to illustrate some very important messages in the Scripture.  Karla Yaconelli states on the book jacket: “Beautifully fluid and theologically honorable,  [this book] is down-to-earth, infused with laugh-out-loud humor, and reads much like a well-loved novel.” 
PATTERNED BY GRACE: How Liturgy Shapes Us by Daniel T. Benedict, Jr.  If you have wanted to understand more about the liturgy of the church worship, this book will provide insight to the importance and the meaning.  The author says in the Introduction: “I like to think of the church’s liturgy as God’s playground, with God inviting us to come out and play.”  He emphasizes liturgy as part of the spiritual journey and formation. 
A HOP, SKIP, AND A JUMP THROUGH THE BIBLE by J. Ellsworth Kalas.   Dr. Kalas is the author of the Christian Believer study and a popular author of curriculum as well as other books.  In this book he shows how there is an overarching plot that binds all of the varied writings of the Bible together. He emphasizes that the Bible is our own continuing story of God’s relationship with the human race.  The book includes study guide questions for each chapter and is a good resource for the Disciple study groups. [In memory of Frank Morrison donated by The Young Men’s Bible Class]
YOUR GOD IS TOO SMALL by J. B. Phillips.  This classic book was written in the 1950’s but it is still very relevant today.  It is divided into two parts: Destructive and Constructive.  The chapter headings give you an idea about the difference.  In the “Destructive” part, he talks about the concept of God as resident policeman, grand old man, pale Galilean and other descriptions.  In the “Constructive” part, he talks about a clue to reality, life’s basic principles, Christ and the question of sin, and theory into practice.
Whose Bible Is It?  A Short History of the Scriptures by Jaroslav Pelikan.  From the Publishers Weekly review: “Outstanding …Pelikan takes the reader through the process of scripture-building with a fluency and ease that is both accessible and understandable. . . . This excellent work merits circulation and study.”  Teachers and Bible study leaders will find this a good resource.
Journey Through the Psalms by Denise Dombkowski Hopkins, revised and expanded edition.  The book includes information about the types of Psalms and also commentary on individual Psalms.  The book “illuminates, critiques, and reshapes Christian worship and spirituality” states Brain Wren from Columbia Theological Seminary. 
Through Mark’s Eyes: A Portrait of Jesus Based on the Gospel of Mark by Puck Purnell.  From the Preface: “This work is neither a novel nor a short story, nor is it a new translation.  Instead, it is a fresh and invigorating invitation to know Jesus as he might have been.  This book is intended to arouse the imagination of readers or listeners so they might breathe the air as they walk the dusty roads of ancient Palestine as a disciple of Jesus Christ.”  A Study Guide section is included. [In memory of Frank Morrison donated by The Young Men’s Bible Class]
In God’s Time: The Bible and the Future by Craig C. Hill.  Endorsed by Eugene Peterson with these words: “Sane, convincing, biblical writing.  Pastors, teachers, and parents – all of us who are responsible for providing Christian guidance through the verbal clutter and emotional hysteria associated with the ‘End Times’ – will welcome Craig Hill’s accessible and timely teaching.”
The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation by Barbara R. Rossing.  Bill Moyers states “Barbara Rossing has done the Christian faith a great service by exposing one of its modern heresies.  But she goes beyond dissecting the fantasies of its perpetrators and adherents.  She unfolds and affirms an alternative interpretation of one of the Bible’s most complex books and points to a reading of its powerful metaphors that will stir the heart and honor the mind.” 
Christianity’s Family Tree: What Other Christians Believe and Why by Adam Hamilton.  The author presents information about eight Christian denominations and faith traditions.  He gives a brief history, outlines major beliefs, and describes some things we can learn from that tradition to strengthen our own Christian faith.  Additional books and a video may be purchased for groups to study this material. [Contact the Adult Ministries office to order materials.]
Body Politics: Five Practices of the Christian Community before the Watching World by John Howard Yoder.  Binding and loosing, baptism, Eucharist, multiplicity of gifts, and open meeting: these five New Testament practices were central in the life of the early Christian community.  The author uncovers the original meaning and shows why the recovery of these practices is so important for the social, economic, and political witness of the church today.
Tokens of Trust: An Introduction to Christian Belief by Rowan Williams.  The author is the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury and is a renowned theologian and writer.  This book is an enlarged version of talks at Canterbury Cathedral during the week before Easter in 2005.  The author says “But the period before Easter is a good time to think about the essentials of what Christians believe as they get ready for the greatest celebration of the year.”
Building a Ministry for Homebound and Nursing-Home Residents by Marie White Webb. The author has been involved with older adult ministry since 1983.  This book is a practical resource providing understanding and insight into ministry with people who are homebound or living in continuing-care communities.  Pastors, Older Adult Council members, and any other church member involved with adults in these situations will find this book very helpful.
Bring ‘Em Back Alive: A Healing Plan for Those Wounded by the Church by Dave Burchett.  This book is about the lost sheep, the one who strayed or the one who was driven out by an unkind word or thoughtless deed.  The author wrote this book to tell about the importance of bringing back the lost and wounded lambs to the fold.  Or he writes about being willing to return if we are the ones lost. 
When Bad Christians Happen to Good People: Where We Have Failed Each Other and How to Reverse the Damage by Dave Burchett.  Dave Burchett’s first book discusses unbelievers and Christians who have rejected the church because of damaging encounters with a Christian, a Christian leader, or a group of Christians.  He emphasizes the importance of changes within our church communities that will bring healing to the church and transform our witness to the world.
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell.  The author states in his Introduction: “But this book is for those who need a fresh take on Jesus and what it means to live the kind of life he teaches us to live.”  This readable book will provoke questions and provide inspiration. 
Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality by Rob Bell.  From the Introduction: “Sex.  God.  They’re connected.  And they can’t be separated.  Where the one is, you will always find the other.  This is a book about how sexuality is the ‘this’ and spirituality is the ‘that.’  To make sense of the one, we have to explore the other.” 

DEVOTIONAL LITERATURE

Hither & Yon: A Travel Guide for the Spiritual Journey by Becca Stevens.  Writtten in the format of a travel guide, this book will take you down the spiritual pathway with topics such as “Listening to the Birds,” “Keep Walking Until the Bad Spirits Get Bored,” “Can’t See the Spider for God.”
On the Way to Somewhere: Stories and Songs for the Journey by Celia Whitler. The author travels the country singing, speaking, and making friends.  This book of stories “reminds us that God is still at work – and that Christ enters the world again and again in people who bring us grace.”  The book will appeal to older teens and young adults as well as others.  A CD of Celia Whitler’s songs is included in the book.
The Contented Soul: The Art of Savoring Life by Lisa Graham McMinn.  From the book jacket: “our souls were not made for frantic, frenzied living. . . . But Lisa Graham McMinn calls us back to a significant simpler way of life, a way characterized by intimate connection with our Creator, authentic relationships with others and a profound hope for the shalom that is to come.”
Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear by Scott Bader-Saye.  Gregory Jones comments that “Scott Bader-Saye offers us Christian practical wisdom we desperately need.  Through insightful examples as well as rich biblical and theological analysis, he beautifully seduces us to trust God and to risk hospitality, peacemaking, and generosity.  This is a profoundly hopeful, and hope-filled book.”  Discussion questions included.
Nearer to the Heart of God: Daily Readings with the Christian Mystics; compiled and edited by Bernard Bangley.  Daily devotionals have been gathered from many authors to provide inspiration to the individual or for a group.  The book is a good resource for devotionals for Sunday School classes, study groups, and committee meetings.
The Substance of Things Seen: Art, Faith, and the Christian Community by Robin M. Jensen.  Comments from the book jacket: “In this gentle and very readable book Robin Jensen shows clearly why the arts cannot be ignored by the Christian community.”  “Robin Jensen’s book makes a wonderful contribution to the thoughtful conversation about art in the church.” 
DEAR LORD, THEY WANT ME TO GIVE THE DEVOTIONS!  By John D. Schroeder and Shane Groth.  A collection of 55 devotions on a variety of topics will be helpful for individual reading or for preparing devotions for a group.  The introduction includes ideas for adapting devotions to your specific needs and discusses the purpose of devotions.
DEVOTIONAL CLASSICS: SELECTED READINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS edited by Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith.  The expanded and revised edition 2005 of this book offers access to many authors who provide inspiration for spiritual life.  The selections address the six traditions that comprise a healthy and holistic life of faith.  Each entry includes a biblical passage, discussion questions and individual and group exercises. The book could be used for a group study.
A DEEPENING LOVE AFFAIR, THE GIFT OF GOD IN LATER LIFE by Jane Marie Thibault.  A “teaser” from the Introduction will serve to tell you about this book. “I have come to believe that the development of an intense, mutual, love relationship with God is the primary spiritual task of later life.  I have encountered some older adults who have made this discovery and who seem to be growing more vital and more loving every day.  I have met others, also churchgoers, sometimes the pillars of the church, who are jaded, bitter, bored by it all.  They ‘do their’ at church, but the inner spirit has stagnated. . . . I have written this book for the mature adult who is spiritually discontented. . . . This book deals with the inner work that I consider to be the spiritual life task of the mature adult.”  While the book is written for the older adult, all ages can benefit from reading it.
MEN WORTH KNOWING: BIBLICAL MEDITATIONS FOR DAILY LIVING by J. Ellsworth Kalas.  The author has taken sixteen men from Scripture and presented a meditation on each one.  Kalas says that each one can teach us something about ourselves and our relationship with God.  This book not only offers individual devotional reading but it also is a good resource for Bible study leaders to supplement a specific Bible story.  [In memory of Forrest Cannady donated by the Young Men’s Bible Class]
PENGUINS & GOLDEN CALVES: Icons and Idols in Antarctica and Other Unexpected Places by Madeleine L’Engle.  The author at age 74 embarked on a rafting trip to Antarctica which led to this book which discusses how ordinary things . . . can become “windows to God” that lead us to a richer faith.  People who appreciate the natural world as God’s creation will be especially interested in reading this book.
ONCE UPON A TIME IN AFRICA: Stories of Wisdom & Joy compiled by Joseph G. Healey.  The author states in his Introduction: “These stories from Africa tell of compassion, conversion, forgiveness, grace, joy, mercy, peace, reconciliation, repentance, and unity.  They probe deeply into the human heart, into the mystery of being, and into human relationships with God and with others.  They plunge into the depths and reach to the skies in the eternal quest for meaning.”  Whether the story is a few sentences or a few pages, you will find this book offers a different way for your devotional thinking.
MEDITATIONS ON THE CROSS by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  The author was martyred during World War II in Germany where he was a leading voice of Germany’s Confessing Church.  These meditations are letters and sermons that contain Bonhoeffer’s personal and faithful word about the crucifixion and the power of the cross for all Christian disciples.  This book provides excellent devotional reading and personal  reflection.
WINTER GRACE: SPIRITUALITY AND AGING by Kathleen Fischer.  The author states that the book is intended for older persons, their friends and families.  It is a good resource also for all who work with older adults.  Richard Morgan says that “This book is a rare treasure in that it shows how losses of later life can be transformed into spiritual gains.”  [Donated in memory of Mildred Sanderford, mother of E. C. Marley, by Stephen Ministry.]

WOMEN IN THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE

STANDING ALONE: An American Woman’s Struggle for the Soul of Islam by Asra Q. Nomani. The author is a Muslim born in India, raised in West Virginia, and currently living in Morgantown.  She has often spoken about women’s rights in Islam; this book “is a manifesto of the rights of women based on the true faith of Islam.”  This story is her personal journey into the sacred roots of Islam to try to discover the role of a Muslim woman in the modern global community.”  This story of courage also provides an understanding of Islam.
MUSLIM WOMEN IN AMERICA: The Challenge of Islamic Identify Today by Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad, Jane I. Smith, and Kathleen M. Moore.  From a comment on the book jacket: “Beautifully written, accessible, and well-researched by three leading scholars on American Muslims today, this book challenges stereotypes of American Muslim women by showing that they are more similar than they are different to other groups of U.S. women.”  Anyone wanting to understand more about Islam, this book will be helpful.
A Woman’s Place: House Churches in Earliest Christianity by Carolyn Osiek and Margaret MacDonald.  This carefully researched material tells about women in the context of ancient households and highlights the power of social perceptions in shaping the lives of early Christian women.  The book provides an important resource to learn about the role of women in early Christianity.
The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew – Three Women Search for Understanding by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner.  The book tells how these three women came together to study and share their faiths.  Their story has served as a catalyst for interfaith discussion groups in churches, temples, mosques, and other community settings.  Included in the content are these features: how to start a faith club, reading group guide, and Q&A with the authors.

CONSUMERISM

JUSTICE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY: STRATEGIES FOR HOME, COMMUNITY, AND WORLD – a collection of essays edited by Pamela Brubaker, Rebecca Peters and Laura Stivers. For anyone interested in the Christian’s responsibility for the resources of this creation, this book will be a good reference.  It addresses household strategies, community strategies, and public policy strategies.  Each chapter ends with discussion questions and a list of additional resources on the subject, making this a good study book.
DEATH BY SUBURB: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing your Soul by David L. Goetz.  The topics are addressed with wit and humor while providing the reader with thoughtful comments about our lives.  Bishop William Willimon states that “God has given Goetz a gift for seeing beyond the well-manicured lawns and the upwardly mobile kids belted in the SUV on their way to success as their suburban parents define it.  He sees the parched lives, the truncated spirits beneath the suburban bliss, and the grace too.  In his gracious eyes, suburbia begins to look like an outbreak of the Kingdom of God.” 
Longing for Enough in a Culture of More by Paul L. Escamilla.  This book is one of Cokesbury’s “Teachable Books” with a downloadable study guide available.  The content offers a remarkably complete and balanced picture of the Christian life. Read it for inspiration or study it with a group; it will invite the reader to make the “life of enough” a natural next step in our lives as Christians.
Real American Ethics: Taking Responsibility for Our Country by Albert Borgmann.  From the book jacket, a statement by Bill McKibben: “His understanding that consumerism is the great enemy of reality in our time is profound, nonideological, and deeply helpful to any readers concerned not only about their country, but about their own lives.”

RELIGION AND INSPIRATIONAL

SETTLING IN: MY FIRST YEAR IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY  by Richard L. Morgan.  The author is well known for his books for and about the older adult community.  This book covers from “Making the Decision” to “Home at Last.”  Mr. Morgan discusses very frankly the realities involved in this move to a retirement community; it is also a book of hope and inspiration.  This book is a good resource for anyone contemplating the move to a retirement community and also will be good reading for anyone already living in that setting. It is also a good resource for family members.  [LARGE PRINT]
LIVING THE SABBATH: DISCOVERING THE RHYTHMS OF REST AND DELIGHT by Norman Wirzba.  In the Preface the author states “This book lays out the case for Sabbath observance that does not depend on the cultural sanction of complete rest for one day of the week.  Though such a practice is still and always will be a desirable goal, many of us need additional suggestions for daily practices—alternative rituals—that can move us into the heart of the Sabbath.”  The book is one in a series “The Christian Practice of Everyday Life” by The Ekklesia Project.
INSIDE WORLD RELIGIONS: An Illustrated Guide by Kevin O’Donnell.  This well-organized book provides information about six major religions and shorter sections on an additional five religions.  The author emphasizes a personal angle as he looks at each faith – what does it mean for a person to belong to that faith?  The book is illustrated with many photographs.  For groups or individuals studying world religions, this book is a good reference. [In memory of Forrest Cannady donated by the Young Men’s Bible Class]
PATTERNED BY GRACE: How Liturgy Shapes Us by Daniel T. Benedict, Jr.  If you have wanted to understand more about the liturgy of the church worship, this book will provide insight to the importance and the meaning.  The author says in the Introduction: “I like to think of the church’s liturgy as God’s playground, with God inviting us to come out and play.”  He emphasizes liturgy as part of the spiritual journey and formation. 
WHEN SAINTS SING THE BLUES: Understanding Depression through the Lives of Job, Naomi, Paul, and Others by Brenda Poinsett.  The author addresses the topic of depression in the lives of Christians.  She says that she tries to answer the question “How could a born-again, Bible-believing, faith-teaching, regular pray-er become depressed?”  She uses the Bible as her source, with eleven biblical characters who experienced depression.  A comment from the book jacket: “This book is a must-have for every Bible teacher, pastor, and counselor as well as a great gift for those who are walking through the valley.”
EAVESDROPPING: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening by Stephen Juusisto.  The author has had severe visual impairment since childhood.  He talks about compensatory listening, creative listening, and most of all the art of listening.  This fascinating story invites the reader to share with the author all there is to hear and even “see” in his unique celebration of a hearing life.
Tour de Faith: A Cyclist’s Lessons for Living by Robert Molsberry.  The story is about the powerful lessons about community, discipline, challenges, mortality and more.  Pastor Molsberry has participated in the Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa since 1974.  In 1997 an accident left him a paraplegic; however, he has continued to participate in the ride.  He writes his reflections about the ride and about the lessons he has learned.  The story is inspirational as well as fun to read.
Caring for Mother: A Daughter’s Long Goodbye by Virginia Stem Owens.  The author gives a clear and realistic account of the many challenges of caring for an elderly loved one.  She talks about the spiritual crises that she encountered and about the role of the caregiver.  It is not a self-help book but a story of hope and grief.