With much ease and confidence, believers casually use any one of a myriad of different adjectives to describe the grace of God, yet all too often, without invoking a genuine sense of wonder or amazement. In this wonderfully written book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, Manning surgically peels back the layers of our own internally constructed theology about God’s grace, until finally exposing it’s cynical and at times, faithless core. Do we truly trust the grace of God to cover all of our sins? Our past, present, and even future blunders? Does He really summon us into His loving embrace even after we’ve burned through relationships, been financially irresponsible and reckless, rude and manipulative, even destructive and self-seeking?

Sharing from the perspective of a recovering alcoholic, Manning unearths his own life experiences as a testimony of the fact that the gospel comes to us all, first and foremost, as the good news of God’s love for us as we are. Without shying away from the necessity for true repentance, Manning asserts that it is only when we are totally honest with ourselves about our status as ragamuffins before God that His grace can start to work within us. With tenderness and clarity, Manning opens the door to all of those wounded, guilt-ridden and bedraggled individuals who have kept God at arm’s length, to experience afresh, or for the first time, the wondrous, enduring, and amazing grace of God.  

This timeless message is key to experiencing God through the gift of His grace. Not by works or habitual Christians traditions, but simply by breathing in the truth of His acceptance of us, and His gentle summons to throw off weariness and anxiety, and to rest in His presence. With sincerity and a touch of wit, Manning restores the colours and depth to the portrait of grace, allowing us to revel in the truly miraculous work of the Cross. 

Buy the book here.

‘Jesus has defined the relationship he wants with you. He is not interested in enthusiastic admirers who practice everything in moderation and don’t get carried away. He wants completely committed followers’

With lockdown having eased to allow the majority of people to get back to some semblance of a routine, reading has, once again, taken a bit of a backseat on my list of priorities. In an attempt to ease my way back, I set off in search of some lightreading, upon which I stumbled upon Not a Fan. Though deceptively easy to read, this was anything but the ‘lightreading’ book I had in mind.  

Idleman’s very casual and accessible writing style locked me into what felt like a vibrant and flowing discussion centered around my commitment to Jesus. Before I knew it, I was being assaulted with Scriptures and personal testimonies that challenged my concept of what it meant to be a Jesus follower. Story after story brought depth and humor to the importance of being a follower of Jesus, versus simply being His fan. With careful distinction, Idleman paints a relatable picture of the life of a fan; the good intentions, the great outer appearance, and jittery commitment, and urges his readers to rather opt for the life of a follower. Those who have counted the cost of following Jesus, who don’t shy away from the difficult task of aligning their lives to His word, and those who stay committed through the good times and the bad.  

Despite being an easy-to-read book, this was by no means, lightreading. Certain pages caused my heart to pang as I read the words describing the shifty and self-seeking life of a fan, forcing me to pause and reflect. This much needed spiritual check-in has challenged me to re-establish my commitment to Jesus, not simply as a fervent admirer, but as a true follower. I highly recommend this book to anyone needing a reminder of the radical and amazing adventure God has called us to when He called us to follow Him. 

Buy the book here.

As our lockdown stretches into its fourth week, one can take an odd sort of comfort in knowing that the certainty of uncertainty is a universally shared sentiment at the moment. With a myriad of concerns and worries beckoning from every direction, it becomes increasingly important for us to find the time for us to allow our imagination to breathe.

With no shortage of time for reading, I’ve been able to reach back into the backlog of books I have been meaning to read over the last number of years, starting with Velvet Elvis. Author Rob Bell, who was spotlighted for his controversial views in his earlier work Love Wins, was, apparently, not quite finished stirring up the hornet’s nest. In this book, Bell launches his attempt at ‘Repainting the Christian Faith’, no small task by any measure.

Reaching the end of this book however, I couldn’t help but ask myself if all the negative press he received was justified. From start to finish, each page, in my estimation, was littered with poignant questions, real stories about real people, as well as the raw, unfiltered experiences of a pastor searching for God. Boasting a solid grasp of historic rabinical culture, Bell brings to light new dimensions to Scriptures we’ve all heard a thousand times before, and applies them to questions we’ve all asked a million times.

With pinpoint accuracy, Bell asks questions which ultimately demystifies the idea of spirituality which, for some, may have previously seemed totally unattainable and distant. This book is for anyone and everyone who has ever felt like they needed a place to explore new levels of belief, a place to see things from a new perspective, and a place to ask the dangerous questions. Make sure you add this to your lockdown reading list today!

Buy the book here.

‘The universe rings true wherever you fairly test it’

British author of the popular Chronicles of NarniaI series, C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) has coloured the imagination of many readers, both young and old, for many decades. Merging complex worlds with foundational theological concepts, Lewis has retold the gospel message in a delightfully creative way, making these ancient truths accessible to all. With no end to his creative abilities, Lewis now turns to writing his own story, capturing his journey to faith in God.

In Surprised by Joy, Lewis reveals pockets of his own unrelenting pursuit to discover the true nature of Joy, ultimately leading to an accidental discovery of the God of Christianity. In the richest of detail, Lewis recovers the events of his childhood, which at first, may seem somewhat ordinary. Yet as one reads further, it is revealed that this ordinariness was precisely the pivot on which his thinking was altered. With beautiful clarity, Lewis deconstructs the influence of various events, characters and experiences as they shaped his perspective on his pursuit of joy.

Described by the Sunday Times as ‘the spiritual autobiography for the plain man’, one is introduced to a curious, exceptionally well-read, and respectable man probing the secrets to the universe in this most eloquently crafted spiritual thriller. Anyone deciding to read this book will at once be blessed by the candid sense of humor, honesty, and dedication to detail presented in this wonderful story. Be sure to add this to your reading list today!

Buy the book here.