General Christianity

 
To Fly Again
by Gracia Burnham, Dean Merrill
The world learned the horrendous details of Martin and Gracia Burnham's yearlong captivity in Gracia's best-selling, Gold Medallion Award-winning book, In the Presence of My Enemies. In this follow-up, Gracia reflects on the lessons and spiritual truths she learned in the jungle and how they apply to anyone's life. Twenty-one brief, theme-based chapters squarely address the challenges each of us face as we pass through difficult times to take to the skies again. This book offers no pat answers or easy solutions, just the battle-tested wisdom of a woman who lived her greatest nightmare and came through it more convinced of God's grace than ever before.
 

 
GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
by John Ortberg
Someone who loves you is waiting to see you. The Bible is filled with examples of an intimate God. A God keenly interested in connecting with ordinary people. He promises to be with us. He says he will personally guide us. Yet somehow, intimacy with God eludes us. Caught up in the mainstream of life, we know we're missing something vital. But how do we attain it? God Is Closer Than You Think. Shows how you can enjoy a vibrant, moment-by-moment relationship with your heavenly Father. Not some abstract theological concept, but the real deal— intimate connection with a deeply personal God.
 

 
 What God Wants for Your Life
Frederick W. Schmidt
One of the most perplexing and enduring religious questions is how to discern God's will in a given situation. This book's blend of mainline Christian theology, biblical exploration and personal stories about probing God's will through spiritual discernment gives grounding for Christians who struggle with that issue. Schmidt—an Episcopal priest and director of spiritual life and formation for the Perkins School of Theology in Dallas—starts the exploration with "God-questions" to "usher us into another way of being, a new way of seeing the word." Most powerful is his chapter on "signs and wonders," which includes his explanation for why he has serious reservations about the practice of looking at every event in our lives as a "sign from God" pointing to a choice we are to make. Schmidt also cautions against thinking of God's will as a fixed and certain "to-do list." So how would he have us discern God's purpose? Listen to and with our lives, love God and enjoy the freedom that comes in using the gifts and graces to make choices. This is an important book on Christian spiritual discernment, especially for those overwhelmed by complicated "discernment processes" or for head-oriented believers who desire a better grasp on what mystical, contemplative types really mean when they talk about listening to God's voice.

 
Sabbath Keeping
by Lynne M. Baab
In a gentle, concise style, Baab (A Renewed Spirituality) recommends a weekly day of rest as a gift from God that teaches Christians about grace. Although rules and puritanical solemnity have tarnished Sabbath-keeping in the United States, Baab commends the practice as a balm for frazzled moderns: "The frantic pace, the exhaustion that accompanies it and the resulting emptiness call us back to a rhythm that includes stopping and resting." While Sabbath-keeping is commanded in the Bible, God intends it as a reminder of freedom and abundant life. Baab suggests that Christians customize their Sabbath: All are called to cease from work, but one person's work could be another person's play. (Baab also says the Sabbath may involve freedom from multitasking, technology, media, shopping, competition, talking and anxiety.) Also, she says, the day for the observance does not matter, as long as it is consistent. Baab covers the scriptural reasons for Sabbath observance, but the best sections of this work deal with the personal and the practical. Her account of living (and keeping the Sabbath) in Iran, Israel and the United States instructs and fascinates. One particularly helpful chapter about creating a Sabbath celebration offers tips about making the day special. Winsome, passionate and persuasive, this will convince many Christians of the continuing relevance of the Fourth Commandment.
 

 
 The Importance of Being Foolish
by Brennan Manning
Brennan Manning is the bestselling author of eleven books, including The Ragamuffin Gospel, Ruthless Trust, and The Wisdom of Tenderness. He leads spiritual retreats in the United States and Europe for people of all ages and backgrounds.