“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies... The man who never reads lives only one.”

by Michael Riley

We in the Shadow is a book that explores how God is present with us when all appears lost and God far away. Written for people who struggle with how or even if God is personal in any meaningful way, the book attempts to reach out to untold numbers of people who have lost hope in a God who matters or have simply given up on God altogether. Tragically, in a time when so many of us need God’s presence more than ever, we often convince ourselves that God has given up on us. The lessons from We in the Shadow reveal that nothing could be further from the truth.

Perhaps you have wandered away from the community of faith because God seems either to be absent or disinterested in your broken world. Maybe you feel ill at ease in a church culture that embraces only the sunny side of faith but ignores the darker side or even condemns those who know more shadow than light in their experiences with God.

We in the Shadow can help you discover that God is closer than you think, if only you know where to look. God does matter, and when God is present with us, there is hope.

by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I was a sophomore in college when I opened Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic book The Cost of Discipleship for the first time. A few years earlier I had become a Christian, but my understanding of what that meant was largely confined to the assurance that I now had a ticket to heaven. Other than that, the Christian life was a bit hazy. I was told that I shouldn’t smoke or drink or go with those who do, but Christianity was basically a moral code of dos and don’ts. Bonhoeffer’s writing changed not only my perception of what it meant to be a Christian, but the entire direction of my life.

Bonhoeffer was executed by the Nazis in 1945, just days before the war ended. He had every opportunity to survive the war and live out his life as an affluent theologian and writer. But he chose the way of Christ, the way of the cross, and his intentional sacrifice redefined what it meant to wear a cross around my neck. This book is a must read.

by Olive Ann Burns

Cold Sassy Tree is one of those rare books where the reader laughs and cries all at the same time. Burns takes the reader back to the early 1900s to a small town in the Deep South where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Rumors begin to swirl when a grandpa marries a woman half his age only weeks after his wife dies. To add fuel to the fire, the woman is a Yankee! The town is outraged by what they consider to be an obvious moral lapse, and when the grandpa’s grandson asks him why he married so soon after grandma’s passing, the grandpa answered, “Because she’s as dead as she’ll ever be.” But don’t be taken in by the levity. This book has pearls of theological insight and wisdom that you’ll be thinking about for a long time.

by Julia Roller

Although I have never personally met Julia, I feel like I know her. She edited my Ezra and Nehemiah introductions and commentaries in Richard Foster’s Life with God Bible. She is a professional writer, editor, wife and mother to three children. How Julia manages to juggle all that is beyond me. Mom Seeks God is a personal account of how she keeps all those balls in the air and still finds time to intentionally practice spiritual disciplines. While she writes with a light touch about the challenging journey of faith, her passion for life with God is anything but light. In spite of the title, Mom Seeks God is not just for moms. Although women will identify with Julia’s attempt to balance life and faith, the book is a spiritual guide for everyone.

by Diccon Bewes

Swiss Watching is a vicarious voyage through Switzerland! A light and enjoyable read about everything from chocolate and cheese to a brief overview of Swiss history, its unique customs and some humorous Swiss etiquette. Whether you’re planning a trip to Switzerland or not, this is a fun read!

by Daniel James Brown

This riveting and inspiring true story of a team of young men who beat the odds at the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany is written with the drama of a compelling novel. It is a quintessential American tale.