Post date: Jun 29, 2012 8:49:16 PM
During the school year, I commit to completing the same reading assignments I give my students (in addition to all other reading required for teaching and personal study). In the summer, I am free to read whatever I want and always set out with noble expectations--but quickly fall into my scatter-brain ways and accomplish far less than intended.
This summer, I've been reading the following: (note: few of these will be finished by the end of the summer...)
Fiction:
Publication Date: April 7, 2009 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Book 4)Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical.
In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth—a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.
n Date: June 26, 2003
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Ephesians 6:12
Ashton is just a typical small town. But when a skeptical reporter and a prayerful, hardworking pastor begin to investigate mysterious events, they suddenly find themselves caught up in a hideous New Age plot to enslave the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race. The physical world meets the spiritual realm as the battle rages between forces of good and evil.
This Present Darkness is a gripping story that brings keen insight into spiritual warfare and the necessity of prayer. Since its original publication more than 2.7 million copies have been sold. The companion volume, Piercing the Darkness, continues the story of the battle between spiritual forces.
Publication Date: June 12, 2008
The one-and-only Journaling Bible provides the perfect way for you to keep a journal of your spiritual life right inside the Bible that you read and study each day. With covers and formats that look like the finest journals, the Journaling Bible features 2-inch ruled margins for writing observations, reflections, prayers, praises, notes, and journal entries.
Publication Date: August 2006This seeker-friendly book invites readers to discover that certainty involves some absolutes. It addresses postmodernists' view of truth, pointing to the absolute truth in the person of Jesus.
As parents and leaders of youth, we are concerned about what our kids are tempted to do. But in today's culture, we should be more concerned about what they are led to believe. What many of our kids believe about their faith is not the Christianity of the Bible. Josh offers tools to correct our young people's distorted beliefs and lead them to deepened convictions about God and His Word. He provides a "relational apologetic"--rock-solid reasons to believe and a biblical blueprint for living out those beliefs in relationship with others. What Every Christian Ought Know
The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah: New Updated Edition
Publication Date: June 1, 2005Just as plants need certain essentials to grow—light, water, and fertile soil—so do new Christians—babes in the faith. Without these essentials—the basic truths of the faith—they will never establish strong roots or bear fruit. Adrian Rogers has written a book designed to give new believers the nurture and care their faith needs to blossom and grow. What Every Christian Ought to Know seeks to give intellectual truth, and also to provide the “spiritual nutrients” required to produce mature faith.
It's Not About Me Teen Edition
Publication Date: July 1, 1993One of the best known and most important references on the life of Christ ever written, Alfred Edersheim's The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah is a storehouse of information on the background of the New Testament. This classic work successfully portrays the streets, the marketplaces, the religious conflicts, the people, and the places of Jesus' earthly ministry.
Edersheim divides his work into five sections, or books:
• Book 1—The Preparation for the Gospel
Introductory historical, religious, political, and cultural material based on the author's extensive knowledge of Jewish lore and customs.
• Book 2—From Bethlehem to Jordan
The background of Herod and his reign, St. John the Baptist and his message, and the birth and baptism of Jesus.
• Book 3—From Jordan to the Mount of Transfiguration
Thirty-seven chapters explore the miracles and teachings of Jesus' early ministry.
• Book 4—The Descent into the Valley of Humiliation
A history of the latter part of Jesus' ministry from the Transfiguration to the journey to Jerusalem.
• Book 5—The Cross and the Crown
A chronicle of each day of Passion Week, from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection.
• Appendices
Valuable background material on Jewish history, tradition, and law.
Publication Date: March 1, 2005Pop culture and psychobabble tell us to make ourselves the center of the universe in order to be happy. Churches have communicated the false idea that God exists to give us all that we selfishly want. In this book, Max Lucado reminds us that it's not about us, it's all about God. It is through this shift in thinking that we can truly live an unburdened, happy life.
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
The gold standard in Greek mythology, in a dazzling Graphic Deluxe Edition with a new introduction by the bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series
From the creation of the world out of Chaos and the birth of the Olympians to the Trojan War and Odysseus's return, Robert Graves's superb retelling of the Greek myths has long been acclaimed as the definitive edition. Graves draws on sources scattered throughout ancient literature, using a novelist's skill to weave a crisp, coherent narrative of each myth and providing commentaries with cross-references, interpretations, and explanations based on solid scholarship. The result is a classic volume of many of the greatest stories ever told—stories of the gods, heroes, and extraordinary events that inspired Homer, the Greek tragedians, and so much of subsequent European literature.
Publication Date: December 23, 2002This is an enchantingly told collection of the stirring sagas of gods and goddesses, fabulous beasts, strange creatures, and such heroes as Cuchulain, Fingal, and King Arthur from the ancient Celtic world. Included are popular myths and legends from all six Celtic cultures of Western Europe—Irish, Scots, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton. Here for the modern reader are the rediscovered tales of cattle raids, tribal invasions, druids, duels, and doomed love that have been incorporated into, and sometimes distorted by, European mythology and even Christian figures. For example, there is the story of Lugh of the Long Hand, one of the greatest gods in the Celtic pantheon, who was later transformed into the faerie craftsman Lugh-Chromain, and finally demoted to the lowly Leprechaun. Celtic Myths and Legends also retells the story of the classic tragic love story of Tristan and Iseult (probably of Cornish origin—there was a real King Mark and a real Tristan in Cornwall) and the original tale of King Arthur, a Welsh leader who fought against the invading Anglo-Saxons. In the hands of Peter Berresford Ellis, the myths sung by long-dead Celtic bards come alive to enchant the modern reader. "The casual reader will be best entertained by ... the legends themselves ...colored with plenty of swordplay, ... quests, shape-shiftings, and druidic sorcery."—Publishers Weekly
Audio:
The NKJV Word of Promise: Complete Audio Bible On MP3 CD-ROMs
This faithful rendering of the New King James Version presents the Bible in more than 90 hours of compelling, dramatic audio theater format.
This world-class audio production immerses listeners in the dramatic reality of the Scriptures as never before with an original music score by composer Stefano Mainetti (Abba Pater), feature film quality sound effects, and compelling narration by Michael York and the work of over 500 actors.
Each beloved book of the Bible comes to life with outstanding performances by Jim Caviezel as Jesus, Richard Dreyfuss as Moses, Gary Sinise as David, Jason Alexander as Joseph, Marisa Tomei as Mary Magdalene, Stacy Keach as Paul, Louis Gossett, Jr. as John, Jon Voight as Abraham, Marcia Gay Harden as Esther, Joan Allen as Deborah, Max von Sydow as Noah, and Malcolm McDowell as Solomon.
The set includes an interactive Behind-the-Scenes DVD that includes actor interviews, worship resources, and a fascinating look at how dramatic audio theater is produced.
Le Morte D'Arthur (Volumes 1 and 2)
By: Sir Thomas Malory
Le Morte d’Arthur (spelled Le Morte Darthur in the first printing and also in some modern editions, Middle French for la mort d’Arthur, “the death of Arthur”) is Sir Thomas Malory’s compilation of some French and English Arthurian romances. The book contains some of Malory’s own original material (the Gareth story) and retells the older stories in light of Malory’s own views and interpretations. First published in 1485 by William Caxton, Le Morte d’Arthur is perhaps the best-known work of English-language Arthurian literature today. Many modern Arthurian writers have used Malory as their source, including T. H. White for his popular The Once and Future King. A Tale of Two Cities
By: Charles Dickens 1812-1870
A Tale of Two Cities (1859) is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. With well over 200 million copies sold, it is among the most famous works of fiction.The novel depicts the plight of the French peasantry demoralized by the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution, the corresponding brutality demonstrated by the revolutionaries toward the former aristocrats in the early years of the revolution, and many unflattering social parallels with life in London during the same time period. It follows the lives of several protagonists through these events. The most notable are Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. Darnay is a French once-aristocrat who falls victim to the indiscriminate wrath of the revolution despite his virtuous nature, and Carton is a dissipated British barrister who endeavours to redeem his ill-spent life out of his unrequited love for Darnay's wife, Lucie Manette. Tim Keller Messages
Redeemer’s Sermon Ministry has been faithfully recording, cataloging and reproducing all of our sermons for the past 20 years. To celebrate all 20 years of our history, and to meet the growing demand for our church’s teaching in New York City and around the world, we have created this resource of 150 sermons and lectures covering a broad array of topics, completely free to download and share.
The recordings chosen for the Free Sermon Resource were culled from classic sermon series as well as lectures and seminar addresses delivered to various Redeemer ministry gatherings, and are intended to present to the listener the full scope of teachings they would receive over several years of active involvement at Redeemer.