January is my month off from school so I picked up some highly recommended books to fill my evenings and travel hours…

A Week in the Life of Corinth by Ben Witherington.  Witherington is a world-class professor of the New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary and has written many academic books and commentaries.  This is a work of historical fiction for a general audience, an easy read (2-3 hours), and explores many facets of daily life in a town where the gospel took root under Paul’s teaching.  Highly recommended.

Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible With Both Our Hearts and Our Minds by Jen Wilkin.  Wilkin is a young, popular, female voice in support of inductive Bible study.  Her teaching is well-grounded, and the book on how we should approach studying the Bible is well-written.  There’s even a chapter for teachers on common pitfalls to avoid.

The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life by Os Guinness.  This book stands as a classic, reflective piece on the finding ones purpose in life.  Full of historical figures and wisdom, it could be read as a devotional book by anyone pondering the call of God in their lives.  It is required reading for all Asbury seminary students.

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue.  Great novel by a young African author!  It traces the life stories of Cameroonian immigrants and a wealthy Lehmann Brothers executive in New York City as the market crashes in 2009.  Themes of immigration, poverty, wealth, happiness, relationships, and ethics are prominent.

Enjoy!