SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

Can I just say "Wow!"  This is the best thing I have read all summer by far. A friend handed it off to me with an urgency conveyed only in her insistence at walking out to her car to get it for me right then—apparently it could not wait. I was going to put it on the stack of "to read", but didn't.  My favorite themes of redemption and faith in the face of difficulty are well portrayed in Same Kind of Different. It is the compelling story of two entirely different worlds that meet when two men become true friends. This happens after Denver grills Ron about white men who "catch and release" fish, a practice that sincerely distresses him.  Where he came from people were proud of their fish and showed them off. He then sidewinds Ron with the point being that friends are not "catch and release". From there a friendship is born that you would never have predicted to be a possibility, but with God it happened and it was a thing of beauty when it did. There is so much beauty in this story and the really terrific part is that it is a true story. It gives hope and fortifies. Most people I know suffer in one way or another and "why" is often a question that comes with it. Here is at least one story where some of the "why" becomes evident. Perhaps we will know our own "why's" soon enough as well. Don't miss out! Click Here for the Amazon link if you're interested.

YOUR RIGHT JOB RIGHT NOW by Brian Golter

Brian is one of our own at New Hope.  And if you know him at all, you know that he has a lot of good things to say about many things. Currently, Brian captains his own successful placement and recruiting agency here in Silicon Valley. His work is enlivened by his faith and his knowledge that God created him to help other people pursue their dreams. This new book by him, tracks the story of how he learned his trade from an amazing boss and mentor, June. The story of his growth under her tutelage is bare in its honesty and that's what makes it a page turner. Brian is so honest about his own short comings and disadvantages as a young man that you really trust the lessons he learned as applicable to many. There are many useful pearls in this book and it makes for a thought provoking summer read.

THE SHACK by William Young

Unbelievable and compelling...full of the love of God. The premise that sets up the story can be hard to want to read, but believe me it is worth it. Such a wonderful account of the God head and how it functions in its parts. This book really communicates the nature of being the beloved of God. Eugene Petersen says, "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good!" When I saw that comment, I grumbled about marketing. After reading it, I think he is absolutely correct. Amazon link, click here. K. O'Rourke

FIVE SACRED CROSSINGS By Craig Hazen

Described as a novel approach to a reasonable faith, this book is a very entertaining and compelling approach to apologetics. You will get a kick out of the plot and enjoy the arguments put forth in favor of the christian faith by the protagonist, Michael Jernigan. However, this book really engages with people representing other faiths in a respectful and loving way. The author also does not turn a blind eye to people who proclaim christianity, but lack the love that should be its most identifiable feature. It is a great read and perfect for airplanes or car journeys at only 169 pages. Amazon link, Click Here. K. O'Rourke

REDEEMING LOVE by Francine Rivers

There are 522 reviews of this book on Amazon and the average rating is 5 stars, need I say more? Well here is one more thing; it is Julie AND Marc Davies favorite book. Despite the romantic novel looking cover, it is a book as much for men as for women. Here is one of the amazon reviews, "The first day I bought this book, I sat on my desk and told myself I'd just read a chapter before I go to bed. That was 9pm. No matter how hard I tried, I could not put the book down. I found myself teary eyed, reading the ending, at 5am the next morning. Intending to read just the first few pages, I ended up reading the entire book in one sitting (with one bathroom break!). Okay that sounds grueling, but you know you love it when a book is that good! Amazon link, Click Here. K. O'Rourke

SABBATH, FINDING REST, RENEWAL AND DELIGHT IN OUR BUSY LIVES by Wayne Muller

This book was given to me by a friend who, basically felt sorry for me and wanted to aid me in some way. I have to say I started to read it out of politeness to her effort with me. But, wow, I got a lot out of it! It is a wonderful taking stock and centering kind of book. I really liked much of what the author had to say. He is a christian and mentoree of Henri Nouwen's. He quotes many other faith traditions when making his points. Sometimes I have wondered about his theology, but he definitely loves Jesus and quotes a lot from the Bible too. It is the sort of book you want to give others as a gift so they can sort themselves out in this crazy overdrive kind of world. Amazon Link, Click Here. K. O'Rourke