on the bookshelf
recommended reading for december found in the calvary library
The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury is a heartwarming Christmas story about a hundred-year flood, lost love, and the beauty of enduring friendships. For thirty years, Charlie and Donna Barton have run The Bridge, a bookstore providing the people of middle Tennessee with coffee, conversation and shelves of good books—even through dismal book sales and the rise of digital books. Then in May, the hundredyear flood swept through Franklin and destroyed nearly every book in the store. Gripping from the beginning, The Bridge is an amazing story where we learn even in tragedy or loss, God is the God of second chances. At Christmastime we think of gifts and Christmas trees. We think of cookies and candies. But most of all, we think of Jesus and remember that Christmas is when we celebrate his birthday. Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in a town called Bethlehem. The First Christmas is the story of Jesus’ birth, retold by Carol Heyer in clear and simple language for little ones. Her accompanying artwork is luminous and adds depth to the story of why Christians celebrate Christmas. For ages 4 to 8 years. The DVD Love’s Christmas Journey is the first ever Christmas story inspired by the Love Comes Softly series by Janette Oke. Still mourning the loss of her husband and daughter, Ellie Davis agrees to watch her brother Aaron’s children while he heads off to purchase farmland. But after a suspicious fire, she finds herself playing detective – with the help of a handsome deputy – to clear the name of a family friend. Despite her worries when Aaron doesn’t return, if Ellie can trust her faith, this Christmas just might bring more miracles than she could have hoped for. Billy Tucci faithfully depicts the Christmas story as never seen before in A Child is Born. Adapted from the gospels of Matthew and Luke, and painstakingly researched with Nativity scholars, Tucci’s beautiful artwork brings forth a stunning rendition of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ.
Mark Johnson, Festival of Lights Cast Member
Andy Crowder, Assistant Worship Leader/Pastoral Resident
I highly recommend Ed Dobson’s, Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart. It helps you think about living with the end in mind and share’s God’s heart and desire that we live each day for Him.
We need God, and we need God desperately. In Waking the Dead, John Eldredge writes on a number of subjects regarding our hearts as believers. Just as we are learning this year, we are to have undivided hearts for God. Eldredge shares stories, prayers, struggles and practical help in order for us to gain a foothold in the battle for our hearts.
All the books mentioned are available in Calvary's Library. The Library is located across from Fellowship Hall on the lower level. Their hours are Sunday, 9:15 – 11:15am; Wednesday, 9:15 – 9:45 am and 6:00 – 7:30pm. Please note: The library will be closed on December 26.
December 2012 | calvarygr.org | 11