I know, i know, this is a few days late (7 days to be exact). But even though my timing isn’t perfect, 2010 was too good a year in books for me to simply dismiss this list. And so, I’d like to share the ten books that I enjoyed the most in 2010. This was a painful process, I imagine it would be like choosing between children (okay, maybe not… choosing between pets?), but I’ve tried to arrange them by rank. These are not books published in 2010, these are just the books that I finished reading within the year. Also, I do not necessarily agree with EVERYTHING written in these books, nor with everything else these authors may have written, but these are the books that I found most helpful or most interesting this last year. So, with that being said, here goes:

10. Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

- In my opinion, this is one of the most important and most simple books to come out in recent years. Kevin DeYoung turns his attention to a very common problem faced by Christians everyday: how to “discern God’s will.” How do I know what job to take? Where I should live? Who should I marry? And to most of us who are accustomed to the hyper-spiritual, DeYoung’s answer comes as a surprise: Trust God, wholeheartedly seek to know and obey the bible, and where there are no biblical commands involved (implicitly or explicitly), JUST DO SOMETHING. This is a much needed book in the church and I highly recommend it. 

9. The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner

- This is a powerful study on the doctrines of grace. Are we saved because we chose God or because God chose us? Boettner answers the question with an energy that I have not seen in many books. I doubt that this book was, is, or ever will be a best-seller, but those who wish to explore biblical teaching on salvation and are comfortable with a little polemic should pick up this book.

8. Finally Alive by John Piper

- The term “born again” has been so misused in the church and in the culture, that most christians no longer know what it means. In this book, John Piper seeks to teach us what the Scriptures say about being born again so that we might appreciate once more this infinitely precious gift of God. Saturated in the bible, this is a book that will challenge you to study the Scriptures, and will open your eyes to see the great grace of God in salvation.

7. John Calvin: A heart for Devotion, Doctrine, and Doxology edited by Burk Parsons

- This is a collection of 19 essays by 19 pastors on the life and thought of one of church history’s greatest heroes. I was touched, convicted, and inspired by this book simply because it was all about a manwho was all about Christ. 

6. God’s Way of Holiness by Horatius Bonar

- This little book left such a huge impact on my heart. Those who say that doctrine is cold and impractical need to read this book (first they need to repent, and then they need to read this book). This is basically a book on the theology of our salvation, and it seeks to explore the relationship between our peace with God and our holiness. It was an absolute joy to read.

5. Think by John Piper

- Another book that is absolutely relevant intoday’s anti-intellectual, pragmatic, sentimental church culture. Pastor John Piper challenges us, urges us, to Think!For the glory of God and for our joy! Piper shows us in this thoroughly biblical book that thinking is not just helpful, but is required for us to faithfully live as Christ-followers. 

4. Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris

- This is an amazing primer on basic Christian doctrines. Joshua Harris has done a tremendous service to the church by giving us an introduction into theology that is charming, heartfelt, and utterly biblical. This is going to be on my Christmas gift-shopping list for many years to come. 

3.  Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood edited by John Piper and Wayne Grudem

- One of the most important books I’ve ever read on one of the most controversial issues in the church. Piper, Grudem, and a number of other contributors, have done a tremendous job of giving us clear, biblical teaching on an explosive topic in a manner that is gracious and pastoral. 

2. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

- I can’t even begin to describe how thankful I am for this book. This book helped me understand the bible. It is written purposefully to be read by those without a background in theology, and it is just flooded with Scripture. In fact, the greatest strength of this book is that it is utterly biblical. This is a book that I will be referring to for many years, not just for my ministry, but simply to refresh my soul. 

1. Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

- Please buy this book. Seriously. This is the kind of book that literally can change your life. Too many people spend their lives chasing after things that don’t ultimately matter. Piper pleads with us in the pages of this book to live for the only thing that will ever satisfy our souls, and that is the glory of God. 

Reflecting on the Amish. Not quite sure which is more disconcerting: The way they’ve separated themselves from the world or how comfortable we are in the world.

3. Christians should think often and hard about the reality of heaven

Heaven has fallen out of popularity in the church. Just think about this: When was the last time you read a book about heaven? or When was our heavenly inheritance the subject matter of your last small group? In fact, when was the last time you had a serious discussion with another Christian about what awaits us at the coming of Jesus Christ?

We no longer talk about heaven. Instead, we talk a lot about life on this earth. We talk a lot about having our best lives now. We talk about how to manage our money, how to have better marriages, how to change the nation, how to be better leaders, etc. While those things are all well and good, the overwhelming focus on practical living is probably what leaves many of us unprepared when suffering comes.

The reality of heaven is a pillar that keeps us from crumbling under the weight of suffering. If heaven is not real in our hearts, then we live for the things of this life, and when we are deprived of them, it seems like all is lost. But if we truly believe that we are destined to see Christ, that our inheritance in Him is sure, that all our tears will be wiped away, and that we will experience joy everlasting in the presence of God, then suffering itself loses its sting. Those who taste the truth of heaven know that suffering can do no ultimate harm.  

 ”So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” - 2 Peter 1:13

“ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” - Colossians 1:13

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” - Romans 8:18

I pray that God would continue to impress upon us the reality of heaven, and that by His grace we would think hard and often about it, so that no experience on earth would rob us of our joy in Christ, and so that in times of suffering, we might suffer well. 

2.Christians can trust that God is able to work all things for good, even suffering

It is not easy to be told this in the midst of suffering. In fact, sometimes it may sound quite hollow or even hurtful to be told this in the midst of deep loss or pain. Often, what those who are grieving need most is not wise advice, but simply a listening ear. However, for those who learn this truth before trying times come, the assurance that God is able to work all things for good is an unspeakable source of comfort.

God has promised in His word to ensure that everything that happens in a believers life will ultimately be for their benefit. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Life is not random for the Christian. Everything that happens comes through their loving Father’s fingers. And He brings into our lives only that which will ultimately be good for us. And this includes suffering at times.

Odd as it might sound, sometimes God brings suffering to benefit us. Peter had this insight. In the start of his first letter, while extolling the grace of God, he says, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7) He says that the Church can rejoice in the grace of God even though for a little while, if necessary, they might be grieved through various trials. But who determines the necessity of the trial? The God of grace who loved us and saved us by the blood of Jesus. He determines whether or not trials are necessary for us. The difficult circumstances that we go through do not happen at random. We can know that any situation we find ourselves in is one that our heavenly Father deemed necessary for us, and His judgments are perfect, and His love for us is without equal.

The story of Joseph speaks volumes. Joseph was betrayed, beaten, and sold as a slave by his own brothers. He was falsely accused in Egypt and sentenced to imprisonment. He was forgotten in jail by those he tried to help. After years of slavery and imprisonment, he is finally freed and by God’s providence, is made second in command of all Egypt. The story continues and eventually Joseph meets his brothers again.

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ‘Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (Genesis 50:15-20)

God is able to take what was meant for evil and use it for good. Our heavenly Father determines what we must experience for our good. All of our life, past, present, and future, will be worked out for the good of those in Christ. Every believer is invited, urged, to find rest and comfort in these glorious truths.