StephenBarkley.com

Elantris © 2006 Tor Fantasy 656 pages How does a world carry on when its gods die? How does the political machine grind on in an immediate catastrophic power vacuum? Can a dystopic future can be reversed? Sanderson tackles all these questions in the form of a mystery novel set in a fantastic setting. The [...]

The church has . . . often attempted to outlaw both sex and drink, but when it has sought to do so, it has had difficulty in living with Scripture, either with a story about Jesus facilitating drinking at a wedding or with poems about sexual love, which it rendered harmless by means of typology [...]

Outliers: The Story of Success © 2008 Little, Brown and Company 309 pages Some people see the world differently. Instead of accepting long-standing assumptions they challenge accepted knowledge. Instead of admitting coincidence, they search for patterns where none were expected. Malcolm Gladwell is one of these people, and Outliers is the fruit of his labour. [...]

Pilgrimage, done properly, is one of the best-known antidotes to gnosticism. Gnosticism runs screaming at the sight of a muddy boot. —Charles Foster, The Sacred Journey, 19.

Warbreaker © 2010 Tor 688 pages Warbreaker is a large stand-alone fantasy novel with sequel potential. In it, Brandon Sanderson did what he does best: created a magic system that provides mystery and depth to character interactions. Having read the Mistborn trilogy, it was nice to see some twists on the themes he developed. In [...]

Every man who delights in a multitude of words, even thou he says admirable things, is empty within. If you love truth, be a lover of silence. —Isaac of Niniveh in Thomas Merton, Contemplative Prayer, 30.

After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters © 2010 HarperOne: Harper Collins 307 pages Good things happen when you mash different subjects together (just search for “mashup” on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean). In Wright’s latest book for the public audience, he’s mashed up three topics: New Testament ethics Christian virtue Non-Christian ethics [...]

While we sat in darkness, Lord Jesus Christ, you interrupted us with your life. Make us, your people, a holy interruption so that by your Spirit’s power we may live as a light to the nations, even as we stumble through this world’s dark night. Amen. —Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Enuma Okoro, Common Prayer, [...]

Irresistible Church, The: 12 Traits of a Church Heaven Applauds © 2011 Bethany House 142 pages [advance reading copy] I suppose, as a mega-church pastor, you can only be asked for the secrets to your success for so long before you finally break down and write a book about it! In The Irresistible Church, Cordeiro [...]