Happy September! May the promise of cooler weather fuel your dreams to snuggle up on the porch under a blanket, with a mug of java and a good book. It’s too early for the porch and blanket where I live, but I’m always down for reading with a side of yumminess.
This month, I introduce three options to you:
From Dropout to Doctorate
With a foreword by the inimitable Jemar Tisby, this moving personal account from Terence Lester unveils the realities of educational injustice and the profound impact of unjust policies and systems on Black communities. He shows how poverty disrupts the lives of Black families, leading to homelessness and perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline. It’s a call to imagine a better system, healthier communities, and a vision for what can be rather than settling for what is.
Jesus Was
Don’t miss my earlier interview with co-editor Susy Flory, as we discuss this book’s unique origin story and why the team of contributors focused on describing Jesus as he was during his earthly ministry. An excellent book to read and meditate on, one chapter at a time, taking your time with each. Discover Jesus on a deeper level.
Why the Gospel?
Christianity Today Book Award Winner in Popular Theology (2024)
In his earlier works such as Salvation by Allegiance Alone, Matthew W. Bates demonstrated that the "good news" of the gospel is that Jesus is King. Here he explores why God issued this royal proclamation and what role it can play in our everyday lives. As Bates observes, we find the answer in a simple but challenging realization: "I am a horrible king of my own life." With examples from Scripture, literature, and personal experience, Bates explains what pledging allegiance to Jesus as ruler of our lives looks like. Living authentically according to God's reign conforms humanity to the image of Jesus and extends his glory and honor to all creation.
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