Someone once asked me, if I could only choose one book of the Bible to have access to for the rest of my life, what would it be? That’s a tough question to consider.

My favorite book of the Bible has shifted over the years, but for the last few, I would have to call Paul’s letters to the Corinthians my favorite, and specifically, his second letter. But if I were to be limited to only one book for the rest of my life, that’s probably not the one I would select. That spot would have to go to the book of Psalms.

Psalms really has it all: encouragement and hope. Passages that exhort and teach, and others that correct and rebuke as needed. There are passages that even express some of the darker areas of the psalmist’s heart, and reflect my own as well at times. And there are passages that point to Jesus, such as Psalm 22 or 40 or 8, for example.

But Jesus is evident in more than just a handful of the Messianic Psalms. He is, in fact, to be seen in every single one of the Psalms. That’s the premise of Christ in the Psalms, by Patrick Henry Reardon. To my surprise, he sees evidence of Jesus even in passages I have never thought to associate with Christ, and does so in a very encouraging fashion.

Recently, I have been paying much closer attention to my personal spiritual formation than before. That’s not to say that my personal spiritual growth has not been a priority before. It has. It’s just that I have been more aware and more intentional about it than previously in my life.

Perhaps that is because I’m getting older. Or perhaps it has been sparked by some classes I have taken that focus on leadership from a self-awareness and spiritual formation perspective. Either way, I have been pursuing this more and more, and have spent much time in several good books that have helped.

One of those books is A Soul’s House, by J. K. Jones. Jones labels this book as “A Primer for Spiritual Formation,” and it is that, but even more, it is a “conversation” with another book on spiritual formation that has had a profound impact on Jones’ life. Evelyn Underhill wrote The House of the Soul, and this provides the basis for Jones’ discussion.

While I have not read Underhill’s book (it’s on my list), I found that Jones quotes her extensively and helps his readers gain some perspective into Underhill’s insights and his own responses and perspective. I find that very helpful.

Sometimes, it’s valuable to set aside the contemporary and take in something classic and time honored. Sometimes, we need to go back and see what those who have come before us have learned, and what they have to share with us.

Brother Lawrence was a 17th-century French Carmelite monk who is best known for his spiritual writings and his practice of living in constant awareness of God’s presence. A simple man, Brother Lawrence served most of his life in the kitchen of a monastery near Paris. What set him apart was his unwavering commitment to practicing the presence of God in his daily life. He believed that anyone could experience a deep and constant communion with God, not just through formal prayers and rituals, but in the midst of ordinary, everyday tasks. Brother Lawrence’s simple and practical approach to spirituality resonated with many, and a friend compiled his teachings and his letters into a small book after his death, called The Practice Of The Presence Of God.

This book is quick and easy to read, although you should take it slow. It may be simple, but is also incredibly profound, and filled with insights and wisdom on how to cultivate a continuous awareness of God’s presence in every aspect of life. I first read this little book in 2000, but recently pulled it out to read it again. There are a few things that stood out to me.

Most of the time, I think I have a pretty wide range of reading topics. But occasionally, I am reminded of how limited my range can be, and I find myself reading a book that I would never have even imagined I’d pursue. Let me explain.

I am currently working towards a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry in Strategic Leadership. So far, my classes have introduced me to reading material that would probably have come to my attention eventually. But there has been a book or two that I doubt I would have found if not for a professor recommending it or a class requiring it. That is the case with The Mission of God, by Christopher J. H. Wright.

The Bible is a narrative, telling the story of humanity and our relationship with God. In that overarching narrative, there are several threads that run through the pages of Scripture: sin and redemption, our need for a Savior in Jesus Christ, God’s glory, and judgment, just to name a few. And another is the theme of “mission.” What Wright proposes, however, is not simply that the Bible contains a basis for mission, but that there is a missional basis for the Bible. That seems a minor issue of semantics, but the difference is enormous, and holds some significant implications for humanity, and our role as Christians, partnering with God in his plan of redemption.

One of my top interests for most of my ministry career has been the topic of leadership. Very early in my ministry, I was introduced to John Maxwell’s leadership materials, and I was instantly hooked. I devoured everything I could find that he had written, and I still purchase his books as they come out. (I’m sure I’ll be posting a review soon about his most recent release, The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication.)

Since then, I have found several other authors whose leadership material has encouraged my life and ministry, and has helped me grow. One such resource is Lead, by Paul David Tripp. This is a book that was required for one of my classes in Ozark Christian College’s graduate studies program. But as I read it for class, I realized that it would be an incredible tool and resource for ministry in a variety of ways.

Tripp’s book covers twelve principles that he has pulled out of Scripture and found to be necessary for leadership in the church. This is a direct response to the growing crisis of leaders leaving ministry in increasing numbers over the past few years. While there may be a variety of reasons for this, one of the problems Tripp sees is that leaders in the church have lost sight of what it means to lead from a biblical perspective. So many of the resources out there — as excellent as they are — approach leadership from a corporate perspective. But a corporate leadership style doesn’t always fit into a church setting. In fact, a case could be made for the fact that such a leadership approach rarely fits a church scenario.

And as a result, church leaders are leaving the church. What Tripp does is take a look at some deeper insights and values, some biblical principles of leadership, and shows how they were meant to be implemented into leading the body of Christ in a way that impacts the Kingdom of God in lasting ways.

Almost thirty years ago, I graduated from Ozark Christian College with an undergraduate degree in Theology, focusing on the New Testament. After three decades, I have decided to return to school and pursue a graduate degree. I had been thinking of this for a while, but when Ozark announced a new Graduate Studies program, I decided it was time. So I enrolled, and am currently in my second term pursuing a Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership.

Going back to school has been a challenge, for sure. But it has also been a blessing in many different ways. One such blessing is the books I have been exposed to, some that are required for a course, and others that have come through the recommendation of a class or a professor.

Terry Linhart’s book, The Self-Aware Leader, is a required book for a class I am in this semester, called Self-Awareness and the Christian Leader. While it is a relatively quick and easy book to read, and flows smoothly, it’s best to slow down and take it in very deliberately. This book has the potential to be a foundational resource for making sure I stay grounded as a leader.

Often, we go through life somewhat oblivious to certain aspects of our personal or spiritual life; some are more unaware than others. But we all have blind spots, and if we want to grow as a leader — or even as a Christian — we need to identify these trouble areas, and take steps to eliminate them or improve in spite of them.

Linhart covers a wide spectrum of potential trouble areas. From conflict to pressures, from sin and temptation to emotional and relational problems, he addresses many of the areas that people — especially leaders, and especially church leaders — can struggle with. And when you are moving in the right direction… you find joy. Linhart says, “I am convinced that at the intersection of maturity, Christ-centeredness, and contentedness, we find joy. Its presence or absence is telling. When we are joyful, we have no anxiety, fear, need for control, and anger. When there is joy, there is freedom and confidence. … When joy is present, maturity and spiritual depth are right behind” (p. 105).