# The Best Books I Read This Year (2014)

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2015/01/01/the-best-books-i-read-this-year-2014/
- Published: 2015-01-01T18:00:45-06:00
- Author: tollelege

[⌊tl-books2014-1⌉⌊tl-books2014-1⌉[

These are my fourteen favorite books that I read in 2014:

**1. _[One With Christ: An Evangelical Theology of Salvation](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433531496?tag=toletaupanre-20)_/
Marcus Peter Johnson**

To be _saved_ is to be united to the _Savior _because Jesus is in Himself the blessings
He provides. John Murray [once noted ](http://atomic-temporary-43488.wpcomstaging.com/2011/02/21/union-and-communion-with-christ-by-john-murray/)
that nothing is _more basic_ than a believer’s union with Christ. My favorite book
of the year helped me see that few things are _more beautiful_. For example, Johnson
writes:

> “The Son’s relationship to His Father is everything to Him, for He has existed
> eternally in the intimate love of His Father. The love of the Father for His Son
> is the source of all love and the ground of all life. It is a love so extravagant
> that it overflowed into the creation of the world— God the Father created all 
> things through and for His Son (Col. 1:16). In joining Himself to us, the Son 
> of God has signaled the recreation of all things by opening up to us the love 
> the Father has for Him. He became one with us to make known the love the Father
> has for Him. But let us be perfectly clear—Jesus came to do more than preach _about_
> the Father’s love for us; He came to make this love known _in us_. (John 17:25-
> 26) To be joined to Jesus Christ is to participate in the love the Father has 
> for the Son. It means we now belong to God as His children, and the Father now
> loves us no less than He loves His only begotten. _It is difficult to conceive
> of a greater benefit than this because it impossible to conceive of a love deeper
> than this._ How incredible, then, is the doxology that pours forth from John’s
> pen: ‘See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called
> children of God; and so we are’ (1 John 3:1). Jesus Christ is our salvation because
> in Him, and only in Him, we share in the love that alone can be called eternal
> life.” (pp. 167-168)

Isn’t that glorious? Get this book and read it slowly. You won’t regret it.

**2. [_Expositional Preaching_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433543133?tag=toletaupanre-20)/
David Helm
 
I’ve been blessed through the writing ministry of [David Helm](http://www.htcchicago.org/david-helm/).
I often use [_One to One Bible Reading_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1921441984?tag=toletaupanre-20)
in my discipling relationships and my daughter loves the [_Big Picture Story Bible_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433543117?tag=toletaupanre-20).
His latest book is on preaching and it’s excellent. He offers wise and practical
instruction to help preachers to both faithfully get the text right and get the 
text across. The folks at [9Marks](http://9marks.org/) cranked out [a bunch of jewels](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=9Marks&i=stripbooks&tag=toletaupanre-20)
this year, but this one was my favorite.

**3. _[Stoner](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590171993/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1590171993&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20)_/
John Williams
 
The first novel I read in 2014 was the best I’ve read in a while.
And it’s haunted me ever since. C.S. Lewis [once reviewed](http://atomic-temporary-43488.wpcomstaging.com/2010/11/09/a-book-that-will-break-your-heart-by-c-s-lewis/)
a book by his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien, and wrote the following: “Such a book has 
of course its predestined readers, even now more numerous and more critical than
is always realised. To them a review need say little, except that here are beauties
which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron; _here is a book that will break
your heart._ They will know that this is good news, good beyond hope.” That’s pretty
much how I feel about [_Stoner_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590171993/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1590171993&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20).

**4. [_From the Mouth of God_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1848712421?tag=toletaupanre-20)/
Sinclair Ferguson**

Imagine if you got coffee with a godly, wise, and seasoned minister of God’s Word
and you asked him to share the greatest lessons he’s gleaned from his many decades
of trusting, reading, and applying the Bible. That’s what it feels like reading 
this book. I read several excellent works on Scripture this year (like [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433542404?tag=toletaupanre-20),
[this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/190955913X?tag=toletaupanre-20), [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1606088882?tag=toletaupanre-20),
and [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830827447?tag=toletaupanre-20)). But it
was [this one](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1848712421?tag=toletaupanre-20) by [Sinclair Ferguson](http://feedingonchrist.com/sinclair-ferguson-lectures-on-preaching-christ-and-the-gospel/)
that affected me the most.

**5. _[Music At Midnight: The Life and Poetry of George Herbert](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/022613444X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=022613444X&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=GK6SSMNA5YY4EWY4)_/
John Drury
 
If you love [Herbert’s poetry](http://atomic-temporary-43488.wpcomstaging.com/2014/07/01/love-by-george-herbert/),
then you won’t want to miss this beautiful biography. Illuminating and moving throughout.

**6. [_American Spies_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1626160082/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1626160082&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=6OIYGJG4G6VCEGCO)/
Michael Sulick
 
I live in a city with a higher concentration of spies than any 
other location in the world. Michael Sulick, a retired intelligence operations officer
who was director of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service and chief of CIA counterintelligence,
has written a fascinating study on espionage against the United States from the 
Cold War to the present that helps answer this question: _What motivates people 
to sell their country’s most precious secrets?_

**7. [_Justification Reconsidered_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802869610/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0802869610&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20)/
Stephen Westerholm
 
This brief book is one of the most lucid and elegant treatments
of justification that I’ve ever read. In a span of 100 pages, Westerholm helpfully,
humbly, and critically interacts with recent proposals from New Perspectivists. 
Westerholm argues convincingly from the biblical text that “Justification through
the gospel of Jesus Christ represents one way in which Paul can respond to the question
inevitably provoked by a message of pending eschatological doom: ‘How can I find
a gracious God?'” (p. 9)

**8. [_Christ Our Life_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1842277588/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1842277588&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=A6VBYNZXTJY44MH4)/
Michael Reeves
 
Sometimes you know a book is gonna be good from the opening paragraph.
Such is the case with [_Christ Our Life_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1842277588/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1842277588&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=A6VBYNZXTJY44MH4).
Take it away Mr. Reeves:

> “Jesus Christ, God’s perfect Son, is the Beloved of the Father, the Song of the
> angels, the Logic of creation, the great Mystery of godliness, the bottomless 
> Spring of life, comfort and joy. We were made to find our satisfaction, our heart’s
> rest, in Him. Quite simply, this book will be about enjoying Him, revelling in
> His all-sufficiency for us, and considering all that He is: how He reveals such
> an unexpectedly kind God, how He makes, defines– how He is– the good news, and
> how He not only gives shape to but _is Himself _the shape of the Christian life.”(
> p. ix)

NOTE: This book will be published soon in America under the title _[Rejoicing In Christ](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830840222/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0830840222&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=OCS7TSEVGQUUGZRE)_.

**9. [_The Gospel Story Bible_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1936768127?tag=toletaupanre-20)/
Marty Machowski
 
We used this book as part of our family worship in the mornings
and absolutely loved it. Check out [this sample](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1936768127?tag=toletaupanre-20)
and see for yourself.

**10. [_With the Old Breed_ ](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0891419063/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0891419063&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=XAV7YANY7N2XAZNZ)/
E.B. Sledge
 
This book is a first-hand account of the experiences in training and
combat of E.B. Sledge with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine
Division during the Peleliu and Okinawa campaigns in World War II. Sledge and his
comrades were swept into an abyss of war and brutality that often beggars belief.
He kept copious battle notes on slips of paper in his copy of the New Testament.
Years later, he wrote about his war experiences to explain them to his family.

>  “War is brutish, inglorious , and a terrible waste. Combat leaves an indelible
> mark on those who are forced to endure it. The only redeeming factors were my 
> comrades’ incredible bravery and their devotion to each other. Marine Corps training
> taught us to kill efficiently and to try to survive. But it also taught us loyalty
> to each other— and love. That _esprit de corps_ sustained us.” (p. 316)

**11. [_Master and Commander_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393037010/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0393037010&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=UGWU7JG6HDZ2WWML)/
Patrick O’Brian
 
I finally got around to reading the first volume in the Aubrey
and Maturin series. It was just as good as [advertised](http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2014/08/28/kathy-keller-a-novel-every-christian-should-consider-reading/).
The fun thing is knowing that the remaining [20 volumes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey%E2%80%93Maturin_series)(!)
are really just _one_ long and wonderfully told story of life and war and adventure
on the high seas.

**12. [_The Gospel at Work_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310513979?tag=toletaupanre-20)/
Sebastian Traeger and Greg Gilbert
 
John Piper once wrote, “Books don’t change 
people; paragraphs do. Sometimes even sentences.” One of the best sentences in [_The Gospel at Work_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310513979?tag=toletaupanre-20)
is one that could transform your entire outlook on your job: “_Who you work for 
is more important than what you do_.” (p. 16) The writers do a fine job showing 
how working for King Jesus gives purpose and meaning to the work we do everyday.

**13. [_The Painted Word_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936740176/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1936740176&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=S4D5B74XGWGNME34)/
Philip Cousineau
 
If you’re in love with the English language and fascinated by
words, then you should pick up a copy of [_The Painted Word_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1936740176/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1936740176&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=S4D5B74XGWGNME34)
which is billed as “A Treasure Chest of Remarkable Words and Their Origins.” That’s
exactly what it is. I promise you’ll learn something interesting. Check out these
two examples of things near and dear to my heart, books and coffee:

> BOOK
>  _A collection of words printed on paper and bound by covers._ Tracing the
> roots of such an elemental word reminds me of what art critic Bernard Berenson
> called “the aesthetic moment,” which he defined as “that flitting instant so brief
> as to be timeless, when the spectator is at one with the work of art.” That’s 
> what happened when I discovered that book comes from the Anglo-Saxon boc, the 
> bark of a beech tree, traditionally believed to have emerged into German as buch,
> from Buche, beech. The page turns, and we’re into Old English boc, book, any written
> document. The notion is of beech-wood tablets on which runes were inscribed, but
> the word may come from the tree itself. (People still carve initials in them.)
> Latin and Sanskrit also have words for “writing” that are based on tree names (
> birch and ash, respectively). Book, meaning “libretto of an opera,” dates from
> 1768. The self-taught Cherokee scholar Tecumseh described books as “talking leaves.”
> The irrepressible Groucho Marx said, “I find television very educational. Every
> time someone turns on a set I go into the other room and read a book.” The first
> essayist, Michel de Montaigne, wrote, “Books give not wisdome where none was there.
> But where there is, reading makes it before.” My father was fond of the bookmarks
> handed out by his favorite bookstore in Dearborn, Michigan, which featured the
> words of Thomas Carlyle: “Blessings upon Cadmus or the Phoenicians or whoever 
> it was that invented books.” The tea cookie inspired Marcel Proust to write, in
> In Search of Lost Time, “It seemed to be that they would not be my readers, but
> readers of their own selves, my book being merely a magnifying glass.” The ultimate
> mythologization of books is Jorge Luis Borges’s The Library of Babel: “On some
> shelf, in some hexagon, it was argued, there must be a book that is a cipher and
> a compendium of all other books.” Companion words include book as a verb, “to 
> enter for a seat or place, issue tickets,” from 1841; betting book, from 1856;
> bookmaker, 1862. A bookkeeper was originally someone who never returns a borrowed
> book. (p. 43)
> COFFEE
>  _A tree, a beverage, a way of life._ A beverage and a word that seems 
> to have been around forever, but dates back only to 1598, when it appeared on 
> the doorsteps of Europe as the Turkish kalve, from Arabic qalwa, and eventually
> Italian caffè. The crop grows in the tropics; the beverage is made in a café by
> percolation, infusion, or decoction from the roasted and ground seeds of any of
> several Old World tropical plants (genus Coffea, especially C. arabica and C. 
> canephora). Its storied roots lie in the hills of Ethiopia, where, it is said,
> a goatherd noticed his flock capering about one afternoon. Wondering what had 
> made them so capricious, goatlike, he watched them chewing a red berry from a 
> bush. The roots of the word coffee probably come from the soil of Dutch koffie,
> from Turkish kaveh, and earlier from Arabia, where it was considered a kind of
> wine. Coffee entered the Western world during the Siege of Vienna, in 1529, when
> the marauding Turkish soldiers left their sacks of coffee beans behind when they
> were repelled at the gates of the city. The next day the victorious Austrians 
> celebrated with croissants, as a tribute to the crescent moon that shone above
> the city the night of the attack. Coffeehouse, in merry old England, was vulgar
> slang for a woman who was taken advantage of, suggestive of “coming and going 
> and spending nothing.” (p. 75)

See what I mean?

**14. [_Boys of Blur_](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0449816737/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0449816737&linkCode=as2&tag=toletaupanre-20&linkId=MLZ6MYDWPYK2OUBR)/
N.D. Wilson
 
Only a writer as talented as N.D. Wilson could take swamps and sugarcane
fields and the Everglades and high school football and _Beowulf_ and turn it into
an amazing story. My two boys kept asking me to read and re-read the opening line
of the book. They told me that hearing it read aloud was just fun. “When the sugarcane’s
burning and the rabbits are running, look for the boys who are quicker than flame.”(
p. 2).

As always, happy reading and Happy New Year!

–Nick Roark

More on [Writing](https://tollelege.net/category/writing/)