It was with great sadness that I learned a few weeks ago that a wonderful local Christian bookstore was closing it’s doors in January. Evangelical Christian Bookstores is one of the few great bookstores that not only sold actual books, but only sold theologically sound books.
My understanding is that the current owners are ready to retire and the son is not able to put in the time and energy needed to compete with online retailers. The decision to close must have been hard but it offers many blessings. First, the son is free to attend seminary guilt free. While this may sound selfish, seminary is also an important part of many Christians’ lives and can serve a different “greater purpose”.
The other blessing, and this is selfish, is that many faithful customers (including me) can get many great books at huge savings. Its sad that future generations won’t have ready access to the huge selection or the wealth of knowledge the owners had to offer but getting that many books into the hands of people who will read and share them will be a blessing in itself.
The down side (from a selfish point of view) is that I’m not ready to take advantage of this closing. I have money but I don’t have a large wish list ready to go. So I’ve quickly compiled a list of books to look for when I get there. In no particular order… (feel free to add your recommendations)
Cross and Christian Ministry, The: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians?by?D. A. Carson?
The Cross of Christ??by?John Stott?
Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine?by?Wayne Grudem?
Let the Nations Be Glad!?by?John Piper?
Overcoming Sin and Temptation?by?John Owen?
Glory Of Christ?by?John Owen?
Religious Affections (The Works of Jonathan Edwards)?by?Jonathan Edwards?
Knowing God?by?J. I. Packer
Memoir And Remains Of The Rev. Robert Murray?by?Robert Murray M’Cheyne?
Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity?by?J. P. Moreland?
Creation And Change: Genesis 1.1 – 2.4 in the Light of Changing Scientific Paradigms?by Douglas F. Kelly
Plummer’s?40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible
Marks of the Messenger, by J. Mack Stiles
The Infinite Merit of Christ: The Glory of Christ’s Obedience in the Theology of Jonathan Edwards?[Paperback] Craig Biehl?
David Brainerd: A Flame for God,?by Vance Christie
The Marrow of Modern Divinity,?by Edward Fisher
Creative Counterpart : Becoming the Woman, Wife, and Mother You Have Longed to Be by Linda Dillow
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller
Pierced by the Word: Thirty-One Meditations for Your Soul by John Piper
Future Grace by John Piper
The Encyclopedia Of Practical Christianity by Robert A. Morey
Scripture Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine by R. C. Sproul
What is Reformed Theology?: Understanding the Basics by R. C. Sproul
The Invisible Hand: Do All Things Really Work for Good by R. C. Sproul
Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will by R. C. Sproul
The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life by A. W. Tozer
“Mere Christianity” &”The Screwtape Letters” by Clive Staples Lewis.
I have always had copies of these in my house and always have given them away to the readers it has affected profoundly(which is to say everyone that has read them). I have over the past couple of decades given away about 30 copies of each. They are books that seem to me to have an enduring message.
Those are both great books. I have Mere Christianity and probably should get The Screwtape Letters. Another good book along those lines is A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works. A daily devotional made from some of Lewis’s major non-fiction works (like Mere Christianity &The Screwtape Letters among others)