This summer many look forward to relaxing on the beach or by the pool with a good book. So this month, Good News Wants to Know… What is a book you would highly recommend and why? Also, what book are you looking forward to reading this summer?

 

As part of the Luis Palau National Women’s Prayer Team,  I am looking forward to reading Palau: A Life on Fire, scheduled for release June 4.  It is the spiritual memoir of Luis Palau – often referred to as the Latin Billy Graham.  Just days after being diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, Luis began writing this powerful, emotional and personal book.
And, I am also looking forward to reading again The Secret Life of a Fool by his son, Andrew Palau, recounting  years of rebellion and God’s redeeming grace of a prodigal son.  Andrew is now following in his father’s footsteps regularly sharing the gospel with tens of thousands worldwide.

Gita Santangelo, Community Prayer Partner

 

Hands down, my #1 book recommendation is the classic allegory by British author Hannah Hurnard, Hind’s Feet on High Places. It not only helped me grow in my walk with the Lord, but the main character Much Afraid’s life mirrors our spiritual growth experience when we allow the Good Shepherd to lead us on a transformational journey where we are pruned in His image.

The book I am really looking forward to having in my hands this summer is the new release Unstoppable, in which I had the honor of authoring the chapter “Living From Worthy.” Multiple authors contributed testimonies of resilience, which for me illustrates God’s glory in overcoming my life’s setback stories.

Dr. Andrea Hazim, President and Founder, Elev8Life Educational Foundation

 

My recommended book is This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti. My summer reading: The Rising Sea by Clive Cussler.

Andy Mitchell, CEO, The Fairwinds Group and President, Operation Lift Hope

 

I would recommend Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey. It is a great read about the spiritual aspects of money, dumping debt, daily application and living in financial freedom.

And I am looking forward to reading The Next Right Thing by Emily Freeman, a simple, soulful practice for making life decisions.

Ariana Reid, Executive Director, Hope Women’s Centers

 

Good to Great is a must read for anyone in leadership.  Riven, by Jerry Jenkins, is the best Christian novel that I have ever read.

Beau Heyman, Executive Director, First Care Women’s Clinic

 

I am loving A Land Remembered, exploring the history of Old Florida, a period I am very fond of.

Charles L. Bender, III, Founding CEO, Place of Hope

 

I am recommending Letters to the Church by Frances Chan because he looks at the modern church phenomenon and applies a  Biblical measuring rod to its program and function.  It is a prophetic call for us in leadership to do what Jesus did, not what we want or are able to do, and to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” so they can experience the joy of serving in ministry.

I am looking forward this summer to finishing a historical biography entitled Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by John Meacham.  World and American history are favorite subjects of mine, and Jefferson figured so prominently in the forming of the American Republic, I am quite interested in what he wrote and what others wrote about him.

Collins Forman, Jr., P.A.

 

I just finished reading  Erwin Lutzer’s The Church in Babylon-Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness, which reminded and challenged me that the church has survived and thrived in even more desperate times.  I’m looking forward to reading American Pravda-My fight for TRUTH in the Era of Fake News by James O’Keefe.

Deborah Cusick FAU Campus Volunteer, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship

 

I highly recommend The Church In Babylon by Erwin Lutzer, my most recent read. And, I’m hoping to find a good fiction book for the summer. I haven’t read a good novel in a long time.

Dolores King-St. George, Station Manager, WRMB 89.3 Moody Radio

I enjoy John Maxwell books on leadership as they are an easy read, practical, and coming from a person that has studied and researched leadership for many years applying what he writes to his own businesses.  I look forward to reading I Don’t have enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek.  I know I don’t have enough faith required to believe that the beauty of life and the wonders of this incredible world all started with a big bang of a distant star exploding.

Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service

 

Winsome Persuasion: Christian Influence in a Post-Christian World by  Muehlhoff  and Langar is a book that I am now reading. This is a great book while we find ourselves struggling with politicism in our daily media.

For the summer, I am looking forward to finally reading Max Lucado’s Anxious for Nothing: Calm in a Chaotic World. His books are always a delight and relaxing read.

Patricia Colangelo, EdS, Director of Operations – Florida, Trinity International University

 

I highly recommend the book Wild at Heart by John Eldrege. It supports the role of men in the family because, at the core, men ARE ‘wild at heart’ by God’s design. This summer I will be reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

Susan Kassing, Community Leader

 

Challenged by Bob Record at a Lifework Leadership retreat to start reading again, I began the journey of getting off the screens several years ago. Currently, I would recommend The Kremlin Conspiracy followed up by The Persian Gamble both by Joel C. Rosenberg. These are current day, international thrillers with an almost prophetic twist.  Since Joel won’t have the follow up to these ready this summer, I’ll back to Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series.
William “Bill” C. Davell , Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law

 

The book that I would recommend to anybody and everybody is The Pursuit of God by A W Tozer.

Daryl Nelson, Pastor, Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches

 

I would recommend Multipliers – How the best leaders make everyone smarter by Liz Wiseman. My job as leader of the company is to encourage everyone to bring out the best in the people they work with.

I don’t read a book; I study it. I look forward to continuing The Machine – A radical approach to the design of a sales function by Justin Roff-Marsh. I like books that offer real life applications and apply them to my life as a leader, husband and father. I am a student of the game of life.

Gregg Wallick, President & CEO, Best Roofing

 

I just finished reading Pathways by Tony Evans.  It is about the story of Esther and God’s Sovereignty.

Summer reading will include The Power of Communion by Beni Johnson.

 JoAnne Larson Daudt, P.A., founder, StrikeForce421

 

When I have the opportunity, I love reading John Maxwell. His leadership books are super-motivating and his pearls of wisdom are priceless. How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell is a great read because it offers bite-size tenets that are geared for success because they’re steeped in biblical principles. I’m not quite sure what I’ll be reading next, but it will probably be written by John C. Maxwell.

Joyce Feldman, Founder, BiG Children’s Foundation, Inc.

 

As an artistic director, I read a lot of scripts. So when I have a chance, I like to read historical novels with strong story lines that allow me to step into that time in history and give me a sense of being there with real characters. To that end, the two books I would highly recommend are by Francine Rivers: A Lineage of Grace and Sons of Encouragement. Both draw on biblical characters from their point of view. It’s a wonderful way to explore biblical times in a novel form. As for my summer read, I’ve not yet settled on a book yet but am looking for an American historical novel.

Oksana Horton, Artistic Director, Revelation Ministries

 

I would highly recommend that everyone especially Christians read How Would Jesus Vote, authored by D. James Kennedy, PhD and Jerry Newcomb. This book would enhance one’s Christian worldview, their biblical faith and will assist them in casting a godly vote for our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Also, this summer I look forward to reading Unsung Davids, authored by Ben Barrack.

O’Neal Dozer, Pastor, The Worldwide Christian Center

 

I typically read books on Leadership and one that was recommended to me 25 years ago and highly impacted my walk with God and my leadership was A Tale of Three Kings. If I were to paraphrase and some up the entire book it would be “God is looking for a few good men.” It has challenged me to walk with a greater depth of humility, integrity, sincerity,  purity, wisdom, honesty, transparency and accountability. Interestingly enough I am going to revisit the SAME book 25 years later and RE-READ it this summer.

I realize God is always doing a good work in my life from “the inside-out” and I look forward to revisiting that process in depth again this summer! I am so grateful for the patience, grace, and mercy of my Heavenly Father!!!!

Coach Rick Andreassen, Founder, SAINTS of Florida Homeschool P.E. and SAINTS International Sports Ministry

 

I would highly recommend Scary Close by Donald Miller. It is the story of one man’s journey towards finding true intimacy. The book challenges all of us to look deep inside ourselves and be the true you. This summer, I am looking forward to reading David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell.

Robin Martin, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Broward

 

Now that my nine years on the City Commission has ended, I actually have a little free time to read for pleasure. I am reading a book on leadership called Forged in Crisis by Nancy Koehn. It is a historical narrative with critical leadership insights. The author is a Harvard Business School Historian and spotlights masters of crisis,  like Abraham Lincoln and  Dietrich Bonhoeffer and points out what leadership in crisis looks like. A very interesting read.

Romney C. Rogers, Managing Partner, Rogers Morris & Ziegler Llp

 

I just finished Into the Storm  by Jon Seven.  He has only written two books, the one just mentioned and With Hearts Courageous is the one I’m beginning to read now.  My wife loved it and so did I, which almost never happens.   His ability to capture your attention is second to none. He left writing to run his not for profit, Storm Warriors International.  Storm Warriors International donates custom-produced media tools and social media support to deserving not-for-profit and non-government organizations that work to alleviate human suffering

Ron Bramos, Senior Pastor, Victory Life Church

 

Cindy just bought me To Cast the First Stone: The Transmission of a Gospel Story. It is about the textual history of the story of the woman taken in adultery from John’s gospel. I just started it and I am enjoying it already.

Samuel Lamerson, PhD, Professor of New Testament, Knox Theological Seminary

 

Recently my most favorite book is AWAKEN by Priscilla Shirer.  It is a wonderful devotional and journal which motivates one to pen their feelings on different messages in the Bible.  I’m not an avid reader actually outside of my work but AWAKEN can serve not only as a good read but the opportunity to write your thoughts for even your family who might one day find it interesting to read and think through a generational lens. Each chapter is very short but powerful.

Virlee “Vee” Stepelton, Ministry Advocate