Christmas Round Table Week 2

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Christmas Roundtable Week Two:

It's finally here — the season of Advent. From November 28 until December 24 we get to be fully submerged in stories of hope, peace, joy, and love. But — we also get to take part in our favorite Christmas traditions.

So I did what any enneagram number 8 would do, and I asked a probing question about Christmas favorites to keep our staff on their toes. This week I asked our staff what one book they would recommend to give as a gift, and this is what they said...

What is one book you'd recommend to give as a gift and why?

Jennifer Durrett: Song of the Stars. It's a children's picture book that walks through the Christmas story. I cry every time I read it because - with very few words - it perfectly captures the holy expectation of the Advent season.

Rachel Smith: New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp - great, thought-provoking devotional

Isaac Harris:
Screwtape Letters. It gives a whole different perspective of the spiritual battle that takes place every day.

Tiffany Stein: Gentle and Lowly - It speaks to the heart of God and contains a message everyone needs to hear.

Rod Myers: A voice over Christmas book for Grandkids. Ours love listening to our voices while reading!

Chastity Jeff: The bible, a hard copy - people have started relying on technology for bible reading but I think having one on paper is super important.

Tricia Kinsman: Invitation to Silence and Solitude, by Ruth Haley Barton. Because it was life-giving and life-changing for me, and I think we all long for more of it.

Crystal Elwell: I'm not a "book" kind of gift giver. Lame, I know, wish I was that kind of person. I'd honestly give someone a back scratcher before I'd give them a book. I think it's because I feel like giving someone a book is sort of like offering someone a piece of gum - you only really ever offer gum if YOUR breath jams or if theirs does. I like to keep it fun at Christmas time. And yes, I'll process this with my counselor this week.

Scott McClellan: "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" by Eugene Peterson — a powerful and accessible book that celebrates the Psalms of Ascent as guides to discipleship.

Nandi Roszhart: The Mother-In- Law by Sally Hepworth- just so good! a nice clean fiction book.

Melanie Mechsner: One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp because it motivates you to find joy in the day to day life and not just in your bucket list items. The book inspires you to live in the prescence of God through the to do lists and deadlines of an earthly life. Helps you find gratitude in the life you already have.

Jonathan Cortina: Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero because this book contains some important principles that I think would help any individual grow in their understanding of themselves in order to know God deeper.

Darcy Peterson: No Man is An Island by Thomas Merton. I give this book out often. I can't quite describe it, but it is a book that constantly points me back to God and reminds me how hopeless I am without Him. It's one of those books that just can't be read and put in the "oh I read that book pile" It's a book that is meant to be read when the time is right if that makes sense. God knew when I would be ready for that book. I guess.

Amy Aupperlee: Enneagram 7s don't give books. Books are a very personal thing, so it's difficult for me to want to give someone a book unless they have explicitly asked for it. As for recommend, though - I recommend "Abba's Child" by Brennan Manning and "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier.

If you have wondered around the staff offices at IBC at all, you know there is no shortage of books to be found. (Most) of our staff loves to read and love to talk about what they are currently reading. For myself, the books that have stuck with me most are the ones that either made me laugh or cry the entire way through, and because I wouldn't want to give the gift of tears, I would probably gift The Antelope in the Living Room by Melanie Shankle. Hopefully we have helped you with your holiday book buying,

Madi

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