As we head into the new year, we thought it might be nice to start 2018 with some book recommendations! We asked members of our administration to offer some suggestions for books they have read over the past few months regarding parenting or our Christian walk. Below are their ideas. Some of the books are newly published others offer timeless advice. Happy New Year and happy reading!
Matt Kitchell, High School Principal
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work by Tim Keller
In this book Keller discusses how we are to live out our ‘calling’ as Christians by applying the Gospel to every area of our work. Through Biblical insight and encouraging anecdotes, Keller answers the questions – How does the Gospel challenge us to work differently? How can we view our work as an act of worship? What are the temporal and eternal implications of our work?
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough
Paul Tough uses modern research and a secular point of view to show how character, not intelligence, is the biggest shaper of “successful” children. Tough uses compelling stories, a keen wit, and modern studies to demonstrate how the lessons learned through failure are key to preparing our children for adulthood.
Wade Putnal, Elementary Principal
Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
Through training and teamwork, elementary teachers at FPD use the “9 Essential Skills of the Love and Logic Classroom” based on this book. Like the classroom model, the book shares great parenting tips on how to show empathy while teaching responsibility. It focuses on demonstrating choices and consequences in a loving manner.
Charlie Parrish, Chief Financial Officer
12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You by Tony Reinke
Most of us, as parents, didn’t grow up with smart phones. So, we can’t look back to our own childhood for experiential examples of how our parents helped us keep a biblical perspective of a smart phone’s place during our teen years. Reinke reminds the reader that a smart phone is a super-powerful tool that can help accomplish the work the Lord has called us to do. However, there are also dangers that, when left unchecked, can subtly rob the user of the joys that God has created for His glory and our good.
Brad Thompson, Director of College Counseling
The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in its Proper Place by Andy Crouch
This book is very practical, convicting, and would be great for all of our families. It draws upon a lot of research as it looks at the impact of technology on today’s families and society as a whole. It not only make us, as parents, more aware of putting technology in its place for our kids, but for ourselves as well.