The Land Between by Jeff Manion
No other book blessed me as personally as this one did. A friend recommended it to me to help me work through a time of transition I was experiencing. We were moving, things changing at work, we were adjusting to a toddler. Things seemed more hectic than usual and I was looking for a way to navigate the chaos. This book was the perfect solution. When we experienced the miscarriage, I had finished this book the day before. I may not have known why I was recommended this book by my friend but God knew. Consider The Land Between a roadmap for your walk through the wilderness. I cannot recommend this book enough!

The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeshel
I heard Craig preach a series of sermons that eventually became this book and I was wreaked. The premise is that there are many Christians who say they believe in Jesus but live as though He doesn’t exist. Boom!

The Grace of God by Andy Stanley
Andy Stanley teaches about grace. That sentance right there would be enough for me to run out and buy 8 copies.

The Year of Living Like Jesus by Ed Dobson
After read this book, I attempted to live as Jesus lived for one month- eating kosher, observing the Sabbath, and wearing sandals. Just a warning before you pick this up for some light reading.

Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh
Get an inside peak at the founder of Zappos and get caught up in his leadership and enthusiasm for his work, his love for those around him, and his passion for changing the world.

“This book is not a Snuggie. The words on these pages will not go down like Ambien.
I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.”

“If you’re not daring to believe God for the impossible, you’re sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life. And further still: if the size of your vision for your life isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.”

“There’s nothing our world needs more desperately today—in individuals, families, businesses, churches, and communities—than God’s saving, supernatural acts. And he’s ready to act if we will be bold enough to ask, not just for a good day or a better life, but for the impossible. Then step forward to act in audacious faith. Each of us is called to be a Joshua—each in our own way, in our own circumstances, with our own God-given personality. As you’ll see in the pages ahead, you and I are called not just to have faith but also to regularly activate our faith by asking God for giant outcomes, taking giant steps. If we have the audacity to ask, God has the ability to perform. That’s how God turns his amazing promises into everyday reality in every generation—for Joshua’s and for ours. You and I may not see the same miracles Joshua did, but we serve the same God. His nature never changes. The same power that stopped the sun and raised Christ from the grave lives in every believer. God still demonstrates his power and supplies his provision in direct proportion to the faith of his children.“

Audacious faith isn’t some newfangled, extrabiblical variety of faith. It’s a return to the core of Christianity: trusting Jesus completely in every area of your life and setting out to devote your life wholly to revealing his glory in this world. Critical clarification: We are saved by grace through faith in Christ—period. Don’t look at the challenge to act in audacious faith as an add-on to this saving faith. It’s a call to press deeper into that faith, until it becomes more and more effective in your everyday life. The opposite of audacious faith: passive unbelief.

2) Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas
The number 2 book of 2010 goes to an incredible story of discipleship and dedication to Jesus! You may know part of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s story but this book gives you the rest of the legend behind this amazing young pastor and his battle against the rise of the Third Reich. I want my son to read this book with me one day.

3) Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson
This was probably the most practical book of the year as it helped me change some habits that kept me from getting everything done that I needed to do. The book is one part instruction manual and two parts inspiration. Check out these two highlights:

4) Leaders Who Last by Dave Kraft
Read this book and avoid being in the 70% of leaders who burn-out and fail to leave a meaningful legacy for anyone. Simple as that.

5) Church Planter by Darrin Patrick
Want to know what this book is about? Watch this video. Now, go change the world.

9) Sunday Morning – No Doubt
First comes the snare drum. Then the bass groove. Then the guitar solo. Then the dancing in front of the mirror while brushing your teeth.

Hard to Handle – The Black Crows
You’ll be up and out the door with a hitch in your step and the chorus in your head all day. “Hey little thing let me light your candle. Cause mama I’m sure hard to handle!”

7) Livin’ On the Edge – Aerosmith
(Boom. Boom. Boom.) We’re livin’ on the edge! The drum beat and the inspirational lyrics will help march you out of bed to meet the day with purpose and determination.

6) Alive – Pearl Jam
The opening guitar solo on this song will blow the sheets right off your bed. “Alive” won’t ask you to get up. It makes you get up.

5) Till I Hear It From You – Gin Blossoms
Another song to gently awake you and help you begin your day.

4) Can’t Stop Lovin’ You – Van Hagar Van Halen
I can’t stop singing the chorus at the top of my lungs.

3) Best of You – Foo Fighters
Dave Grohl’s voice is a refreshing splash of cold water in the morning. I highly recommend this song if you have to wake up earlier than usual.

2) Tom Sawyer – Rush
Waking up to this song feels like your being announced at a packed stadium full of cheering fans. Do you have a make-it-or-break-it meeting in the morning? Do you need some extra enthusiasm in the AM? Then wake up to Tom Sawyer, shake it out, and scream “Game on!”

1) Beautiful Day – U2
A heart beat rhythm is only one of the great aspects of this Good Morning song. When this song wakes you from your sleep you can’t help but believe that it is going to truly be a Beautiful Day. It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday. It almost doesn’t matter what the day threatens to bring. As you open your eyes, don’t forget that “After the flood, all the colors came out.” You are known. You are cared for. You are loved. It will be a Beautiful Day.