I enjoy books in a variety of genres, and from time to time like to notify you of new and upcoming books that you might be interested in. So here are 9 new and upcoming books for you to consider:
Hints of Hope: Essays on Making Peace with the Proximate by Steven Garber
Steven Garber, author of Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good, was the speaker at my Covenant Theological Seminary graduation in 2014.
From the Amazon description:
“Through eight lyrical and reflective essays, one of today’s most thoughtful spiritual writers Steven Garber explores the idea of the “proximate”―a word from the Latin “proximatus,” to draw near. Garber invites us to draw near to the deepest realities of life and to see with greater clarity and compassion―recognizing what is true, right, and beautiful in the world, even as we see the suffering all around us.
Hints of Hope probes what it means to be human; to wrestle with the contradictions we all face in our marriages, in our workplaces, in our friendships and vocations. We all experience beauty and brokenness, wonder and despair, joy and sorrow. We live with disappointment and grief and pain . . . wanting more, expecting more, but never being completely fulfilled. Paradoxically, as we make peace with the proximate, our vision is expanded to see more clearly the glimmers of beauty and grace that thread their way through our lives. Garber suggests that those hints of hope are enough in this frail world of ours, “a world stretched taut between what is and what someday will be.”
Written in memoir form, Hints of Hope weaves together decades of Garber’s travels, teaching, and personal musings to offer a tapestry of wisdom on vocation, culture, faith, and hope. Readers of Wendell Berry, Parker Palmer, Marilyn McEntyre, Philip Yancey, and Frederick Buechner will find a rich, soul-nourishing feast within these pages.” Continue reading
In our series on leadership attributes, we now turn to perhaps an underappreciated attribute – listening. Leaders are good listeners. I would go even further and say that listening is an underappreciated skill for everyone, not just leaders. For example, when I was working full-time and attending seminary, I was constantly tired. My mind was going in all directions about work and my studies. My wife Tammy and I would regularly meet at a restaurant for an early dinner after work before I would begin studying in the evening. More than once in the middle of a conversation, she would say “You haven’t heard a word that I’ve said, have you?” She was right. I was distracted, thinking about what had happened at work that day, or what I needed to do that evening, whether it was reading, writing a paper or studying for an exam. Whatever the reason, my lack of good listening showed a lack of respect for my wife. 
As I have done for several years now, I am sharing my favorites in a variety of categories. All items listed were released or took place during 2025, except for books, which reflect books that I read during 2025, regardless of publication date. I hope you enjoy this list, and find some good recommendations.
Top Pick: Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning
Song Sung Blue, rated PG-13
David, rated PG
Father in Heaven,