Derek Melleby - Make College Count. A Faithful Guide to Life and Learning

Resources for the
Road Ahead

This little book can only get you so far. To make the most of your time in college, you will need additional resources for the journey. The following resources have proven helpful to other students. Keep this list nearby for additional preparation before you head off to college and for assistance when new questions arise.

Books Worth Reading

Get readyyou will be required to read many books in college. The last thing you might want is to add more titles to your growing reading list! But you need to. You need books that will address the deepest questions of life, questions that you wrestle with inside and outside the classroom. The following books have done that for many college students, helping them to make sense of the connection between learning and life.

The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness: A Guide for Students , Donald Opitz and Derek Melleby (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007). My friend and I wrote this book because we have noticed that many Christian college students separate their academic life from their spiritual lifechurch attendance, Bible study, and prayer. Too often discipleship of the mind is overlooked if not ignored altogether. This book will help you integrate your faith and learning, to discover that in Christ himself are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). If you liked Make College Count , youll love The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness.

The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story , Craig C. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2004). In order to find our place in the biblical story, we have to know the biblical story well. Have you ever wondered how the different books of the Bible relate to each other? Written for college students, this book helps readers to understand the Bible as one grand story and answers many of the tough questions you might have concerning Scripture. It will also generate a passion for Bible reading and study, essential to growing in faith.

The Fabric of Faithfulness: Weaving Together Belief and Behavior , Steven Garber (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2007). How do we connect what we believe about the world with how we live in the world? Are there steps that can be taken in college that lead to a life of lasting faith? In this challenging book, Steven Garber offers powerful insight into how college students can go about making sense of learning and living.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism , Timothy Keller (New York: Dutton, 2008). Keller wrote this book both for the unbeliever who has questions about the faith and for the believer who is looking to be strengthened in faith. He tackles the toughest questions about Gods existence, the exclusive claims of Jesus, heaven and hell, the Bible, and evil and suffering, and he does so in an honest and engaging style. You will ask or be asked questions like these at some point during your time in college, and Kellers book is a helpful guide.

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense , by N. T. Wright (New York: HarperOne, 2006). This book provides an overview of the Christian faith that addresses the deepest questions of the human heart. Its not an easy read, but will prove valuable if you give it the time it deserves.

Taking Jesus to the Movies

College students watch a lot of movies. Id be willing to bet that many students spend more time watching films than they spend in class! The question is, how do we watch movies? Too many students mindlessly consume movies, simply viewing them for entertainment. As Christians we should mindfully engage movies, watching them with a discerning eye to determine what they are teaching us about the world in which we live. And besides, discussing movies with friends and talking about how faith relates to ideas presented in movies makes the experience much more fun! Here are two books and a website to help you get the most out of the movies you love:

Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God in Popular Culture , William Romanowski (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2007)

Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom and Discernment , Brian Godawa (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2009)

www.ransomfellowship.org offers a fantastic collection of movie reviews from a Christian perspective.

Dead People You Should Know

Its easy to forget our history. We need to be reminded of the faithful people who have gone before us, taking stands for Christ and shaping history. I was surprised to discover in college that many of the most influential people of history were Christians. They were also Christians who I knew very little about. Examples include: Augustine of Hippo (354430); Thomas Aquinas (12251274); Martin Luther (14831546); Blaise Pascal (16231662); Abraham Kuyper (18371920); C. S. Lewis (18981963); and the list goes on and on. I highly recommend the book 131 Christians Everyone Should Know , from the editors of Christian History magazine (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000), as a great resource to learn more about influential Christians in history. You will be surprised how often the people in this book show up in college reading assignments! Also check out The Church History ABCs: Augustine and Twenty-Five Other Heroes of the Faith by Stephen J. Nichols and Ned Bustard (Wheaton: Crossway, 2010). Trust me, its more than a childrens book!

Websites You Should Visit

Internet surfing is probably already part of your daily routine. There are so many websites available, and finding the most helpful sites can be challenging. Here are some websites you will want to visit before and during college. Check them out the next time youre online.

Hearts & Minds Bookstore www.heartsandmindsbooks.com

After years of college ministry experience, Beth and Byron Borger opened their store as a way to help people think more deeply and Christianly about all areas of life. They love college students and will gladly assist you as you have questions about integrating faith and learning. This website includes bibliographies on just about any topic, including your major. Be sure to check out Byrons Booknotes Blog to read book reviews and learn about new releases.