A lot of the emails I receive from blog readers involve questions about what I would recommend as far as books, camera equipment, or cooking tools. I’ve decided to build a list of things that have helped me along the way through various things. I’m passing them along with hopes that they might help you too.

Spiritual Stuff

This is by far the best Children’s bible I’ve ever read. I love reading it to my little girl at night before bed! I’ll read her a story, and every time she’ll ask me to read another…and another…and another.

Zondervan NIV Study Bible // Of all the bibles I’ve read and owned, I gravitate towards the New International Version the most often. I really like this study edition because it explains answers to a lot of the questions you might have. Very good for understanding more about the context of the scriptures.

Serendipity Bible: For Personal and Small Group Study // While this bible is also a NIV version, it’s completely different as far as study content goes. This is the bible to own if you are a small group or bible study leader. It’s also great for personal growth and really helps you to ask more of the questions that you should be asking. The Serendipity Bible is filled with thousands of questions that cause you to dive deeper into the Word.

Mere Christianity // Holy guacamole was this book influential to my decision to fully follow Christ. C.S. Lewis was a profound author and speaker who was able to take complex ideas and unravel them into an even more complex mess…and yet was also able to re-package those complex ideas into something we all can understand. If you haven’t read this book, you simply must.

NOOMA DVDs // A creation of Rob Bell as a teaching tool for those interested in a deeper relationship with God. Each of these “spiritual short films” are typically between 10-14 minutes long. They approach big ideas in creative ways and I have to say they’ve been instrumental in my personal faith walk. Each NOOMA DVD also includes discussion questions that can be used individually or in a group setting. There are 24 of them and each one is completely different.

Photography Stuff

Here is the stuff that I own:

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera // This is the camera I am currently shooting with. It’s pretty dang nice. It’s not considered pro-level as it isn’t made like a tank, but I’ve got to tell you…it’s a great camera. While it’s not designed to make professional movies, the 720p movie mode has proven to be pretty fun to play around with. I would definitely recommend this camera!

Nikon D90 Video using Nikon 10.5mm Fisheye Lens:

Video example using the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 Lens:

Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G Fisheye Lens // Snapdragons this lens is fun to use. I love the crazy, funhouse effects you can get out of it as well as the ability to get lots of people into a photo. This is not the lens to own if you’re looking for something that will do it all…it’s a specialty lens. But that means you’ll get some specialty photos. Here’s an example:

Shot with Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8 Lens



Sigma 30mm f/1.4 Lens // If I were a single camera…I would marry this lens. It’s razor sharp, super fast, and a phenomenal portrait lens. Most f/1.4 lenses are 50mm. This used to be a great “normal” length lens, but things are different in the world of digital cameras. 30mm is now a lot more like a “normal” focal length and I have found this lens to be perfect for around the house, candid shots. Here’s an example:

Shot with Sigma 30mm f/1.4 Lens

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 // I only purchased this lens recently so I am not sure how it will perform over the years, but so far I really like it. It’s far less expensive than the Nikon or Canon version and it’s built like a tank. You do miss out on the Vibration Reduction/Image Stabilization that the Nikon or Canon offers, but at 1/3 the price it’s a phenomenal deal. Plus, the MACRO ability is far better than it’s “superior” competitors. Consider this one recommended. Here’s a photo example:

Shot with Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 Lens

And here’s some stuff I’d recommend purchasing in different price ranges:

If you’re looking to get a decent camera…something that is a step up from the point-and-shoot cameras…you’ll need to get yourself a digital SLR. Here are a few options that might help you:

($450) Nikon D40 Camera Kit with 18-55mm Lens // This is a great camera if you’re wanted to get started with real photography. I’ve used this camera myself and I know it performs well…especially for $450 including the lens. My only issue with this camera is that it doesn’t take all of the older Nikon Lenses. It needs the newer Nikon lenses to properly meter and autofocus, but for the price…it’s worth it!

What lens would I grab with it? The Nikon 35mm f/1.8G AF-S DX Lens ($200) // This lens is going to give you that nice, shallow depth-of-field with an aperture of f/1.8…this will really set your photos apart.

Cooking Stuff

I’ve bought the highest quality spices I’ve ever used from this website…enough said.

Shun Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife // I purchased this knife a couple of years ago after I heard Alton Brown rave over them repeatedly. This is a knife that I know I’ll have for 30 years. It’s super sharp and it’s extremely durable. I love the feel of it in my hand too. Veddy, veddy nice.

J.A. Henckels Classic 7-Inch Santoku Knife // This is a really good quality knife for less than $50.

I’m Just Here for the Food by Alton Brown // This man has taught me more about food and cooking than any other author or food TV personality. This book is a fun way to learn methods as well as recipes. Alton is able to explain things in a way that helps you understand why things work the way they work…then you’ll be able to accomplish whatever you want in the kitchen!

Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking by Michael Ruhlman // This book is critical for those who are looking to gain an understanding of basic recipe rules. Want to make a cookie from scratch? Well…there’s a ratio for that. It’s 1-2-3. 1 part sugar / 2 parts fat / 3 parts flour - the rest is up to creative imagination. Read this and you’ll be dangerous. I mean that in a good way.