Serve God, Save the Planet,by Matthew Sleeth
Finally, a well-written, well-thought and well-lived exploration of life/resource stewardship.
The Starfish and the Spider,by Brafman and Beckstrom
In the vein of Tipping Point or Freakonomics, this easy read details the rise, prominence and timeliness of decentralized organizations (starfishes), especially as oposed to organizations that rely on central power and authority (spiders). A must read for anyone wanting to birth rapidly regenerating organizations.
Poet and Peasant & Through Peasant Eyes (Combined edition), by Kenneth Bailey
Bailey taught for generations in the Middle East and understands perhaps better than any Westerner the Middle Eastern peasant mindset and how that mindset contributes to and unlocks meaning in the NT. This combined edition is worth checking out for those who believe understanding original context is helpful for preaching in today's context. Hey, Rob Bell didn't just make up all that stuff he teaches -- he read it from people like Bailey! You can too!
Rated 3.5 out of 5!
Paul in Fresh Perspective, by NT Wright
This book may be a bit too academic for some, but Wright does a masterful job of telling the story of Pau's place and time in order to better understand the Apostle within his Jewish/Roman/Christian context in order to then explore the main tenets of Paul's theology. This is a much-needed alternative to those who make a Paul vs. Jesus argument and those who read Paul with only today's context in mind and end up at mistaken notions of what he is really saying.
Rated: 4 out of 5!
The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church, by Alan Hirsch
Okay, this one is not nearly as seminal as Hirsch's The Shaping of Things to Come (which he wrote with Michael Frost), but what it lacks there it makes up for in synthesis. Hirsch brings together a bunch of information from a very wide array of sources to show how the "Apostolic Genius" of the early church is still available to followers today who want to experience incredible growth and effectiveness.
RATED: 4 out of 5!
Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Great sermon material! An economist and writer take a look under some statistical rocks and come to conclusions such as "swimming pools are 100 times more dangerous than handguns" and "real estate agents have a lot in common with the KK Klan." A very fun read that reminds us to look beyond assumptions and expect the unexpected.
RATED: 4 out of 5!
The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wars and to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scipture, by N.T. Wright
An easily accessible book with something to say. Wright offers a great alternative to the polarzied 'liberal' and 'conservative' camps by taking a narrative approach to scripture and redefining the phrase "authority of scripture" as "the authority of God exercised through scripture." Wright also lays out an approach for taking the Bible seriously and intelligently.
RATED: 4.5 out of 5!
The World is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman
Friedman lays out the map of today's globalized context and gives a compelling recount of how we got here. He describes the world's connectivity as "flat" and lean toward some speculation about how this flat world will impact jobs, nations, and relationships. A bit boring and redundant at times, but worth a good skim.
RATED: 3 out of 5!
The One This You Need to Know ...About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success, by Marcus Buckingham
Though the book is entirely too thick, the lessons in it are priceless. Buck gives one of the best distinctions between managing and leading and singlehandedly rescues management from the decades deep swamp of thought that has sanctified leadership and made management into a second-rate practice. Worth the price if just to skim for gems.
RATED: 4 out of 5!
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto, by Chuck Klosterman
Okay, not exactly a "ministry" book, but a delightful, entertaining, and sometimes disturbing read nonetheless. Written from the perspective of a self-proclaimed Gen-Xer, the book takes a look at, pokes fun of, and finds some meaning in a variety of pop culture topics from soccer to the Dixie Chicks. For the subversive pastor, reading this book doubles as recon.
RATED: 2.5 out of 5!
The Lost Message of Jesus, by Steve Chalk and Alan Mann
This book starts a bit slow by rehashing how the church has layered over the message of Jesus with doctrines that over/under-emphasize certain teachings. But the book picks up near the end, especially with the chapters that deal with Jesus' non-violent overthrow of power and call to powerful and non-violent living.
RATED: 3.5 out of 5!
Making Room for Life, by Randy Frazee
A highly practical set of advice related to slowing down, creating margin, and experiencing life in community. One of the few books that has radically changed not only how I look at life, but how I live life. The Hebrew Day Planner notion is gold.
RATED: 4.5 out of 5!
The Challenge of Jesus, by NT Wright
Somewhere between an academic and accessible book dealing with how understanding the historical Jesus sheds much light on what Jesus was/is really up to. Wright is loyal both to Jesus and to history and paints a fascinating picture of Jesus as the new Temple who is delivering exiled people back to God. A very fresh and well-conceived book.
RATED: 4.5 out of 5!!!
Humble Apologetics, by John Stackhouse
John Stackhouse teaches at Regent University in Vancouver, BC. This book is partially academic and partially pragmatic. He offers some highly insightful views on why today's society requires Christians to begin apologetical conversations with an attitude of humility and openness. Worth price of the book is the chapter on consumerism.
RATED: 4.5 out of 5!!
Atonement for a 'Sinless' Society, by Alan Mann
A somewhat academic read that explores why theologians (you and me!) need to rethink and rearticulate atonement for today's society. As the title implies, people today are less motivated by guilt and more identify with shame and victimization. The parts dealing with narrative therapy and its relation to helping people re-narrate their understanding of self are especially impactful.
RATED: 4 out of 5! Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller
Billed as 'nonreligous thoughts on Christian spirituality,' this book delivers sharp, easy to follow, and often hilarious insights to the Christian's journey. A great snapshot of how a committed follower of Jesus finds his way forward - often in spite of church. The chapter on community is worth the price of the book. Great insight: life is not a movie about me.
RATED: 4.5 out of 5!!
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