Recently I've entered back into the reading realm. I'm sure a lot of this has to do with me finally having the freedom to read whatever I want and have it not be tied to any institution or class. I have a bad habit though of starting too many books at one time. It takes me a lot longer to get through all the books this way but I find that it tends to be a better experience as much of the books seem to play off of each other. Here's what I have currently stacked up on one arm of my chair.
Wholly Jesus: This book was written by the lead pastor of my former church North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad, California. Mark Foreman is one of those enigmatic type of people that has huge depth and amazing insights but you'd never know it sitting next to him on a surfboard. He has a very unassuming way about him that is both refreshing in a pastor and also slightly disconcerting because you know he is constantly thinking about and analyzing everything you say. It would probably be helpful to just state that Mark is who many should be in the Christian world. Strong convictions, love for people, connected to culture yet recognizing his place. One of my regrets of leaving San Diego was that I didn't take as many opportunities as I could have to know Mark more and to follow the sandals of this great thinker and pastor.
UnChristian: This is a book I have been wrestling with for about a year. I appreciate the authors thoughts about the 20-something generation which is why I originally picked it up. The research is solid and the content helpful to think through. I think that this book would be better read by me if I was doing it for a class or in dialogue with others. That said I am fighting through it because I think it sets the stage for much other works about current generations and their loss of connections with the church. It's foundational and sometimes foundational works are not fun to read but should be read anyways.
Death By Love: I should state here first that I don't know Mark Driscoll or Gary Breashears. My connection to Mark is only through our love of the Pacific Northwest and a shared belief that ministry there needs to be done in a particular way in order to reach a very unchristian community. I have attended Mars Hill Seattle a few times but have never had the opportunity to hear Mark speak. I have read a few of his other books and have found them to be decent reads but they also tend to be pretty strong rants about his particular form of Christian doctrine. Mark tends to be a very brash writer/speaker about the things he believes in and the things he is against. Again this works for the particular demographic he is aiming at in Seattle mainly 18-22 year old men. I don't always enjoy his approach but I appreciate it and that's why I'm reading this book. Plus it was free.
Sustainable Youth Ministry: I have yet to open up this book but I am stoked to read it. Mark Devries is a friend and someone who has been doing youth ministry at the same church for about 20 years. In my interactions with Mark I've found him to be incredibly focused on just doing what God wants him to do in a very unassuming way that is focused on the church and on young people. My only review of this book so far comes from my senior pastor who read it and told me he thought it was one of the best books written about youth ministry that he's ever read. Pretty good endorsement so it's in the que.
Jesus Wants to Save Christians: Sometimes I like to describe myself as "the intern who followed Rob" at the first church I worked at in California. I have never met Rob but have many friends who speak highly of him. I should state that his work in the Nooma video series is something that I respect very much. He has a candid way of challenging us to rethink our basic assumptions about faith. I have read all of Rob's books and while I don't always agree with his focus I think he has a voice that needs to be heard. One thing I particularly appreciate is the way Rob doesn't overtly slam the church or historic Christianity and only tries to lead people into discussions about new ideas and thoughts. I'm very much looking forward to reading this book.
Jesus for President: I am a sucker for anybook that is done in a non traditional way. This book has a design team that both makes it intersting and utalizes creative visual ways of driving points home. I have heard Shane Claiborne speak a few times and I appreciate the way he encourages us to rethink how we are acting as Christians in this world. Shane lives in community and it seems to shape everything he writes about. In this book I have found his words to reach me in a way that makes me reread each chapter after I'm done. He's that good and I can't wait to get into it more.
