Reading List

It has been a very long time since I posted something on my blog. But now, summer is here, and I'm recommitting to keeping things up. Again.

One of the best things I did last year was start a book club here at church. Pretty much like other clubs, we read a book a month, then meet and discuss it. Pretty simple. The reason I value it most is that it forced me to put reading as a priority in my ministry. I can get so bogged down with the "busy stuff" of life that reading takes a back seat. I just look at all the unread books behind me and sigh.

Over the year, I've rediscovered how a book can have a profound effect on your spiritual life. We read two books on forgiveness this past year, "Left to Tell" and "Amish Grace." Both books had their own particular way of seeing the power that forgiveness has to heal you in so many ways. It forced me to look at the people I needed to forgive in my life, how I've been holding onto grudges that have weighed down my spirit, and how the process of forgiveness has lightened my load.

Toward the end of the club, we read "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, the president of WorldVision, an amazing Christian missionary organization. If you don't know about them, please visit their website: http://www.worldvision.org/. The story combines how God relentlessly called him to give up his job as president of Lenox China, and all the luxury that came with it, to take the job as president of WorldVision.

He also wakes us up about the crisis that is happening all around the world, and why concern for the poor and oppressed should be a central part of the gospel. I come from a denomination that stresses social justice and mission, yet Stearns makes the case in a way that's far more compelling than anyone I've heard or read.

As a result, we have decided to sponsor six new children who are living in the midst of the worst of conditions in this world. We have also decided to give a microloan to someone every month.

The year closed out with Anne Lamott's "Traveling Mercies" which combines her spiritual quest that miraculously led her to become a Christian, with beautiful essays reflecting her life and faith. It is real and gritty and funny all at the same time. If anyone can make a case on why a new generation should be going to church and thinking about Jesus in their life, Lamott is the person.

Right now, I am listening to "The Red Tent" on tape, in preparation for our September meeting. I think this book is very helpful for people to understand what life was like during Old Testament times. For many, there will be a lot of shocking things in here. You realize that these great Matriarchs of the Old Testament probably did worship other gods other than the Jewish and Christian God, which they cal "El." It is an eye-opener to realize that monotheism (having one God) was a strange and horrible concept early on. It took Israel a long time to understand that God was the only God and the other gods were idols. No wonder the first two commandments forbid worshiping other gods and creating idols.

Other books I have either listened to or read: "East of Eden" by Steinbeck. Watching the classic James Dean movie made me curious to read the novel. I'm so glad I did. This is a great way of understanding the first stories in the Old Testament, both the Adam and Eve story and the Cain and Abel story. I love the breadth and vision and the beautiful writing.

Right now, I'm reading "This Odd and Wondrous Calling" by Martin Copenhaver and Lillian Daniels. It's a funny and real book on what happens 'behind the scenes' in minister's lives. The two authors are successful pastors in the U.C.C. and it is nice to see such great pastors have the same struggles as the rest of us.

I'll try to keep you up to date on other books I'm reading, and I will really, really try to keep this blog going, even through the busy time of year.