What Good is God?: Philip Yancey
2012: What an excellent book by Yancey. In his typical fashion he takes a critical question and presses it to the point where you cannot help but affirm there is a God and faith is worth it. I like how he takes real life crises and those that he actually speaks at and tells of the crisis and gives his sermon when he spoke to the people. It is a marvelous work where he does not speak for God, but definitely speaks into people about God. And in the end, you understand the need for God and why our faith matters. 
11: Leonard Sweet
2011: I really loved this book. Of course I am a Sweet fan. I love how he uses words and turn-of-phrases and repurposes them and uses them to make an issue really pop. I was not disappointed with this book. There are certain relationships that we all need. I was truly convicted by what relationships I need in my life and what I may be to others. I did have a hard time connecting the dots for the Jethro chapter "Who is your butt-kicker?" and the places chapter, "Who is your Jerusalem?" These were good ideas, but I felt especially with Jethro that there were better characters to use to make his point than Jethro. With places, it just made it obvious that while places are important to me, not important enough. I wanted more from this chapter. This book was refreshing and needed. I would recommend this read for all Christians, but especially pastors who find themselves lonely too often. 
When to Leave: Wade Hodges
(via Kindle) 2011: This is the second in a series from Wade Hodges that helps ministers who are determining whether or not they will choose to leave one church and minister to another. I must admit I read this after my decision to leave Highland as a youth minister to go to University as a preacher. However, the straight-forward advice given by Wade is priceless. My calling changed from one type of ministry to another. Others, though, need to make a change for their health or the health of their family or even the health of the church family they work alongside. This book can help be a determining factor as to whether you should stay and face your demons or leave where you can minister more effectively. I would recommend this read for any minister who has been at their current place more than 5 years. Thanks Wade for this Gift! 
One.LIfe: Scott Mcknight
2011: This was probably one of my favorite reads this year so far. I am a huge Mcknight fan and this book was not disappointing in the least. Here is a little blurb, "Christianity isn't enough. Religion isn't enough. Being accepted in a church isn't enough. Climbing the corporate ladder isn't enough. Solving intellectual problems isn't enough. Chasing the American dream isn't enough. Finding the person to love isn't enough. Sex isn't enough. Friends aren't enough. Fame isn't enough. Nothing's enough. The only thing that is enough is Jesus, and the only way to get to Jesus is to follow him, and that means one thing: giving your One.Life to him and to his dream." -One.Life, Mcknight 22) So yeah get up now and go read this. 
Love Wins: Rob Bell
2011: I tried to keep an open mind as much as I could as I read Love Wins. However, there are so many years of forming faith and theology that you cannot shed even for just a few hours of your life. I choose in this review not to demonize Rob Bell or his book. I will choose to critically examine the content and possible implications of Love Wins. Fortunately I am not a faithful Rob Bell follower, so I will not comment on him as a person, but rather just what I can gain through the writing of this book. I plan to be fair and open-minded. (Please read my full review here) |
Love Does: Bob Goff
2012: This is a great book about how to do love rather than just to feel it or accept it. I love the way that Bob Goff uses his own experiences to teach us how to experience and give the experience of love to one another. 
Not a Fan: Kyle Idleman
2012: Sometimes we just coast through this thing we like to call Christianity. We sign up but don't really think about what our place is in it. We are completely consumed with what Jesus can do for us, instead of what he wants to do through us. Idleman really challenges his audience with being a true follower of Jesus, rather than someone who cheers from the sideline. I think everyone who reads this will find some way to see that they are being a fan rather than follower in their life. However, I don't think Idleman makes it that difficult, and Jesus certainly doesn't, to be a true follower. It's one of those books that you don't have to totally agree with everything that is said to understand the deeper meaning that we are called to something bigger than just hitting the like button on Jesus' facebook. We are called to be focused followers! 
Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins
2012: I typically won't do book reviews for fiction. However, this was an excellent book and series. My personal opinion is that book 1 is the best of the three. Loved reading these stories. 
Catching Fire: Suzanne Collins
2012: The second book of the series and in my opinion the second best. 
Mocking Jay: Suzanne Collins
2012: The third and final book of the series and the third best. But by this time you love the characters and still want to know the end. 
Heaven is for Real: Todd Burpo
2011: This is an amazing story of a little boy who overcame the odds and lives through a near-death and really a death-back-to-life situation. As his dad tells the story you see the struggle of a minister. His son's words and experiences that have to be real vs. what he has always known as truth. Todd Burpo allows the reader to doubt along with him, but also realizing that God can do things we think impossible. I appreciated the struggle between my rationalistic upbringing and the experiences of a toddler who shares his true experience of an encounter with God. 
Generous Justice: Timothy Keller
2011: This is a great book that calls us out of just theory about justice to actually living a life that is generous and sees justice through the light of Jesus. Keller gives great reasoning and lays groundwork at the beginning and then follows up with how to make it actually work. I will say it was a tough read for me. It was convicting and I found myself wanting to get to the practical application faster than he took me. However, I needed the foundation he laid to make the application for me appropriately. 
Before You Go: Wade Hodges
(Review I posted on Amazon) 2011: If you have ever thought about or tried leaving from one church as a minister to another, then you will want to read and memorize Wade Hodges' new e-book, Before You Go: A few sneaky-good questions every minister must answer before moving to a new church. Wade gives his audience a practical guide without watering down the real issues that lay behind the questions and with reliance upon the Holy Spirit. After reading this book you should be truly equipped to make wise discernments about leaving, arriving, and interviewing. Knowing these few concepts can take the frustration and anxiety out of transition and replace it with joy and excitement. No one wants to dread transitions, we just do. However, Hodges gives us room to lay down the dread and pick up the hope of renewal. What I love is that as you read this book you realize mistakes you have made in the past, you realize present realities, and you can envision a future worth pursuing. Thank you Wade for this resource and your willingness to share your experiences and your heart. |
Sermons:Full of AnticipationWho is the Lord?
The Gospel of Oneness
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It's Worth Everything
It Takes One to Know One
The Hope of Paradise
The Spirit's Risky Business
But Even If He Doesn't
Fragile People, Empowered Church
Gracenomics: Mike Foster
2011: Mike does a great job at not only scratching the surface of Grace within our Christian focus, but also how grace is extended just beyond forgiving someone. He helps us focus on what it means to be dispensers of grace. Mike first makes the case that we ourselves have received grace and in return we should give grace to others not simply be a consumer.
I think this is a great short read that will help influence our culture to be people who will challenge themselves to think "Grace" before responding with "judgmentalism" Although not the purpose of his book, I do wish he would have dug a little deeper into the theology of grace. That may be my preference but because of the wise choices he makes with this book it is approachable for everyone.
2011: Mike does a great job at not only scratching the surface of Grace within our Christian focus, but also how grace is extended just beyond forgiving someone. He helps us focus on what it means to be dispensers of grace. Mike first makes the case that we ourselves have received grace and in return we should give grace to others not simply be a consumer.
I think this is a great short read that will help influence our culture to be people who will challenge themselves to think "Grace" before responding with "judgmentalism" Although not the purpose of his book, I do wish he would have dug a little deeper into the theology of grace. That may be my preference but because of the wise choices he makes with this book it is approachable for everyone.
Communicating for a Change: Andy Stanley
2012: I'm really appreciative of this book. I am always skeptical about reading something telling me how to present or speak (read ego here). However, I'm glad I listened to a preaching friend of mine and read this book. It has forever changed my preaching in an excellent way. Andy lays out his plan of communication when he presents to his audience in two different ways. He presents as a story and as nuts and bolts. Excellent read for anyone who speaks to crowds.
2012: I'm really appreciative of this book. I am always skeptical about reading something telling me how to present or speak (read ego here). However, I'm glad I listened to a preaching friend of mine and read this book. It has forever changed my preaching in an excellent way. Andy lays out his plan of communication when he presents to his audience in two different ways. He presents as a story and as nuts and bolts. Excellent read for anyone who speaks to crowds.
Calico Joe: John Grisham
2013: I love John Grisham. Even though this was about baseball, it did not disappoint
2013: I love John Grisham. Even though this was about baseball, it did not disappoint
