Since launching this blog in 2009, I have reviewed over 150 books and recommended nearly 100 more. Starting in 2010, I have published annual lists of my top books published each year (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014). Each year, I have concluded alphabetical top ten lists with the two books that had the greatest impact on my own faith journey during that year. Together these ten volumes create a list of my Top 10 Recently Published Faith Enriching Read More …
James Davison Hunter
Review of Engaging the Culture, Changing the World (#0470)
Meet the Author Since 1996, Philip W. Eaton has served as the President of Seattle Pacific University, an Evangelical Protestant school of around 4,000 students. Earlier in his career, he spent eight years as a professor of English and American literature followed by eight years in business as a commercial and industrial property developer. Eaton has served on many boards, including the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Read More …
Reuniting Old Friends (#0413)
This morning I am preaching at Naples United Church of Christ in Naples, FL. You can read the full text of my sermon, Reuniting Old Friends, here. For more information about the books referenced visit my reviews of Missional: Joining God in the Neighborhood (2011) by Alan J. Roxburgh To Change the World: The Irony, Tragedy, & Possibility of Christianity in the Late Modern World (2010) by James Davison Hunter Putting Away Childish Things: A Tale of Modern Faith Read More …
Questions Worth Answering (#0347)
Established in 1999, the Spirituality Book Club is "an on-line global community of kindred spirits who explore spirituality through books, music, discussion, and ways to get involved in doing good things globally." Yesterday, I was featured on their Real People, Real Lives, Real Spirituality blog. A copy of my interview follows: Name: Greg Smith Where you live: Naples, FL What you do as a vocation or avocation? Research, speak and write about education, especially relating to Read More …
Reflections on 75 Recently Published Books (#0221)
Over the last year and a half (roughly 75 weeks), I have posted my reflections on 75 recently published books. I encourage you to browse the list as you think of your reading list for 2011. Each title is linked to my review. Author Title Year Allison, Jay and Gediman, Dan, eds. This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable American Men and Women 2006 Allison, Jay and Gediman, Dan, eds. This I Believe II: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable American Men Read More …
Top 10 Books Published in 2010 (#0220)
There have been many insightful books published this year. Today, I offer my list of the "Top 10 Books Published in 2010" Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Spy – A Righteous Gentile Vs. The Third Reich Eric Metaxas Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites . . . and Other Lies You’ve Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media Bradley R. E. Wright God is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World – and Why Their Differences Matter Read More …
The Church of 2010 (#0213)
The Barna Group just released a list of six megathemes that characterize the American church in 2010. The list was created by "analyzing insights drawn from more than 5,000 non-proprietary interviews conducted over the past 11 months." The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate. Christians are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented. Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for Read More …
Review of The Next Christians (#0200)
Gabe Lyons. The Next Christians: How a New Generation is Restoring the Faith. Doubleday: 2010. ISBN: 9780385529846. Meet the Author Gabe Lyons is the founder of Q, which serves to educate Christians on their historic responsibility to renew culture. Q, an outgrowth of the now defunct Fermi Project he co-founded with his wife, began offering national gatherings in 2007 and launched Qideads.org in 2009. Previously, Lyons served on the team that co-founded Catalyst, which Read More …
Moving the Mainline Forward (#0156)
The Future of Mainline Denominations Recently, I have written several articles designed to introduce my readers to a variety of perspectives related to the future of mainline denominations. Leaders within the mainline denominations understand that change is essential to reverse the decades of decline. In recent posts, I have shared many voices including those of Peter Wallace, Bruce Epperly, and Bruce Reyes Chow Stephen Sterner Landon Whitsitt Read More …