My semester filled with far more to do than I have ever before experienced continues. In this spirit, I offer ratings rather than reviews for the last four books I read (listed by rating, on a scale of 5.0). (5+) Belief Without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but not Religious by Linda Mercadante (2014). (5) A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power by Jimmy Carter (2014). (4.5) Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin (2014). Read More …
Books
Review of The December Project (#1365)
Meet the Author Sara Davidson is the New York Times bestselling author of eight books, including Loose Change (1997) and Leap!: What Will We Do with the Rest of our Lives? (2008). Additionally, her writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, Harper's, The Atlantic, Esquire, and Rolling Stone. Book Basics (available tomorrow - March 25) Living in a community known for its unusually large numbers of Read More …
Review of The Non-Violent Radical (#1358)
Meet the Author Charles McCollough is an ordained United Church of Christ minister with a Ph.D. in theology, and an extensive background in art. He worked for many years on the national staff of the UCC in the areas of adult education and social justice. While pursuing that work, he studied sculpture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Johnson Atelier, the Princeton Association, and Mercer College. McCollough has taught and/or served as an artist in residence in numerous seminaries, Read More …
Recent Reading (#1334)
In the quest to keep reading new material while balancing the demands of more "jobs" than I have ever held at one time, I have opted to forgo my normal weekly book reviews for the first half of the year. When my interim pastoral ministry role is complete, I plan to resume those reviews. Today, I share four books I have read recently that I enjoyed enough that I will recommend them (listed by rating, on a scale of 5.0): (5) God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Read More …
Review of Doubting Jesus’ Resurrection (#1281)
Meet the Author Kris D. Komarnitsky works in the aviation industry and is a first-time author. He wrote Doubting Jesus' Resurrection in 2009. Note: My review is of the updated second edition, which will be published in early 2014. Book Basics What I found most intriguing about this book, and what I believe will draw others in, is the author's approach. While Komarnitsky lacks a scholarly background, he approaches the resurrection with the questions one would expect Read More …
Top 10 Books of 2013 (#1278)
Each year (see 2010, 2011, 2012) I share a list of my top ten books published that year. Creating this year's list was both a challenge and a joy. Rob Bell What We Talk About When We Talk About God Wendy Cadge Paging God: Religion in the Halls of Medicine Lillian Daniel When Spiritual but Not Religious is Not Enough: Seeing God in Surprising Places, Even the Church Meredith Gould The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways Galen Guengerich God Revised: How Read More …
Review of Spiritual Awakening (#1274)
Meet the Author Tim van der Vliet is a former trader on the financial markets turned spiritual seeker. Adopting an irreverent eclectic approach to spirituality, he is now a full-time writer. Book Basics Spiritual Awakening (the easy way) is the sort of book one could read easily in half an hour or might opt to spend the better part of day pondering. van der Vliet proposes his own irreverent simplistic approach to spirituality in five easy steps: break free of our Read More …
What I’ve Been Reading (#1247)
While I have written about one book review a week on my blog for the last several years, I find that there are times (examples: 1, 2, & 3) I simply want to let you know what I've been reading and offer a rating rather than a review. Here are the four atop my pile of recently read but not reviewed (listed by rating, on a scale of 5.0): (5.0) My Neighbor's Faith: Stories of Interreligious Encounter, Growth, and Transformation (2012), edited by Jennifer Howe Peace, Or N. Rose and Gregory Read More …
Review of The Social Media Gospel (#1240)
Meet the Author Meredith Gould labels herself a "sociologist by training (Ph.D., NYU), educator by experience, consultant by preference." A marketing communications professional with decades of secular experience, Gould now focuses on counseling churches and mission-based organizations about how to thrive in the digital age. Gould is the founder and moderator of #ChSocM, which is a weekly Twitter-based chat about why and how to use social media to build church and Read More …
Review of Incorporation (#1233)
Meet the Author Will Willimon spent twenty years as Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University before serving as a Bishop in the United Methodist Church from 2004-2012. After completing his work as bishop, he returned to his role as Professor of Christian Ministry. Willimon is the author of over sixty books including two best sellers: Sinning Like a Christian: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Thank Read More …