The ten best recently published books I read over the last month are (4.5) How to Try: Design Thinking and Church Innovation by Lorenzo Lebrija (Church Publishing, 2021)(4.5) Community as Church, Church as Community by Michael Plekon (Cascade Books, 2021)(4.5) Church After: Finding Transformation in Unexpected Change by Anna Mitchell Hall (Cane Mill Press, 2021)(4.0) Generation We: The Power and Promise of Gen Z by AnneMarie Hayek (Lioncrest Publishing, 2021)(4.0) Somehow Saints: More Read More …
Books
Great New Books – September 2021 (#1949)
The ten best recently published books I read over the last month are (5+) Crisis & Care: Meditations on Faith and Philanthropy edited by Dustin D. Benac and Erin Weber-Johnson (Cascade Books, 2021)(5.0) What We Owe Each Other: A New Social Contract for a Better Society by Minouche Shafik (Princeton University Press, 2021)(4.5) Open and Relational Theology: An Introduction to Life-Changing Ideas by Thomas Jay Oord (SacraSage, 2021)(4.5) Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Read More …
Great New Books – August 2021 (#1945)
Here are the ten best new books I read last month. (5+) The Ninefold Path of Jesus: Hidden Wisdom of the Beatitudes by Mark Scandrette (IVP, 2021) (5.0) The Tolls of Uncertainty: How Privilege and the Guilt Gap Shape Unemployment in America by Sarah Damaske (Princeton University Press, 2021) (4.5) Faith-Based Organizing: A Congregational Planning Resource for Addressing Poverty by Charles Fredrickson, Violetta Lien, Herbert E. Palmer, and Mary Lou Walther (Fortress Press, Read More …
Great New Books – July 2021 (#1940)
The ten best new books I've read over the last month are (5+) We Aren't Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry by Mark Elsdon (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2021)(5.0) Staying Awake: The Gospel for Changemakers by Tyler Sit (Chalice Press, 2021)(4.5) In Defense of Kindness: Why it Matters, How it Changes Our Lives, and How it Can Save the World by Bruce Reyes-Chow (Chalice Press, 2021)(4.5) Out of Many, One: Portraits of American Immigrants by George W. Bush Read More …
Top Posts of 2021 (January – June) (#1939)
In a few days, we will reach the midpoint of 2021. Many of my blog posts this year have focused on how churches and other ministries are reopening, and how the next normal will differ from what had been normative in a pre-pandemic world. Additionally, the first post of the month each month introduces great new books. Not surprisingly, all five of the top posts for the first half of this year fit in one of those two categories (top posts as defined by total page views): Reopening for Read More …
Great New Books – June 2021 (#1935)
The ten best new books I've read over the last month are (5.0) United States of Grace: A Memoir of Homelessness, Addiction, Incarceration, and Hope by Lenny Duncan (Broadleaf Books, 2021) (4.5) White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler (University of North Carolina Press, 2021) (4.5) Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice & Healing on the Streets by Lindsey Krinks (Brazos Press, 2021) (4.5) Made, Known, Loved: Developing Read More …
Great New Books – May 2021 (#1930)
Over the last month I’ve read ten recently published books. My May list of recommended reads features one book published in 2020 and nine published in 2021. (5.0) The Hospital: Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town by Brian Alexander (St. Martin's Press, 2021) (5.0) Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger by Katie S. Martin (Island Press, 2021) (4.5) #ChurchToo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing by Emily Joy Allison Read More …
Great New Books – April 2021 (#1925)
Over the last month I’ve read ten recently published books. My April list of recommended reads features four books published in 2020 and six published in 2021. (5+) Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way and Presence by Diana Butler Bass (HarperOne, 2021) (4.5) Dusk, Night, Dawn: On Revival and Courage by Anne Lamott (Riverhead Books, 2021) (4.5) Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues by David Read More …
Great New Books – March 2021 (#1918)
Over the last month I’ve read ten recently published books. My March list of recommended reads features one book published in 2020 and nine published in 2021. (5.0) The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Penguin Press, 2021) (4.5) A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal edited by Sarah Bessey (Convergent, 2021) (4.5) Good Apple: Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York by Elizabeth Passarella (Nelson Books, Read More …
Great New Books -February 2021 (#1914)
Over the last month I've read ten recently published books. My February list of recommended reads features two books published in 2020 and eight published in 2021. (5.0) Thrive: The Leader's Guide to Building A High Performance Culture by Andrew Freedman and Paul Elliott (Shift Media, 2021) (4.5) The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again by Robert D. Putnam (Simon & Schuster, 2020) (4.5) How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity Read More …