The Book Bug!

So after a year hiatus from even desiring to read a book the craving has come back. I'm not sure what happened for a year but I blame it on eight years of seminary. I read books, but only what I had to read for work and ordination stuff. I have three books I'm into now and one on the back burner.

The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns: Richard is the President of World Vision. He is discussing the dissonance between a confessional Gospel that does not lead to Christian action. I'm only into the first chapter but so far he has shared his story of moving over from a prominent CEO position to become the president of World Vision. He is also describing a great need within our world that affluent Christians are able to hide from in the US.

Walking on Water, by Anthony De Mello: My mentor gave me this book and I am reading it with Brandon, my accountability partner. It's an awesome book that I want to read much faster but I told Brandon we'd read a chapter a week:) It's written by Anthony who was (deceased) an Indian (India) Christian spiritualist. He presents a Christian message through stories within other faith traditions. He is also focusing on the importance of meditation . . . so far.

Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker, M.D.: I started this book a long, long time ago but just recently had the gumption to pick it back up. I'm just a few chapters from finishing now. It's a great book about (you guessed it) fathers, raising daughters. Meg has some great insight as a counselor/doctor. I'll need to read it again in seven years.

Crazy Love, by Francis Chan: My wife's step-sister gave me this book for Christmas. It appears to be on the best seller lists (Christian and secular). It's on the back burner and next in line when I finish "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters".

So, you reading anything interesting?

Book Review- Three Cups of Tea

So it has been a pathetically long time since I've read a novel. For the last eight years I've read an immense amount of books- primarily for seminary or ministry. Someone recommended the book "Three Cups of Tea" to me so I took her advice and read it. It's a fantastic book about a man with a great deal of passion and drive (true story). He demonstrates a rare ability- caring nothing for the superfluous things of life, but focusing solely on making lives better for others. He sacrifices personal comfort and personal gain in order to provide education to children (especially girls) who would not normally receive it in the Middle East. There is also an interesting under current in the book concerning the Muslim faith. It gives a refreshing view of the Muslim faith as a people that desire peace and love, which is a view we rarely see here in the US. However, there is at times conflict with the more radical sect of Muslims who promote violence and control. What was especially attractive to me about the book was the "outdoor" emphasis added since the individual was a mountain man! Overall, it is a very good book that I would recommend. It is inspirational and presents a challenge to those of us who are quite content living out Comfy Christianity.

Book Update- "Direct Hit"

I'm taking a Pastoral Leadership Development class that our United Methodist Conference is offering. We read a different book every month. This month we are reading "Direct Hit" by Paul D. Borden. It's a book about Leadership and Communication. I'd invite you to get it and read it with me. The most insightful quote from Chapter One is "Healthy congregations are outward-focused, and they maintain that focus against tremendous forces that are constantly encouraging an inward bent. Such congregations are led by leaders who regularly implement change. Such leaders create an environment where change becomes the norm and maintaining the status quo is unacceptable."
While I worked at Starbucks change was always a part of the game. They were changing things every 3-4 months. No one really liked it, but we knew that was part of the job so eventually we got used to it. I'm not sure I can imagine a church like that, but that is what Borden seems to promote. There would definitely be positives and negatives to that perspective. More to come later.

Addition to Book List

My newest edition to my book list is "Eight Life-Enriching Practices of United Methodists" by Henry (or Hal) Knight. Hal is a professor at St. Paul Seminary in K.C. and is a fantastic Wesleyan theologian! I'm into the third chapter of his book and already finding it very beneficial. If you are looking for a book on spiritual disciplines and spiritual formation, I would recommend Hal's "Eight Life-Enriching Practices of United Methodists". I even have an extra copy:)

Addition to Book List

My book list has changed a little bit. I finished Thomas Merton's "Spiritual Direction and Meditation" and began "The Brother Lawrence Collection". Merton's book was a quick read and very enjoyable. He poses many challenging thoughts on discipleship, meditation and mentoring. I would highly suggest it if you are interested in those topics. Brother Lawrence was also a Monk who experienced the "Presence of God" in incredible force while he did his mundane kitchen duties at his monestary. I'm currently reading the letters he sent to those he was mentoring or encouraging. This morning I particularly enjoyed the following quote, "Be not discouraged by the repugnance which you may find in it from nature; you must do yourself violence". Brother Lawrence is addressing our sinful nature and believes that we should attack and hate it with all that we are. I believe whole heartedly in that statement. It's only by hating our sin that we can embrace the teachings of Jesus. Do you hate your sin?? Maybe it's time to do violence to it?

Sundays Sermon and Significance Of Festival of Booths

My sermon is a little long this Sunday so I'm cutting some background information (so, yes, it is shorter now:) that is important but doesn't add to the Central Theme of the Sermon. For my bloggers, here is some helpful background information that will help you understand why the Pharisees are so ticked off at Jesus in Chapter 8.
Festival of the Booths (Also know as Festival of the Tabernacles)
History
Chapter 7 takes place over the week long Jewish Holiday known as the Festival of the Booths. The Festival helps them remember how the Hebrews moved from a nomadic, desert-wandering people into an agricultural people in the Promised Land. The "booths" were an intermediate structure between the tents of the desert and the homes of the Promised Land. They constructed the booths in the desert when they stayed someplace longer than usual. They were more solidly constructed than a tent but not as solid as their future homes in Israel.
Festival
When they celebrated the Festival of the Booths they set up "Booth" replicas on their roofs or front areas to remember the journey God brought their people on. They also had two, very large golden lamps in the temple court. These lamps were lit for the seven days of The Festival of Booths to represent the flame going before and behind the Hebrews as they were in the desert. If you remember, God was in the flame to light their way by night and smoke to rally around during the day.
Relevance
Chapter 7 ends on the last day of The Festival of Booths. The next day Jesus walks into the Temple Court (Treasury) and says "I am the light of the world". They have likely just blown out the Golden Lamps in that same area. Jesus may likely be standing in front of the Lamps symbolizing the presence of God with the Hebrew people when he says this. Jesus is likely saying, "You worship the light that was with your ancestors through the desert, I was the light"! In the words of my great grandpappy (not really), thems' fightin' words! Hopefully this helps illuminate the cat fight that resounds through out the rest of chapter 8.

Information taken from the World Biblical Commentary- 36 - John, Second Ed., by Beasley Murray.

Sunday Book Reference

Someone after service on Sunday wanted the name of the book where my quote came from. The book name is "Forgotten Power, The Significance of the Lord's Supper in Revival" by William L. De Arteaga. It's a great book on the history of the sacrament and revivals that have broken out as a result of fully appreciating what Holy Communion is in the life of the Church. It's on sale for $11.99 at the Cokesbury website if you are interested: http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=404011.

Inductive Bible Study Resources

This weekend I shared some excellent resources for the Inductive Bible Study Method. The Inductive Bible Study Method will greatly enhance your personal Bible study time and help create excellent interpretative habits. Consider the following resources:

Bible Study that Works by David Thompson
Methodical Bible Study, by Robert Traina
How to Study Your Bible, Lasting Rewards of the Inductive Method by Kay Arthur

My book list

So I keep staring at my blank blog page and thinking, "What will I blog about first"? So, I need to get this first one on the road or I'll never get going. I didn't ever have much of a desire to read growing up. I also read very little through college, it's a wonder I graduated. The last three years of seminary has finally created within me more of a desire to read. I would have to say that most of the books I've been assigned in the last three or four years of classes I have actually read! However, I have longed for the day when I could actually choose my reading list. Well, on the bottom of my blog page you can see my list. Simple Church comes out of my own desire to simplify the way a church approaches discipleship. So far I have enjoyed it, but it does at time conflict with my devotional reading: Spiritual Direction and Meditation. Thomas Merton, a Catholic monk, discusses the fine art of becoming a spiritual director. Where Simple Church says that a clear, simple discipleship process is necessary, Spiritual Direction and Meditation says that the process is different for everyone and spiritual directors should be careful not to package discipleship. I'll share the quotes with you later. Both of them are very good reads so far. I just cracked into The Total Money Makeover tonight. I listen to Dave Ramsey's podcast, so it is a little repetitive so far but I'm sure it will get better. And the Gospel of John is my scripture reading for the next four months of preaching/teaching. It has been very juicy and full of exciting knowledge on the life and purpose of Jesus. John is so different from the synoptic gospels that at times I get a headache trying to figure out why he talks about Jesus (and especially the Pharisees and religious rulers) so differently from the synoptic gospels. So, there is my current reading list and I look forward to making updates soon!