I am shamefully behind on book reviews. Here is what’s coming up in the next month or so:
Books I’ve read and need to review:
“The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction”
by Eugene Peterson
This will be more of an engagement than a review, and it will be very long. This book profoundly moved me.
“Basic Christian Leadership: Biblical Models of Church, Gospel And Ministry”
by John R. W. Stott
This was not a very large book, but it was packed with insight. Expect a short review.
“The Message in the Music: Studying Contemporary Praise and Worship”
by Robert Woods and Brian Walrath (ed.)
This was one of the two texts used in the congregational singing course I just finished. It is a fascinating study of the top 77 songs on the CCLI charts over the 15-year period between 1989-2005. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of the songs, from lyrical content to singability. This is a must-read for music leaders and music team members (see how I avoided the word “worship” there?)
“The Great Worship Awakening: Singing a New Song in the Postmodern Church”
by Robb Redman
This is the other text for that course. It is sub-titled “Singing a New Song in the Postmodern Church”
Books I’m reading that I will review when I’m done:
“Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God”
by Bob Kauflin
Actually, I’m not sure I’m going to finish this one. It is not long but it is too long for Kauflin’s content and it drags on. Since I got this sans dinero from Crossway, I probably should trudge through.
“The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ”
by John MacArthur
I have read plenty of MacArthur but I’ve never read an entire book of his. It is exactly what I expected: good content with too-frequent helpings of arrogance.
“Drops Like Stars: A Few Thoughts on Creativity and Suffering”
by Rob Bell
I received this one from Zondervan last week. It is a beautiful “art book” with lots of white space. I’m looking forward to spending some time with it.
“Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt: A Novel”
by Anne Rice
This is my bedtime reading so it may take a while to finish. So far, it is an interesting look at the life of Jesus with Jesus as the narrator, looking through his 7-year-old eyes.
Books I’m going to read next:
“Great Emergence, The: How Christianity Is Changing and Why”
by Phyllis Tickle
“Cross and Christian Ministry, The: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians”
by D. A. Carson
“Humility: True Greatness”
by C. J. Mahaney
“The Living Church: Convictions of a Lifelong Pastor”
by John R. W. Stott
In other writing news….
I’ve landed a gig with Christian Week to write a bi-monthly column for them on contemporary worship issues from a Pastor’s perspective. Christian Week will also be publishing my review of “The Blue Parakeet” by Scot McKnight
I am adding to my review of “Vintage Church” by Mark Driscoll and it should be appearing on Scot McKnight’s blog “The Jesus Creed” when its done.
Yesterday I submitted a 55-page musical ethnography of my congregation… which is the reason the rest of this writing is so far behind.
I’ve had some good post ideas lately but no time to flesh them out. Here are some titles at least:
A Cyber-theology of Engagement
A Primer on Google Wave
The Error of Over-Correction
Taking Pride in “Heresy”
Falses, Fakes, and Nots – Satirical Twitter Identities
The Controlled Burn: A Metaphor For Doubting Safely
And then there are the questions that readers submitted when I told them to “Ask Me Anything” and then kindly proceeded to leave them unanswered. I will get to them.
Cheers
