Books I'm Reading

From time to time I like to share books I've read or am reading and a few thoughts on each. I am generally reading about a half dozen books at any given time, so some I'm further along in some than others.

Rob Bell's Drops Like Stars is the book inspired by his recent tour. This coffee-table book is a quick read, but do not be misled: it is also a thoughtful extended meditation on the relationship between suffering, creativity and God. It made me want to see his tour.

Aubrey Malphurs' Developing a Dynamic Mission for Your Ministry is a handy little volume on the importance of a robust and concise mission statement for congregations and parachurch organizations. He helpfully distinguishes between mission statements, vision statements and core values, all the while keeping the Great Commission in the Gospel of Matthew central. It is must-read for pastors and congregations interested in more than floundering.

Niel Cole's Organic Church is a primer on the recent house church movement in the United States. What I liked: his focus on the parable of the Sower and his challenge to "be church" rather than "go to church." What was missing: a robust sacramental theology (which is not surprising given his theological tradition). Worth reading, especially for denominations like mine who struggle in the area of small group ministries.

I am just beginning Beginning to Pray by Anthony Bloom, but heard a summary of it in a recent set of podcasts by Dn. Michael Hyatt. When it comes to prayer, we are all truly beginners, and this set of reflections is filled with depth and challenge.

Andy Stanley's Choosing to Cheat is all about the tough decisions we make each day about our work-life balance. Stanley asks some provocative and thoughtful questions about whom we are cheating and why. A must-read for men especially.