Books I'm Reading: Summer 2020

What are you Reading?

Next Door Savior - A Review

Just finished Reading Max Lucado's Next Door Savior.

I admit I'm an avid reader of Lucado's. I like his style. Very simple to the point. The point of the book's premise is easy that our Savior wants to know us. Our great Commander In Chief wants a relationship with us. Max takes scriptures, stories and helps point us to well, Jesus.

This book helps not dumb down the gospel but simplify it to let us know that Jesus - 100% God and also 100% man understands us and what we go through.

What They Didn't Teach You In Seminary - A review.

What they didn't teach you in seminary is a practical book of 25 lessons from the school of hard knocks. One of them in Chapter 10 entitled: Hills to Die for ... could of been the advice I was given "Choose your battles wisely" (which sometimes I didn't)

These 25 lessons range from protecting your spiritual health to that of what the practical aspects of ministry are. The one statement that stood out on pg. 139 is "The Church cannot ensure that all goes well with you." This after stating what the church's job is not. (So often we lose focus and think it is the church's job to raise my kids, save my marriage. make me friends, feed me - and those maybe good things and the church can equip people ... but the Church is ultimately to fulfill the Great Commission ... go and make disciples ... All this other "stuff" sometimes loses that focus)

What they didn't teach you in seminary is a good practical book on ministry. I wouldn't say that it is 25 lessons for successful ministry in your church but rather 25 lessons for any type of ministry period to learn.

Church Unique

In the midst of reading this book. A very interesting book. It is probably one of the books that should of been written years ago. It talks how one can cast vision and create a movement. One of the focuses it tends to focus on is how we as the church can be the church rather than the focus on programs but on setting things forward.

Three Books I'm currently reading.

They say every leader is a reader. So here is what I am currently reading. What are you currently reading?

Top 10 Books Christians Should Read.

Besides the Bible (A Given) What are the 10 books Christians should read?

Here is a list I thought of:

10. Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

9. The Peacemaker - Ken Sande

8. The Power of Loving your Church - David Hansen

7. I'd rather see a Sermon - Dave Stone.

6. Find Us Faithful - Bob Russell

5. Stumbling Toward Faith - Renee Altson.

4. Celebration of Discipline - Foster

3. 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do - Mark Atteberry

2. Four Things That Matter Most - Ira Byock

1. Who Stole My Church? - Gordan MacDonald

What ones did you not know? what ones would you add?

Honorable Mention:

Newcomer Guide's to the Bible - Armour

The Story

Tracks of a Fellow Struggler - Claypool.

Fall Reading List

Here are the two books I'm reading this fall. (Plus a few others on my Nook) The "Not a Fan" book (I'm almost done with) is for an upcoming sermon series/ small group study for later this year. The Dare to drop a Pose (Formerly known as Confessions from a pastor) is for my Fusion group (Church leaders study' monthly meeting) in which we review and discuss the resource.

I'm actually looking forward to these two books.

So what are you currently reading?

What series are you currently teaching on?

Books I'm reading: Not a Fan!!

Just started to read this book ...after I had seen several of my friends reading it. Should be good.

Tracks of a Fellow Struggler - A Review.

This little gem of a book was recommended to me as I was struggling to do a funeral of a young person recently. This short but meaningful resource gives basically 4 points.

1. The Basis of our Hope

2. Strength not to Faint.

3. Life is a Gift (Probably one of the best chapters that I appreciated and helped me in ministering to others)

4. Learning to Handle Grief. (This is probably one of the hardest things to learn and to do ...we can listen but empathy isn't what one should do)

The author is one from ministry and how he handled the loss of his own 8 yr old daughter years ago. First printed in 1974 and revised - I think this gem should be in every Church Leaders' library. Wish someone had recommended it to me sooner. Thanks to my friend, Jim D. for the recommendation.

Real Life Discipleship - Jim Putman - A review

"Unlike a lot of “How-to” books, Real-Life Discipleship takes the general ideas and breaks them down to help one learn the basics of the system that works - a system that worked for over 2 millennia ever since Christ taught it to His own disciples. Another useful thing about this book is the appendixes that have graphs and tables that help to identify the stages of faith the people are in right now to then help us address their needs more efficiently.

Real-Life Discipleship is a good book not only for ministers or those who are “leaders” in our standard understanding. It is also a good manual for the rest of us who are “people attending the Church.” Every Christian is a missionary with a mission - to share the Gospel with those God sends our way." This from one reviewer that I read.

As I read the book, I'm thinking I can't wait to discuss and see how can implement in the context of the ministry I'm serving. It comes with the book and the Training manual. One of my leaders suggested I get a copy for all the leaders I meet with. I think it would be good for discussion. Next month in my local network of church leaders (Our meeting is called Fusion) we're meeting to discuss the book and each have to review the book and assigned a chapter.

My own review ... I recommend this book for any church leader, current or future leader - and wish I had this resource when I was in Bible College and Seminary.

Books I've been Reading Summer 2011

Heaven is for Real ... And so is Hell.

I just finished reading the book "Heaven is for Real" a tale of a boy that during one of his surgeries had an out of body experience and supposedly went to heaven. Whether or not this is true ... it leaves one intrigued. The book itself just gives a history of the Burpo family and what lead to this Church leader's son at the age of 4 of them believing he went to heaven. From describing past events - the boy, Colton, never knew about and some of his strange sayings and behaviour.

Colton doesn't tell us anything new that we didn't know already that isn't in the Bible. What happens though, much like other books, (The Shack, Left Behind) is people get so caught up in this writing (The reading level is probably late elementary school with mostly dialogue) that they forget that alot of this is found in God's Word. They (People caught up in the fads of books like Heaven is for Real, The shack) almost put this on par as God's Word as if it were the gospel. (A Dangerous Road this reviewer says). This book can lead to some good discussions on - so what do you think about heaven? what about Hell? (Seems a lot of people talk about heaven, but forget about hell (You hear that Rob Bell?) The reality is that Heaven is for Real, and so is Hell ...means that we have a lot of Work to do for the Kingdom.

I don't know whether or not Colton Burpo went to heaven or not ... but do know that the first person I want to meet when I get there (like Colton) is Jesus. How about you?

Books on My "Reading Now Shelf"

What are you reading?

Revise Us Again - A Review ....

Ever want to start over? Or think the "Christian walk" has become too cheesy, too complicated, too deliberate?

Frank Viola writes on living from a renewed Christian Script. His writing is simplified and to the point. Sometimes too blunt but tells the truth. One of his chapters "Chapter 3" points out how people spiritualize their own answers to people's questions by rather than saying No ... say: "Let me pray about it" and never get back to the person.

If you want a short pointed book which can make you think Viola's Revise Us Again is it. I've read several of Frank Viola's books (Which some I really struggled, wrestled, and contemplated with - Pagan Christianity was one)

Disclaimer: I received this as part of SpeakEasy

Frank Viola’s extensive website: http://ptmin.org

Frank’s popular blog: http://frankviola.wordpress.com/

Top books that have Influenced me.

Besides the Bible. Here are some books that have shaped my thinking:

I. Daring to Dance with God - Jeff Walling.

II. The Peacemaker - Ken Sande.

III. Don't let Jerks get the Best of you.

IV. Preaching that changes lives.

V. They smell like sheep.

VI. The Church in the Bible - Don Dewelt.

VII. Gems of Biblical Doctrine - Denver Sizemore.

VIII. Messy Spirituality - Mike Yaconelli.

IX. Memoirs of Alexander Campbell - Richardson.

X. Seven Habits - Covey.

These are books that I have read again and again and helped me in my ministry.

Honorable mention:

Brothers, we are not professionals.

The book of Hope.

Pastors in Pain.

I think every church leader needs these books in their library.

What ones would you add?

Run With the Horses by Eugene Peterson - A Review

Run with Horses. The Quest for Life at its best. by Eugene H. Peterson Revised and Expanded. This book is an updated version of a spiritual classic. (Though I never read the original 1983). This 2009 edition was more than I expected. It gave a glimpse into what the life of the prophet Jeremiah would be like. At first when I was reading the book I didn't realize it was based upon Jeremiah at first. (I was kind of slow)

I liked that Peterson revised this version and put in some of the passages he used from the Message.  The author fills his book with a variety of stories and writings that gives insight into the life of Jeremiah.

Peterson asks a lot of questions throughout the book to get us thinking about life, the journey, and where was God ...

One of the hardest thing about the book is it got dry in some parts. I had to put it down and come back to revisit it. There were lots of quotes, stories, and entangled illustrations that at first didn't make sense. Peterson has some great books out there. For this to be called a classic ... I'm still scratching my head "Why?" Next time I think I might pass reading this book. Only 2.5 out of 5 stars for this one.

The Lion, the Mouse and the Dawn Treader: A Review.

I admit I'm a big C.S. Lewis fan. Before the books were popular I was reading  them. I had several youth ministers as a teen that told me to read these books (Mark Swezy, Bobby Heppner etc). I watched the BBC videos, I saw the animated films ... before the latest movies I was already hooked. Someone gave me this free book so I can use it on my e-reader to review.

One thing about McColman's work is that it is a companion to C.S. Lewis book: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Read that book first before reading this book. (Also don't just watch the movie either - otherwise this book won't make sense too)

What the author does is bring out the spiritual themes that seem somewhat hidden and what CS Lewis was trying to convey through the Voyage of the Dawn Treader and the Christian walk.

I like that Carl McColman doesn't insult our intelligence but rather helps his book be a good resource and companion to helping people see the spiritual themes C.S. Lewis was writing about without just coming out and saying it. Aslan's Table being that of Communion .... that of the end of the voyage ...really wasn't the end but just the beginning  ... and that not everyone gets to enter Aslan's country just yet. So many different themes. A good read, and can be done in a short sitting. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

What are the last three books you read in your E-reader?

I was just given a Nook. I've been enjoying it. Downlading some FREE books. I have two free versions of the Bible. (ESV and Holman-standard)

So here are the three last books I've read from my nook:


I. 100 quotes to Make you think. Wolfgang Riebe.


II. How to write a Great book and get it published. Tom Evans. (Eventually I like to do this but am happy with blogging for now)

III. The Lion, the Mouse and the Dawn Treader. Carl McColman.

Reading also Operations manual for churches.

What are you reading?

Fall to Grace by Jay Bakker - A Review.

Sometimes re-discovering something or finding out things the hard way is a part of life. It seems Jay Bakker has learned some things the hard way. If I was going to say anything about this book it seems Jay's story is about how one views God in tough times, relies on God's Grace and see how He (God) transforms people.

From his parents' scandal, to his own messy life, Jay is very frank, honest in his own dealings with life, grace, and how it changed him.

This book is very elementary in its reading, but thought provoking for anyone (Theologian to layperson). Some of his premises I might not agree with (Agree to disagree) but see the need to see people as God would see them.

One of the great things I liked about this book was it gave a raw feeling to those that were disillusioned with the church; and it didn't need to be so. One of the bigger drawbacks of this book was it seemed to deal with one theological issue that the church tends to frown down upon. (and where I would differ somewhat from Jay but also take his passion for taking people where they are).

A short read. If I was to review this I would give a 3.5 out of 5 stars...

(Disclaimer: I received this as a Viral blogger for the ooze.com)

PCs in the Ministry - A Review.

 Just finished reading this resource. ever wonder how to use your computer better?

Have problems with doing a podcast? Website or not?

This book looks at technology in ministry. Computers and Worship.

The tools to use. In the communication age and social media. Websites.Podcasts and Videos, computer Bible study, and implementation of all these resources.

This should be a textbook (or the MACs in the Ministry) for every student considering using technology. Each church needs to come up with its own social media policy and what they should or can be doning. The best advice I've been told is to start simple ... don't do everything .... and be authentic. The lists of websites and resources is well worth the book price alone. I'm keeping this resource close by. A 4.5 out of 5 stars.