Recent Reads

Hope you all are enjoying the end of summer--especially as you anxiously await for your kids to go back to school!

Sorry teachers : )

Every so often I get asked what I have been reading. And I must confess that I have spent more time reading this summer than what should probably be considered normal. But, for what it is worth, here is a list of the books I have read over the last few months along with some commentary. I have also included a star system to help signify the level of difficulty for each book. I recently recommended a book to one of my colleagues and she complained that it was a bit too dense. And who wants to read a dense book on their day off?!? What a de-motivator!!! So, one star means "a very easy read, accessible to all," two stars mean "moderately easy, but a bit dense at times," and three stars mean "fairly dense, and could get boring." Here we go...

Leadership Beyond Reason by Dr. John Townsend -- This book challenges leaders to develop and harness skills that go beyond the use of reason and logic. Townsend outlines how a strong awareness of intuitive aspects of the immaterial life--like an individual's values or emotions--can help guide a leader's decisions and improve their level of success. This book increased my own self-awareness and challenged me to be a more discerning leader. *

The Search to Belong by Joseph R. Myers -- This book presents a challenge to more traditional models of establishing community and a sense of belonging within the church. I appreciated Myers' concept of relational "spaces," but found many of his conclusions troublesome. You can find a more detailed review of this book below. **

Missional Small Groups by M. Scott Boren -- This book wrestles with the question of how to move small groups from a weekly commitment to a place of missional engagement. Boren presents a wide range of "rhythms" that he believes makes this transition possible. While I did not think that this book offered many new insights with regard to small groups, the desire to see small group become increasingly missional was most commendable. **

Present Perfect by Greg Boyd -- This is a book about practicing the presence of God on a moment-by-moment basis. Boyd takes the discussion started by Brother Lawrence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade, and Frank Laubach one step further. Arguably the most important spiritual practice a follower of Jesus can engage in on a regular basis, Boyd speaks with clarity and insight--providing a range of simple exercises for staying aware of and surrendered to God's loving presence in each moment of life. I would highly recommend this book. *

Spirituality for Ministry by Urban T. Holmes III -- This is a book that I decided to pick up when I saw it quoted in a few different places. Based on interviews with clergy from diverse denomination backgrounds, Holmes considers the role and responsibility of ordained clergy within the kingdom of God. Holmes was an Episcopal priest and he definitely writes from this vantage point. While I did not agree with all of his conclusions, the book is full of wisdom and insight. ***

The Way of the Heart by Henri J.M. Nouwen -- Nouwen is an incredible writer and thinker. He has the ability to put truly profound insights and truths about life and spiritual formation into the simplest of terms. In this short book, Nouwen explores the the practices of solitude, silence, and prayer as a means to connecting with and being transformed by God. Truly a great read. *

The Wounded Healer by Henri J.M. Nouwen -- In this books, Nouwen talks about how a person's woundedness can be used to bring about healing to others. While our weaknesses, struggles, and brokenness are often a source of shame and guilt for us, they can bring about healing and comfort for others as we extend the emotional healing we have received from God to those we come into contact with. Another great read. **

Can you Drink the Cup? by Henri J.M. Nouwen -- I guess this was the summer of Nouwen! This is another book on spiritual formation. Nouwen uses the metaphor of the cup to talk about living life to the fullest by holding, lifting, and drinking the cup of our lives. Many thought-provoking insights can be found in this short book. *

Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard -- This is a book about what is required for spiritual formation--that is, becoming more like Jesus Christ in every dimension of our living. I love Willard's holistic approach and emphasis on inside-out spiritual transformation. A must read! **

Covenant Marriage by Gary Chapman -- This is a book that my wife and I read together over the last several months. To be honest, many of the books we've read together on marriage have been subpar. But we found this one to be well-balanced. In fact, I have started giving this book out to couples engaged in premarital counseling. The chapters are short and easy to read. I would recommend just doing a chapter a night. *

Working With Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman -- Since the publication of his first book, Emotional Intelligence, Goleman has written extensively on the topic. The basic theme that runs through all of these books is that people skills matter more than IQ. In this particular book, Goleman outlines a variety of emotional competencies that are crucial for success and adding value in any place of employment. The book gets dry at times and lacks in the area of providing tangible steps toward building the emotional competencies discussed, but offers many challenges and insights nonetheless. **

That about does it!

Let me know if you have any recommendations!