As promised yesterday, here’s some of my non-fiction reading from this summer: Linchpin, by Seth Godin I heard from a lot of people who were challenged, encouraged, and moved by this book. I was distracted by the format which seemed more like a stream of consciousness. I thought what Godin had to say was good, [...]
From the category archives:
books
Christian worship is one of the primary arenas in which we participate in the practices that shape who we are. If our worship simply mimics the disciplinary practices and goals of a consumer culture, we will not be formed otherwise.” — James K. A. Smith
School started today and I’m ready for rhythm to return. Between a few trips and a handful of large web projects, it’s been hard to find rhythm. I’ve still been able to read some, but I haven’t spent time blogging about it. So to celebrate the end of summer, here’s a look back at my [...]
This past week, I finished working through The Good and Beautiful God with another guy from our church community. This book, penned by James Bryan Smith, is the first in The Apprentice Series — three books on spiritual formation. Admittedly, I was a skeptic, because I’ve seen lots of materials like this. But when I [...]
North American, Evangelical Christianity, has seen growing pockets of conversation in the last five years or so about how Christians should face issues of poverty and injustice. I’ve seen the conversation going on in megachurch circles, emerging church circles, house church circles, and everywhere in between. The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns, the [...]
At the Ecclesia National Gathering in February, my friend Jim Pace pulled out of his bag a galley copy of his now released book, Should We Fire God?, and handed it to me. Seeing Dallas Willard across the small conference room, I wondered aloud if I could get him to sign it for me. Thankfully, [...]
This week saw the release of ViralHope: Good News from the Urbs to the Burbs (and everything in between). It is a collection of writings by 50 different Christian pastors, writers, and thinkers that was compiled and edited by my friend, JR Woodward. I’m thankful to be one of the 50, as there are many [...]
I’ve had a few books come my way from InterVarsity which were timely reads for the current season of Lent and Easter to come: The Mystery of the Cross: Bringing Ancient Christian Images to Life, by Judith Couchman This is a book of forty short essays describing how the cross has been portrayed artistically throughout [...]
Much of my Christian journey over the last decade has been a growing understanding of how following Jesus shapes how we join God’s work in the world today. It’s not just that we are being formed to be like Jesus, but that we act with the intent of seeing God’s kingdom come through our continuation [...]
The title on my business card reads Local Theologian. Carrying that title means that I try to be an ongoing student of both theology and the local cultures of Austin. Theology comes in all forms, but one of my personal commitments is to continue reading books written at an academic level. Academic books can be [...]
I think I’ve read each book that Brian McLaren has authored. I’ve certainly reflected on a few of them on this blog. Between his books, and hearing him speak, and even a brief conversation or two, I’ve always been drawn to his genuine, and generous, spirit. While McLaren has garnered plenty of critique (and that’s [...]
Never accept and be content with unanalyzed assumptions, assumptions about the work, about the people, about the church or Christianity. Never be afraid to ask questions about the work we have inherited or the work we are doing. There is no question that should not be asked or that is outlawed. The day we are [...]
I have a mild obsession when it comes to historical Jesus studies. So when I was looking through the IVP catalog last fall at potential books to review, The Historical Jesus: Five Views was one I couldn’t pass up. Many in the Evangelical church world have been suspicious of academic efforts to recover the Jesus [...]
As I prepared for my last semester at Mars Hill Grad School a mysterious class showed up on the schedule. I didn’t need it to graduate, but I registered for it with no hesitation. The class was taught by Dwight Friesen and was called Kingdom of God and the New Sciences. The class came out [...]
