This intro is a re-post from earlier in the year that I wanted to publish again here as a preview to my much-requested reading list. I may eventually list some of my previous year’s reading as well.
Unless you don’t know me very well yet you probably know that I am a book geek… no, really… I am. It has always been that way. For the last 4 years or so I have upped the ante even by my own standards. I’ve been reading at least a book each week.
An honest and fair question would be… why spend so much time reading? I have asked myself that question repeatedly of late and thought I’d share some of my thoughts here. This is why I read:
- to practice humility… learning from others indicates I don’t know everything
- to make spiritual progress… I want to keep growing
- to understand divergent viewpoints… this year Buddhism
- to hone my teaching gifts… learning to speak in a way that is understandable
- to learn from great people’s stories… this year Obama & Billy Graham
- to stimulate myself intellectually… my reading grandmother lived to 99
In closing I share my favorite quotation on the subject. It is written on the bookmark I use to keep my place each week. Erasmus said, “When I have a little money I buy books… if any left over I buy food and clothes.”
I Sold My Soul On Ebay… Mehta
How to Become A Saint… Bernard
The Audacity of Hope… Obama
Messy Spirituality… Yaconelli
A Christianity Worth Believing… Pagitt
Chrysalis… Jamieson
It… Groeschel
Wild Goose Chase… Batterson
Gifted to Lead… Beach
Living Buddha, Living Christ… Hanh
So What’s the Difference?… Ridenour
Buddha… Armstrong
Jesus & Buddha… Borg
The Mission of God… Wright
The Answer… Pope
Church Unique… Mancini
The Blue Parakeet… McKnight
Sticky Church… Osborne
I Once Was Lost… Everts & Schaupp
Breaking the Discipleship Code… Putman
Doubting… McGrath
Axiom… Hybels
God Is Closer Than You Think… Ortberg
The Last Lecture… Pausch
The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham… Myra & Shelley
The Long War Against God… Morris
Can We Do That?… Stanley & Young
8 Habits of Effective Small Group Leaders… Earley
The Dad In the Mirror… Morley & Delk
Bono: In Conversation… Assayas
No Perfect People Allowed… Burke
Turning to Jesus… McKnight
Hogs In the Shadows… Afong
101 Ways to Reach Your Community… Sjogren
Fatal Illusions… Blumer
Compassion, Justice & the Christian Life… Lupton
Crazy Love… Chan
Christ Among Other gods… Lutzer
The Church of Irresistable Influence… Lewis & Wilkins
The Treasure Principle… Alcorn
The Secret Message of Jesus… McLaren
Launch… Searcy & Thomas
Lord, Save Us from Your Followers… Merchant
Starting New Churches On Purpose… Sylvia
The One Minute Manager Meets the Monkey… Blanchard
Obstacles Welcome… Vega
Culture Making… Crouch
Flickering Pixels… Hipps
90 Minutes In Heaven… Piper
Sin Boldly… Falsani
