What Would Keller Read?

Westminster Bookstore is running a sale on titles on Tim Keller's summer reading list.

My Big 5

Steve McCoy has launched a series he's calling the Big 5 in which he'll be asking readers for book recommendations on select topics. In his first post he asks for five titles for a church's book table and gives the following guidelines: "Your 5 should be somewhat diverse. In other words, don't give me 5 books on theology only. Mix it up. And I know you want to list more than 5, but no cheating! Don't necessarily suggest your best 5. Get creative. Mention some others won't mention."

Boy, did I have a rough time whittling my list down to five (I was stuck at six for the longest!) but here, at last, are my picks. Check out Reformissionary to see what others recommend and add your own Big 5.

Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman (I reviewed this one here)

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey

Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp

Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen

Will Medicine Stop the Pain? by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Laura Hendrickson, M.D. (I gave a synopsis here)

Why Should You Read Good Christian Books?

Colin Adams gives 20 reasons (HT: Justin Taylor)

Recommended Reading for Cultivating a Christian Mind

Byron Borger at Hearts & Minds BookNotes lists his top picks for books on the Christian mind. I join him in wishing that "every church library and Christian leader's bookshelf included a few of these." Of course, I'd add Harry Blamires' The Christian Mind. (HT: Steve Bishop)

For The List-less

Number 5 on Guy Davies' list of Ten Things for a Christian Blogger reads "Do lists. People like lists." Guy's conviction about this is evidenced by a series of "ten things" posts including the following:

Ten things for the Lord's Day
Ten things for a Christian mum
Ten things for a Christian dad
Ten things for a new Systematic Theology
Ten things a Pastor needs to be
Ten things to do while singing hymns and Psalms
Ten things to do while preaching
Ten things to do in a prayer meeting
Ten ways to encourage a preacher

Here are some other lists worth pointing to:

Joshua at Church Redone is in the process of searching for a new church home. As a result of his quest he's assembled a list of 10 ways churches can keep people from discovering and/or connecting with them. Pastors in particular should check this out. (HT: Church Marketing Sucks)

Doug Groothuis has posted two lists of tips for getting the most out of reading. It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Dr. G. that one of his recommendations is to stop watching TV. If you, like me, need help with that one, check out this article from Tim Challies' archives that has continually haunted me since I read it almost two years ago.

Technorati Tags: blogging, television, church, reading, books

Theology, Where Art Thou?

In response to Christianity Today's list of the 50 most influential books in evangelicalism over the last 50 years, Philip Ryken asks Where, O Where Has Theology Gone? and makes a troubling prognosis:

There are plenty of experiential biographies, lots of "practical" books for family life and church management, but almost nothing in theology. The notable exceptions, of course, are Tozer, Piper, Stott, and in a way, Schaeffer. We could perhaps include a title that certainly should have made the list: Jerry Bridges' The Pursuit of Holiness. But where are all the books on the incarnation and the atonement?


Too often, the previous generation of evangelicals assumed its theology rather than defended it, especially in more recent decades. If history holds true, the coming generation will be the one that forgets the theology its fathers and mothers loosely accepted but did not inculcate.

CT's managing editor, Mark Galli, offers some explanation for the titles that made the list in the comments section of his personal blog (HT: Justin Taylor).

Suggested Reading

Doug Groothuis has posted a list of recommended reading for developing a Christian mind. Of course, I'd add Harry Blamires's The Christian Mind. What additions would you make?

Bibliophilic Habits

Though addressed to collegians, all of us can profit from heeding Byron Borger's counsel regarding learning to love good books. If you're not in college, just replace the campus-related distractions he mentions with those that apply in your context:

Still, it may seem nearly counter-cultural on some campuses to affirm that printed words still matter—deeply matter—and to stand by them in this media-drenched age. Even as we affirm the good gift of electronic culture and image-based technologies, to be faithful to God's call to develop your Christian mind by learning to "think Christianly," at some point you will have to put down the Xbox. Trust me: the late-night run for pizza will unravel to suck up your best quiet hours. The quality conversation about Syriana may feel like it is so very important but may have to wait. To read deeply, to read carefully, to enter into the rigors and joys and benefits of serious reading will mean setting priorities, making choices, and being disciplined. It will take curmudgeonly courage at times to see reading as a spiritual discipline and to go at it consistently and with firm intention. As in upholding our commitments to regular Bible study or prayer times, the 'busy-ness' of college life will demand that we regularly remember who we are, what our focal practices are, and why we do what we do. We will have to remember that we are people of the Book.

Borger concludes his essay with the following habits of the passionate book lover:

1. Make a schedule. Don't postpone your reading to the end of the day when you are most tired. Serious reading takes some serious commitments. Use the library or another favorite, quiet spot;

2. Carry a book with you almost all the time. You can dip in during 'down time' or during unexpected free time. You needn't be anti-social or a show-off about your bookwormish habits. Still, you'd be surprised how much reading you can do on the run;

3. Talk to people you trust about what they most enjoy and what they are reading. Talk about books with people you admire. Find a book-buying mentor and a bookseller who cares about you and your literacy and intellectual development. Read book reviews from a variety of sources;

4. Read in an interdisciplinary way. Wisely chosen novels can obviously enhance your non-fiction course work in pleasurable ways. Some good books come through serendipity and whim, but it may be helpful to have a plan, at least a list; and

5. Stretch yourself occasionally by reading the more serious books. Perhaps, explore a new and unexpected topic for a year, reading several similar books or books by the same author. But don't read exclusively arcane and heavy stuff. Light fare and sweets can enhance any diet.

(HT: Steve Bishop)

Christianity Today Book Awards 2006

Out of 240 titles, the magazine's staff selected 22 that they regard as among this year's best. Check to see if any of your favorites made the list.

What Then Shall We Read?

George Barna's findings about which books are having the greatest influence on pastors is stirring much-needed conversation about the general reading habits of Christians and the state of Christian publishing.

Peter Bogert at Stronger Church is asking for book titles pastors should recommend to their congregations. The categories he's looking for are: Bible reference, basic theology reference, God and salvation, following Christ, and home and vocation. Peter will post the results on his blog and Tim Challies will likely post them at Diet of Bookworms. Chime in with your suggestions.

What Are Pastors Reading?

Through sleep-deprived eyes I read the results of George Barna's most recent survey while waiting to board my 6 AM flight yesterday. The survey asked pastors what three books, read over the last three years, had the most influence on them. I was thinking about blogging on the findings but will direct you to Tim Challies' thoughts on the matter [HT: Between Two Worlds]. Tim asks, "If pastors don't read theology, who does?" and makes the following disturbing observation:

It seems obvious that the trend away from theology begins at the leadership level and filters down through the church. If only 9% of pastors have been influenced by a theological book in the past three years, how much less the average layperson?

Grateful for My Mother's Legacy

I enjoy putting people in touch with books that benefit them. I've likened it to the satisfaction a matchmaker must feel when he or she sees a happy couple whose meeting they arranged. In part, my joy comes from having someone else share in what for me is a source of great delight. Sometimes I consider while reading that I'm reading for others as well as for my own pleasure and edification. We never know how the ideas that we take the time to pour over will prepare us to be of help to others. Therefore, reading is a stewardship of sorts. It can be a means of equipping us to be better lovers of God and our neighbor.

Though I think of it often, today I'm especially mindful of my great gratitude to my mother. My love for reading and learning is the result of her influence. She read to me often when I was growing up and went so far as to record bedtime stories for me on evenings when she had to be away. She saw to it that I had a subscription to "My Weekly Reader" early on and I eagerly looked forward to ripping open the new books when they arrived in the mail. When I get flustered by my children's persistent "Why's," I remember how patiently my mother endured my curiosity and even encouraged it. How glad I am that she didn't pour water on the flickering flame of my inquisitiveness.

My mother didn't become a follower of Christ until after I became an adult but in God's good providence she nurtured gifts and interests now employed in God's service. Through mine, her life touches others (including any who enjoy reading any of my ramblings) to the praise of God's glorious grace in Christ.

Forthcoming Book Promises Balanced Analysis of Purpose-Driven Phenomenon

Here's an excerpt from a press release I received yesterday:

Harvest House Publishers has reached an agreement with bestselling author Richard Abanes (The Truth Behind the Da Vinci Code, April 2004) to publish a new book about Rick Warren, his Purpose Driven® message, and the ongoing controversies surrounding his multi-million copy bestseller, The Purpose Driven® Life.

Abanes’ new book, Rick Warren and the Purpose That Drives Him: An Insider Looks at the Phenomenal Bestseller (July 2005, ISBN 0-7369-1738-1) offers a fair and balanced look at the various criticisms that have been made against Warren’s Purpose Driven® concepts, examining closely what he really believes about God, faith, evangelism, and “doing church.”

Harvest House Publishers recognized the validity of publishing such a work after learning that Warren’s book, despite its popularity, is now drawing increasingly vocal criticism from some influential Christian leaders who are concerned with what they perceive to be Warren’s attempt to: “water-down” the message of the gospel, ignore important doctrines of traditional Christianity, and rely too heavily on “seeker-sensitive” models for church growth. Are such criticisms fair?

Noted author and researcher Richard Abanes—a former staff member at Warren’s Saddleback church and a well-respected authority on cults and new religions—is in a unique position to answer this question. “I’ve heard Rick preach for ten years and I’ve seen first-hand how his church is run,” Abanes states. “Criticism is a good thing and can be beneficial—if it is accurate. So I just want to help everyone get their facts straight.”

In Rick Warren and the Purpose That Drives Him, Abanes offers a concise history of Warren’s work and an inside view of the man behind the Purpose Driven® message. He then provides a balanced treatment of the most common criticisms and concerns leveled against Warren’s book and ministry, enabling readers to discover the facts that clarify the misconceptions. Also included is an exclusive interview with Rick Warren, who sat down with Abanes to talk about the phenomenon of The Purpose Driven® Life and to answer the questions that so many are asking.

Lord of the Dance? Faith and Art

The relationship between theology and the arts has been a subject of interest to me for some time. The tendency to devalue creativity that does not have an explicit religious function is unfortunate and incompatible with a thoroughgoing doctrine of creation and redemption. This week I had conversations with two young people who have questioned the legitimacy of their being involved in the arts. I mentioned Jeremy Begbie, a systematic theologian and accomplished musician, to both of them. Dr. Begbie is the Associate Director of the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts as well as the founder and director of the international research project, Theology Through the Arts.

Here are some other recommended titles (in no particular order):

• Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts - Steve Turner
• Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue - William Dyrness
• Reel Spirituality: Theology and Film in Dialogue - Robert K. Johnston
• Art & Soul: Signposts for Christians in the Arts - Hilary Brand & Adrienne Chaplin
• Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films with Wisdom & Discernment - Brian Godawa
• State of the Arts: From Bezalel to Mapplethorpe - Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
• Art and the Bible - Francis Schaeffer