These books are not necessarily recommended or scored badly in any way. They are all just random books I’ve heard about somewhere and felt like reading at the time. With a goal of reading several books a year (hopefully 10), this will be an ongoing process.
The books at the top of this list are the most current reads. Thus, the further down you go, the less I’m likely to remember about each book. If you make any comments below, please refer to book by title so we can all understand your comments better. Also, you’ll see in RED print above the book my final thoughts as I’ve finished each read.
Thanks and God bless as you seek to discover Him through the power of the written word.
_________________________________________________________
I’ve only read about 2 chapters in this so far. The forward was so insightful, I had to put it down and contemplate what I was about to get into. The best thing is that she has started out with something along the lines of, “No book can tel you step by step how to take care of your baby. Every baby is different and even those differences have differing ways to accomodate. I just want to show you some general tips and ideas as I’ve learned in my many years of dealing with newborns.” I felt like she was being honest from the beginning and, even though I’m quite unprepared for this stage of life, I feel like she can give some great insights into what can be expected and how I might approach each. Come back later for a “post-baby” review!
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg
“GETTING ANY SLEEP?”
The Shack by William P. Young
It’s an insidious myth that all new parents must give up not only their sleep but their entire lives for the first year of a baby’s life. Codswallop, says British-born Tracy Hogg. Having worked with more than five thousand babies over the past twenty years, and dubbed “The Baby Whisperer” by her grateful clientele, Tracy has the unique ability to understand a baby’s every coo and cry. She can tell instantly whether a baby is hungry, tired, in real distress, or just in need of a little TLC. But her most amazing gift is her ability to teach parents how they too can “whisper” to their babies.
In this groundbreaking book, Tracy concentrates her vast knowledge (and huge doses of uncommon sense) into simple, accessible programs that parents can begin as early as the first weeks of a baby’s life. With these programs you will learn
(see review – lengthy – below this synopsis)
There has been a little controversy around this book. It’s embodiment of each person of the Trinity in differing ways has caused quite an uproar… just click on the book to the left and look up the reviews from readers and you’ll see the controversy. I will save my review until actually reading the book and not make any assumptions based on what I’ve heard about the book.
General story line is this: A loving father is horrified to find his young daughter abducted by a sexual predator. The previous four victims were never found, his daughter being the fifth victim. Somewhere in the process, his somewhat lackluster faith leads him to a meeting with each of the characters of the Trinity. What he finds there, in this shack, will change his world forever.
You can go to http://theshackbook.com/ to see the book’s website.
My review:
With all the controversy surrounding The Shack, I was going to ignore its presence. Then one day someone called and was picking up several copies and wanted to know if I wanted one, so I thought it might be nice to know what everyone seems to be talking about and asked her to get me one too. I let it sit around for several days, maybe even weeks before I got to it (I was reading some other books at the time). Then my wife picked it up, and read it in bits over a week or so. I didn’t hear much from her about it, but she did say at one point, “I can see why people have a problem with some of this.”
So, I went into reading the book with some hesitation and with some preconceived notions of my future disdain for the book and its “teachings.” I expected to feel sort of dirty by reading it; that somehow the darkness of sin and evil would overtake me. With some of the reviews I’ve read from various sources, I did not expect to enjoy this book at all.
So there, I said it…I enjoyed this book. I know, that’s probably not politically correct to say when you’re a minister, but I feel some honest perceptions need to be shared about the book.
Now, I will grant it that there are some themes that are quite odd – God the Father showing up as an African Woman, not unlike the Oracle in The Matrix movies. It wasn’t too difficult to relate to the representation of Jesus as just a normal guy…with somewhat “good ole boy” qualities. The characterization of the Holy Spirit as an Asian or maybe Middle-Eastern young woman was also hard to take…though I thought Young (the author) did a great job of trying to capture the mystery of the Holy Spirit’s essence. But, in all honesty…those were things I knew were coming. I had already prepared my heart by saying, “This is fiction…it is the author’s perception of what these characters ‘might’ be like.” And in so thinking, I didn’t have a problem with these representations…especially when the God figure explained that appearing to Mack (the main character) as a woman was for a purpose. With his horrible difficulties with his own father as a child, a “father” figure from God wouldn’t accomplish the purpose or will of God in this particular situation.
Once I got past those introductions (around chapter 5 – please don’t stop there), things started building steam towards a conclusion you will not expect. Now, honestly, yes…there were a few things or themes present that I don’t know if I agree with concerning the truth presented in the Bible. But, truthfully, I can’t think of one right now…which tells me they weren’t huge deal breakers for me putting the book down and that there were other redeeming qualities that outweighed those discrepancies. So, in a nutshell, I’d like to present 3 vague truths that I gleaned from the book that made it a worthwhile read for me, personally.
- God has no box. Some of the controversy surrounding God’s appearance as an African Woman has little or no basis. God appearing to Moses as a burning bush…what (or better yet, who) can say the God cannot appear in any form He desires? His form is boundless, endless, and cannot be measured. We put Him in a box when we assume He can only appear as a Gandolf-like figure from Lord of the Rings…or when we say He cannot appear in “any” form…He’s God…He has no box. When coupled with the characterization of Jesus and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit character), it was plain to me that I had created a box for the Trinity so that I could compute with my feeble brain what they “might” be like. In so doing, I limited them…and after reading this book, I am choosing not to limit them any longer.
- Rules versus Relationship: another overarching theme that I understood from this is the concept that God is not interested in our following some set of rules. He gave us free will for a reason…the opportunity to choose right from wrong, good from bad…He wanted us to choose Him over everything else. In so choosing, a relationship is made between holy God and fallen man…a relationship the book says mirrors the pre-fall relationship between God and Adam and Eve. So, I choose to take from this book that I have not been choosing wisely when it comes to this relationship. Relationship is not acquired by following a set of rules…it is gained through love for and with the other party, namely, God. We just need to stop following our own desires and start following Jesus.
- Love is ultimately displayed in God for His creation. When Mack is challenged to sit in judgment over his 5 children, sending 2 to heaven and 3 to hell…he simply cannot make such a horrific decision and finally comes up with the plan that he’ll gladly go to hell so all 5 of his children can go to heaven. He is then pointed to how God does the same for us…out of His infinite love, He came to earth in the form of Jesus for the purpose of taking on our sin, dying our death, and defeating death and hell by rising from the dead so that we should not have to face an eternity in hell. By understanding this, repenting of our sins and turning towards this love of God expressed through Jesus, we can “choose” life with Him, rather than life separated from Him. As a result of His love for us, and our love for Him, we should naturally seek to love everyone like He does. Reminds me of Jesus saying, “A new commandment I bring you, love one another, as I have loved you, you must love one another (John 13:34).”
So, if you can take some of the theological difficulties of the book, I think you just might find the above 3 points as well. Now, if you are seeking to find some theological guide for living; or you’re looking for the next big church growth phenomenon…you won’t find it here. This is not a theological text book, it is not a scholarly edition to be studied as truth…it is a fictional representation of what the author thinks God “might” be like in this fictional situation. Take it as such, and you just might find yourself finishing the book in a day (like me)…take it apart as anything other than this, and you most likely will find yourself disappointed, or disgruntled, or possibly even disgusted. But, please, don’t go there…it’s a worthy read, if for nothing else than to simply open your mind to the possibility that God is not in any box.
______________________________________________
(Finished Who Stole My Church with a fire under me. How can a fictional book have such insight? Sounds like the author has visited my church. This is a must read for anyone…staff or member…of any church in any town in any country. Change is inevitable, how you handle change is not.)
Who Stole My Church by Gordon MacDonald
I haven’t actually began reading the book itself yet, but I did read an article in a Worshiper magazine that was MacDonald somewhat summarizing the book and giving some specific instances from the book relating to worship. Here is the summary from Amazon and you can click on the book to go to the amazon.com page for purchase.
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. MacDonald (Ordering Your Private World) charts new territory in church growth books by turning what could have been a long list of dos and don’ts into a highly readable, even novelistic, approach to the subject. With himself as narrator, MacDonald creates a cast of church members in their 50s, 60s and 70s who meet each week to discuss where their church has been, is now and should go in the future. All I know is that someone stole my church and I’d like to get it back, says one. MacDonald delves into the feelings of the older generation as they watch new leadership take over, see changes in music and use of technology, and begin to wonder how they will fit in. He challenges their understanding of what the church is, then looks at the early church and the modern church and the many cultural influences that transform Christian spirituality. MacDonald is especially strong when he includes young people’s perspectives or brings research to bear on how people view and act on change. This is a challenging, innovative approach to a delicate subject. It’s sure to benefit church leaders and members of all ages who dream of a reinvented church. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
________________________________________________
(I’ll be honest with you and say that I skimmed the last several chapters. Though the great stories and testimonies of great and awesome comebacks were riviting, the banter in between about the “how” seemed to contradict the author’s opening statements of “Don’t try these at home, they most likely won’t work for you like they did for these churches.” Still a good read, especially for someone on staff of a church.)
Comeback Churches: How 300 churches turned around and yours can too, by Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson
This is sort of a follow up book to Rainer and Geiger’s Simple Church which our pastoral staff studied together for 10-12 months and made some structural changes in our church as a result of that study. This follow up book, talks a little further about some of the struggles and successes these “Comeback Churches” went through in that process. Again, below are some reviews, and click on the book for a direct link to purchase at Amazon.
Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church
“As a successful pastor, church planter, researcher, and advisor to thousands of churches, Ed Stetzer speaks from a wealth of experience with all kinds of churches. Now, in one volume, your church can benefit from his wisdom. This book is a winner!”
Thom S. Rainer, author of Simple Church, president/CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources
“First and foremost, it is biblical. Second, it is well researched. And third, it is immensely practical and applicable . . . this book should be in the hands of hundreds of thousands of pastors, staff, and church leaders. Simply stated, it is just that good.”
_______________________________________
(12-16-2008)- Our performance of the Messiah went very well. There were, of course, a few hitches here and there, but few performances ever go perfectly, if any. We hired professional strings (three 1st violins, two 2nd violins, two violas, and one cello), professional vocal soloists (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and lyric baritone), a trumpet soloist from the University of Georgia, and three of our own (our drummer as timpanist, pianist as harpsichordist on a keyboard, and organist as, well, organist). We had 44 singers in the chorus. My goal was 45 and we would have met that goal were it not for a few unavoidable circumstances. But still, the 44 were wonderful to work with. I greatly regret that we did not have even more time together. We had a wonderful time. The Schirmer score below wound up being less of an influence on my study than I originally thought. I spent way more time in my other score (more details when I’m in my office). It was the score I used in my studies at Seminary under Dr. David Keith. It was a gret experience.
(I am obviously still reading this one. Along with the Schirmer full score [with the dreaded tenor clef tenor line] and another slighlty less intensive full score I used at Seminary, I find this work most intriguing. I’ll be sure to let you know how our concert on Dec. 7, 2008 goes.)
Handel’s Messiah: An Oratorio
Schirmer Edition
You may think it funny that I’ve got a musical score on my “Books I’m Reading” list. Well, honestly, I actually spend more time in this book than the other two on my list. Our community chorus is presenting this amazing work in December, with me as conductor. That means I’ve got to know my stuff! So, I spend quite a bit of time in score study – which, for you non-musical types, means I’m looking at every part’s (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) notes and rhythms, trying to learn them myself so I can sing them as examples in rehearsals, looking for potential problem areas so we can rehearse them correctly the first time, and, quite frankly, I study the score to figure out how in the world I’m going to conduct it (recitatives, anyone?) I do enjoy the study, but it’s not just an open up and conduct and perform type piece. It will and is taking a lot of work.
I mention Schirmer edition under the title above – this is probably the most widely performed edition, though the Watkins/Shaw edition is surely pretty close behind. This particular edition sought to go to the most original Handel scores rather than trying to create the edition from a copy of a copy of a copy of Handel’s score (where mistakes get copied and new mistakes might be added). You can order the full score for many pages of history, reasons for editor’s choices, and performance suggestions for this work (I found it very helpful).
Reassuring, down-to-earth, and often flying in the face of conventional wisdom, Secrets of the Baby Whisperer promises parents not only a healthier, happier baby but a more relaxed and happy household as well.
(Summary by http://shop.nurturecenter.com/seofbawh.html)
_______________________________________________
I read a synopsis of “Who Stole My Church?” in Worshiper magazine a few months ago, and my interest was sparked. A pastor (a 65-year-old veteran – a loving, genuinely heartbroken man concerned about the friction in the church) was bringing together a group of disgruntled, older-generation church members in an effort to create dialog. It is a fictional work, but the character of the pastor is based on the author (Gordon MacDonald) and the church is based on several churches he has served. Since what I read sounded like what goes on at FBC, I decided to buy the book and read it.
The church is smaller then FBC, and has gone to a more contemporary format. Older members want a more traditional service. The pastor is older but embraces the changes (e.g., the pastor does not wear a tie). He brings together a group of discontented members. Both the pastor and the parishioners dread the meeting. The parishioners think the pastor is going to berate them for not embracing change; instead, he tells them he feels he has failed them. In this first meeting, the group shares concerns and complaints, going on and on until one woman finally says, “Someone has stolen my church, and I want it back.” (Most of these people just plain feel left out and forgotten about.) The members agree to meet on a weekly basis to work through concerns and issues, and to see if there cannot be some degree of agreement on how the church should function. As they meet, and issues arise, the pastor addresses each issue with prayer and scripture. He gently directs the discussions, but does not try to monopolize the conversations. Not everyone is completely satisfied with everything. One member quits the group. Nonetheless, a dialog is created where the older members hear and understand concerns of the younger members, and (just as important) vice versa. They bond with each other, and even begin to form friendships with younger church members. They also become better able to minister to those in the church and in the community. In essence, I think they become more Christ-like.
I don’t want to give away the specifics of the book so that you don’t need to read it. You do. Honestly, the book changed the way I look at how we “do church.” I sincerely believe that this book could serve as a model for us at FBC. I think the two main issues MacDonald stresses are dialog and teamwork. No group should feel that anything is being forced on them. All groups must share ownership of what goes on in worship, bible study, and outreach. But the leadership must lead, and biblical truth must not be compromised. Just how is this all accomplished? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Bobby,
I, too, enjoyed reading The Shack. Having been through a difficult time in my life (my husband lost his father on Jan. 25, 1999, and his mother on May 15, 1999 — just 3 1/2 months apart) I found The Shack to be comforting. It is a story that brings to life the fact that He knows the plans He has made for us.
I also read it quickly and could hardly put it down.
Mary Ann