Summer 2011 - Reading List

TO READ OR NOT TO READ...
MY ANSWER IS ALWAYS: TO READ!

You might wonder what books I am reading for this summer. I am an avid reader so I won't bore you with some of my pure vacation reads (new romance, sci fi and mysteries always top that list!). But I did get a new fictional book I am planning on bringing on vacation because I had a coupon at Border's: In The Woods by Tana French (a newer author). I also will read a sci fi series that Lindsey, our MBCC youth assistant, gave me as a gift (but it is at home and I can't remember the title of it).

So here are some of the books I am going to read that I wanted to share with you as I believe they will inspire, inform and engage me (and hopefully I can pass it on to you)...

11 Indispensable Relationships You Can't Be Without by Leonard Sweet

- I am reading this book because it is the book we are focusing our MBCC summer theme on and will be preaching from and using for Bible Explorers Christian Education.

A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix  by Edwin H. Friedman

- This book was recommended to me by a colleague that I trust. I am excited to learn from this book as I grow in leadership through my experience as an Associate Pastor at MBCC

A Heretics Guide to Eternity by Spencer Burke and Barry Taylor

- I bought this book years ago and never read it, sadly. But with all of the doomsday stuff and end times predictions... I thought I would pick it up and see what these two Christian "Emergent" Evangelical pastors/writers have to say about Eternity... I have heard good things about it in the blogosphere and took a class at Fuller taught by Barry Taylor which I enjoyed. I will report back!

Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell

- Well, I will reread it. I might do a book club at MBCC based on it for the summer, but I haven't decided yet. Brings up some good points. I might pick up a conversative rebuttal of Rob's thoughts to get some other perspective (Francis Chen's new book "Erasing Hell" - I have always appreciated his humble tone... and even though he wouldn't consider me a colleague as he doesn't support women as pastors or leaders... I still might read what he has to write about eternity).

I am hoping to pick up a new book or two at the General Synod conference of the United Church of Christ when I am in Tampa this summer, as well!

What are YOU reading this summer?