Currently, I am reading (or just finished) a number of books. A quick survey of my reading list:
1. The Brothers K by David James Duncan--I finished this book earlier last week, and it continues to reverberate in my soul. Three themes, in descending order, form the basis of the story: family, faith, and baseball. Of family, the book affirms the messiness and dysfunction of a unique family in a very unique time in the history of our country (Civil Rights and Vietnam era). Even as the dysfunction is presented, alternately funny and tragic, love is revealed to undergird everything. Furthermore, it is a transcendant love, present in spite of the pathologies of the family members. Which leads to an amazing study on faith. In some sense, faith is a generic "thing" which, like baseball, is a ubiquitous, bittersweet and influential presence throughout the life of this family. Mom is a devout Seventh Day Adventist; Dad a nominal Episcopal; Peter a practitioner of eastern religions; Irwin a devout Adventist trying to integrate faith and life in impossibly turbulent times; Everett the rebel atheist who does not just flee the faith but remains a fierce antagonist throughout; and Kincaid the "conscience" (and supposed author) of the tome who manages to hold all matters of religion at something of an arm's length. Like family, God is revealed as a transcendant Being whose love and faithfulness persist despite the deep, deep flaws of all persons. (Sounds an awful lot like the Gospel.) In the end, the book evokes a wonderfully rich and sympathetic view of Christianity. Finally, the book is about baseball. The game serves as a sort of metaphor that establishes, grounds, and occasionally explains this complex family. It is, at the very least, the canvas upon which the family is drawn. In the end, family, faith, and baseball are the sub-themes of the overriding, primary theme: love. This book will be required reading for the Else children when they come of age (it earns a solid "R" rating).
2. Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer--I finished this surprising little book last night. It was lent by a friend as I confided in her about many questions I've been having regarding leadership and call. Palmer, a teacher, writer, and activist, presses some very good, hard questions in regard to leadership, spiritual health, and inner calling. He challenged me greatly in considering my own insecurities and questions, and his relaxed, self-revealing manner winsomely expressed many "take-away" principles for leadership. Using the four seasons as a metaphor for self-discovery, his elucidation of "spring" was a great "a-ha" moment for me. When we are humble, we are growing into something new. Palmer writes, "the humiliating events of life, the events that leave 'mud on my face' or that 'make my name mud,' may create the fertile soil in which something new can grow. Humility is, in so many ways, the opposite of fear. Fear seeks to preserve, and implies stagnation. When we humbly submit to God's guidance, we are surely going to be humbled and prepared for something new, for this is the God who is making all things new. This encourages me to embrace my fears and allow God, who cares for me, to do his work.
3. Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis--This is my fourth time through the Chronicles of Narnia series with the kids. Isaiah and I are moving at a snail's pace, as this is probably a bit above what he is able to imagine or comprehend (though the battle scenes help). This book, perhaps more than any of the others in this great series, explores the Christian virtues exceptionally well and imaginatively.
4. Heart Aflame: Daily Readings from Calvin on the Psalms--This is my current daily devotional (actually, I alternate between this and the Daily Office Lectionary). A quick skim of Calvin's work suggests the great Genevan reformer, pastor, and theologian was a brusque, angry, and sharp-tongued misanthrope. Closer inspection, however, reveals Calvin as a thoughtful, humble (however certainly sharp-tongued) exegete who sought in all things to "love God with all your heart, soul, and mind...and your neighbor as yourself." We seldom consider Calvin as one overly concerned with the latter, but here his desire and call to love neighbor shines brightly.
5. The Jesus Creed by Scot McKnight--Speaking of "love God...and love your neighbor," in this simple tome (I am reading the student edition) the call is clear. This well-written, concise, and winsome book presents a thoughtful and challenging approach to Christian discipleship. We are currently working through this book in Consistory.
6. Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down by Marva J. Dawn--Dawn is one of my conversation partners for this learning unit (in my doctoral program). One of our challenges at FCC is to be not "seeker-senstive" or "seeker-driven" but, rather, "seeker-comprehensible." What we do in worship is critically important is our formation as Christians; it is equally important as "counter-formation" against the powers of the world. We are being shaped through the cultural idolatries of the world in most every moment of our lives. Worship serves as a counter-measure to such formation. As lead worshipers enlivened and taught by the Holy Spirit, we bear the huge responsibility of shepherding God's people in this transformative work. Dawn's book describes the current state of life, church, and worship, and proceeds to elaborate on a theology of worship with an eye on practice.
7. Worship, Community, and the Triune God of Grace by James B. Torrance--I have not yet started this book, but it is next on the list and I hope to get humming on it this week.
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