Summer is almost here. School is almost over. Vacations are almost ready to start. I hope all of you have some extra downtime this summer.
I asked a number of friends to give me one of their top book recommendations for summer reading. The only "caveat" I gave them was to keep it on the easier side, since it is for summer reading. Why don't you make it your goal to read a book each month of the summer? Here is one list to get you started with some ideas.
Each book comes with a brief blurb and the name of the person recommending it. By the way, I am cutting and pasting their comments with NO editing. And when I do this from other documents, the transfer protocols do funny, messy, mysterious, unordered inexplicable things to the text. So, if the fonts are different - it is not by choice.
Thanks to these friends who are avid readers, learners, mentors, teachers, motivators, and conversation partners.
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Recommended by Aaron Brown (LWCC, Sr. High Ministry)
For a good summer read, I’d recommend My Name is Russell Fink by Michael Snyder. It’s technically a Christian fiction, but doesn’t read like a Christian fiction, which is why I loved it. Snyder managed to create this great balance of irreverence for all that we sometimes make Christianity out to be and deep awe how God moves in our midst. Russell Fink is a starving artist stuck in a horrible job with a narcissistic fiancé, self-medicating mother, washed-up televangelist father, and an old hound dog that becomes prophetic when drunk on whisky-soaked doggie biscuits. It involves a doggie murder mystery and a roommate engaged to an astronaut. What more do I need to say? It’s a journey through the messiness of life that leaves us with a tangible and beautiful picture of hope and redemption.
Recommended by Miriam Philipps (Coach/Mentor, LCI Partner, and Guest Blogger from Amsterdam) Blink by Malcolm Gladwell (the author of The Tipping Point) has been a book everyone I've suggested it to very much enjoyed. This is fast-paced writing about snap judgements and first impressions, told with dozens of engaging stories and accounts of studies backing his premises. Raising our awareness about our own snap judgements and those of others goes a long was to helping us make use of these impressions and to avoid their pitfalls.
Recommended by Connie Milchling (Worship Arts Director, LWCC) In my ideal world I would go through this the way Sittser designed it … as a J-term class for Whitworth University on Christian Spirituality {offered over the course of a few weeks in January in the winter beauty of an isolated camp in the Pacific Northwest Cascade Mountains region}. But, since I live in the real world, not the ideal world, I read it in my sacred space, at home, in the springtime. Based on 15 years of research and study,Water from a Deep Well: Christian Spirituality from Early Martyrs to Modern Missionaries looks at stories and practices of Christian believers throughout history as a means of shaping contemporary faith. Sittser considers past rhythms such as sacrifice, simplicity and community, (among others), in chapters titled: witness, belonging, struggles … all through the lens of informing and enriching our present-day spirituality.
Recommended by Deb Turnow (Spiritual Director, LWCC)
Coming up for Air by Margaret Becker This book will appeal to women more than the guys. It is her own story about taking a month off (don't we all wish we could do that) to re-evaluate her life and regain her equilibrium. Great read with humor and also practical application for being intentional about living into what we say we value. Deb also sneaks into a second book, Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller.
Recommended by Aaron Kunce (Pastor of Marriage and Family Life and Poet)
Christianity Beyond Belief by Todd Hunter Applies fresh language, straight talk, and winsome reasoning for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. I experienced ‘the scales’ falling off my eyes while reading this. Nearly every page has highlighted phrases and underlined stories and quotes. And sneaking in one more, Aaron also recommends The Prodigal God by Keller. As you can tell, I have sneaky friends who read too many good books for them to give just one suggestion.
Recommended by Chris Smith (Worship Director, LWCC)
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell is fascinating, well-written and germane to the topic of leadership. One of the central premises of the book is that success is not merely a result of individual merit, IQ, talent, etc., but that the communities we come from play a large part in determining whether we flourish (or not). Several times I have said to Beth, "Honey, listen to this...or check this out..." So I would heartily recommend this book. Great for reading on the beach...or at your favorite vacation destination.
Recommended by Celesa Hagan (Small Groups Ministry)
Wide Awake by Erwin McManus . . . God has used this book in my life to open my eyes to the “future that is waiting within me”. I had been sleep walking through life. There were unfulfilled dreams and longings that I am now moving toward. Recognizing that it is my responsibility to maximize the talents and skills God has given me, I am now wide awake and ready to embrace my role in human history.
(teacher, blogger, book reviewer for Thomas Nelson)
The Noticer by Andy Andrews . . . "Sometimes all a person needs is a little perspective" I found this book enjoyable and challenging. The Noticer is a MUST READ book. Andy has described people from all walks of life in his book. I found myself "hooked" in chapter one and I couldn't put it down. The main character, Jones, a career noticer weaves his way in and out of the lives of many people in a small Southern town. I found myself often resonating with the characters. Then I would be challenged by the perspective Jones would offer. My favorite piece of perspective from Jones occurs in chapter one, "The view is great on the mountaintops - they're also cold and rocky. To grow we must come off of the mountain and go through the valley.... Think. Learn. Pray. Plan. Dream. For soon... you will become."
Recommended by Lanny Kilgore (Pastor NCCC)
Recommended by Rob Tucker (Pastor Young Adults, LWCC)
Brennan Manning: The Furious Longing of God is a devotional style book, written in a manner that only Manning can pull off. It is poetic, but not too lofty. It is deep, but not over my head. I appreciate his continued themes of grace, forgiveness, and the love of God that, when grasped, will fully change who we are. For those who continue to look for God's complete and utter healing in their lives, this book will help you in that journey.
Recommended by Gordon Carpenter (Worship Arts, LWCC) The Divine Nobodies, by Jim Palmer (not the baseball player)
I think the description on the book says it well: “What does a Hip-Hop artist, Waffle House waitress, tire salesman, and disabled girl have to do with discovering spiritual truth? What if embracing authentic Christianity is a journey of unlearning? Welcome to Jim Palmer's world!”
Jim Palmer was a rising star in the pantheon of evangelical leaders, but after a series of setbacks he left the ministry a very broken man. Through a series of encounters with ordinary people he sees God at work and he begins to rediscover God in new ways. Jim’s stories as told in Divine Nobodies are honest and real dealing with his struggles, doubts, and frustrations with God, the Church, Christianity, and much more. As I read his book I had my journal close by because God spoke deeply to me about my own struggles, doubts, and frustrations with God, the Church, Christianity, but especially me. I laughed, I cried, I hungered for a deeper and more intimate relationship with God as shown possible in Divine Nobodies. What a delight to read and soul refreshing!
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Well, this is a start for book recommendations by some of my friends who are avid readers. Tomorrow I'll post a list of leadership books that have been best sellers and whcih are well worth reading.
Be sure to "hug a good book" this summer.
Brian Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
p.s. While this book recommendation post "has not" been sponsored by Hearts and Minds bookstore in Dallastown, PA, you can still get all these books there. Visit them at their website:
And by the way, if you have any good books you would like to recommend, leave a comment telling us about the book.
