Powerful words come in small books. By the Word Worked is a small book, a book developed from a series of lectures on preaching by the Episcopal priest Fleming Rutledge. What does she mean by the title? Rutledge places the emphasis on the One animating the Word. The issue is not the preacher but God…
The Scandal of Holiness: Renewing Your Imagination in the Company of Literary Saints by Jessica Hooten Wilson “Stories are capable of inspiring people to change their lives,” writes Jessica Hooten Wilson. She then builds a case for gaining holiness through reading fiction. Here’s a quote that will capture your attention: “I would argue that reading…
When I first wrote this “What I’m Reading” blog I never imagined it would serve as a testimony to Timothy Keller’s life and ministry. Like many of you, I was saddened to hear of his recent death. Keller’s writing and teaching ministry had a profound impact on the church in the first decades of the…
There’s two subjects I enjoy reading about — rock and roll and creativity — and this book combines both of them. Rick Rubin is an illustrious record producer. Besides his work in rock and roll and rap, he resurrected Johnny Cash’s career on his American Recordings. Even if you’re not a music fan, you will…
Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren Tish Harrison Warren is becoming one of my favorite authors. In Liturgy of the Ordinary, she weaves the spiritual disciplines into the daily routines of her life. Here are some examples: Here are a couple of quotes to whet your appetite: “. . . following Augustine, [who]…
What am I reading? Are you ready for a surprise? I’m reading poetry! I’m always on the lookout for new and fresh ways to reflect on the Easter season. One way I’m seeking the Lord this Easter is through reading poetry. May I recommend Malcolm Guite’s book The Word in the Wilderness: A Poem a…
The Color of Compromise: The truth about the American church’s complicity in racism by Jemar Tisby. Want a book that keeps you up at night thinking? The Color of Compromise is one of those books. Why is it so provocative? Pastor and author John Piper has been quoted as saying, “We all have blind spots…
Stewards of Eden: What scripture says about the environment and why it matters by Sandra L. Richter Richter’s book will turn the most conservative among us into “tree-huggers.” Like most conservative evangelicals, the environment hasn’t been on my radar. I’ve associated the environmental movement with restrictive policies on the advance of business and development. Richter,…