For most of this year, I have had a self imposed book buying ban. I have rediscovered the library, and I am happy for that, but I do love to buy books. Reading them is great too, but oh man, I love to buy books. So this year has been difficult for me. But today, I got a great gift from a peer group that I participate in, a $100 gift card to Cokesbury bookstore. Cokesbury is like most Christian bookstores but with better books, it shames the woefully pitiful Family Christian Books and Lifeway stores (I won't even link to them).
I wasted no time. Within an hour of receiving the gift card, I found myself with an arm full of books as I scoured the goofy book arrangements. Finding a book in Cokesbury is a pain, but it was hurting so good. I passed by a ton of stuff, but I utilized my "clergy" discount and walked out like a child at Christmas. Here is what I picked up:
An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches by Ray Anderson- I wasn't familiar with this book and it was the last one to make the list. I had to put a few others down due to going over budget. But I decided to hold on to it, if for no other reason that it had endorsement from McLaren, Jones, Padgitt, Kimball, Franke, and Hunter among others. I guess that marketing stuff works. I do like how the chapters are titled, but I will get to this one down the road.
Like Fire in the Bones: Listening for the Prophetic Word in Jeremiah by Walter Bruggemann-
Okay, I picked it up, put it down, picked it up again, found the 25% off sticker, and kept it. This marketing stuff works. I was drawn to it for two reasons. One, I have a general disposition to anything that Walter Bruggemann writes, the guy is wonderfully brilliant, imaginative and provocative. I love him. The other reason was that I have had a desire to revisit the book of Jeremiah for a deeper study since preaching from the Jeremiah reading from the Lectionary on the first Sunday of Advent.
The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything by Brian McLaren-
I suppose I feel obligated for some reason to buy yet another McLaren book. I just can't help myself. I am so indebted to him for giving voice to deeply held, but not articulated beliefs and feelings. His generous spirit is such a refreshing model and I can't seem to find much to dicker with. I suppose we like to read stuff we agree with mostly and I sure agree with McLaren on a lot of stuff.
Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church by Becky Garrison
I can't remember where I heard about this book, I think it was at last year's Emergent Conversation, but I am excited to pick this book up. Garrison is the contributing editor for The Wittenburg Door and I am a sucker for religious satire. I anticipate some great insight with a good dose of humor thrown in. That will be nice to read for a change.
Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture by Michael Frost- This is a new book that I have had on my wish list as a pre-order. Frost was one of the authors of Shaping of Things to Come, which I am working through right now. I love this concept of Exile and certainly resonate with tensions of it. It is a bigger book that the others, but I expect it to be worth the effort.
Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense- N.T. Wright-
I have had this book checked out from the library and have been referencing it for a sermon series that Mike and I have been doing this Advent. This is a great book and I realized that it is one worth owning, not just reading and turning back in. If you have someone who is interested in Christianity, this is a super book to recommend. Wright is fantastic in most everything and his writing is very accessible.
Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor- Taylor is a the poster girl for why so many men are threatened by women preachers. We just can't do it like she can. She is remarkably profound and beautiful writer. Since Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, there have been that have criticized theology as memoir, but I say punt that. Miller's book was great and I expect this one to be as well.
And finally,
How (not) to Speak of God by Peter Rollins- It is hard to say, but I may be most excited about this book, just because I have had so many people rave about it. My friend, Keelan, was apart of the forming of the community that Rollins pastors. It is only 137 pages long, but I don't plan on rushing through this one. I hope my expectations haven't gotten too high, but I don't expect to be disappointed.
Finally, I recognize that it is Christmas and several of these books have been on my wish list. If you have already purchased this book, take solace in knowing that you picked a good one and know that I kept receipt and return one of the duplicates only to pick one of the several that I had to put back on the shelf. After all, I have a self-imposed ban on buying books this year.