NOTE #1 - And as always, these are NOT books that have necessarily been released this year, just ones that I have read.
NOTE #2 - While all of these lists are obviously my humble opinion please do not think I am completely wrapped up with my own opinion or conceited enough to believe that everyone is dying to read what I think about books, movies, music, etc. I know it's not the number 1 thing on your list today and I'm doing it for pure entertainment and because it's fun to hear what other people have to say as well. I'm looking forward to reading your own lists as much as I look forward to creating my own.
My favorite Non-Fiction Books of the Year (#'s 6-10)
6. God’s Greater Glory – Bruce Ware-This was a strange book for me to read as I am not close to a Southern Baptist Seminary student, nor am I a hyper-Calvinist. But I did find this book extremely thought provoking and enlightening as to what the "meticulous providence" school of theologians think and I believe Ware laid out a compelling case for his view including an explanation of compatablist middle knowledge and freedom of inclination. Well written and thought provoking. It proves that you don't have to agree with everything a book is saying for it to be worthwhile and good.
7. The Way of Ignorance – Wendell Berry
Another great book of thought provoking essays. Even the ones about agriculture and farming were somehow interesting. I've never read any author before and thought, "it would be cool to be a farmer and work the land." But Berry does that to me every time. There's something cool about a farmer who types essays and novels on an old typewriter at home and has his wife as his editor. Wendell Berry's awesome.
I read Joe Myers first book, "The Search to Belong" and found his ideas of creating different "spaces" for people interesting as well as why everyone should NOT be in a small group even though most churches goal is 100% small group involvement. Myers most recent book develops what this kind of organic community looks like a little more specifically. Plus even though you can read this in about two sittings, it gives you many ideas to think through.
I read this book before I did a personal study of the book of Genesis (also my favorite book in Scripture) earlier this year. This book is easy to read and helps you read and understand the form and structure of the book making your read through Genesis much more fruitful. I highly recommend reading this book before you start through Genesis.
This is the story of two young men who decide to live on the streets homeless in six different cities for around a month each (one of those is Portland). The stories they tell and insights they have into the homeless world are intriguing. You will think differently when you pass someone on the street asking for money after this read.
So there is 6-10. I will post 1-5 tomorrow. Hope you can sleep tonight :)
3 comments:
here's the list Rob Bell put on Nooma's site. Some of the ones he or his administrator told me to read are on this list. I don't have those emails anymore. They're about 5 years old now.
Walking The Bible : A Journey By Land Through The Five Books Of Moses (Bruce Feiler)
Jewish Spirituality, A Brief Introduction For Christians (Lawrence Kushner)
The Jewish New Testament Commentary : A Companion Volume To The Jewish New Testament (David Stern)
Excavating Jesus : Beneath The Stones, Behind The Texts (Crossan and Reed)
Biblical Literacy : The Most Important People, Events, and Ideas Of The Hebrew Bible (Joseph Telushkin)
Understanding The Difficult Words Of Jesus : New Insights From A Hebraic Perspective (Bivin and Blizzard)
Desire Of The Everlasting Hills : The World Before And After Jesus (Thomas Cahill)
Everyman's Talmud : The Major Teaching Of The Rabbinic Sages (Abraham Cohen)
Sketches Of Jewish Social Life (Alfred Edersheim)
Jewish Sources In Early Christianity (David Fleusser)
The Five Books Of Moses : Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy (The Schocken Bible Volume 1) (Everett Fox)
The Women's Torah Commentary : New Insights From Women Rabbis On The 54 Weekly Torah Portions (Elyse Goldstein)
God In Search Of Man : A Philosophy Of Judaism (Abraham Joshua Herschel)
The Bible As It Was (James L. Kugel)
The Source (James Michner)
The Science Of God : The Convergence Of Scientific And Biblical Wisdom (Gerald L. Schroeder)
Slaves, Women And Homosexuals : Exploring The Hermeneutics Of Culture Analysis (William J. Webb)
The Divine Conspiracy : Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God (Dallas Willard)
Our Father Abraham : Jewish Roots Of The Christian Faith (Marvin Wilson)
Following Jesus : Biblical Reflections On Discipleship (N.T. Wright)
For All God's Worth : True Worship And The Calling Of The Church (N.T. Wright)
The Jews In The Time Of Jesus : An Introduction (Stephen Wylen)
Jesus The Jewish Theologian (Brad Young)
I purchased several of those and I have to say they have aided me quite a bit and have led me to other good researches/reads.
I'm with you a little bit on Rob. I also some times think that because he can't teach the way he likes to teach for 6 hours at a time, he has to focus a lot on certain things, thus leaving out some pretty integral theology. But, his theology may well be different than mine. I know Brian McLaren's is. I know that Mark Driscoll's is. I know that Rick Warren's is. Why not Rob?
I don't think Rob reinvents things, but I think he chooses particular angles that others don't. Most of the time it's been a good thing. Some times, however, it's been questionable. I download his sermons from Mars Hill and I have to say things have been sounding very off to me. But I can't pin it down, really.
Like your blog. Keep posting good stuff.
Really liked Under the Overpass. Good read. Makes you think differently about things. I also want to meet the homeless guy (I think he's in Portland) who hides in a bush and jumps out and scares people while spectators watch on the other side of the street and give him money for his service!!! High Comedy.
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