Among many things I would have if I were wealthy in monetary terms, would be a beautiful library. I have a love affair with books, I worship at their altar I confess. Within their covers I can learn everything, explore, go on adventures, be other people, sample every diversity, ponder the cosmos. There is truly no bad place to read a book, but there are places where reading takes on a fine deliciousness all its own.
Herein, records my reading, dated and with short synopses of each that I complete. Feel most free to browse and if something strikes your fancy, ask for more details or get a copy and enjoy.
[Nov. 15, 2008] Ehrman, Bart D., Peter, Paul, & Mary Magdalene, New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. Using canonical and extra canonical sources, Dr. Ehrman explores the facts and myths that surround the lives of these three important Christian personages. Written for a general audience. (**** recommended)
[Dec. 4, 2008] Borg, Marcus and Crossan, John Dominic, The First Christmas, NY: Harper Collins, 2007. An exploration of the birth stories of Luke and Matthew. The theme is the use of Christian theology against that of the imperial theology represented by Rome. A very interesting and thoroughly enlightening look at both Evangelists and what they were attempting to do via their Christmas stories. Written for a general audience. (****recommended)
[January 3, 2009] Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, The Cost of Discipleship, NY: McMillan Publishing Co., 1976 (first printing 1937). Bonhoeffer in wonderful analysis describes what it means to be a real disciple of Christ. We learn of the cheap grace versus costly grace. He does a lovely job of interpreting the Beatitudes as well. This was written before his work with the underground to stop Hitler and before his incarceration in the death camps. A scholarly exercise in what discipleship truly is. (****recommended)
[February 20, 2009] S. Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling, (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1941). (No doubt more recent publishings are available today.) An exploration of Abraham’s offering to God of Isaac and the philosophical implications. S.K. uses this to explain and trace his own “sacrifice” of Regina, his fiance`. Various other “tragic” heroes are explored for input into the psychological state of the hero and what it teaches us. Not for the feint of heart, tough reading. (**recommended for the serious theology student)
[February 24, 2009] Victor Paul Furnish, The Moral Teachings of Paul, (Nashville: Abington Press, 1979). An exegetical look at Paul’s writings as they relate to marriage, homosexuality, women, and the Christian response to authority. Now in a third printing, this book, though dated remains on the mark. You can look at a analysis by me at http://godlytalk.wordpress.com. (****recommended)
[March 12, 2009] Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation. (NY: Oxford University Press, 2006) All meditation goes along basically the same lines. Sit, silence, mantra, focused attention. Variations are few. This is hands down the best I have ever read. It explains the steps, explains what to expect, pitfalls, obstacles, and how to define when you have reached each level. (*****highly recommended)
[May 2, 2009] Ann Spangler, Lois Tverberg, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith. ( Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009) See my review of this book under “book reviews.” This is really an excellent way to improve your understanding of Jesus’ message. Jesus as thoroughly Jewish, and knowing that will help any serious student better understand what he was saying and who he was. (****highly recommended especially for the pastoral student)
[May 11, 2009] Walter Wink, The Powers that Be: Theology for a New Millennium, (NY: Doubleday, 1998) Wink shows how Jesus’ mission was a non-violent resistance to the Domination powers of his day. He teaches the efficacy of how all beings and entities are infused with the Spirit, were created good, and what evil infests them can be transformed. We must learn non-violent resistance, by transforming ourselves and our world. This is the Kingdom God wishes us to have. (******superb, quite simply. A must read for any Christian.)
[May 16, 2009] Marcus Borg and J. Dominic Crossan, The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon. (NY:HarperOne, 2009) If you want to understand Paul and clear up the inconsistencies that appear in his “letters” this is the book. If you have been told and/or concluded that Paul was just not a friend to women or gays, then read this. If you have never understood Romans and Paul’s discourse on justification and grace and works, then read this. It’s a must for any serious student. Written for the average reader. (*****highly recommended for every Christian)
[May 27,2009] Tobias S. Haller, Reasonable and Holy:Engaging Same Sexuality, (NY: Seabury Books, 2009). An excellent examination of the issue of same-sex relationships and the Bible. Haller explores thoroughly all the arguments put forth against the recognition of gay marriage, and dispels them one by one. An excellent textbook for use in either college courses or in a church setting. Recommended highly to every thinking person to understand the subject. (*****highly recommended)
[June 9, 2009] Bart Ehrman, Jesus Interrupted: Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible (and Why We Don’t Know About Them. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009) Professor Ehrman continues to write great books for the average person exposing the realities of the Bible. No threat the faith, they simply put the book into prospective and help us better understand the life and times of Jesus and his followers. (*****highly recommended)
[July 13, 2009] Robert Wright, The Evolution of God. (New York: Little Brown & Co. 2009). Mr. Wright takes us on a scholarly tour of the bible, making a strong case that God evolves as humans have need of him to do to support human endeavors. Still, Wright argues that this doesn’t necessarily mean that God is wholly a human creation. And he argues that our major religions can work for good in the world, evidenced in their respective sacred texts, by returning to a belief that we are all involved in a non-zerosum game. Excellent reading. (*****highly recommended)
[July 22, 2009] Robin R. Meyers, Saving God from the Church: How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus. (New York: HarperOne, 2009). An absolutely must read for every church. Meyer’s reclaims Jesus from creedal belief and returns him to his rightful place as showing us the way to relationship with God through love and compassion, service and empathy. He shows how the Christ was a later development of a growing hierarchical church, and not the peasant from Galilea. He gives hope in reclaiming the tens of thousands who have departed, disgusted with churches that deny science and people who think, yet are spiritual and hungry to make a difference in the world. (*****highly recommended)
[August 5, 2009] Charlotte Gordon, The Woman Who Named God, (New York: Little Brown and Co., 2009) This is a delightful telling of the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar told from a literary perspective. The author has well schooled herself in exegesis, anthropology, archaeology, and theology, yet is able to weave a story that is compelling and beautiful. There is food for the serious student, as well as the more pastorally inclined. (****recommended)
[August 21, 2009] N.T.Wright, Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision, (Downer’s Grove: IVP, 2009). Wright is an acknowledged giant in the field of Pauline theology. Here he takes on John Piper and lays out his case for the covenantal theory of Pauline justification. Jesus is the always planned final conclusion of the exile and the God working through Israel for the world’s salvation. Informative in laying out the various theories and making his case. (****recommended)
[August 28, 2009] Jason Frenn, Breaking the Barriers: Overcoming Adversity and Reaching Your Greatest Potential, (New York: Faith Words, 2009). A prosperity type self-help book from a missionary evangelist. Lots of feely good information about how to live a God directed life and gain success and have your personal needs met. If you like that sort of thing. (* recommended only for evangelical types) [Book Giveaway]
[September 12, 2009] Bill Donohue, Secular Sabotage: How Liberals are Destroying Religion and Culture in America, (New York: Faith Words, 2009). Better titled, a book of my hates. Donohue goes back and forth between attacking all the usual suspects, (anyone who doesn’t agree with him) and touting his own efforts to stop these godless groups. He doesn’t approach proving his titled claim. (Not recommended) [Book Giveaway]
[October 23, 2009] Norman Habel, Literary Criticism of the Old Testament, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971) A nice overview of how literary criticism is done. Plenty of examples to show the student how the bible is revealed by such exegesis. Serious students of the bible will find this book helpful in laying out the basics of determining structure, style, forms and sources in defining Biblical passages. (*****highly recommended)
[November 12, 2009] Jeffrey Johnson, Got Style, (Valley Forge: Judson Press, 2009) A new look at evangelism and how personality types can be discerned and then used to effectively preach the good news. Excellent resource for churches and individuals who wish to get out the Good News. (****recommended)
[November 17, 2009] Von Rad, Gerhard, Genesis, ( Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1961) Considered a classic in the area of biblical exegesis. The material is dated in some respects but Von Rad is still considered one of the best. Worth the read, especially if read in conjunction with others on the same subject. (*****highly recommended)
Thinking nonstop since April 15, 1950, and expressing a good deal of it. My motto: Never let knowledge get in the way of an opinion. Come join in the conversation. 
