As long as I'm at it, something I meant to post over a month ago: Dr. Lose's HuffPo article on Rob Bell's new book, Love Wins.
I bought the book, I've been enjoying Rob Bell's stuff for years (I think I've given away at least a dozen copies of Velvet Elvis, and am grateful to Jordan Baker for first giving a copy to me).
From the reviews I've read, I suspect in this particular instance Rob and I favor the same kind of heresy.
Someday I'll have time to read stuff beyond the class syllabus, then I can tell you for sure.
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book review. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Quick Book Reviews
I've had an ever-growing stack of books sitting by the computer for several months now, things I've read that I've intended to review on the blog. I just want to cull the pile a little at this point, so here are some pithy insights into:
They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insight from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball
The jist: Kimball is an evangelical pastor who realized that he spent all his time with churchy/churched people, and that wasn't cool, so he started purposely holding office hours in coffee shops and such, and started chatting up the non-churched/de-churched folks he met there. He discovered most of these folks didn't have such a problem with Jesus the man, the rabbi, even Jesus as the Son of God - their beef was with the institutional church, which they perceive to be: pushing its own political agenda; too male dominated and oppressive of females; homophobic; arrogant; fundamentalist; etc.
Kimball is mainly speaking to fellow evangelicals, and trying to couch these well-deserved critiques in language that will actually be heard and taken to heart. To the extent that all pastors are prone to the occupational hazard of only hanging out with churchy people, and to the extent that the mainline is subject to the same perceptions (or misperceptions) about the church, this book is helpful in revealing what non-churched folks are thinking and what mistaken narratives need to be retold and which paradigms need to be broken open both within the institution of the church and within the hearts and minds of those outside the church.
BUT, at the end of the day, Kimball is still an Evangelical, and I am still a Lutheran. He's ultimately going to say you've got to make a choice for God, when I'm ultimately going to say that God makes a choice for you. Maybe it's due to this insurmountable chasm between our understanding of God, but throughout the book I couldn't shake the feeling that his theological underwear was showing - like, he's going to these great lengths to befriend people and earn their trust and show them he's not your stereotypical smarmy tract-dropping evangelist, but his underlying agenda is still to lead them to a Come to Jesus moment, begging the question - does a gentler, more patient altar call make it any less creepy? To me it still feels smarmy and underhanded, but I will give the Holy Spirit the benefit of the doubt - perhaps this is the way the Gospel is reinventing itself among this particular expression of the body of Christ.
Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms, edited by Rolf Jacobson
Full disclosure: I am completely biased, as I went to seminary and/or am friends with most of the folks responsible for this little volume, which is both educational and entertaining. Accessibly unpacks weighty theological terms and ideas with a liberal dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Every church library should have a copy on its shelves, and every pastor should be sure to read it. In addition to enlightening your mind and spirits, it could be a great tool for launching discussions in confirmation, bible study, council meetings, etc, and/or a great gift for your favorite church nerd!
The Shack by William Paul Young
It seems people either love or hate this book, very few folks I've talked to are indifferent to it. Personally, I find Young's writing style kind of annoying, and there are some theological points with which I would quibble, but on the whole I appreciated the way he takes some very deep, difficult process theology (much of which I would agree with) and explains it in a way that is highly accessible, and opens people for whom these are entirely new thoughts to thinking about and discussing these ideas together. We pastor types can learn from that, or at least use this book as a tool to open up such discussions and ideas with our people (case in point: this was our selection for September's book club, and it was the best turn out and best discussion to date). Breen had essentially the same take on the book (both complaints and appreciation), so she adopted a reading strategy to put the book down and walk away for awhile every time she felt herself becoming too literarily or theologically critical, before she got irritated enough to stop reading altogether. I read the bulk of it on a layover back from MN in August, and it was the only book I had on me, so I just kept plugging along, but I think I like her strategy better. Especially if you find yourself feeling like you "hate" the book - just put it down for a while and come back to it.
They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insight from Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball
The jist: Kimball is an evangelical pastor who realized that he spent all his time with churchy/churched people, and that wasn't cool, so he started purposely holding office hours in coffee shops and such, and started chatting up the non-churched/de-churched folks he met there. He discovered most of these folks didn't have such a problem with Jesus the man, the rabbi, even Jesus as the Son of God - their beef was with the institutional church, which they perceive to be: pushing its own political agenda; too male dominated and oppressive of females; homophobic; arrogant; fundamentalist; etc.
Kimball is mainly speaking to fellow evangelicals, and trying to couch these well-deserved critiques in language that will actually be heard and taken to heart. To the extent that all pastors are prone to the occupational hazard of only hanging out with churchy people, and to the extent that the mainline is subject to the same perceptions (or misperceptions) about the church, this book is helpful in revealing what non-churched folks are thinking and what mistaken narratives need to be retold and which paradigms need to be broken open both within the institution of the church and within the hearts and minds of those outside the church.
BUT, at the end of the day, Kimball is still an Evangelical, and I am still a Lutheran. He's ultimately going to say you've got to make a choice for God, when I'm ultimately going to say that God makes a choice for you. Maybe it's due to this insurmountable chasm between our understanding of God, but throughout the book I couldn't shake the feeling that his theological underwear was showing - like, he's going to these great lengths to befriend people and earn their trust and show them he's not your stereotypical smarmy tract-dropping evangelist, but his underlying agenda is still to lead them to a Come to Jesus moment, begging the question - does a gentler, more patient altar call make it any less creepy? To me it still feels smarmy and underhanded, but I will give the Holy Spirit the benefit of the doubt - perhaps this is the way the Gospel is reinventing itself among this particular expression of the body of Christ.
Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms, edited by Rolf Jacobson
Full disclosure: I am completely biased, as I went to seminary and/or am friends with most of the folks responsible for this little volume, which is both educational and entertaining. Accessibly unpacks weighty theological terms and ideas with a liberal dose of tongue-in-cheek humor. Every church library should have a copy on its shelves, and every pastor should be sure to read it. In addition to enlightening your mind and spirits, it could be a great tool for launching discussions in confirmation, bible study, council meetings, etc, and/or a great gift for your favorite church nerd!
The Shack by William Paul Young
It seems people either love or hate this book, very few folks I've talked to are indifferent to it. Personally, I find Young's writing style kind of annoying, and there are some theological points with which I would quibble, but on the whole I appreciated the way he takes some very deep, difficult process theology (much of which I would agree with) and explains it in a way that is highly accessible, and opens people for whom these are entirely new thoughts to thinking about and discussing these ideas together. We pastor types can learn from that, or at least use this book as a tool to open up such discussions and ideas with our people (case in point: this was our selection for September's book club, and it was the best turn out and best discussion to date). Breen had essentially the same take on the book (both complaints and appreciation), so she adopted a reading strategy to put the book down and walk away for awhile every time she felt herself becoming too literarily or theologically critical, before she got irritated enough to stop reading altogether. I read the bulk of it on a layover back from MN in August, and it was the only book I had on me, so I just kept plugging along, but I think I like her strategy better. Especially if you find yourself feeling like you "hate" the book - just put it down for a while and come back to it.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Down and Dirty Reviews
Ok, these will be quick, but here's my take on some of the stuff I've been watching and reading of late:
First, a film:
Death at a Funeral
Hilarious dark comedy from Britain. Every pastor should watch this. In fact, every pastor should own this, and watch it to unwind on the day of a funeral with a particularly dysfunctional family. If you've ever had a funeral this nutty - all I can say is, I'm sorry!
Next, some books:
Giving to God: The Bible's Good News about Living a Generous Life by Mark Alan Powell
There was nothing earth-shattering in what Powell had to say here, it's pretty much what I already believe about stewardship, he just says it so much better than I ever could. What I particularly like about his approach is how all-encompassing and how accessible it is. I think it would be a good resource for shattering the paradigms of those who limit their understanding of stewardship to "The money I give to the church." Also nice - each chapter concludes with some good conversation-starting questions, so he clearly intends it to be read and discussed in small groups. I'm thinking about using it with our council this year.
The Good News from North Haven by Michael Lindvall
So I found this little gem at Loome's while I was waiting for them to look over 4 bags of books I was trying to sell. Turned out, they didn't want any of my books, but I still wanted this one, so I came home with more books than I left with - my uncle still gives me crap about that, but I digress. Sort of Woebegone-esque, in this slim volume of short stories we walk through a calendar year with the pastor and congregation of Second Presbyterian Church, in the fictional small town of North Haven, MN (allegedly out west of Mankato). An enjoyable read, and eminently preachable (some of the stories could serve as narrative sermons in themselves).
Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian by Tom Long
This is one of the books in the practicing our faith series, and is full of great insight on worship, preaching, the hunger for authentic God talk, the interweaving of our episodic narrative with God's grand narrative, and the implications of all that for our every day lives. Very accessible and engaging - read it - you won't regret it.
Coming attractions: a discussion of Australia, which I saw on vacation. Lots to talk about and unpack there, requiring more time than I have tonight. Another day. . .
PS - The weather was gorgeous - and more importantly dry - on Saturday, so I'm happy to report, there is now plenty of crisp krumkaker to last through the holidays! Woot.
First, a film:
Death at a Funeral
Hilarious dark comedy from Britain. Every pastor should watch this. In fact, every pastor should own this, and watch it to unwind on the day of a funeral with a particularly dysfunctional family. If you've ever had a funeral this nutty - all I can say is, I'm sorry!
Next, some books:
Giving to God: The Bible's Good News about Living a Generous Life by Mark Alan Powell
There was nothing earth-shattering in what Powell had to say here, it's pretty much what I already believe about stewardship, he just says it so much better than I ever could. What I particularly like about his approach is how all-encompassing and how accessible it is. I think it would be a good resource for shattering the paradigms of those who limit their understanding of stewardship to "The money I give to the church." Also nice - each chapter concludes with some good conversation-starting questions, so he clearly intends it to be read and discussed in small groups. I'm thinking about using it with our council this year.
The Good News from North Haven by Michael Lindvall
So I found this little gem at Loome's while I was waiting for them to look over 4 bags of books I was trying to sell. Turned out, they didn't want any of my books, but I still wanted this one, so I came home with more books than I left with - my uncle still gives me crap about that, but I digress. Sort of Woebegone-esque, in this slim volume of short stories we walk through a calendar year with the pastor and congregation of Second Presbyterian Church, in the fictional small town of North Haven, MN (allegedly out west of Mankato). An enjoyable read, and eminently preachable (some of the stories could serve as narrative sermons in themselves).
Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian by Tom Long
This is one of the books in the practicing our faith series, and is full of great insight on worship, preaching, the hunger for authentic God talk, the interweaving of our episodic narrative with God's grand narrative, and the implications of all that for our every day lives. Very accessible and engaging - read it - you won't regret it.
Coming attractions: a discussion of Australia, which I saw on vacation. Lots to talk about and unpack there, requiring more time than I have tonight. Another day. . .
PS - The weather was gorgeous - and more importantly dry - on Saturday, so I'm happy to report, there is now plenty of crisp krumkaker to last through the holidays! Woot.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Three Cups of Tea
I finally finished reading Three Cups of Tea tonight. It was our new book club's inaugural book. I'm normally a fast reader, and this was only 300 pages, so I didn't start it until the week before the book club meeting - I was less than halfway through the book by the time we gathered to discuss it in the beginning of September. David Oliver Relin's prose was just too sloggy for me - I could never read more than 20 pages in a sitting. It's too bad, because Greg Mortenson's life story is incredibly compelling in and of itself, and he's doing amazing and important work in Pakistan and Afghanistan that every American should know about - yet this book had a hard time holding my attention. I was often distracted, as I dutifully trudged my way through it (can't stand abandoning a book), by wondering what a more competent author would have done with the same material.
All that being said, I think it's still worth reading in order to learn more about a part of the world that most Americans have very little knowledge or understanding of, and to learn more about the work and methods of the Central Asia Institute, and to help us think more critically about the methods and principles behind our own foreign policy (a most pertinent discussion in this electoral season).
All that being said, I think it's still worth reading in order to learn more about a part of the world that most Americans have very little knowledge or understanding of, and to learn more about the work and methods of the Central Asia Institute, and to help us think more critically about the methods and principles behind our own foreign policy (a most pertinent discussion in this electoral season).
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Grace Makes Beauty Out of Ugly Things
So this week I'm finally reading Christian Scharen's One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God (only two years after Mary asked me to take a look at it - d'oh!).
The book is fantastic, and kind of ends up being an accessible little theological primer in itself, in addition to being a reflection on the theology of U2. In the first section, Scharen covers several Biblical forms of communication (thanksgiving and lament in the psalms, wisdom, prophecy, parable, and apocalypse), then in the second section covers the theological categories of faith, hope, love, and the now-and-not-yetness of our existence. In each chapter he first summarizes the form or the theology in question, then discusses how U2 expresses or exemplifies that form or idea in their music.
So there's my plug for the book as a whole. On a personal note, my jaw about hit the floor as I was reading today, because Scharen shares a story from his time in the parish, when someone informed him he was personally going to hell and accused him of leading his flock astray.
Why? Because "I was willing to say that God would have mercy and offer love and forgiveness to anyone. They [the accusers] desperately wanted to draw up lines with some in and some out. Because I didn't draw lines, I was clearly permissive, liberal, and probably loved sinners."
My jaw dropped in shock because I have, word for word, endured almost the exact same situation here (my person never went so far as to say to my face that I was going to hell, they just strongly implied there was a special place in hell being reserved for me, because I was leading my flock astray, because I had the audacity to preach and teach God's scandalous grace).
As Scharen notes, pastorally it puts one in a ugly spot, because at the same time that you are striving to defend God's graciousness, you are also struggling internally with a surging lack of graciousness felt toward your attacker.
On the one hand, it's kind of a relief to know I'm not the only pastor who's gone through this experience. On the other hand, it's kind of sad to know how many people out there have such a narrow and dictatorial understanding of God. And unfortunately, they seem to be the ones who talk the loudest. As Matt would say - no wonder so many people hate Christians.
Thank God for the grace that makes beauty out of ALL our ugly things.
The book is fantastic, and kind of ends up being an accessible little theological primer in itself, in addition to being a reflection on the theology of U2. In the first section, Scharen covers several Biblical forms of communication (thanksgiving and lament in the psalms, wisdom, prophecy, parable, and apocalypse), then in the second section covers the theological categories of faith, hope, love, and the now-and-not-yetness of our existence. In each chapter he first summarizes the form or the theology in question, then discusses how U2 expresses or exemplifies that form or idea in their music.
So there's my plug for the book as a whole. On a personal note, my jaw about hit the floor as I was reading today, because Scharen shares a story from his time in the parish, when someone informed him he was personally going to hell and accused him of leading his flock astray.
Why? Because "I was willing to say that God would have mercy and offer love and forgiveness to anyone. They [the accusers] desperately wanted to draw up lines with some in and some out. Because I didn't draw lines, I was clearly permissive, liberal, and probably loved sinners."
My jaw dropped in shock because I have, word for word, endured almost the exact same situation here (my person never went so far as to say to my face that I was going to hell, they just strongly implied there was a special place in hell being reserved for me, because I was leading my flock astray, because I had the audacity to preach and teach God's scandalous grace).
As Scharen notes, pastorally it puts one in a ugly spot, because at the same time that you are striving to defend God's graciousness, you are also struggling internally with a surging lack of graciousness felt toward your attacker.
On the one hand, it's kind of a relief to know I'm not the only pastor who's gone through this experience. On the other hand, it's kind of sad to know how many people out there have such a narrow and dictatorial understanding of God. And unfortunately, they seem to be the ones who talk the loudest. As Matt would say - no wonder so many people hate Christians.
Thank God for the grace that makes beauty out of ALL our ugly things.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Good Reads
The Open Space of Democracy by Terry Tempest Williams. A collection of essays originally published in Orion, accompanied by some beautiful paintings by Mary Frank. I found the third essay, "Engagement," the most compelling. In it, Williams documents and reflects upon her own town's formation into true community in the face of shared crisis. Beautiful writing and beautiful truth-telling of the lived experience of democracy and its power to shape and unite us in spite of the forces that would divide.
A sampling: "In my private moments of despair, I am aware of the limits of my own imagination. I am learning in Castle Valley that imaginations shared invite collaboration and collaboration creates community. A life in association, not a life independent, is the democratic ideal. We participate in the vitality of the struggle. This has not been easy for a town of self-defined renegades and recluses. Disagreements behind closed doors has been common. . .We are all having to move beyond what is comfortable. Patience is stretched. Personalities get in the way. Egos provide points of obstructions. It is never easy. We are learning to listen. We are learning to forgive. We are learning to go forward, believing what binds us together as a community is stronger than individual bickering points. And we are having a great time."
She's speaking of civic communities, but I think her words ring as true for and are as applicable to communities of faith.
Incidentally, take time to read the notes at the end - not merely citations, some are detailed stories or reflections in themselves. One (in which Tempest Williams deduces that Fellini was simply a documentarian!) recounts a sumptuous meal she and her husband were invited to while living in Italy - it's like something out of Babette's Feast, but the power to build community around a communal table is just as potent in real life as in fiction.
The other book I just finished is Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis, which is an excellent contemporary apologetic. Bell has a real gift for analogy and metaphor, for making all this faith and discipleship stuff come alive in a genuine and relatable way. AND he's got some paritcularly great things to say about the Bible - how its story is our story, and it's a story that isn't over, a story that's living and active, a story that reads us as much as we read it, a story we're called to engage and wrestle, a gem that we need to keep turning because every turn reveals something new. He never puts it in these terms, but I hear him saying, essentially, that the Bible is a living immersive story world, and I whole-heartedly concur.
For my pastor friends, "Movement Four: Tassels", also has some insightful things to say about the pressures of the life of ministry, and the damage many of us do to our own souls in our attempts to be "superpastor."
Finally, I also happened to watch Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium last night, and highly recommend it. It's just a fun movie in itself, but would also make a good discussion piece for church. It tells the story of one's ending and another's beginning, of a doubtful "disciple" who is called to use their own gifts to carry on the work of the "master" (which, serendipitously, fits well with some of the reflections on discipleship I was reading in Bell's book today).
Peace,
Catrina
A sampling: "In my private moments of despair, I am aware of the limits of my own imagination. I am learning in Castle Valley that imaginations shared invite collaboration and collaboration creates community. A life in association, not a life independent, is the democratic ideal. We participate in the vitality of the struggle. This has not been easy for a town of self-defined renegades and recluses. Disagreements behind closed doors has been common. . .We are all having to move beyond what is comfortable. Patience is stretched. Personalities get in the way. Egos provide points of obstructions. It is never easy. We are learning to listen. We are learning to forgive. We are learning to go forward, believing what binds us together as a community is stronger than individual bickering points. And we are having a great time."
She's speaking of civic communities, but I think her words ring as true for and are as applicable to communities of faith.
Incidentally, take time to read the notes at the end - not merely citations, some are detailed stories or reflections in themselves. One (in which Tempest Williams deduces that Fellini was simply a documentarian!) recounts a sumptuous meal she and her husband were invited to while living in Italy - it's like something out of Babette's Feast, but the power to build community around a communal table is just as potent in real life as in fiction.
The other book I just finished is Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis, which is an excellent contemporary apologetic. Bell has a real gift for analogy and metaphor, for making all this faith and discipleship stuff come alive in a genuine and relatable way. AND he's got some paritcularly great things to say about the Bible - how its story is our story, and it's a story that isn't over, a story that's living and active, a story that reads us as much as we read it, a story we're called to engage and wrestle, a gem that we need to keep turning because every turn reveals something new. He never puts it in these terms, but I hear him saying, essentially, that the Bible is a living immersive story world, and I whole-heartedly concur.
For my pastor friends, "Movement Four: Tassels", also has some insightful things to say about the pressures of the life of ministry, and the damage many of us do to our own souls in our attempts to be "superpastor."
Finally, I also happened to watch Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium last night, and highly recommend it. It's just a fun movie in itself, but would also make a good discussion piece for church. It tells the story of one's ending and another's beginning, of a doubtful "disciple" who is called to use their own gifts to carry on the work of the "master" (which, serendipitously, fits well with some of the reflections on discipleship I was reading in Bell's book today).
Peace,
Catrina
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