Mike Kruger has tagged me for a response to the “Book Meme.” I had the privelege of officiating Mike and Sara’s wedding many moons ago. Thanks Mike for the opportunity to blather on about one of my favorite subjects.
1) How many books have I owned?
Just over a thousand. I have them spread through two offices and a couple of bookshelves in our living room.
2) What was the last book you bought?
3) Last book that you’ve read.
4) 5 books that have meant a lot to you.
Finding Faith: This book came into my hands at just the right moment.
A Season on the Brink: I wore this book out in High School. I wanted to play at Indiana so bad and Steve Alford was my hero.
The Challenge of Jesus: I can’t say enough about how Wright’s articulation of Jesus’ mission has unsettled and shaped me.
The Divine Conspiracy: Hard reading, but that is only because on every page there is something worth pondering.
Missional Church: This one launched me on my present journey. I remember reading it on a plane from Denver to Seattle. Somewhere over Utah I said to myself, “Uh oh,” because I knew the shape of my ministry was about to change drastically.
5) Tag five people that haven’t played yet.
Greg Taylor
Rob Browne
Mike Cope
Shannon Russell
Neal Whitlow
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Wade – or anyone else that cares to answer –
what do you do when you suggest a book to a fellow church-goer – and they look at you like you just grew an extra ear? I had this discussion with a good friend and elder a week ago. He stated another elder told him at some lectureship somewhere that his church gives a new book (whose title escapes me)to each new member. My friend took this “great” idea back to his co-elders and they gave him that “we don’t read no stinkin’ books” look. Needless to say – they’re not giving each new member a book. Anyway….just wondering how those of us that read might encourage the masses that don’t to try a book every now and then?
Kent
Wade-
Very interesting. I haven’t picked up any of those books and The Challenge of Jesus sounds like a book I might need right now.
Cheers from London,
Mike (aka Expat Teacher)
ps. You officiated my wedding 6 years ago this upcoming October. Man does time fly!
It’s good to know that I’m not the only one confronted with those “only aliens read books” looks. Sometimes I teach through a particularly good book, and one of my elders who thinks its scandalous to open a book other than the Bible will sit outside the room and read from his Bible in silent protest. I hear “all we need to do is read the Bible” a lot. Well, yes, but sometimes it takes major further study to identify and strip away the lenses that we all read scripture with, to learn to look at scripture in a wholistic, complete manner. The best thing I’ve found to do is to point out some of those lenses and tell them where I learned to see differently. One elder thinks I’m “too educated” (undergraduate degree…ooooohhh…), but I’ve at least convinced another elder who hates to read that he should at least be trying it.
I want to play but will come back later. Like many of you, I juggle a couple dozen books at any given time, so I’ll ponder these questions.
You have books.
I have guitars.
We could probably be dangerous if we put our heads together.
Sam
What is a “Book Meme’?
Wade –
I never knew “Season on the Brink” meant that much to you!! How could this Hoosier not know that? Have you read “Playing for Knight”, written by Alford? If not, I have a copy to loan you. It rates right up there with other epics like Moby Dick and The Grapes of Wrath. Seriously, you will enjoy it.