Here’s a few books I’ve had the chance to read through in the past couple of weeks.
The Tangible Kingdom: This book was recommended to me numerous times over the past couple of months. I finally picked it up and started reading. It’s full of practical advice and stories about how to create incarnational community in our neighborhoods. Biggest takeaway for me was to proactively invite others into the life I’m already living, rather than trying to figure out how start living a different life.
A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: This is my favorite of Donald Miller’s books. Truth be told, I had a hard time getting all the way through Blue Like Jazz and his other books have been good, but not memorable. This one hit me were I live. I love stories, storytelling, and narrative theology. The story of Miller looking for his father brought tears to my eyes a couple of times. This book challenged me to make sure I’m living a good story. I also liked this book didn’t come across as a Christian memoir, but rather a memoir that happened to be written by a Christian.
The Great Emergence: I wanted to like this book, but it didn’t do much for me. I’ve heard Phyllis Tickle speak several times and loved what she had to say. She’s a wonderful writer and obviously knows her stuff, but I think I’ve read enough other books along similar lines that this one didn’t break any new ground for me. I could see myself recommending it to someone who was asking initial questions about the emerging church though.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
For me, the contribution of Tickle’s book was contextualization. She helped to set emergence within a larger historical framework.
I also thought her analysis of the way the “rummage sale” movements center around claims of authority (in this case, sola scriptura) was very insightful.
Wade,
I laughed when I read your first line regarding P. Tickle’s book. “I wanted to like this book, but it didn’t do much for me.” I have felt this way a number of times when reading particular books. “I wanted to like this book…”
Hope you are doing well.
Hi Wade….I attending the Tulsa workshop about two years ago and sat in a couple of your classes. You did a great job, especially talking about either/or or both/and.
Very helpful to me having been brought up on the CofC. Still a member, but ever transforming. Anyway, I also attended the ZOE conference in Nashville in October. Heard another wonderful young man speak, named Joshua Graves. I recommend your read THE FEAST authored by him. You both seen to have alot in common. As a 53 year old, I’m very happy to see young men like you and Joshua and are thinking and striving to serve our wonderful GOD and father.
In Him….Vicki Popwell