being well read
Dallas Willard: Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ
Mad-good book! Willard is a thick writer/philosopher. He presents a brilliant model for understanding the nature of the self, and makes an attempt at practical guidance for character development. (*****)Philip Jenkins: The Next Christendom : The Coming of Global Christianity
Should be mandatory reading for any missions pastor or missiologist. Jenkins has a pretty good handle on the way christianity is in the world today, and the effects of that on tomorrow. (****)Harold A. Netland: Encountering Religious Pluralism: The Challenge to Christian Faith & Mission
Crazy academic read, but a great argument for reason in an age of superficial tolerance. Pluralism is not pluralistic, it's just another form of exclusivism. boojah! (****)Eddie Gibbs: LeadershipNext: Changing Leaders in a Changing Culture
This is an instruction manual to help anyone who wants to, to understand how I like to lead. Eddie does a great job of identifying the kinds of leaders needed in the church today. Chapters six through eight alone are worth the time and money. If your senior pastor just doesn't "get you," give him this. (*****)Darrell L. Guder: The Continuing Conversion of the Church (The Gospel & Our Culture Series)
Great theses. Guder really nails it to the reductionistic tendencies of the church. He calls this the primary sin of control. We want to control the gospel, so we make it small by reducing into managable forms like "Pentecostal", or "emerging." The first third is basic missiology, the middle is brilliant, and the end third is a good shot at helping you think practically about your own reductionism. (****)
