Writing about religion, psychology, politics, and other impolite dinner conversations
How does one learn to become an excellent preacher? And what does it mean to be an excellent preacher? These questions are ones pastors (and their congregations) want to discover answers for. Preaching is an art; one that takes time and a lot of practice to hone. Preaching also says a lot about the person … Continue reading Mentoring with Morgan: Book Review
You may or may not expect a book with the title of Idiot, Sojourning Soul: A Post-Secular Pilgrimage to be the type to make you both laugh out loud and have over 1,000 endnotes. But it is. Justin Rosolino combines tons of scholarly information with his spiritual journey and a heavy dose of wit to make for an informative read that keeps you intrigued: I was hooked by the first page.
Mark my words, people - one day we will refer to Tripp Fuller like we talk about famous theologians. In his most recent book Divine Self-Investment: An Open and Relational Constructive Christology, Fuller explores how we can find a new theological way forward between a Christian tradition that has often insisted on rules, dogma, and literalism, and a liberalizing culture that is becoming increasingly less concerned with religious tradition.
In the House of Friends: Understand and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in the Christian Church. Cults, spiritual abuse, religious trauma. We might think of things that happen in books or only in extreme circumstances, but Ken Garrett presents a very cogent explanation of what it looks like when this shows up in churches and denominations … Continue reading Review: “In the House of Friends”
If you’re seeking a story friendly enough for children that’s also packed full of meaning for kids and adults alike, take a peek inside Cory & the Seventh Story. Authors Brian McLaren (of progressive Christian renown) and Gareth Higgins (writer and co-founder of the Wild Goose festival) teamed up to challenge us to consider the … Continue reading “Cory and the Seventh Story” Review!
Krueger’s book is a thin volume but very densely and academically written. It is not for the faint of heart if you fear being challenged, inspired, and even angered all in the same chapter. I do not agree with all of what he has written, yet I still want to shout the underlying message from the rooftops: Conservation is not an inherently liberal issue! Conservatives need to take up the issue of conservation! We have no time (or land, or water, or air) to waste!
The day is rare when I give an unqualified “that was so good!” review for the Speakeasy books I read and review. Well, Brother John most certainly deserves such an accolade. Just a taste of the gorgeous illustrations. I selected this book to review because my heart loves the Abbey of Gethsemani, monks in general, … Continue reading A monk, a monastery, and a picture book?!
This sounds like a morbid post, but hang in with me here. This book is a memoir of sorts of 6th generation funeral director Caleb Wilde. He shares his thoughts about death, life, love, and heaven – but perhaps not in the way you might think. If you think about it, the descent into fall … Continue reading “Confessions of a Funeral Director” whaaat?
Andrea Lingle – mother, writer, lay theologian – has written the book I hoped to write. (Also that I still hope to write). It is a memoir of faith, filled with personal stories as well as her own theological ponderings that meander through quantum physics as easily as they do the Bible. She believes in … Continue reading “Credulous” is worth the read
Sometimes books about issues halfway around the world have a remarkable ability to speak to us just how we need to hear it. From Genocide to Generosity is a well-written, moving book about the reconciliation efforts happening in post-genocide Rwanda. Author John Steward (who holds a PhD in soil science, of all things) goes on a … Continue reading From Genocide to Generosity
Christine Greenwald 