I’ve got 2 copies of Mark Batterson’s new book Wild Goose Chase. I’m keeping one to read for myself, but I’ll give the other away to someone who leaves a comment in this post. All you have to do is post the last book you read in a comment so I can mine them for good reading in the Fall. I’ll pick one random and send you the book for free!
Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something…
Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.
JG
Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 15+ years and serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
recently finished:
Simple church
Leading from the second chair
The audacity of hope
A Year of Living Biblically. Great read! Not a Christian, but amazing journey through the Bible. (AJ Jacobs, editor for Esquire mag)
The Kite Runner
The Slumber of Christianity – Ted Dekker
I’ve recently been on holiday so my reads include:
The Life You’ve Always Wanted by John Ortberg – really helpful book on spiritual disciplines which I started having read Roger Forster’s book a few months back.
Choose the Life by Bill Hull – really good read on discipleship and has encouraged me to go and get his The Complete Book of Discipleship
Letter to Daniel — Despatches from the Heart by Fergal Keane
When Leadership and Discipleship Collide by Bill Hybels – excellent little book on the tensions between church leadership and the mandate of discipleship
The Jesus of Suburbia by Mike Erre – chapter 1 has some great stuff on Christmas, after that it was a fairly disappointing read.
My best book of the year so far has to be:
The Organic God by Margaret Feinberg – just a beautiful take on what it means to have a true relationship with God.
Creating Community by Andy Stanley
“samson and the pirate monks” by nate larkin
unequivocally. great. book.
The Gift of Pain by Paul Brand and Phillip Yancey. Excellent.
“Simply Christian” by N.T. Wright. Incredible read.
Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
Great marriage book.
Simple Genius…David Baldacci
Look Me in the Eye: my life with asperger’s by John Elder Robison
insightful info about how folks with asperger’s think/feel
I am currently reading “The Challenge of a Disciplined Life” by Richard Foster… formerly “Money, Sex and Power.” I’m reading it for our men’s Bible study group and I’m about half done with it.
But I recently finished “Simple Church.”
Jim
I recently read “The Traverler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews. It was a good book but you have to keep in mind that is story and that the principles that in the midst of the story are what makes the book a good read. It is a fast read and if you really sat down to read it – it might take a couple of hours to go through it.
The Shack.
Irresistible Revolution: Living As an Ordinary Radical
By:Shane Claiborne
Great read on social justice…
But The Shack is also a good read…
I just finished unChristian. I just reviewed it here at this link. http://thesaltlick.tv/2008/08/12/review-unchristian/
Just started IT, by craig groeschel
i finished up Francis Chan’s CrazyLove last week and am beginning to re-read it. Loads of good stuff in there…
Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray. You will not be able to read this book without God doing a great work. Not saying you need a great work…
I went with a west coast theme this summer…
Crazy Love – Francis Chan
Barbarian Way – Erwin McManus (2 time to read it – one I plan to read every year)
What Matters Most – Doug Fields (a little known writer, but the GRANDFATHER of Youth Ministry!) J/K
The Power of Potential – Edwin Louis Cole.
Great read about fulfilling our dreams through God’s principles.
Currently reading “The Shack” by William P. Young. It’ said to be this generations “Pilgrim’s Progress.” It’s good so far!
Your first two years in youth ministry. Great read by the way for me as I’m a new youth pastor who has never done this youth ministry thing before.
“It” by Craig Groeschel. The book’s tagline is “How Churches and Leaders can get It and keep It”. Seriously, I read this book through in a day. He talked at the Leadership Summit about how you can just tell some churches and leaders have “it” and others don’t. The book goes to unpack the traits / elements of “it” through chapters of humor, transparency and direct truth. A great read, Josh. Definitely recommend “It.”
Vintage Jesus – Mark Driscoll
I just finished reading “Who Stole My Church” by Gordon MacDonald. Our church is going through a needed transition, and everyone is reading it. It’s a decent book that tells a good story about a New England church in transition.
Most recent read: Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel
by Mark Dever, Paul Alexander
I just finished Primitive Christianity – Bultmann
Getting Students to Show Up by Jonathan McKee
Praise Habit by Crowder…a couple years older, but good.
The last book I read was the book of Genesis. Does that count. I’m currently reading UNCHRISTIAN by David Kinaman.
We “dodgeballers” love our free stuff.
Crazy Love by Francis Chan — This is a book you can camp out on for a while. It messed me up…..in a good way.
(For you gamers) I also just finished up the new Mass Effect novel “Ascension” by Drew Karpyshyn. The second game is going to be unreal if it is at all based on this novel.
Just finished The Shack
Starting Irresistible Revolution and Divine Conspiracy
This has been the summer of reading yea! Long trips + vacation = lots of reading time!!
Branding Faith– Phil Cooke– How to tell your story in todays media driven culture.
Pop Goes the Church– Tim Stevens– Love anything Tim Writes
7 Practices of Effective Ministry– Andy Stanley,Reggie Joiner,Lane Jones– Strong book about why and what you do in your ministry.
Buzz Marketing Getting People to Talk about your stuff– Mark Huges– Try to read a business book once a quarter. This book was recommended by the guys at Granger Community Church. Very interesting when combined with Branding Faith.
Just Ordered– Killing Cockroaches: And Other Scattered Musings on Leadership By Tony Morgan (Tony has the second best blog right behind MORE THAN DODGE BALL) {Not so obvious attempt at butt kiss, suck I mean sip-up, etc.}
going through Pop Goes the Church with my team
Who Needs a Superhero by H. Michael Brewer
There are very few books of which I would say that I enjoyed every single page, but this is one of them. Michael Brewer knows his comic books and his Bible, and he does a wonderful job connecting the two. Drawing from the examples of comic book heroes, Mr. Brewer presents biblical truths and spiritual insights into the person of God, the works of Jesus Christ, and the Christian life. You don’t have to be a comic book expert or have grown up reading comics to enjoy this book.
“I” is for Innocent by Sue Grafton.
Slandering Jesus – Erwin Lutzer
Vintage Jesus – Mark Driscoll
Why We’re Not Emergent – Deyoung and Kulcuk
The Sacred Way
Simple Church
Working on The Shack. Almost done. But last one I finished on a commute was In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day.
“Your first two years in youth ministry”
“Crazy love”
and trying to read “why we’re not emergent”
Wide Awake – Erwin McManus
Really an incredible book. It will (in typical Erwinish fashion) poetically ignite a fire of passion in your soul to be people who actually “live” with a sense of being fully awakened to who we are in Christ.
Hey Christian… step out of the slumber of your everyday, ordinary, typical livelihood and experience what it might be like to live life with your eyes and hearts open to the magnificence of Jesus Christ and moving in His steps as you walk through your day. (that sounded an awful lot like something you would read on the back cover of the book… but it’s not… and no, I am not Erwin’s child or relative)
How about Curtis, Lang, and Petersen’s, The 100 Most Important Events in Church History?
Ummm….mine was…..don’t want to say this…..Red Fish, Blue Fish. I think it is by Dr. Suess. I read it to my son last night.
Comedian’s Guide to Theology
The Great Omission by Dallas Willard. It should be required reading for all Christians.
Jesus Mean and Wild
Simple Spirituality: Learning to See God in a Broken World by Chris Huertz (International Director of Word Made Flesh).
” As I learned to love God, my love was not motivated by fear or the threat of Hell (not even by the promise of paradise), but rather by the character of the One who is by nature lovable. Christ was irresistible to me. I couldn’t help but love Jesus the more I discovered who he was. The deeper I fell in love with God, the more I wanted to demonstrate that love.”
The Case for a Creator (Student Edition) by Lee Strobel. I’m working on the real edition now. Concise insight on the ID/Evolution debate
“Jesus for President” by Shane Claiborne
My last one would be, “The Importance of Being Foolish by Brennan Manning”.
It was great!!!
Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer
Deadly Detours by Bob Briner, Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry by Andy Root, and The Real Mary by Scot McKnight
I’m almost done with “Jesus For President” by Shane Claiborne. It’s so challenging it hurts.
Just finished “Praise Habit” by David Crowder before that.
Fundamentalism and American Culture: The Shaping of Twentieth-Century Evangelicalism, 1870-1925 by George Marsden
It was fascinating to see how Fundamentalism developed and how it is influencing today. Yes, I read it for fun and I am a youth minister.
“A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix.” Edwin H. Friedman.
Well it’s not the last, but the best book I’ve read this year would have to be “Ministry Mutiny” by Greg Stier. Thanks
Celebration of Discipline
Whew…..You guys have got to venture outside of the Christian bookstore every now and then. Hit up a Borders or something. There ARE other books out there…….and they’re great!
just finished “Fresh Power” by Jim Cymbala
Now reading “Praise Habit” by David Crowder
and
“To Know You More” by Andy Park
“Know your church’s personality” so-so way to general
“Team Think” by Don Martin
“Chasing Daylight” by Erwin McManus
I am currently reading
Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton
AND
The Youth Worker’s Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis by Rich Van Pelt and Jim Hancock
Just finished reading JR Tolkien’s, The Children of Hurin. Good fiction – yep. Great studies on leadership, the wounded leader, the lone ranger leader … massive amounts of principles that I was able to gleen. A leadership “must-read”.
In other news, I’m very curious how Mark Batterson tackels the fact (?) that the term ‘wild goose chase’ can’t be traced back concretely to the Celts. Good friends in the 24-7 Prayer movement have done some considerable research on this. Does he uncover some new information to connect it? I’m look forward to the read.
::danKing::
Most recent: The Shack
before that: Redeeming Love- rocks the house, Francine Rivers, again great book for all to read- I laughed, I cried, I was reminded of God’s grace and mercy inmy life
Seeing the Unseen by Joe Beam and Fate is the Hunter by Earnest K. Gann
Last two books:
Messy Spirituality
and one for somebody in need of inspiration: Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire… I highly recommend! I read this book every summer. It is a quick read.
iLead;
downloads on leadership in youth ministry
i got to write a chapter in it and i now i’m getting to check everyone elses out…pretty sweet~
Until 37 when I saw Pam’s post I got worried I was apparently, ‘just enough christian” to not feel guilty for reading this blog.
This summer I actually took a month off (odd I know, but being part time and running a mission trip for 8 days affords me time in July) and actually only used my one minute Bible to keep me firmly planted, but read a lot of Secular stuff.
Company: A Novel – Max Barry and satire to bring sumor into the world of Corporate America. Those of us lucky to work here can understand and see the humor and worse the parallels.
Chronicle’s of Narnia
Flyboys, 3000 Degrees, Ghost Battlion
and just enjoyed http://garfieldminusgarfield.net/ seriously, if you love garfield check this out daily!
Mr. T – Tough as I want to be while drinking Milk – By Mr. T, forward by Church Norris. (ok not real, but it should be!)
I just read Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli. Awesome book! Talks about how Jesus loves losers and we are all losers, in someones eyes. Man, I could’ve used this book when I was younger. Before I tried suicide.
addiction and grace, by: gerald may
Gifted to Lead by Nancy Beach
truthfully? truthfully I just finished The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle with my 4 year old boy….great book btw….um in the Christian realm i am on Messy Spirituality by my hero and as secular books go i am on The Cult of Mac By Leander Kahney
but listen, don’t pick me to win…i know it’s a random drawing, but I won the Simply Access deal, which is SO FREAKING AWESOME…i just like contributing to this blog when i can.
anyway that’s what i am reading
one small sparrow : Jeff Leeland >>>> tear jerker.
One Small Sparrow restores faith in the watch-care of God and in His power to reach through powerless people to bring healing and hope in life’s darkest moments. This award-winning volume by Jeff Leeland chronicles his little boy’s life-and-death struggle with leukemia and the heroic efforts of young people and their community to save him. It also tells how the heartwarming sacrifice of a disabled boy’s $60 life savings, which sparked the drive to help Michael, has grown into The Sparrow Foundation, a national organization of kids raising funds for kids in medical need. One Small Sparrow is a book that keeps alive the spirit of grace that saved a little boy. (taken from amazon)
I’m actually reading Wild Goose Chase right now. Gave one of those away on my blog today. Last book I read was a re-read of Blue Like Jazz (Donald Miller).
Just Finished “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan and it totally blew me away. Probally the best book I have read in a long time.
Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Downpour by James Mcdonald
“The Shack” by William P. Young- Amazing book. Changed my perspective about a lot of things
Is it really so bad if we don’t read a secular book every now and then? I hate fiction books and in the world of non-fiction I just don’t feel compelled to step out into the secular… I do read stuff that crosses over my faith beliefs and is from varying Christian thoughts and mind-sets…
The Bible.
You can send “Wild Goose Chase” priority mail
.