A friend of mine just asked me what my favorite 3 books I read in the last year are. I have not answered him (though I suppose this very post can be my answer).
That is not a very simple question for me. I read a lot of books in a year. I also try to read about a variety of topics. Typically, I try to cycle through books on leadership, spiritual development, art, creativity, and church stuff. So it would almost be easier to select top books from each topic, but alas, that was NOT the question.
So here is my immediate reaction to his question, but not be the most thought through. This short list may be more adequately entitled “most memorable books I’ve read this year”. No…thats not it. I’ll just stop explaining and start writing:
“A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller
I like Donald Miller. I’m not obsessed with him like many are, but I really like Don Miller. This is his most recent book, and I loved it. The whole idea of living a great story is incredibly intriguing to me.
“The Artists Way” by Julia Cameron
This is one of the best books about art and creativity I have ever read. It is not a “new” book by any means, but I only read it for the first time in the last year. If you want to see your inner artist sparked again or for the first time, this is a great book.
“The Tangible Kingdom” by Hugh Halter
This book will not blow you away. It will not rock your world. It will not turn your perspective of the Church upside down, but it will certainly challenge you to begin thinking of things very differently. I loved this book, but I think it is only because it simply resonated well with where my heart had already been as it relates to the Church.
HONORABLE MENTION:
“Angry Conversations with God” by Susan Isaacs
“DeRailed” by Tim Irwin
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What are your favorite 3 books you read this year? (you may not post if your titles include the words: moon, eclipse or rogue)
PC,
I agree with your third book as one of excellence. I met the authors a couple years ago along with Neil Cole (Organic Church) and they were quite intriguing. I was attend a conference with a few friends and they shared their ministry philosophy in one of our sessions. My one friend is actually planting an organic church in the Akron, Ohio area. It started as a youth Bible study at a Starbucks and started growing from there. They churches on factory room floors, in homeless shelters (yeah, figure that one out), at a gay bar, and several coffee houses around the region. Very interesting concept that shatters the brick and mortar idea of why churches exist.
I also serve a national church planting organization called MissioChurch and we have learned through our research that the number one growing church in America today (and for the past several years) is the house church, or the organic church. I can’t remember the number, but it was outrageous, like 1000% percent growth or something–don’t quote me on the actual number.
Oh, and the blog is good. Relevant and honest material is what I like to read. Perry Noble has another blog I read regularly if you want to compare a bit.
the house church is certainly on the dramatic rise here in California. The mega-church surprisingly holds on for now, but I cannot imagine it lasting for too long.
Something about the house church and particularly the organic church strikes me with interest. There is also a strong ‘something’ that strikes me about the college campus church plant idea as well.
But alas, I am still a college and young adult pastor at a mega-church and love what I do….