Book #6.5... "A Life With Purpose... Rev. Rick Warren"

Recently, a member of FVCC handed me this book... "A Life With Purpose - Reverend Rick Warren: The Most Inspiring Pastor of our Time" by George Mair.

There were already several books on my "waiting to be read list" (books like "Speaking to Teenagers" by Doug Fields and "3:16" by Max Lucado). But since someone handed it to me, it jumped to the top of the list.

It's actually a pretty good book. I had read it before, but it had been some time. The main reason that I read it, aside from the fact that someone gave it to me, was that the person who handed it to me said that when they saw it, "It reminded them of me"!!!!!

Now, that's a pretty big compliment. To be reading or thinking about Rick Warren (the founder of one of the most influential churches in the US... Saddleback) and think or be reminded of me. Wow!

So, I took some time and read it. I enjoyed it. The one major problem with the book, outside of a few typos (like calling the book of Revelation from the Bible "Revelations..." and a few others that were annoying) was that it was completely lacking any footnoting. Many places along the lines, he quotes Rick or his books or others and makes no reference as to where this material comes from. Maybe I'm just spoiled or jaded a little by LCS, but when you quote someone or something, you need to site your source or you run the risk of plagiarism.

Overall, it was a good book. The first half focused on Rick's life, high school life, seminary life and getting the church started and up to speed. The second half spent some time talking about what happens now and the thought and thinking behind Rick's work (i.e.: The Purpose Driven Life book, the Purpose Driven concepts of baseball diamonds and concentric circles and the P.E.A.C.E. Plan that Saddleback is currently working on). All in all, it was a good and easy read.

Thanks to the one who handed it to me. I appreciate the read and the compliment.

Jim

Book #5.5... Completion of "The Sermon on the Mount"

Back on March 21st, I blogged about having caught up with my Thursday morning Men's Bible Study Group in reading James Montgomery Boice's "The Sermon on the Mount."

This morning, I finished it. Next week, I'm going to be at middle school camp at Rock River all week and won't be able to attend men's Bible study as they wrap up chapter 44. So I decided to go ahead and finish it myself today.

So, if you're keeping track, this is half of the next book that I have to read... so, so far I've read 5 1/2 books this year (outside of school reading). And I'm about to knock off another in about the next 30 minutes.

I really need to pick up the pace before school begins in about 6 weeks.

Jim

Book #5... "The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness"

So I just polished off #5 book for this year. It was "The Outrageous Idea of Academic " Donald Optiz and Derek Melleby. I'm hitting them with a little more speed now that I'm out of school.

This book was an easy read and actually one that I should have read faster. We picked up some copies of it for our graduates this year and I learned from a previous experience not to give out a book that I hadn't read cover to cover. So I did. And I read it cover to cover.

It's a good book for college students. It's high on practical application for living a Christian life and making a difference in the college world for Christ. The one drawback that I saw was that some of the vocabulary was a little high for most high school seniors/college freshmen. But overall, it was a good book. But I didn't find much in terms of incredible insight for me and my personal life.

Jim

Book #4... "Simple Church"

I finally finished book #4 (and I know, I'm way behind... but I have plans to start catching up soon).

It was "Simple Church" by Tom Rainer and Eric Geiger. Overall, this was a good book. I read it much too slow. It reads really fast, but the staff at FVCC are reading it and discussing it together in staff meetings. I really should have read it and then came back and reread chapters before each meeting. Instead, I read it a chapter or two a week over 6 weeks when I really should have read it in a week, as it's only 9 chapters.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking to simply ministry. Thom and Eric provide a pretty good framework for making some changes and sending you in an intentional direction. In fact, often as I was reading it reflected some of the principles that I have been familiar with (and are currently practicing) in our student ministry.

The one criticism that I have of the book is that often it leaves you with the sense of needing to make some of those changes but without the "teeth" to really make the changes. Some of the tips for making changes are tips that I could have written without reading the book and most people could come up without reading the book. But if you are looking for someone else to give you the "kick in the pants" that you need and say things that you are already thinking, then "Simple Church" might be a good place to start. But if you are looking for a more "teethy" understanding of how to make changes, you might start somewhere else.

Overall, I'm glad that I read it. It was a good read. I just wish that I would have read it quicker. A book like this should not be spread out over 6 weeks of reading.

Now... on to other books!

Jim

Book #3... Other half...

Recently, I blogged about having read half of the third book. This morning, I finished off the othr half of what I am counting as my third book of 2008...

"Kurt and Scott's Junior High Adventure" by Kurt Johnston (Saddleback) and Scott Rubin (Willow Creek).

It was a good book. It was super-short, a mere 71 pages, which is good for my sense of accomplishment. I read it in a couple of sittings. Basically it's a collection of Kurt Johnston's columns from Group Magazine. Added into the columns that Kurt wrote, are some commentary by Scott almost as if he were reading over your shoulder and adding some thoughts.

It was a fun read. I found myself laughing out-loud occasionally. And in many respects, it reminded me again of why I do what I do.

My only point of contention with the book was two fold. First, it didn't seem like there was an order to the articles. Maybe there was and I just missed it. But the articles seemed somewhat random. Secondly, it would have been cool to have had some banter on Kurt's part to what Scott was adding to the conversation. Often, it felt like Scott added some good thoughts that would have been fun to have seen what Kurt thought about it.

But it's a quick read. It's a good read to start off the day with an article. It just adds a fresh youth ministry focus to the day.

Jim

Book #3... kinda... James Montgomery Boice "The Sermon on the Mount"

I'm going to go with a 1/2 book here.

I'm officially caught up on reading with my Thursday morning guys group. We've been reading this book by Boice... "The Sermon on the Mount" and actually I started it HERE.

Today I finally caught up with the rest of the reading. We are officially about 2/3 of the way through the book, but I'm going to count it for now as 1/2 a book. (I'm reading Kurt Johnston's new Junior High Ministry Book right now and it's about 80 pages... most of which aren't that tough reading... that will likely pick up the other half of this book.) So... just so my reading is up-to-date here as to what I have completed... even though I'm about 2 books behind on the year. School reading has been taking a bit of an effect... plus just general laziness.

Now, onto the next book... whatever that might be... probably "Speaking to Teenagers" by Doug Fields.

Jim

Book #2... I Am Legend

At Christmas-time, I went with a couple of friends and watched "I Am Legend" (blogged HERE). After I watched it, I knew that I wanted to read the book ("I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson).

But I found the book to be quite different than the movie. In fact, the only similarities that I saw between the book and the movie (aside from this cover) was the name "Robert Neville" and the general set-up of the plague situation. Other than that, there was very, very little similarity between the book and the movie. But I'm not sure which one I liked more.

Also somewhat disappointing, the book, when I picked it up from the library is 317. But only 170 of those pages are the "I Am Legend" story. The rest are a collection of short stories that didn't have much to do with the "Robert Neville - I Am Legend" story. But I guess we can't have everything in life.

This is the second of 26 books that I am looking to read this year... The first was HERE.

On to other books. Although I'm not sure what it will be. But my copy of the "Memoirs of Alexander Campbell" by Robert Richardson came the other day. That one will count as two books if I start into it next as it was originally two books... combined in one volume.

Jim

Book #1... Blue Like Jazz

So, I'm frequently late to the party. But I have an excuse this time.

I just finished reading Donald Miller's "Blue Like Jazz." It was a good read. I had bought it about 2 years and hadn't had a chance to read it because someone who will remain nameless had borrowed it and read it... and not returned it... for so long that I thought I would have to go and buy another copy. But finally it did come back.

Donald is incredibly witty and clever and very enjoyable to read. His thoughts are scattered sometimes, but he always seems to make it back. Good book!!!

This is book #1 for 2008. I am attempting to read 26 books this year... other than the Bible and the books that I am expected to read for class. The next book on my hit list, although it may not be the next in terms of books for 2008 (because "I Am Legend" is a library book waiting for me at home and will likely be quicker read than this one) is "Opie Doesn't Live Here Anymore" by Walt Mueller. I am looking forward to reading/finishing this one. I got it when I was out at Saddleback in September. I read the first couple of chapters on the plane on the way home, but didn't finish it. It was good... but for some reason from time to time I start books that are good... read 50 pages and then quit and start something else. But I'm going to go back to the beginning and start again.

Onward!!

Jim