Category Archives: Reading

WHAT DO PASTORS READ?

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From John Fea’s terrific blog, The Way of Improvement Leads Home (http://www.philipvickersfithian.com)

 

 

Here is the synopsis of a recent Barna Group survey of Protestant pastors:

  • There are approximately 315,000 Protestant churches in America.  (As compared to 13,000 McDonalds and 4000 Walmarts).
  • Pastors buy 3.8 books per month per person
  • 92% of pastors buy at least one book per month
  • Pastors buy 8-13 million books per year.
  • Pastors buy more books than the general population.
  • Younger pastors buy more books than older pastors.
  • Pastors buy books on topics that interest them or that are recommended to them.
  • Half of pastors are reading biographies.
  • One-third of pastors are reading business books.
  •  Pastors buy most of their books at Christian bookstores and online.
  • Half of pastors read books on an e-reader of an iPad.
  • 90% of pastors recommend books to their congregations from the pulpit.

FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2012

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Since this blog just launched last month, I wanted to offer my ten favorite reads (or rereads in one case) of 2012:

The Pilgrim’s Progess by John Bunyan.  The older I get, the more I am rereading.  Since Spurgeon read it 100 times, I ought to try at least ten!

If you are intimidated by older language, try this edition as your “gateway drug” to Bunyan:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080246520X/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0800786092&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1SYPQTZ8EX07HTGBE5JR

Booked by Karen Swallow Prior.  This is the kind of book which is sad to finish.  Wonderful writing coupled with insightful truths about the human predicament. I will either be interviewing the author later this year or doing a larger review here.  Stay tuned.

http://www.amazon.com/Booked-Literature-Karen-Swallow-Prior/dp/0692014543/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

On Conan Doyle by Michael Dirda.  One of our youngest son’s friends is Muslim and so has never experienced Christmas.  He wanted to do the whole exchanging of gifts, etc.  This is the book he got me.  A terrific book with fascinating background on how Conan Doyle developed his characters.

http://www.amazon.com/On-Conan-Doyle-Storytelling-Writers/dp/0691151350/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Struggling with Scripture by Brueggemann, Placher, and Blount.  A short book which helped me clarify once again why the more liberal position on Scripture is problematic.

http://www.amazon.com/Struggling-Scripture-Walter-Brueggemann/dp/0664224857/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

RetroChristianity by Svigel.  I did a review of this terrific book over at Jesus Creed.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2012/05/19/saturday-book-review-2/

http://www.amazon.com/RetroChristianity-Reclaiming-Forgotten-Michael-Svigel/dp/1433528487/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Believing Again by Lundin.  I am very interested in 19th century America and Lundin is a master of that period.

http://www.amazon.com/Believing-Again-Doubt-Faith-Secular/dp/0802830773/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Bible in Pocket, Gun in Hand by Phares.  An entertaining look at the toughness of nineteenth century ministers who preached the gospel on the wild frontier. Ministers who think they have it rough today might want to give this book a read. Non ministers will equally enjoy this lively and interesting book.

http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Pocket-Gun-Hand-Frontier/dp/0803257252/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Green Leaves for Later Years by Griffin.  Poignant, insightful, and well-written reflections on the process of aging. Aging, as Chuck Swindoll famously said, is not for wimps. This book is a good arsenal in the battle so one will be wise and joyful.”

http://www.amazon.com/Green-Leaves-Later-Years-Spiritual/dp/0830835652/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Our Triune God by Ryken and LeFebvre.  The authors provide a concise, yet responsible overview. For those wanting a good primer on the trinity, this is a good place to start.

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Triune-Three-One-ebook/dp/B004V9IFRG/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

Love Works by Manby.  It sounds like a rather goofy and naive book, but it is actually quite good. Unlike the vast majority of business books, this author and successful business leader shares his own failures.

One quibble: He should have said much more about humility. And he seems to hold the popular notion that humility is elusive.

Overall, a wonderful book worth reading!

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Works-Timeless-Principles-Effective/dp/0310335671/ref=cm_cr-mr-title

 

 

FAVORITE PLACES TO READ #2

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During the summer of 1986, it was my great privilege to study at L’Abri in Switzerland.  Francis Schaeffer had died two years earlier, but his wife Edith, was there.  Not only did I get to hear Edith Schaeffer lecture, but one of the Schaeffer’s son-in-laws, Ranald, was my mentor.  Ranald Macaulay co-authored a book with Jerram Barrs which had a big influence on me.  The book was Being Human: the Nature of Spiritual Experience.

It is hard to describe the beauty of lush green rolling hills surrounded by the awesome Alps of Switzerland, but it is definitely one of my favorite places to read!

 

 

HOW AND WHAT I READ…AND WHERE! FAVORITE PLACES TO READ #1

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This introduces a series on reading.  Among other things, I will share a picture of one of my favorite places to read.  In no clear order, one of my favorite places is The New York Public Library in the very room you see before you. I have read there on various occasions.  I still fondly recall the elderly woman taking copious notes from an art history book.  Wonderful!

My own reading is summarized by the acrostic GROWTH.

G: Greats which right now is a reread of The Taming of the Shrew by Mr. Shakespeare.  And I did not start reading Shakespeare until my early forties.  There is hope for anyone!

R: Reviews I need to write or books for upcoming interviews.  I have already read many terrific things for my show, “Moore Engaging,” and will be sharing those in the months ahead.

O: Other reading that doesn’t neatly fit in the five main categories.  It is only as time permits which is rare!  These kinds of books might find their way on vacation…which has also been rare these past several years.

W: Word of God.  Commentaries and any book which helps me know the Bible better.  And yes, I like to read commentaries cover to cover like real books.

T: Teaching preparation which can be just about anything.

H: History which I am regularly reading.