Book Reviews

The Future of Christian Learning: An Evangelical and Catholic Dialogue by: Mark A. Noll and James Turner
It is refreshing to read a book that is looking at two different views with some similarities but for the most part is talking about two separate perspectives and be able to have this discussion in a positive dialogue that will hopefully enhance both of the views and be able to bring them closer together to work for a common cause. Both Mark Noll and James Turner help to do this within the discussion of Christian educations. Noll represents the evangelical side while Turner represents the Roman Catholic view.

This is a good read working with the university level of Christian education. Their call to be about the process of learning in a faith based institution with an array of ideas, principles, and beliefs but set with the foundation of the Christian faith is something that all Christian educational institutions should be aiming for. However, for someone like me that is working with education and spirituality on a secular campus, this book has some good insight into the role of faith in our modern university settings.
This book is put out by Brazos Press which is a division of Baker Publishing Group.

New Monasticism by Jonathan Wilson- Hartgrove
This book gives good insight into the movement and really helps to draw churches and Christians back to a reforming idea of what it means to be a Christian in this day and time. This book is a good introduction into the new monasticism way of life and will inspire to live out the calling of the kingdom of God in your communities that you live in now. This was a refreshing book but also a challenging book on how we live our lives in this day and time. Some of the ideas are radical but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing at all 

This book is again put out by Brazos Press which is a division of Baker Publishing Group.

I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt by: Vince Antonucci
This was a good book that was a simple read but enjoyable one. There is some good humor in it with some thought provoking ideas on living out an authentic life. There is nothing earth shattering in this book, however Antonucci is personal and straight forward with stories and ideas and what kind of life Jesus is calling us to. This is a refreshing book that was an enjoyable summer read. This book is put out by Baker Books.

The Faces of Jesus by: Frederick Buechner
This short book was a great meditation for me. These are six simple chapters about the life of Jesus (split up as Annunciation, Nativity, Ministry, Last Supper, Crucifixon, and Resurrection). He takes these stories and combines them with a historical view to help give a human view of who Jesus was.
He also uses artwork to help bring alive the stories which he tells throughout the book. Buechner really gives great insight to the stories that brings the life of Jesus to life for the reader. A great read for focus and meditation. This book is published by Paraclete Press.

The Voice of Luke: Not Even Sandals

I really can’t recommend enough the Voice project. The material that continues to come out is amazing and from what I hear of what is to come out soon will just add to the great resources already available.

This continuing of excellent material continues with Brian McLaren’s The Voice of Luke: Not Even Sandals. McLaren explores a narrative retelling of the Gospel story according to Luke. This book really gives the feel, emotion, meaning, and the “experiential” way of communicating the story of Jesus.

This project is more then a translation or a paraphrase but more a retelling and the structure and feel is more of a screenplay, which makes for interesting and sometimes more engaging way of reading. The devotional thoughts or basically McLaren’s commentary throughout the whole book really is a highlight of the reading and helps with the retelling of the story. McLaren is get with bringing the reader in and really engaging the reader. McLaren ties in the themes going on and even consistently brings you back to the idea of “not even sandals” and develops that as the book goes on (I’ll leave it to you to read the book to learn more about what McLaren is talking about).

Again, I can’t speak enough about the effectiveness of this resource and its ability for retelling the story and engaging a new kind of reader to Scripture. This is a great resource for youth ministry, personal reading, devotional reading, bible studies, and even used in periods of worship.