Books, books and more books

For this week’s blog I’m starting a new series sharing about what I am reading (and have read and want to read). I am always excited to hear what books others are finding helpful, encouraging and challenging and so I thought I would use this space to share mine.

Please add your own thoughts in the comments!

Pepper guarding the books in our library!

Just finished:

The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith by Michael O. Emerson and Glenn E. Bracey III. Along with Emerson’s Divided by Faith which is almost a prequel to this latest book laying the foundation for understanding how white Christians views on race and racism impact the manifestations of their faith I think Religion of Whiteness is a must read for all Christians wanting to understand how so many White Christians have supported politicians and policies that are overtly racist and harmful to the BIPOC community.

What I am reading now:

Listening: Scandal of the Kingdom: How the Parables of Jesus Revolutionize Life with God by Dallas Willard

I read Willard’s Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God last year and learned a great deal. It was definitely a book that moved me forward in my walk with the Lord and increased my understanding of how I can be in God’s presence and hear his voice. As such I was eager to read Willard’s other books. Fortunately for me he was a prolific author. Scandal came highly recommended and so now I am about halfway through. I so appreciate how he breaks down Jesus’ parables both contextualizing them in Jesus’ time, and thus groud8ning their meaning, and helping the reader pull that meaning forward to apply it today. Like Hearing God it is also just marinated in this idea that God wants us to know and understand him and therefore he is accessible to us – we just need to seek earnestly.

Paperback/hardcover: The Asylum Seekers: A Chronicle of Life, Death and Community at the Border by Cristina Rathbone.

I cannot recommend this book enough. Cristina is the new Congregational Coordinator at the Mass Council of Churches(and doing an amazing job in that role) but several years ago she spent 9 months in Juarez developing relationships with and learning from asylum seekers waiting to be let into the US. She is a gifted writer and the picture she offers is so well drawn and compelling. It is also so vulnerable and earnest. If you are looking for an entry point into understanding our current humanitarian crisis around refugees, migrants and immigration more generally pick up this book.

Bonus: Who Will be a Witness: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love and Deliverance

I am re-reading this for a book group and it is just as profound, challenging and instructive as it was a few years ago.  Dr. Hart’s brilliantly blends exegesis, personal stories and an analysis of present-day challenges surrounding injustice and inequity. This is a great book for anyone to read but also grab a few friends and read it together – it sparks so much conversation and encourages as well as challenges.

On deck:

The Courage to Be by Paul Tillich

While I was studying at the BU School of Theology in pursuit of my master’s we engaged with Tillich a fair amount. However, I haven’t read any of his books cover to cover so I plan to remedy that soon. Will keep you posted.