Books We Suggest

The Church on the Other Side by Brian McLaren - What is the future in the post-Christian world? What does it mean for the emerging church? This book provides practical advice as McLaren gives us a peek into his own spiritual journey. We see a future that is different. McLaren gives us the belief that we can make this future filled with hope, not despair. It discusses how important tradition is to postmoderns, how we can recover our lost identities as Christians, and most importantly, how we can have meaningful conversations with people from other belief systems without feeling as though they need to be "converted". A great read for anyone interested in really focusing on the future of the emerging church.

The Younger Evangelicals by Robert E. Webber - Webber offers an insider's perspective on the present state and future of evangelicalism. He contends that the "younger evangelicals" include anyone "who deals thoughtfully with the shift from 20th to 21st century culture. He or she is committed to construct a biblically rooted, historically informed and culturally aware new evangelical witness in the 21st century." In this splendid overview of the shifts in the evangelical landscape, Webber examines the differences in theological thinking, worship styles and communication styles; attitudes toward history, art and evangelism; and ecclesiology between "traditional" evangelicals (1950-1975), "pragmatic" evangelicals (1975-2000) and younger evangelicals (2000-). For example, where the traditional evangelicals argued theologically that Christianity is a rational worldview and pragmatic evangelicals contended theologically that Christianity is a therapy that answers needs, the younger evangelicals' theological program involves a return to ancient Christian and Reformation teachings that Christianity is a community of faith. These younger evangelicals, he argues, are highly visual believers, possessing great facility with technology. They are committed to the plight of the poor, multicultural communities of faith and intergenerational ministry, and they recognize that the road to the future runs through the past. Webber's helpful and thorough guidebook offers a generous assessment of the history of evangelicalism as well as a judicious but enthusiastic evaluation of its prospects in the 21st century

A is for Abductive by Brian McLaren and Leonard Sweet - Wouldn't it be nice to have a guidebook through the terrain of postmodernism? McLaren and Sweet attempt just that with this engrossing book about postmodern language. From A to Z they help the uninitiated understand the terms and definitions behind postmodern lingo. For the novice trying to understand the state of the church, this book will give clear examples and definitions to help make sense of the new world. For those already involved in postmodern ministry, this book will guide you in helping others understand how they can be useful to the culture around them. This helpful guidebook should be on the shelf of any Christian trying to reach out to younger generations.

The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George Hunter - Hunter details one man's heroic journey of faith as a missionary. The story of St. Patrick is brought into a contemporary setting as Hunter applies the many ways Patrick evangelized the Irish people to our present setting. He shows the similarities between the Irish and their needs and postmoderns and their needs. This is a fascinating book that will capture your heart and mind for the culture around you. You will not see people as " needing Christ", but instead see people as "needing community". Hunter helps make sense of this word community and how it was lived out for Patrick and why that will work wonderfully for those doing ministry with postmoderns.

Decision Making and the Will of God by Gary Friesen - This book gives a fresh perspective on a subject that most followers of Christ struggle with sooner or later in their spiritual journey - knowing the will of God for their lives. Does God have one perfect will for each of our lives that we must diligently find and follow, or is there perhaps an different understanding, based on "the way of wisdom" that is just as biblically sound and honest to the scriptures? One that gives a fresh freedom to knowing what God desires of us? Gary's approach is balanced and mature, providing very practical guidelines for how Christians might deal with this subject (the chapter on "Wisdom When Christians Differ" is a must read).

Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch - This book provides an understanding of The Journey's church structure. We do not agree with everything in this book, but the basic idea of multiple, equal pastors who care for a church works in our community.

Spiritual Disciplines by Richard Foster - This book takes the reader on a journey into the depths of spirituality. Foster spends the entire book giving practical advice on how to live out the Christian disciplines. His premise is that many have been discarded or are misunderstood. He sets out to give correct, Biblical understandings of each discipline. These include prayer, fasting, meditation, Bible study, simple living and many others. This is a great book for a group to go through or for an individual who would like to connect with God in a deeper, and possibly, more meaningful way.

Confessions by Augustine - A deep look into the mind of one of the great Christian thinkers the world has known. Augustine follows the path from his early years, to his conversion, to his understanding of who God is. This Christian Classic has depth many contemporary books strive to achieve. It is an excellent resource to read as a devotional or for more intense readings.

A New Kind of Christian, The Story We Find Ourselves In, and The Last Word and the Word After That  by Brian McLaren - McLaren proposes that the emergent church is the road to take in order to move on from the current stalemate between conservative evangelical and liberal Christians. His books are part of his activist work to promote "innovation, entrepreneurial leadership and a desire to be on the leading edge of ministry." Here he has adopted the fictional tale of an earnest, very conservative pastor who has become so burned out in his church life that he is planning to quit the pastorate. Instead, he makes friends with his daughter's science teacher, who leads him to an enthusiastic journey in understanding of himself, the culture, and how God can work through it all.

Other books to check out:

Finding Our Way Again: The Return of Ancient Practices by Brian McLaren
The Sacred Way by Tony Jones
Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Dan Golden
Changing Lenses by Howard Zehr
A Generous Orthodoxy by Brian McLaren
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian McLaren
Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren
The Jesus Creed by Scott McKnight
The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
Creed or Chaos by Dorothy Sayers
A Believer's Church Theology by Stanley A. Nelson


Contemporary Stories of Redemption:

Books:
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Middlesex by Jefferey Eugenides
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick
Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemmingway
Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkein
Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers

Movies:
Rachel Getting Married
Stranger than Fiction
Unforgiven
Three Kings
The Shawshank Redemption
Shadowlands
Star Wars
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
The Matrix
The Last Samurai
Braveheart
Lars and the Real Girl
Monster's Ball
Antwone Fisher
American Beauty
As Good As It Gets
Gladiator
Magnolia
Rocky (I, II, III, IV, V, VI. . . . .)
13 Conversations About One Thing