Most pastors are scavengers for good ideas and illustrations. The Bible is clearly the starting point and source for all good preaching. But observing people and reading good books helps to give me an endless supply of illustrations for my sermons. I have found that reading a wide variety of books helps me stay in tune with the issues and ideas that are important to folks.
Here is a top ten list of really good books I have read this past year:
Life Among the Lutherans by Garrison Keillor
Highest Duty by Capt. "Sully" Sullenberger
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennen Manning
Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the hidden power of adversity by Drew Brees
Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative,
Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN by Brian McClaren
Messy Spirituality: God's Annoying Love for Imperfect People by Mike Yaconelli
Thrive: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way by Dan Buettner
Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg
Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men by Roland Martinson and others.
UnChristian by the George Barna Group
If you have read any of these books, feel free to send me your comments and reactions. If you are thinking of reading one of these books and need a quick review, just let me know.
I would love to hear what your favorite book of 2010 was. I am already running out of book ideas for 2011 and your recommendations will be much appreciated.
Happy Reading! What else can we do on these long, cold Iowa winter nights?
Oh, I forgot...I read the new book on Deitrich Bonhoeffer this past summer. It was excellent!
