My Favorite Books of 2010

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!

Blogging in a Blizzard

What a perfect day to launch my very first pastoral post on my very first pastoral blog. I am hunkered down at home with a blizzard raging outside, giving me the chance to create this blog with the mellow voice of Nat King Cole singing the Christmas Song in the background.  Thanks to my dear wife Dee, I have now entered the 21st century, riding high on the currents of modern communication technology.  Dee did a great job creating our Holy Land blog a few weeks ago and now she is the architect of my current pastoral blog.

The Heart for the Mission Task Force at First Lutheran encouraged me to offer this blog to the congregation at our last meeting.  This gives me a chance to reflect and share my "thoughts while shaving" and comment on issues relevant to our life and ministry together. 

 I encourage you to check this blog regularly and interact with it by posting your comments.  This does not replace the monthly pastor's article in the First Lutheran Newsletter, but it gives me a chance to communicate to a larger audience on a more regular basis.