What Have I Been Reading

Fiction

• News of the World by Paulette Jiles (DNF) // Yup, you read that right. A big DID NOT FINISH. I've implemented Ryan Holiday's "100 pages minus your age" rule. That rule states that you should give a book a chance up to the page number calculated by subtracting your age from 100. If it has not captivated you by then, you have permission to stop reading it guilt-free (note: this rule does not work for books required for educational pursuits or other required readings). Why did I put it down forever? I just couldn't get into the story, the setting, characters, etc. No shame on closing this one up early.

• A Land More Kind than Home by Wiley Cash // This is the exact opposite of the book above. I would agree with the summary; "a brilliant evocation of a place, a heart-rending family story, a gripping and suspenseful mystery." I will look into more of Cash's work in the future.

*Fiction books give my mind a "rest" from extensive Biblical study, educational material, and anything that has a screen. With that, it should be noted that some of the titles above are "non-Christian." Proceed with caution.

Nonfiction

• The 10 Key Roles of a Pastor by Gary McIntosh // This is required reading for my doctoral class. This is a great work/observation as McIntosh unpacks the roles of a pastor (from counselor to theologian to student to CEO, etc.). It is a good work for pastors just starting out in ministry, as well as those who have been at it a while and find themselves overworked and overwhelmed.

• Growing God's Church by Gary McIntosh // This is another required reading for my current doctoral class. While it's an interesting read, it will be outdated quickly as McIntosh tries to shows pastors and church leaders how people are actually coming to faith in the 21st century. I struggle with these types of books for various reasons that I won't go into detail about here.

• Connecting People to Church by Gary McIntosh // This is again, for my doctoral class (can you guess who my professor is?). The work draws from Acts 2 and McIntosh's decades of consulting. It's super practical but I would say it's not a "one-size-fits-all" model. Churches would need to modify as they see fit for their congregation in the journey from the parking lot to discipleship.

NOTE: I don't recommend everything equally. Some resources have become staples that I enthusiastically place into the hands of others. Some are helpful with discernment. Others simply sparked reflection or conversation. My goal isn't to offer a list of perfect resources but to share what's currently shaping my thinking, ministry, and conversations.