1. What books have you recently read. Tell us your opinion of them.I'm in a group that is reading Diana Butler Bass' Christianity For the Rest of Us
. I do recommend it, although the lay people in our group don't seem all that inspired by it. On my last day off, I re-read Eat Pray Love 
(Elizabeth Gilbert), a book that reminds me what spiritual journey looks like on a modern day seeker apart from the institutional church.2. What books are awaiting your available time to be read.
At the top of my pile is War is a Lie 
(David Swanson), "a thorough refutation of every major argument used to justify wars, drawing on evidence from numerous past wars, with a focus on those wars that have been most widely defended as just and good."
(David Swanson), "a thorough refutation of every major argument used to justify wars, drawing on evidence from numerous past wars, with a focus on those wars that have been most widely defended as just and good." 
3. Have any books been recently recommended? I'm looking forward to reading Carol Howard Merritt's Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry for a New Generation. I hope it will begin to answer the question raised for me by Eat Pray Love: Wouldn't it be great if the church was a place where spiritual seekers found God instead of having to give up church in order to find God? I am all in favor of exotic locations as pilgrimage destination, though!
4. What genre of books are your favorite, along with some titles and/or authors you like best?I don't know if this is an official genre, but I'm sort of a sucker for modern-day morality parables. The Alchemist 
(Paulo Coelho) is a favorite, as is The Shack
(William P. Young). I also have enjoyed God on a Harley 
(Joan Brady), The Knight in Rusty Armor
(Robert Fischer), The Dragon-Slayer with a Heavy Heart 
(Marcia Powers) and The Princess Who Believed in Fairy Tales 
(Marcia Grad). If you ever see any of these on a dollar table at a book sale, grab it!
(Paulo Coelho) is a favorite, as is The Shack (William P. Young). I also have enjoyed God on a Harley (Joan Brady), The Knight in Rusty Armor (Robert Fischer), The Dragon-Slayer with a Heavy Heart (Marcia Powers) and The Princess Who Believed in Fairy Tales (Marcia Grad). If you ever see any of these on a dollar table at a book sale, grab it!
5. What have you read lately that you have a strong urge to recommend (or condemn)?I strongly recommend Rita Nakashima Brock's latest book Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire
. It is a very life-giving look at the historical make-over, in art and story, of Jesus as shepherd in the earliest church to Jesus the very dead sacrificial lamb. She does some cool things with Song of Solomon, too! Reading this takes me back to the thrill of seminary learning days. Yeah, I know, I'm a total church and Bible geek!
. It is a very life-giving look at the historical make-over, in art and story, of Jesus as shepherd in the earliest church to Jesus the very dead sacrificial lamb. She does some cool things with Song of Solomon, too! Reading this takes me back to the thrill of seminary learning days. Yeah, I know, I'm a total church and Bible geek! 
