My 2014 in Books

So, every new year I take some time to look back on the reading I did in the year gone by.  Reading is one of those weird things for me: it's a hobby, on the one hand, and I do it for pleasure, but at the same time, it's a crucial piece of staying sharp for ministry.  It's sort of like a "wobby" for me; or "hork" (get it, hobby + work?).  In the past I usually try to trim my readings from the year down to a top ten list of some sort or other, but this year, for the fun and the challenge of it, I thought I'd haiku (yes, haiku) my way through all the books I read in 2014.

Ready?

Eugene Peterson, The Contemplative Pastor:  Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction

A message so wise
on the lost arts pastoral
came when most needed.


C. S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet

A trip to the place
where Truth and Beauty's disguised
as science fiction.


Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

Humble reminder:
that ministry's not the same
as false relevance.


C. S. Lewis, Voyage to Venus

A paradise won
in fantastical places
with everyday love.

Gabor Mate, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts:  Close Encounters with Addiction

Peering down the well
of addiction and seeing
My face staring back.


N. T. Wright, Paul and the Faithfulness of God Vol. 1

One pond'rous prologue
to a man I thought I knew
and can't wait to meet.


Rikky Rookby, How to Write Songs for Guitar

I'll help you write songs
said the man with the guitar
and oh, how he did.


Wesley Hill, Washed and Waiting:  Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality

Its not as simple
or as complicated as
we think.  There's the rub.


Jennell Williams Paris, The End of Sexual Identity:  Why Sex is too Important to Define who we are

Could it really be,
that identity in Christ
isn't gay or straight?


Richard Beck, The Slavery of Death

A view of the cross
from an angle so ancient
it sort of sounds new.

Brene Brown, The Gifts of Imperfection:  Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are
A better cover
than a book; but then again,
who am I to judge?

Neil Pasricha, The Book of Awesome

Ingratitude grows,

stalactites in the heart's cave,
till awe leads us out.


C. S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy:  The Shape of My Early Life

One man's life story:
haunted by joy and yearning.
It aches in us all.


Elaine Heath, The Mystic Way of Evangelism:  A Contemplative Vision for Christian Outreach

If God's not in it,
and it's not done on our knees,
it isn't good news.

Jewel, A Night Without Armor

Young Adult chick-lit
but the poems led me on.
A man of forty.


Kevin G. Harney, Organic Outreach for Churches:  Infusing Evangelistic Passion into Your Congregation

You make it sound
so easy and compelling.
Now for the hard part.

Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life with Christ

Opened it as an
emotional teenager
wanting to grow up.

Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God:  Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath

"Sabbath for the man"
is how the Master said it.
Now I think I see.

Eugene Peterson, Subversive Spirituality

Prayers and poetry
can turn the world on its head.
This one had them both.

Samuel Miller, The Life of the Soul

The life of the soul?
Perhaps: I closed the book with
no clue what it meant.

Wilkie Collins, The Woman in White

Coincidence and
mystery combined to thrill.
Welcome reading change.


C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man

An old fashioned book
That saw something coming soon.
Now it's at the door.