Challenge: 50 Books discussion

In the year 2007, I read 79 books.
In the year 2008, I read 100 books.
In the year 2009, I read 165 books.
In the year 2010, I read 145 books.
In the year 2011, as I began to start taking notes on a portion of my reading, I read 82 books.
In the year 2012, I read 62 books
Last year, in 2013, I read 90 books.
For this year, I have a goal of reading 70 books. So far, one down, 69 to go!

1) Advanced Strategic Planning: A 21st-Century Model for Church and Ministry Leaders by Aubrey Malphurs

2) We Become What We Worship: A Biblical Theology of Idolatry by G.K. Beale

3) When Moses Meets Aaron: Staffing and Supervision in Large Congregations by Gil Rendle and Susan Beaumont

4) Whose Offering Plate Is It?: New Strategies for Financial Stewardship by J. Clif Christopher

5) What Evangelicals Believe by Samuel P Spreng

6) Evolutionary Creation: A Christian Approach to Evolution by Denis O. Lamoureux

7) Justification and Variegated Nomism, vol. 2: The Paradoxes of Paul, edited by D.A. Carson, Peter Thomas O'Brien, and Mark A. SeifridMark A. Seifrid

8) Spiritual Rhythm: Being with Jesus Every Season of Your Soul by Mark Buchanan

Wow, way to be storming through some heavy-hitters already this year. Has one stood out more than the others yet?

That's a good question, Tima! Academically, I'd say that #7 has definitely been a highlight. Very hefty work, quite thorough. I didn't care much for #6, in spite of my general agreement with the author's ultimate conclusion. I valued #2 a great deal, but found the bulk of it exceptionally repetitive.

Pragmatically, #1 was a highlight. I will definitely have to return to it at some point and work through it in greater detail.

Spiritually, definitely #8. It was thoroughly refreshing, and I hope to keep its lessons in mind. Buchanan is beautiful as a writer.

I can now add another to the list:
9) Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind by Mark A. Noll

10) The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Its History, Doctrine, and Spiritual Culture by John Anthony McGuckin

11) The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power by D. Michael Quinn

12) Garden Spot: Lancaster County, the Old Order Amish, and the Selling of Rural America by David Walbert

13) Early German-American Evangelicalism: Pietist Sources on Discipleship and Sanctification by J. Steven O'Malley

14) Shepherds After My Own Heart: Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in the Bible by Timothy S. Laniak

15) unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman

16) G. K. Chesterton: A Biography by Ian T. Ker

17) In the Footsteps of Judas and Other Defectors: Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 1: The Gospels, Acts, and Johannine Letters by B.J. Oropeza

I think you set the bar too low with 70 books!

Bryan wrote: "I think you set the bar too low with 70 books!"

Here's hoping! I'm hoping to be appointed to a church this year (*fingers crossed*), so I decided to lowball my reading estimate just in case I am and in case it results in a significant reduction in my reading time.

JB wrote: "Bryan wrote: "I think you set the bar too low with 70 books!"

Here's hoping! I'm hoping to be appointed to a church this year (*fingers crossed*), so I decided to lowball my reading estimate just..."

Gotcha

18) Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith

19) Church Administration Handbook, edited by Bruce P. Powers

20) Orthodox and Wesleyan Spirituality, edited by S.T. Kimbrough Jr.

21) Ancient Israel in Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition by James K. Hoffmeier

22) Adopted into God's Family: Exploring a Pauline Metaphor by Trevor J. Burke

23) The Counsel of Heaven on Earth: Foundations for Biblical Christian Counseling by Ian F. Jones

24) The Blackwell Companion to Natural Theology, edited by William Lane Craig and J. P. Moreland

25) God the Peacemaker: How Atonement Brings Shalom by Graham Cole

Have you read any Francis Chan or Angela Thomas books? If not I would definitely recommend giving them a shot!

Alison wrote: "Have you read any Francis Chan or Angela Thomas books? If not I would definitely recommend giving them a shot!"

I've heard largely good things about Francis Chan's work, though I haven't gotten around to reading any of it yet. I'm not familiar with Angela Thomas at all. Thanks!

26) A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good by Miroslav Volf

Beth Moore is good too! I saw her speak a couple years ago.

27) Blessed Connections: Relationships That Sustain Vital Ministry by Judith Schwanz

28) Jews, Gentiles, and the Opponents of Paul: Apostasy in the New Testament Communities, Volume 2: The Pauline Letters by B.J. Oropeza

29) Giving Counsel: A Minister's Guidebook by Donald Capps

30) Hearing God's Words: Exploring Biblical Spirituality by Peter Adam

31) Administration in the Small Membership Church by John H. Tyson

32) Christ, Our Righteousness: Paul's Theology of Justification by Mark A. Seifrid

33) Mormonism in Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890-1930 by Thomas G. Alexander

34) Passing the Plate: Why American Christians Don't Give Away More Money by Christian Smith and Michael Emerson

35) Associations, Synagogues, and Congregations: Claiming a Place in Ancient Mediterranean Society by Philip Harland

Oh my dear friend, you are falling behind. You knew we were racing right? ;)

Bryan wrote: "Oh my dear friend, you are falling behind. You knew we were racing right? ;)"

Don't get too cocky in the duathlon just because you're ahead in the running leg, brother. ;) By my calculations, I've taken well over 1052 pages of single-spaced notes on this year's books so far.

36) Orthodox and Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice, edited by S.T. Kimbrough Jr.

JB wrote: "Bryan wrote: "Oh my dear friend, you are falling behind. You knew we were racing right? ;)"

Don't get too cocky in the duathlon just because you're ahead in the running leg, brother. ;) By my cal..."

That sounds like a lot of notes. Memory slipping? ;)

Bryan wrote: "That sounds like a lot of notes. Memory slipping? ;)"

Just making sure I don't have to rely on just memory, say, thirty or forty years from now. :P

37) John Seybert and the Evangelical Heritage by J. Steven O'Malley

38) One Body: An Essay in Christian Sexual Ethics by Alexander R. Pruss

39) Taking the Cross to Youth Ministry by Andrew Root