Take The Death of Ivan Ilyich, for example. These books broaden the landscape of my imagination and get my creative juices flowing, seasoning me with ideas, illustrations, examples, and metaphors. In the classics, I can engage with diverse styles of writing-different sorts of stories and perspectives-that have achieved popular appeal and stood the test of time. Lately, I’ve read or listened to The Scarlet Letter, Animal Farm, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Pride and Prejudice.Ĭlassic fiction has great appeal for me as a preacher and writer. But these days I tend to gravitate toward the classics. And for vacation or “beach reading” I enjoy books by David Baldacci. The most well-written contemporary fiction I’ve read was A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Since the majority of the book is built around 17 interviews with the president, it seemed like a timely and less-filtered way to hear Donald Trump reflect on his policies and behavior. When the presidential election was fast approaching, I finished Rage by Bob Woodward.
#The untethered soul jesus christ how to#
It’s important that I know how to navigate these waters, so I’m always looking to grow in this area. As the leader of an organization, it’s important that I work toward defining power dynamics and making them transparent. We’re less skilled at navigating the realities of power in the Christian world.
The result is that we’re less skilled at seeing the power dynamics that push and pull at a leadership team. Power, interests, and politics just seem carnal or worldly-beneath the dignity of the church. I’m struck by the ways Christian leaders tend to spiritualize organizational realities in a fallen world. I’m also reading The Politics of Ministry by Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie. Wilbourne and Gregor’s book is about finding contentment and joy in a life that’s shaped by the cross-about how God uses our weaknesses and limitations to invite us into joy. We spent 30 to 40 minutes at the beginning of each day going through the book chapter by chapter, and I was struck again by how the gospel has implications for all of life. I just finished taking our leadership team in Indianapolis through Rankin Wilbourne and Brian Gregor’s The Cross Before Me: Reimagining the Way to the Good Life. I’m doubling down on gospel application and political power right now. I asked Dave Harvey-president of the Great Commission Collective and author of The Plurality Principle, I Still Do, Rescuing Ambition, and When Sinners Say I Do-about what’s on his bedside table, favorite fiction, favorite re-reads, and much more. On My Shelf helps you get to know various writers through a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their lives as readers.
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