Typically I use my blog as a space to process texts prior to proclaiming a sermon. This morning I am not feeling up to sermoncraft. It has been a long, LONG, L-O-N-G week filled with pastoral care work. I have been from critical care unit to hospital room, to out of town emergency, and I am feeling roasted, basted, fricasseed and poached.

So–rather than offer a take on the text I am going to offer readers a chance to  know what I am reading this Summer. Perhaps you might desire to read some, one, or all of them, too.

Here’s the list:

  1. Shane Claiborne, Jesus for President (re-reading a 3rd time)
  2. Nadia Bolz-Weber, Accidental Saints (3rd reading attempt)
  3. Augsburg Fortress, The Christian Handbook for Pastors (just finished it)
  4. Flannery O’Connor, The Habit of Being (reading now)
  5. Shane Claiborne, Irresistible Revolution (re-reading a 2nd time)
  6. and then there’s the list from another blogger that I am trying to read….

It is so very important to read. It is so very important to read works from others with whom we are unfamiliar and with whom we disagree. Perspective is in deep want these days—one way to gain it is to read.

Books are important. Reading is important. If you don’t so, then consider Timbuktu.