JB's Challenge List for 2014

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

5) What Evangelicals Believe by Samuel P Spreng

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[╟ ♫ Tima ♪ ╣ ♥]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Bryan]

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

[Jonathan]

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.

[Bryan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Alison]

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

[Jonathan]

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!

[Jonathan]

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

[Alison]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Bryan]

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

[Jonathan]

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.

[Jonathan]

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

[Bryan]

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? ;)

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

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

[Jonathan]

39) Taking the Cross to Youth Ministry by Andrew Root