Three Best Reads for the Last Quarter of 2004

Life on the Vine: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Christian Community by Philip Kenneson

Kenneson says, “We must take a hard look at the ways in which the dominant culture shapes our daily lives.” In this book Kenneson gives a chapter to each of the fruits of the Spirit—-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control- and shows how bearing each fruit will not be without difficulty, as each fruit has something that is trying to choke it out in American culture.

Awareness by Anthony De Mello

Whenever I want to move someone from spiritual laziness and try to give him/her direction to spiritual path I give them this book as a gift. It will open your eyes and shatter your understandings. It cuts through our masks and our maya like a scalpel cuts through skin. It doesn’t always leave you with a pleasant feeling but what’s said is absolutely necessary—wake up!. So read this book. And then pick it back up in six months and read it again!

Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving With Grace by Gordon MacKenzie

Although I have read many excellent books about nurturing creativity while working in an institution, this is the first book I have read where the author has been someone who has done that repeatedly and in a variety of ways. This book is stimulating visually as well as intellectually, fun to read, and the chapters are short enough to be assimilated by even the most harried person.

So if you work with a “church” that still does modern ministry and you’re trying to be a part but your deep involvement in the emergent conversation has you on another track, I strongly suggest you read this book. Orbiting the Giant Hairball provides many stimulating approaches to creativity, especially in the often stifling environment of the corporate world/church.