books

Forget Oprah: Some of my Favorite Things

bo.white — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:41:38 -0700

When Oprah Winfrey was doing her talk show, she became famous for giving scores of things away. She gave away cars, trips, trinkets, and even counseling sessions with Dr. Phil. On several shows, she highlighted her favorite things and they were all something material, something that could be given away.

Since this is a blog about ideas and how we express ideas, I thought I’d share some of my favorite things this week in no particular order. Some of them will be quotes, some references or allusions to idea-makers, but all of them will hopefully entertain, enlighten, and even brighten your day. Of course, these are my favorite things, not necessarily yours, nonetheless, welcome to a little bit of my world.

1—"In the end, coming to faith remains for all a sense of homecoming, of picking up the threads of a lost life, of responding to a bell that had long been ringing, of taking a place at a table that had long been vacant." Malcolm Muggeridge wrote the previous sentence and let me recommend his work. In many respects, the way he has articulated his faith journey, which took him around the world, is still something I return to often. He is imminently quotable and I just finished his autobiographical works entitled Chronicles of Wasted Time, which made me lose track of time, which is the sign of good writing.

2—John Lynch on Grace—I am not sure anyone articulates the message of grace better and I believe if we understood, grasped, and experienced more of the truth of this brief message, we’d all change. This idea understood and expressed effectively will change us all.

See the brief video here:

3—The Influence of Francis Schaeffer Did Francis Schaeffer get everything absolutely right? No. He’s human and he’d be the first to admit it. But, for me, his example and his legacy has been remarkably impactful. Perhaps, this is just one of the better anecdotes: A Life of Humility - Blog by Randy Alcorn. If you’re convinced after that anecdote to read more check out True Spirituality and/or No Little People (they are not the most famous of Schaeffer’s works, but again, these are my favorites).

4—‘Oh my Heart,’ by REM—My favorite band just released their best work since Automatic for the People. I have the CD virtually memorized by now and this song captures my own memory of being in New Orleans after Katrina, my love of music, and the ache in my own heart for people I want to see more than I get to. This video comes with a bonus intro from Michael Stipe about what happens when art suddenly clicks. See it here:

5—Christopher Nolan films I am a Batman fan and have been all my life. When I was very young (less than 7 years young), I went to an auto show with my uncle and sat in the Batmobile and I was hooked; so when Christopher Nolan took over the helm, it was manna from heaven (Tim Burton was great, but Joel Schumacher’s version(s) made me cringe and get angry). In addition to the Batman films, though, Nolan has also done Memento, Insomnia, and Inception. Dark Knight Rises is currently filming, they added Anne Hathaway (strike up some heavenly choir) and others to the mix. Anyone want to have a Nolan film festival? I am willing to host if you bring the snacks and drinks?

So, we’ll see how this goes. Again, these are some, not all, of my favorite things. Feel free to check them out.

-bo

Announcing... Book No. 2

Brett McCracken — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:26:10 -0700

It’s been almost a year since Hipster Christianity, my first book, was released. Thank you to all those read it, responded to it, engaged it and supported me throughout the process of it. HC was a thrilling, humbling, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You only write your first book once, after all. I’m thrilled with the conversations it started, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to contribute to such an important ongoing discussion, both in the writing of the book and in the subsequent interviews, dialogues, lectures, and speaking engagements I’ve been blessed to participate in.

HC came out of my deep passion for the church and my abiding interest in the dynamic narrative of Christianity’s relationship with culture. That general interest area–particularly advocating for a thoughtful, nuanced Christian engagement with popular culture–continues to drive my writing life, whether I’m talking about smartphones, Malick movies, or–as in the most recent issue of Christianity Today–marijuana.

How do Christians engage the culture in a way that enriches our spiritual walk, edifies God, and contributes to broader human flourishing? How should we go about consuming potentially dicey — but also potentially edifying — areas of pop culture? How do we get the most out of that which we consume, and how do we discern what is and isn’t appropriate among the vast range of cultural goods, experiences, and products to which we are daily beckoned as consumers?

These are the sorts of questions I’m always asking, and they’re questions that loom large in my next book project, which I’m proud to say I started writing last week (after signing a contract with Baker Books, who will be publishing it).

I don’t want to say too much about the specifics of the book just yet… But I will say that it’s admittedly ambitious and sprawling, and will require immense energies and focus as I write it over the next 14 months (even as I work full time, pursue relationships, and continue to travel and speak in support of HC). That said, it’s going to be an absolute blast to write. The research for this book will take me to Switzerland, Spain, England, Chicago, New York, among many other places. It will require me to spend plenty of hours conversing with baristas and filmmakers and poets and musicians, and may require a few trips to breweries and wineries. It won’t be a bad gig.

As I begin the writing process, one thing that is motivating me is my firmly held belief in the radical nature of nuance. Moderation. Balance.

As is the case (sadly) with so many things in Christianity, the Christian position on culture tends to fall into extremes: Either “hands off!” separatism on one hand, which views culture as mostly a corrupting thing, or an “arms open wide” embrace on the other hand, which accepts perhaps more than it should and sometimes (as in my generation of Relevant recovering evangelicals, for e.g.), in rebellion against legalism, overcompensates too much in the direction of license. We don’t really do nuance or balance well. But is there a middle way forward? How do we positively seek out and engage culture in ways that are mature, discerning and edifying rather than reckless, excessive or reactionary? How can we slow down, pause, and consider culture more attentively?

These are big, important questions. How we engage culture and consume it as Christians has as much of a bearing on mission–our witness as ambassadors of Christ–as it does on our own development as embodied beings seeking after Christ.

This book (which I promise is more specific than the vagueries I’m giving you here!) is more than anything an attempt to add something of value to the ongoing narrative of Christian cultural engagement (Niebuhr, Lewis, Schaeffer, Kuyper, L’Engle, Begbie, Dillard, Hunter, etc.), while speaking particularly to specific areas in culture that have proven thorny or contested within contemporary Christianity.

I’m excited to undertake this project, and I’m glad to have the support of so many of you along the way. I’ll be posting book thoughts and excerpts on this blog along the way, so stay tuned!

Do you have Cultural Intelligence?

bo.white — Tue, 31 May 2011 12:00:00 -0700

Let me play my cards up front with you, there are a host of 'intelligence' quotients today. I have read books in the past year that deal with our relational intelligence, our right brain, left brain, and our central intelligence (agency that is), but I do believe that one of the more pressing concerns in our globalizing world is whether or not we are culturally intelligent. For some people, being culturally intelligent will be based more on information than experience. Others of you will have traveled widely and therefore, you will have your own perspective. All of us need to understand that neither our culture nor our view of culture is necessarily at the center of anything (other than our own minds).

Author and Scholar David Livermore introduces his book on the subject in this short clip. It's worth a preview just to whet your appetite for the discussion.

For what it's worth, after watching the video, you may want to jot a few notes down in the coming weeks concerning your church, your choice of news source, and your own reading of theology. In short, do these three arenas reflect a cultural broadening or narrowing on your part?

-bo

Doing an eReading Inventory

Novo Ink — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:43:44 -0700

Reading is an experience. It involves all your senses. Where you read, when you read, why you read is all part of the context that makes reading meaningful. So the idea of reading books digitally, isn’t simply a cost issue. It requires each of us to rethink how, when, where and why we read in light of this new medium.

As we rethink these various factors, you have to ask ourselves a few questions:

What are you losing by reading digitally and, conversely, what are you gaining?
How will it affect your reading patterns? Will it cause you to read more or will it decrease the amount you tend to read?
Will eReading change what you read? Will you read more fiction or will you tend to focus our eReading on work/study/etc?
Will eReading change where you read? Will you read more because the books are more portable?
Will eBooks help you make better use of resource materials such as cook books, how-to books, Bible commentaries and studies, etc?

As you ask yourself these questions, you will be able to build a case for the role of eReading in your life. You need to do this type of honest review in order to know whether eBooks will help you be more effective in your work, life and ministry.

That is why our team at NOVO Ink created www.DiscoverYourE.com. This site is has simple tools and ways to get a jumpstart on eReading. We hope you will benefit from the resource.

Year End Book Review

Carrie Nye — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 18:29:17 -0800

It's been a good year of good readings. I'm not one to create lists but here it goes. The following books are in no particular order; just those that I have read over this past year and wanted to pass along to you.

1. Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan - This is a book I'll read again. Chan gives account to scripture after scripture reminding us of the powerful Holy Spirit while revealing the complacency of many Christians today who are too weak and too fearful to unashamedly follow the Holy Spirit. It's a convicting, challenging and an inspiring read.

2. Good News About Injustice: A Witness of Courage in a Hurting World by Gary A. Huagen - Haugen speaks with authority over injustice through the three parts of his book: Part I: Taking up the Challenge, Part 2: Hope Amid Despair: God's Four Affirmations About Justice and Part 3: Real-World Tools for Rescuing the Oppressed. Haugen not only presents the problem of evil in today's world but he also offers practical suggestions on how the every day Christian can participate in God's mission of justice.

3. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali - Set in Yemen, Nujood tells her story of marriage to an abusive man who was three times her age. She was only 10 years old when she wed. Nujood manages to escape her abusive husband and his demanding and oppressive mother and she finds her way to a courthouse in the city. She is soon discovered sitting in the lobby of the courthouse by a friendly lawyer who listens to her tell her horrific story. Through ups and downs and family tension, Nujood finds her young voice and speaks out regarding the abuse she has endured. At age 10, Nujood became the youngest woman in the world to be granted a divorce. Because of her fight and perseverance, she has encouraged many other young women in Yemen and surrounding strict Muslim countries to stand up for their rights and to not allow such slavery and injustice to take place. Nujood is a strong young woman and was named a Glamour Woman of the Year in 2008.

4. The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar - This novel takes you on journey through modern-day India and into the lives of two very different women. Sera who is an upper-middle-class Parsi woman who bears years of scars and calluses over her abusive marriage. Bhima lives in a slum, is illiterate and has worked in Sera's home as a servant for more than 20 years. The Space Between Us is an eye-opening read to the realities of life for women and their families and relationships with one another in a world where social economical classes still seem to rule the air. It's a story of heartache, of love, of loyalty, of survival and of the relentless fight for justice.

5. Left To Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust by Immaculee` Ilibagiza - Wow! This book was intense. Rwandan genocide survivor, Immaculee` Ilibagiza tells her story of how she survived the Rwanda genocide as a Tutsi when nearly 1 million of her people were slaughtered, including her parents and 2 of her 3 brothers, not to mention the many other cousins, aunts and uncles. Immaculee` shows courage and a strong faith in God who not only protected her from the Hutu killers but who also gave her the strength to forgive them. This is a difficult read and one that left me longing for the faith Immaculee` has in the Lord. It's a story of forgiveness like none other.

6. Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life by Shauna Niequist - I laughed a lot reading this book. Shauna shares from her own life through a series of short stories that find the good in a variety of life's circumstances. My favorite chapters are the one she writes on turning 30 and starts writing in pen rather than pencil and the chapter when she shared about wanting to keep some things always hidden and secret like her basement and her butt. Shauna is hilarious and real. This was a quick, refreshing read.

7. Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together by Ron Hall and Denver Moore - If you haven't read this book yet you must live on a deserted island without a bookstore around. Ron and Denver tell their story of becoming like brothers despite their insurmountable differences. Ron is a rich white man living the high life and Denver is an illiterate black man who grew up a slave in the south and calls the streets his home. Only God could have brought these two very different men together. Their story of friendship is raw, real and emotional. I think everyone should read this book.

8. Not For Sale: The Return of the Global Slave Trade and How We Can Fight It by David Batstone - Batstone takes his readers on a journey around the world highlighting pockets of modern day slavery in a number of countries before circling back around to the problem on American soil. You'll read stories of modern day heroes who are working tirelessly to end slavery in their backyards and you'll be inspired by the stories of survival of the victims who have found freedom. Batstone offers a list of helpful organizations in the back of the book for those interested in getting involved in the modern day slavery movement.

9. Her Mother's Hope (Marta's Legacy Part I) by Francine Rivers - In part 1 of this two part series, Francine Rivers tells the story of her grandmother and her mother as she recounts through letters and journals they kept during their lives. Set in the beginning of the 20th Century, taking place mostly in the Central Valley of California, Marta's Legacy is a heart-wrenching story of the trials and rewards found in the relationship between mother and daughter. It's not an easy read but it is one that exposes the reality of relationships when they are easy and not so easy.

This is not an exhaustive list of the books I read this year but these are some of the more inspiring, thought provoking reads I thought I would pass along to you. So far my 2011 list of books I'll be reading includes CL's very own Kristin Ritzau's A Beautiful Mess, Her Daughter's Dream (Marta's Legacy Part II) by Francine Rivers, The Dangerous Act of Worship by Mark Labberton, Generous Justice: How God's Grace Makes us Just by Tim Keller, Too Small to Ignore: Why the Least of These Matter Most by Wes Stafford, Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen and Stones Into Schools by Greg Mortenson.

What makes your list of good reads for 2010 and what are you looking forward to reading in 2011?

Happy readings!

The Seeking of Fame: God's, Not Ours

Chris Tomlinson — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 20:48:07 -0700

At this past weekend’s Desiring God National Conference, Sam Storms and Justin Taylor introduced a book that was written in secret, in honor of a man, as a means to proclaim the fame of God’s name. This book, For the Fame of God’s Name: Essays in Honor of John Piper, was well conceived and well received, as would be fitting for a man and a community of people who are enraptured by the supremacy of God in all things and the fame of His glorious name among the nations.

This book will age like a fine painting, one that rivets the eyes as it honors the beauty of the subject, but one with such a glory that the spirit is lifted up towards reflection upon Higher Things. And I suspect Piper would have it no other way. It is undoubtedly the providence of God that delivered a book of honor during a time of well-publicized sabbatical in the public ministry of a man who is battling pride, the kind of pride that festers at the feet of a world renowned minister intent on proclaiming the glory and fame of God’s name. What tension must Piper feel in the affirmation of his identity as a man, and a pastor, and a writer, in balance with his desire to see the name of God magnified in all of his life, and at war with the self-glorifying pride that plagues his own heart.

I don’t know what John Piper thought and felt as he looked at the book’s cover, and felt its weight, and glanced through the contents, and smelled the pages. I suspect he felt a deep sense of humility, and gratitude, and love, and most importantly, a soul-deep longing to glorify and honor his beloved God and Savior. Whatever he might have felt is not our concern so much as what each of us may feel as we imagine ourselves in his place.

Many of us are pastors, or authors, or bloggers, or businessmen and women, or stay-at-home moms, or a thousand other kinds of ministers of the gospel in all areas of life. And despite the diversity of our ministries, we likely all share something in common to some degree: the desire to make ourselves look glorious. I don’t say this lightly, or flippantly, and I don’t mean to assume too much about you. But I know my own heart, and this desire is present down deep. If the chief end of man is to glorify God, then the chief sin of man is to glorify self. So I suspect we all might war against this common enemy.

To preach or to write or to sing or to paint in order to magnify the name of Jesus is to do dangerous work. Standing on a stage, or seeing your name on the cover of a book, or hearing the poetry of your heart sung on the radio, or gathering with friends at a gallery of your work, is an invitation to dine with all manner of pride. We may feast on the respect we feel we have achieved, or get drunk on the adoration of others. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

There is a justifying grace that frees us from our compulsion to sin and glorify self. “Sin will have no dominion over [us], since [we] are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). And there is a sanctifying grace that is given to the humble (1 Peter 5:5), a grace that restores us, and confirms us, and strengthens us, and establishes us in the eternal glory of Christ (1 Peter 5:10). This kind of grace enables us to make much of God instead of making much of ourselves.

This brings us back to the conference stage this past weekend. What would we feel if the name on the book was ours? Would we feel our life’s work finally had merit? Would we rest in the promise of a distinguished legacy? Would we revel in the idea that we had achieved status with the greats of Christian history?

Perhaps we would feel these kinds of things, and we would also feel a longing to reflect this praise back to God. Perhaps we would also feel a sense of exposure, that our false humility that we didn’t even know was false had been laid bare at the feet of a deeper, truer humility. Undoubtedly, we would sense a mixture of emotions, a warring between the desires of our flesh and the longings of our spirit, and God willing, a deepening conviction to see the name of Christ magnified at any cost.

All of this is the scenic route of getting to this question: do I care more about the fame of my name or the fame of God’s name? I confess that far too much of my own ministry is aimed towards increasing the fame of my name. I find it clings to me like mud, and I try to shake it off as I run towards God, but I am tainted with its smell and its presence. My sin runs deep, but God is deeper still, and I sense a profound desire to orient more and more of my being and my work around the gospel, the person of Jesus. In this desire, I pray God’s Spirit will continue His cleansing work in my life and ministry.

As we reflect on this question, whether we care most about the fame of our name or God’s, we should acknowledge that a man like John Piper should be honored. And a pastor like you, or a writer like you, or a colleague like you, should be honored as well, insofar as you have labored in the work of Christ. The ministry of the gospel to parishioners and readers and co-workers is noble, and our souls are deeply satisfied in the expression of our God-given gifts, so the feelings of joy and affirmation we might have are not our foes. We corrupt the gift not when we receive the praise, but when we rest in it without seeing it ultimately as the praise of God.

So let us join with Paul, who “decided to know nothing among [them] except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Let us join with John Piper as he seeks to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. And let us follow with the wholeness of our heart, and mind, and spirit, the crucified Son of God, who humbled Himself, and is now exalted with a name that is above every other name, so that the fame of His name would bring every knee to earth, and that God would be glorified.

Question: Whose fame do you seek?

FREE download of chapter one

Kristin Ritzau — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:35:44 -0700

Check out my website to download your own copy of Chapter one from my book A Beautiful Mess: A Perfectionist's Journey Through Self-Care.

Click here to visit abeautifulmess.org

The book is not dead nor does it sleep

Conversant Lifestyle — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:11:32 -0700

Anybody who says the book is dead hasn't been keeping up with current events. Truth is, more books are being published now than ever before. Way more.

More than a million book titles were published in 2009--a quarter of those by "traditional" publishers and the rest by self-publishers and micro-niche publishers--including five titles by ConversantLife writers published by Conversant Media Group and Harvest House:

Apologetics for a New Generation by Sean McDowell: Helping you effectively share the answers to life's big questions with a new generation.
I Can't See God Because I'm in the Way by Stan Jantz and Bruce Bickel: Showing that a fresh view of God is more accessible than you think.
The Last TV Evangelist by Phil Cooke: Knowing why the next generation couldn't care less about religious media, and why it matters.
The God Question by J.P. Moreland: An invitation to honestly explore an entirely new way of living--the way of Jesus.
The Forecast by Caroline Ferdinandsen: A counterfeit memoir the lets the author lie the entire time and still tell you the absolute truth.

Earlier this year Conversant Media Group and Harvest House Publishers released Why the Bible Matters, the latest from Mike Erre. And just this week, Simon & Schuster released Flirting With Faith by Joan Ball, one of our original bloggers. Joan's journey from atheism to a robust Christian faith makes for superb reading.

Later this summer, our own Brett McCracken's new book, Hipster Christianity will be released by Baker Books. Look for this one to stir up all kinds of conversations about the nature of culture and how it influences faith.

And then there are the books written by some of our newest ConversantLife writers. We are delighted to feature:

Imaginary Jesus by Matt Mikalatos: One person's quest to find the real Jesus, destroy all imposters who stand in the way, and finally get an answer to the question that's haunted him for years.
Not God's Type by Holly Ordway: A bold testimony to the ongoing power of the Gospel to humble and transform even self-assured, accomplished, and secular-minded young professionals.
Humanitarian Jesus by Christian Buckley and Ryan Dobson: Showing ow the curent emphasis on social investment can miss the holistic picture of Jesus' life and ministry.
Crave by Chris Tomlinson: A collection of short, real-life stories showing that life with God can be a surprising, challenging, and richly satisfying journey.
Faithbook of Jesus by Renee Johnson: Offering timeless insights as you grow daily in your walk with God, addressing your needs, challenges, and fears through relevant and inspiring daily devotionals.
Why Trust Jesus? by Dave Sterrett: Helps us answer current questions the culture is asking, such as Why Should I Trust Jesus when So Many Other Spiritual Paths Exist?

The great news about all of these books is that they aren't static. As a reader, you have the opportunity to interact with the author here on ConversantLife.com, view video interviews and download free chapters that give you a better idea of what the book is about. No longer do you have to rely on a review or the book's back cover copy. You can hear from the author directly. In fact, we'll close this little update with a video from Joan Ball, talking about her brand new book, Flirting With Faith.

Who Do You Trust? Really

Dave Sterrett — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:26:11 -0800

For your first week of reading, Why Trust Jesus? Here's several questions that I want you to ask yourself but also ask your friends in your community group/ book study group. After you have read Norman Geisler's foreword and my introduction, consider these questions.

1. What characteristics do you look for in someone else, before you can trust them?

2. What are the greatest barriers to trusting Christ daily in your own life? Is it intellectual, emotional, or self-sufficiency? Talk it out.

3. We have all probably been let down by Christians. Maybe a pastor or priest, a father or mother, an ex-lover. In the midst of disappointments or failures, why do you believe the Christian faith is most trustworthy? Or more specifically, why Jesus?

4. What steps will you take this week to grow in trust?

On a weekly basis, we will upload new videos that will hopefully help facilitate questions in your small group study. Come back and share what you discovered. Let's interact on this blog.

The iPad and Imagination

Stan Jantz — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:14:23 -0800

Even before Apple pulled back the curtain on its new iPad--the iconoclast himself holding the brand new device and calling it "a truly magical and revolutionary" product--the anticipation for the Apple Tablet was enormous. The publishing world in particular was gaga in the days leading up to the announcement, a lot of industry leaders wondering whether or not the Apple tablet will revolutionize the distribution of newspapers, magazines, and books in the same the iPod transformed the music industry.

Whether the iPad ends up revolutionizing the way we buy and consume digital content of all kinds remains to be seen. But at first blush I do believe Steve Jobs has once again done something extraordinarily well. He hasn't just created a device; he has tapped into our imaginations. By calling the iPad "magical" rather than "useful" or "universal," Jobs has soared above the ordinary by placing this device--and let's face it, the iPad is just a device--into the realm of wonder rather than utility. If Steve Jobs is to be believed, the iPad isn't a device to merely help you do things more efficiently. It is device that will help you dream of doing things better.

You can bet that technical teams all over the world are already thinking of new applications designed just for the iPad. Granted, many of these Apps will be dumb, some will be a waste of time, but many will be amazing.

There are hundreds if not thousands of creative enterprises and individuals who are this very minute dreaming of ways to leverage this magical device for new and engaging content that will instantly transmit timeless and transcendent themes.

And you can be sure that there are social justice organizations who are already imagining ways the iPad can help them more effectively and creatively communicate their messages of hope and healing.

This isn't the first time a device has triggered such worthy and potentially revolutionary change. Before Steve Jobs, inventive change-agents like Johannes Gutenberg and Philo Pharnsworth stirred the human imagination with their devices. It's not that the iPad necessarily belongs in the same breath as the printing press or the television. But the concept behind it and the potential it has to challenge and stir people to stretch their imaginations definitely puts the iPad in the same conversation.

So am I going to get one? Absolutely. The only downside is that the Wi-Fi models won't be ready for two months, and the 3G version will be available in 90 days. Until then, I'll just have to watch the iPad video and dream.