Pastor Jerome's List
Jerome's list gives you the quick screen-shot of what's currently on his mind and may even show up in some obtuse way in a sermon. Reading list through mid-winter 2012.
Winter 2012
Tell It Often-Tell It Well: Making the Most of Witnessing Opportunities - Mark McCloskey
Picked this dusty beat up paperback off of my in-laws shelf during their big move into assisted living. What I found was something that disappeared into the recesses of my spiritual caverns, a passion to share the Gospel with precision somehow became forgotten in the hubbub of modernity's swirl of business. Something is now rekindled and a revitalization the message of 1 Peter 2:24 has again appeared. I act in excited anticipation seeing what is to come.
The Sacrament of the Present Moment (ISBN: 0060618116 / 0-06-061811-6) Jean-Pierre de Caussade
The general idea is that God meets us in every moment making each sacred. To find such a life one must move toward absolute surrender to God's holy will. This was a book written to encourage Roman Catholic Sisters living in difficult times of the 1700's. Caussade reveals such surrender is incredible easy and near impossible save the mystery of Christ. The first chapters were riveting but as the book continued the author seemed to drone on and on about surrender. I get the point already so...well it is well worth checking out of a library if you can find it. To purchase the book is another story.
Taking Care: Ethical Caregiving in Our Aging Society
I am doing a re-read and finding the book very valuable especially if you have relatives in this situation. A free book by the Pro-life Bush President's Bioethics Council which your tax dollars paid for. You can order it hard copy for free or read it online. I found the texts incredibly helpful when addressing my
mother's end-of-life dilemmas. The section on dementia and the human person not only describes the staging of the disease but describes the importance of 'well-being' from the afflicted person's standpoint.
Being and Some Philosophers (Second edition) (ISBN: 088844415X / 0-88844-415-X) Etienne Gilson
Now this is philosophy done well, and of course! It was written when philosophers actually did something other than confusing bloviations. In the preface Gilson bemoans: "a man finds it hard to be appointed as a professor of philosophy if he professes to believe in the truth of the philosophy he teaches. The only dogmatic tenet still held valid is that if a philosopher feels reasonably sure of being right, then it is a sure thing he is wrong..." pp. viii-ix. voila! He recognizes the nonsense of what is today's foolery, yesterday. Anyway the book attempts to explore 'Being' from the position of "existential neutrality." For some Gilson's musings are journeys toward God's mystery in the refreshing cool of the tropical morning. Alas, if only the Thomists of the 1949s still held positions in the seminaries of today!
Fall 2011
A LONG OBEDIENCE IN THE SAME DIRECTION-Discipleship in an Instant Society (ISBN: 0877847274 / 0-87784-727-4) PETERSON, EUGENE
A fascinating reflection on the Psalms of ascent as they relate to the long course of obedience to God. Peterson disabuses the Christian of a western evangelical Christian tourism by looking at obedience as a long slow journey. Here is but a taste: "Religion of our time is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure." He then surprisingly quotes Nietzsche to launch the touchstone of his book saying: "The essential thing in heaven and on earth is that it should be a long obedience in the same direction." From there he goes on to discipleship, repentance, worship etc. It is a reflection well worth considering. I recommend the book for personal and group discipleship study.
Summer 2011
New Life of Grace (ISBN: 9780816425594)
Peter Fransen
I am finally reading this 1980 work since my 'Copernican Revolution' by Joe Selling, my Roman Catholic moral theology professor, who introduced me to its life changing concept of grace as "god's unmerited loving-saving presence." He attributed the quotation to Fransen S.J.. Well, I read the book and pieced together the idea though never coming across the quotation in 369 pages. Fransen has numerous rich concepts especially in the chapter on "election and freedom." Notions that break grace free from the shackles of modern reification and release grace to be part of God's living presence are opening. Sadly, his anti-Luther/Jansen/Protestant tirades make for long tiresome sections. I don't recommend it as a read while there is so much else out there.
Against Ethics: Contributions to a Poetics of Obligation With Constant Reference to Deconstruction (ISBN: 0253313139 / 0-253-31313-9) Caputo, John D.
Here is a real 292 page stinker. The whole idea is that there is really no standard to base ethics upon. Obligations just sort of happen in the moment and then quickly fade into the days sunset. He really knows about philosophy not doubt but I sometimes wonder how progressive secular ethicists and philosophers get work. I guess its their nutty and exclusive guild. Anyway you can guess my take on buying it. Thankfully, it's a 1993 non-classic that you really have to look for and I find looking for my wallet more productive.
Spring 2011
Call to joy and pain: embracing suffering in your ministry (ISBN: 9781844742493) Ajith Fernando
The book was such a good read, I slowed down and pondered it paragraph by paragraph. This Sri Lankan pastor has encountered the depths of Christ and discusses those depths in a simple and profound non Western way. The book is a series of short devotional readings that is designed for 1 month of quiet reflection and spiritual transformation. It is particularly valuable for anyone in the ministry and anyone who tastes significant suffering. He knows the way to joy. I suggest buying two copies, one for you when you are in a season that allows for such a reading and a second for a Christian who is in that season.
Pious Nietzsche: Decadence and Dionysian Faith (ISBN: 0253218748 / 0-253-21874-8) Benson, Bruce Ellis
An incredibly well written book that stunningly demonstrates "Nietzsche not only begins as a Pietist but also ends as one" (p. 3). Though oft thought of as an atheist, Fritz was certainly a god worshiper and one who still used Christian categories. His pietism was not Christian mind you. His transition from Christian to Dionysian pietism hinges upon a musical askeˆsis; i.e. a spiritual exercise involving research, investigation, reading, listening, attention, self-mastery, and invites an inner activity of the will. It is a haunting journey exposing a young boy's tragic encounter with the death of his brother and father that sowed a bitter root hostile to Christ. He turned from being the 'little pastor' like his 2 grandfathers and father toward the god of his own making even one of destruction. The book serves as a warning to all who suffer tragedy to guard their heart for danger stands at the door.
Young Nietzsche (ISBN: 0029250420 / 0-02-925042-0)
Carl Pletsch
A less impressive read than the one above but enlightening. It speaks of Nietzsche's strange dream, upon awaking, told his mother of a dream that he had of his brother Joseph’s death the very day he suddenly became ill and died. Beyond that is an account of his fall way from Christianity. Another warning about the dangers of buried grief that arises from its grave unrestrained.
Winter 2011
Darwin's Pious Idea: Why the Ultra-Darwinists and Creationists Both Get It Wrong (ISBN: 0802848389 / 0-8028-4838-9) Conor Cunningham
Here are 543 pages, that except for the index and table of contents, are utterly unintelligible. I lasted about 14 pages, Mary Ellen 4 pages. We concur on this. His basic premise is that theistic evolution is plausible and a reason to worship God in His complexities not reduce Him or His creation to our pre-given 'dogmatic constructs whether ultra-Darwinism or 6 day Creationism. Use the search engine @ http://www.biologos.org/ type in the first 3 words of the title and read the review. You will save yourself alot of trouble.
Fall 2010
Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation - 2009 (ISBN: 0801035775) Smith, James K. A.
I made it half way through this very provocative book and found as usual, Smith only needed to write half of it and then not repeat what is written for the second half. Smith's premise is "liturgies whether 'sacred or secular 'shape and constitute our identities by forming our most fundamental desires" p. 25. He suggests that it is not information but ritual that forms our desires and nature be it the religious liturgies of the mall or that of the Christian church. Although provocative overstates his case as Romans 12:1-2 states about where formation occurs. I finally gave up do to his usual repetitive style customary to his books. He made his point by p. 136. Basically, I agree with his reintroduction of emotion particularly desire into worship through liturgy but disagree with emotion's primacy rather think it is part of a greater psycho-factual complex that includes reason which Smith eschews yet uses.
After You Believe: Why Christian Character Matters - 2010 (ISBN: 9780061730559) Wright, N.T.
The main point of Wright's treatise is to "stimulate tomorrow's Christians of whatever sort,and in whichever tradition to be excited by the pursuit of virtue in its specifically Christian form" (p. x) Well, that's about as accessible as it gets in this book. The pursuit should result in a transformed character that God meant us to be. He suggests that this is a practical ethics book. . So far it seems like a good resource to explain the place of transformation of character after accepting Christ's salvation. I am not sure that it adds much new to the classics in spiritual transformation, however. I am early on into it and will report back.
Overcoming Onto-Theology: Toward a Postmodern Christian Faith - 2010 (ISBN: 0823221318 / 0-8232-2131-8) Westphal, Merold
Well, being an onto-theologian I am most interested in what this most excellent philosopher thinks he is overcoming. Having transcended the book cover through the first chapter, a slow but worthwhile read, I think he misses the ontological point at least Neo-Thomistically speaking. Stay tuned.
Summer 2010
The Reformed Pastor: A Pattern For Personal Growth And Ministry [By] Richard Baxter. Abridged And Edited By James Houston
Buy only the Multnomah Press 'Classics of Faith & Devotion" copy if you can. It has great margin references plus an excellent introduction by Dr. Richard Halverson. This book is a must read and discipleship tool for every pastor. Although penned in the 1600's, it is hard to tell that Baxter is not some profound pastor living in our current time giving incredible advice to his younger servants of the servants in the faith. Teachings like that about preaching: "God's oracles must be men's lessons" gives a snapshot of the profundity within. This book is a must for the pastor isolated in a lonely church plant with few brothers within miles. Baxter is right there to share with you, sagacity of a well seasoned pastor. Enough said.
Communism & Christian Faith Lester DEKOSTER - William B. Eerdmans Publishing 1956.
Some well-known pundits suggest that the current leadership is nothing more than an unconsitutional junta whose design is to shred the US Constitution and institute a Marxist Revisionist government. Sounding conspiratorial and reactionary, I thought it wise to read and weigh the validity of their accusations from a Calvin Seminary professor distant from their rhetoric. It was written in the in the 1950's when the fashionable nonsense of socialism and communism were not taught in the U.S. education system to the exclusion of the positive elements of capitalism.
Dekoster's discussion of Karl Marx's context has certainly deepened my appreciation for Marx's opposition to capitalism when lived out on the backs of the poor for sheer greed of the wealthy. I am now trying to understand Marx's notion of "social necessity"and Marx's fix for such a mess in England at that time. The Marxist presumption of a classless society is based upon the double premise of (1) humanity can save itself and (2) salvation comes when private ownership is ended. Rejection of history as a manipulation of the proletariat under class struggle makes the Marxist both difficult to refute and self-contradictory.
More important than this is Dekoster's view of a Christian response should their be any truth to a Marxist turn in our current change that is occurring. The book is like reading current USA politics and ought to be published to enlighten the current naive Christian zealot that has been charmed by the ruling oligarchy...that is if they can stomach admitting they might be wrong.
Winter 2010
The End of Memory: Remembering Rightly in a Violent World (ISBN: 0802829899 / 0-8028-2989-9)
Volf, Miroslav
A disturbing read that entails Volf's personal account of remembering wrongly moving toward remembering rightly about his torture in Serbian captivity. His wrestling with looking at his tormentors through Christ's eyes is provocative, challenging, and irritating at times. One of Volf's profundities follows: "The redeemed can forget their sins only after they have faced their sins unadorned" (p.139). He goes on to explain this forgetfulness as the world of love where sin has disappeared from memory and "all encountered and practiced goodness has been restored to paradise" (p. 139).
This book is a slow read and one worth pondering. Side paths down the history of the philosophy and theology of memory are but one of the many excursions to which this book leads. Obviously, I find it a most excellent find.
Philosophy of Mind: a guide and anthology - John Heil (ed) (ISBN: 0199253838 / 0-19-925383-8)
An outstanding collection from Plato to Putnam, not that he is in the same
league. The book's 916 pages rivals the House Healthcare Reform
legislation in length but is far more understandable. It is an
important read for those who wish to think about just how they think
about thinking. It has differentiations like 'thinking about' vs
'desiring for' p. 521. The conclusion of the matter in this 916 page tome seems encapsulated in this most poignant observation about consciousness: "the mind is simply unequipped to grasp the fundamental truths of our situation" (p.815) and I must add that is without God of course. This one is a long journey and well worth
setting in a place where you will pick it up often when there is little
else to do ;-)
Fall 2009
Biology Through the Eyes of Faith (Christian College Coalition Series) (ISBN: 9780060696955)
Richard T. Wright
Josiah the Berkeley-ite recommended this as a balanced understanding of Christian worldview in the face of Biology. Too early to tell but it seems solid.
There Is a God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind (ISBN: 0061335290 / 0-06-133529-0)Antony Flew
A shocking and sometimes overwhelming philosophical reflection on how
one of the most famous atheist came to believe in the existence of God
after debating the opposite for almost 50 years. Two pearls: "I
followed where the evidence led," and NT Wrights Appendix B on the
evidence of the resurrection. This is a good Christmas present for your
thinking atheist friend.
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology (ISBN: 0802828752 / 0-8028-2875-2)
Peterson, Eugene H.
Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places; Study Guide (ISBN: 0802832350 / 0-8028-3235-0)
Peterson, Eugene H. (Author) Sanctucci, Peter (Author)
Another wonder in Peterson's trilogy of 'conversations in spiritual theology.' This is a book full of mature spiritual wisdom from pastor, scholar, and translator of the paraphrase The Message. Stunning truisms like "the Christian life begins as a community that is gathered at the place of impossibility, the Tomb." So far it is a read worthy of night seasons of contemplation. Note: the first is the book and the second is the Study Guide.
Early Fall 2009
My Utmost for His Highest- (Christian Library Edition) (ISBN: 0916441423 / 0-916441-42-3) Oswald Chambers
Return to a classic devotional given to me in 1990 by a dear brother who still serves as a missionary in India. Profundity exudes with daily meditations like that of July 30th "On the Discipline of Disillusionment: : Disillusionment means there are no more false judgments in life..." You'll need to read the rest from a book that is a must read sometime in life. Buy the Christian Library Hardback edition and forget the flimsy blue covered ones. The book is worthy to bequeath to future generations.
Listening to the Spirit in the Text - (ISBN: 0802847579 / 0-8028-4757-9) Fee, Gordon D.
A book that serves as an excellent reminder that the Holy Spirit must have a place in Scriptural interpretation, contemplation, and meditation. There are alot of insightful topics ranging from how to heat the Spirit when studying Scripture to Gender issues as an application. It is worth reading in chapter snippets as your interests leads. I am not to sure of its use as a study although the chapters are essays from lectures set up that way.
Eat This Book - Peterson, Eugene H.
The strange title sort of comes from Ezekiel 3:1-3 and can be expected from this unique author. The first couple of pages are a real bore but then it is like a bolt of Johannine lightening. Certainly a must for any seminary or Bible School student who has the privilege of speaking from a pulpit. After a close look I put this above the Fee book for your next read.
Summer Reading
Taking Care: Ethical Caregiving in Our Aging Society
A free book by the Pro-life Bush President's Bioethics Council which your tax dollars paid for. You can order it hard copy for free or read it online. I found the texts incredibly helpful when addressing my mother's end-of-life dilemmas. The section on dementia and the human person not only describes the staging of the disease but describes the importance of 'well-being' from the afflicted person's standpoint.
Philosophy of the Mind: a Beginner's Guide- (ISBN: 0199252548 / 0-19-925254-8)
Ian Ravenscroft
An excellent introduction guide to current 'thoughts' on what supposedly sapient people think is going on in your head. Of course the secular author is a physicalists and is quick to let you know why property dualism, my position, is bunk. He also doesn't represent a Christian approach but that may be because Christian's haven't really 'thought' about it, they are too busy submitting bizzare thought-life to a God who makes it healthy and real ;-) His concluding mental state after all is said: "We have nothing that even remotely looks like an account on how the brain gives rise to phenomenal consciousness." In any case, this one is good airplane or bathroom reading.
Fairways: Inspiration for the Golf Enthusiast (ISBN: 1577484940 / 1-57748-494-0) Ken Abraham
A delightful read for the morning before your tee-time. With short 1-2 page sections like "Keep a Light Grip" where he concludes: "when we tighten our grip on anything but Jesus, we are closing our fist against God" you got a spiritual lesson reinforced by the round you play. It will revolutionize the way you think about golf.
Reading list after his adventures on the European continent - Winter 2009
The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages (ISBN: 0824525035) - Joan Chittister
Benedictine prioress Chittister provides some insightful contemporary commentary on Benedictine habits many of which are useful for today's life. For example, on church hoppers -the gyrovague, "Gyrovagues know how to shop for a faith community but do little to build one" p. 34. I suggest reading the 'Monks Habits' book listed below first, then buying this one and taking it to read while at Mt. Angel or another Benedictine abby for a personal retreat. A little bit too harsh at times, the use of Eastern religious stuff instead of the Scripture is a bit much to take, and although many of its principles are great, in the end the Bible is still the best study.
Introducing Chaos (ISBN: 1840465816 / 1-84046-581-6) - Ziauddin Sardar
A somewhat challenging read to an incredibly difficult subject, Chaos Theory. As far as I can figure when the simple idea is pushed, 'it fades into mystery of the infinite.' You crazy climate change wonks might find the discussion on Lorenz's 1963 paper 'Non-periodic Deterministic Flow' of value since it would save you money and time to find out "an acceptable prediction of the instantaneous state in the distant future may well be impossible" or simply climate like weather is really hard to figure out, so don't kill that butterfly while obsessing over the penguins during your commute ;-)
Introducing Time (ISBN: 1840465921 / 1-84046-592-1) -
"What is time?" If no one asks me I know but if I wanted to explain it to one who asks, I plainly do not know" St. Augustine. And so is the beginning of a fascinating read done in comic book style. Everything from detensors to external time to 'quantum canonical gravity time hypothesis' are considered in an entertaining and layman accessible explanation. Nothing Christian about this one but it certainly brings home Ecclesiastes 3:11. A recommended adventure, if you have the time ;-)
Reading list from his adventures on the European continent - 2008
Figuring the Sacred: Religion, Narrative, and Imagination by Paul Ricoeur and David Pellauer
Yes, I am still reading and this one is a good balance of rational hermeneutics with narrative theology. It is not an easy read but I recommend it for those of you who want to approach the study of God and life through Scripture from a different angle.
Who's Afraid of Postmodernism: taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church - James K.A. Smith
All right after the two previous books some of you may wonder if I am retrievable from the regions beyond. He is a book accessible to the careful reader that shows I am, and is one that brings out the value of three French deconstructionists to the church. He suggests we need to do so in order that we might "be formed differently, as agents who will counter the practices of modernity's market and empire."
God Without Being - Jean-Luc Marion
"Under the title God without Being I am attempting to bring out the abolute freedom of God with regard to all determinations, including, first of all, the basic condition that renders all other conditions possible and even necessary-for us humans-the fact of Being." Well now wrap yourself around that one. Actually the French dude is trying to break the reader free from the idolatry of over-determining our construction of knowing God thus putting Him in a mental ontological box. The intrigue of the book is bumping up against God's mystery. Hard read, good read, but Marion tries to hard.
God and the Between - William Desmond
"The book records a journey, it is a passport that when read should be crossed out for it has served its purpose for passage. There is no substitute for the journey." He then invites you on for the ride. You will need to read the Philosophy and its others to even begin to get started on Desmond's unique language game. Once you get a sense, you will find the Irish poet and philosophical theologian at his best. A great read for the few who have the foggiest idea of what he is trying to say ;-)
The Science of God - Alister E. McGrath
Wooah, after a diet of continental thought this is an analytic shock to the system. My friend Ron uses it for his introduction to theology class. If your scientific in your approach to 'saying being' and 'God', this is a great read, for example McGrath says: "ontology determines epistemology- in other words that the degree of theoretical closure for any aspect of reality is determined by it's intrinsic nature" (p. 187). Well, that's a sound scientific way of saying something ;-)
Is There a Sabbath for Thought: between Religion and Philosophy - William Desmond
The Irish poet/philosopher takes the place of over the rationality of philosophy that seeks to find a reason for religion and vice versa. The conclusion to both "give it a rest." I like William Desmond but his writing style is poetic and sometimes as understandable as Blake or Yeats and for 357 pages that's a bit hard to take. Personally, I recommend "Being and It Others" for a first read of Desmond.
Absolute Surrender - Andrew Murray
A book that has long sat on my shelf unread full of spiritual provocations, exhortations, and encouragement from Murray's Keswick Convention sermons. Yes, it is full gospel and Pentecostal. Most insights are 'spot on' biblically.
SancTified Vision: Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible - J. O'Keefe and R. Reno
Now here is an unusual book correcting the univocity of those who think the literal grammatical historical hermeneutic is the only game that was ever in town. Typology and allegory from Augustine to Gregory of Nyssa are explored and insight into the value and holiness of their approaches cause one to pause in awe remembering there are many ways of saying Being. Not a light read but insightful especially for the trained western American exegete.
The Phenomenology of Prayer - Bruce Benson (ed)
The neo-Evangelical left expresses itself through continental thought and in particular some postmodern deconstruction applied to prayer. The text will be utterly unintelligible for readers unfamiliar to Marion, Derrida, Levinas, Irigaray etc. Those who have a rudimentary 'feel' will find this an incredibly provoking and rewarding read. Mind you, 'the evangelical apple cart' will be dumped but if you walk through it with an open mind and sensitivity to the Spirit, there are pearls to be had and lots to be tossed.
Monk Habits for Everyday People - Benedictine Spirituality for Protestants - Dennis Okholm
An oddity brought to me by a most peculiar and beloved congregation member. The book has great reminders for those who forgot Foster's spiritual disciplines and the chapter on 'Poverty - Sharing the Goods' should hit the satiated western cultural Evangelical right squarely between the (you fill in the blank!). The Azusa professor, who though Protestant is a Benedictine oblate, goes off into his 'romanticized cloistered desert' sometimes but maybe it's from the heat of where he lives. Good book, easy read, and hard to live. Recommend you try it.
Late Summer's List 2008
Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends - K. VanHoozer, C. Anderson, and M. Sleasman (eds)
This work teaches a very clear and understandable way to interpret the
happenings in our culture (be it presidential elections, music, movies
etc) biblically, so that we might understand what's going on underneath
the physical surface and how we as Christians ought to engage or
respond. An interesting writing on understanding the 'signs of the
times' out there. Some chapters are downright boring and others, like the one on "Fantasy Funerals," give a fascinating insight into the U.S.'s self-absorbed narcissism.
The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-believer - Christopher Hitchens (ed)
An outstanding selection of key texts by noted atheists throughout the
ages, both thoughtful and spiteful, chosen by Hitchens proving that he
must have moments of sobriety. A sort of atheist-agnostic family member
gave me the book because I would never buy it and pad Hitchens' already
too fat pockets. The chapter by Ibn Warraq (alias I assume) entitled
"The Totalitarian Nature of Islam," provides an excellent, accurate,
and chilling appraisal of the murder-condoning doctrine of Abrogation.
The book as a whole is good bathroom reading.
Summer's List 2008
Under the Mosquito Net: an inside look at missions - Ron Smith
A little known YWAMer's look at missions. Light reading with a weighty message. Reminds us all of the seriousness of message, call, and price.
New Seeds of Contemplation - Thomas Merton
ISBN: 081120099X Use http://www.abebooks.com to find.
Re-reading it after some years and finding that maybe the bus ride after the third chapter has more scenery than I first thought. It surely is challenging my oft judgmental attitudes for the better.
Quantum Physics and Theology: an unexpected kinship - John Polkinghorne
A fascinating read by former Cambridge University particle physicist and now Anglican priest. One pearl: "science and theology conduct their truth-seeking into the nature of reality with significant degrees of cousinly relationship, though there are certainly obvious differences that arise from the contrasting characters of the dimensions of reality with which each is concerned" p. x. His excursus addresses these degrees of cousinly relationship.
Human Dignity and Bioethics - President's Council on Bioethics
An eye opening collection of essays that reveal the darkness of the culture of death which has crept into bioethics i.e. Churchland's article. You paid for the book with your tax dollars and can get it without further costs on request from www.bioethics.gov.