09 Aug Summer Reading and Fall Plan

Thought you might like to know some of the stuff I’ve been reading this summer. So here is a short list:

• Hit The Bullseye, by Paul Borden an Abingdon Press book. This is the story of how one region of a mainline denomination was transformed into an effective, missional region in a very short period of time.
• Winning on Purpose, by John Edmund Kaiser (also an Abingdon book). This is how the region described in the Bullseye book reorganized its congregations to succeed in their mission.

These two books have greatly impacted my thinking and vision for our denomination. Pat Jones and I were priviledged to attend a conference put on by the organization led by the author of the Bullseye book. It was one of the most inspirational, moving, and educational experiences I’ve had in a long time. Dr. Borden and his team have really hit the bullseye in the region they are serving.

If there are two books in addition the Bible that I think you should read, they would be these two. We will have discussions of the philosophy of these books in days to come. If you read them, try to discover the transferable principles that they contain.

• Pastorpreneur, by Dr. John Jackson. A Baxter Press book.
• One Size Doesn’t Fit All, by Gary L. McIntosh (A book I’ve read about three times…very insightful).
• Invitation to a Journey, by M. Robert Mulholland Jr. (IVP). This book is an excellent resourse for spritual formation. Especially good were the chapters that used the Myers-Briggs personality type to show how our personalities impact our approach to spiritual formation.
• Why Churches Die, by Mac Brunson & Ergun Caner (Broadman & Holdman). The authors identify some lethal poisons in the Body of Christ. Their chapter on gossip should be required reading. This is not a heavy book by any means. There is some good preaching material in this one.
• The Healthy Small Church, by Dennis Bickers (Beacon Hill Press). Every church under 200 might want to study this book. It is a postive but honest look at small churches.
• The Radical Reformission and Confessions of a Refomissionist Rev, by Mark Driscoll. Both are Zondervan books. These are the first things I’ve read on Emerging, Emergent, Missional churches that come at the topic from a conservative theological position. Highly recommended.
• Golf For Dummies, by Gary McCord. Did it help? I’ll tell you if I ever find time to get out to the driving range or course, but it was enjoyable to read.

Some books that are on my fall list:

• Multi-site Church Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations, by Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird.
• Pursuing The Full Kingdom Potential of Your Congregation, by George W. Bullard, Jr. (a Lake Hickory Resource). This author has done extensive study and writing on the life cycle of congregations. I hope he touches on that in his book.
• Seven Practices of Effective Ministry, by Andy Stanley. I read another book he and Ed Young wrote entitled, Can We Do That: 24 Innovative Practices that Will Change The Way You Do Church. I read it some time ago but would recommend it as well.
• Practicing Greatness: 7 Disciplines of Extraordinary Spiritual Leaders, by Reggie Neal. This is a Jossey-Bass book. I’ve read several books by this author and have enjoyed his writing.
• Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality, by Gary R. Collins.
• Christ Centered Coaching: 7 Benefits for Ministry Leaders, by Jane Creswell.
• The Very Large Church and Multiple Staff & the Larger Church, both by Lyle Schaller.
• The Elephant in the Boardroom: Speaking the Unspeakable about Pastoral Transitions, by Carolyn Weese and J. Russell Crabtree.

Don’t know if I’ll get them all read, but that is the plan. Now, before anyone brings it up — yes, this is all supplemental to the most important book, The Bible. I bought a copy of the NLT and really like reading it. I was talking to an exec at Tyndale Publishers and he told me that the object was to develop a translation that could be read publicly.
The person who can read but doesn’t is no better off than the person that can’t read at all.