On my nightstand

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what I’m reading so thought I’d share what’s been shaping me recently. (Do you think about what you consume and how it will shape your ideas? If not, I encourage you to.)

 

Currently reading:

We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation by Brian McLaren. We’re reading through this slowly as ‘house church’ and gleaning so much. Also, McLaren is a truly gifted writer.

Break Bread Together: Finding True Friendship at the Last Supper by Jessica Herberger. I’m reading through this with the author (Jess) and a small group during Lent.

The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson. Have been reading this slowly. Really important read and I hope to share more when I’m done.

The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery by David Benner. Just started this one so can’t comment much now but it came highly recommended to me by several people I respect.

The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle. This is a fascinating read for nerds like me who enjoy church history, cultural trends, and sociology. I’m listening to it on Audible.

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking Your Stress Cycle by Emily & Amelia Nagoski. I only got a few chapters into this book before HUGE lightbulbs went off and I set it down in order to implement what I was learning. (I still need to finish—but I will. Highly recommend.)

 

Recent reads:

I tend to read stacks of books at once, but miraculously I do finish most of them at some point. Here are some I’ve recently finished reading:

Hidden Things: Scripture as Spirituality by Richard Rohr. I listened to this one on Audible and I never absorb as much listening as I do reading, but I did walk away with some deep thoughts about love and scripture. I really like Rohr’s teaching and storytelling.

The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Dr Ross Greene. Highly recommend.

The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More than Our “Correct” Beliefs by Peter Enns. This book left me feeling inspired to trust more. Sounds simple, but was the exhortation I needed at the time.

Longing for God: Seven Paths of Christian Devotion by Richard Foster. Everything Foster writes is good, solid wisdom. This one was very interesting—he highlights 7 people/movements who have helped shape our understanding of intimacy with God and what they’ve contributed to Christianity. This was also an Audible read for me.

Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. We read this at the end of last year for our little “house church” and it was challenging and validating. Life as a disciple doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be intentional. We enjoyed translating some of Bonhoeffer’s ideas into things that would work in our modern context.

Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor. I started reading this ages ago and set it down. When I picked it back up recently it sang to me. Taylor is a stunning writer and her reflections on life and faith and church were wonderfully affirming and encouraging to read.

Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe. 2020 was a year in which many people began reading about issues of race and trauma for the first time. If you haven’t yet, this could be a good place t start. I really appreciate Rowe’s blend of personal storytelling and experience as a professional trauma counselor. (You can also watch my interview with Rowe at Tethered. She’s brilliant.)

 

Flash kindle deals:

50 Women Every Christian Should Know: Learning from Heroines of the Faith by Michelle deRusha. I have this in paperback but saw it go on sale on kindle this week for $0.99!

We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation by Brian McLaren. This one gets a double mention today because it’s currently $2.99 on kindle.

The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right by Lisa Sharon Harper. I haven’t read this yet, but have read and listened to many of Harper’s articles and interviews. She is gold and I know this is going to be a worthwhile read. $1.99 on kindle.

The Big Book of Women Saints by Sarah Gallick. Just snagged this two days ago and haven’t cracked it upon yet. Looks really fascinating (again for the church history nerds). $1.99 on kindle.

 

Other book-ish stuff:

• Tethered is still open. (Gosh, I love Tethered.) Our latest session is Companions in the Darkness of Doubt and Depression with Diana Gruver and it’s available for both free and premium members. Join us here to watch and get a preview of the material in her wonderful, new book which profiles saints who’ve struggled with doubt and depression.

• I’m 19 Amazon reviews short of the 300 mark. Would you help me reach this milestone if you’ve read Grace Like Scarlett and haven’t reviewed yet? Amazon reviews are like signposts for authors—they point people to our books who need them—and we’re grateful for every single one.

• Have you read anything good about tweens/teens that you can recommend? (Note: I prefer parenting materials based in developmental psychology.) Apparently I have a tween now and it occurs to me I have no idea how his brain works but I’m keen to learn. 🙂 I’d love to hear your recommendations if you have any!

• Did you know I take small groups through Grace Like Scarlett? Find out more about our 8-week Deep Dive (grief support groups).

 

Note: Amazon affiliate links are used on this page. Thank you for supporting my work in this small way. Or, even better, if you prefer to buy from independent/local bookshops, you can find all of the titles at my Bookshop!