A Literary Adventure

I have read a shamefully small number of books regarding faith. Almost none, actually, excluding the Bible (which I most certainly have not read in its entirety). There are probably a couple reasons for that (none of which are particularly good excuses, really...), the largest of which is that until the past couple years, I don't think I've been one to really put a lot of thinking toward my own spirituality. I mean I read books for my religion classes, but none that were just for my personal, theological growth. And obviously I've thought about faith, but not really. There's also the fact that I didn't have a really strong faith community in college (also probably my fault...admittedly this year has been my first experience with a PSF type deal), until I worked at camp at least.

Anyway, as it turns out, when you work for a minister and she finds out the information in the above paragraph, you get a list of books to read. So, two books a month. That's the plan. And I figure if I write about it here, there's at least a little accountability going on. Plus I've realized that I kind of enjoy rambling on a blog. Here's my list so far...the first chunk of the list came from Jennifer, and the rest have been added by another friend's suggestion or my own. Feel free to comment if you've got another one to add!

Blue Like Jazz (Donald Miller)

Irresistible Revolution (Shane Claiborne)

Traveling Mercies (Anne LaMotte)

Being Presbyterian in the Bible Belt (Thornburg/Foote) [Thoughts]

Wounded Healer (Henri Nouwen)

The Inner Voice of Love (Henri Nouwen)

Now & Then (Frederick Buechner)

Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis)

A New Kind of Christian (Brian McLaren)  [Thoughts]

The Cloister Walk (Kathleen Norris)

Amazing Grace (Kathleen Norris)

Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places (Eugene Peterson)

Praying in Color (Sybil MacBeth) [Initial Thoughts]
Presbyterian Questions, Presbyterian Answers (Donald McKim)
Jesus for President (Shane Claiborne)
Tribal Church (Carol Howard Merritt)
Take This Bread (Sara Miles)
A New Kind of Christianity (Brian McLaren)
Find Your Way Home (women of Magdalene, with Becca Stevens)
Awakened to a Calling (ed. Ann Svennungsen & Melissa Wiginton)
Love Wins (Rob Bell)

Reframing Hope (Carol Howard Merritt)

Is God a Christian? (R. Kirby Godsey)

Speaking Christian (Marcus Borg)

Follow Me to Freedom (Shane Claiborne & John Perkins)

There's not particularly an order to this...the first few I got from the library just happened to be near to each other on the shelf. And after a library book or two, I've decided that I like being about to underline, so I've become good friends with the local used bookstore. Time to get reading though, as I now have quite the collection of unread books...

Current literary quest: The Cloister Walk

So my plan is to keep updating this post, adding things to my list and crossing things off (Fun fact: I'm a list person), maybe commenting on the ones I finish, if I feel like I've got something potentially useful to say. 

Love,

Allison