Suggested Reading part 2
What people are reading and browsing these days
Send descriptions of your favorite "reads" (books, Web sites, periodicals, or online publications) to
bill.bixby@elca.org. The following are some responses and suggestions submitted by youth ministry leaders -- good reads!
The opinions and recommendations of the following people do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or theological perspectives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA Youth Ministry, ELCA Youth Gathering, or the organizations the contributors currently work for. All submissions are edited. There, we had to say that.
- Engaging 'Tweens and Teens: A Brain Compatible Approach to Reaching Middle and High School Students by Raleigh Philp. Corwin Press, 2006. (ISBN 141294483x) (Paul Hill, Bloomington, MN)
- Luther for Armchair Theologians by Steven D. Paulson. Westminster John Knox Press, 2004. (ISBN 0664223818) (Paul Hill, Bloomington, MN)
- Marriage and Modernization: How Globalization Threatens Marriage and What to Do About It by Don S. Browning. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003. (ISBN 0802811124) (Paul Hill, Bloomington, MN)
- Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie. Viking Adult, 1998. A quick-reading, playful, insightful, book. MacKenzie looks at how one stays creative, productive, alive, and healthy in any institution or organization—large or small. (Rod G. Boriack, Chicago, IL)
- Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future by Margaret J. Wheatley. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2002. In a time of personal electronic devices and online relationships Wheatley drives us back to the power of face-to-face, deep conversations. These are skills every person needs for ministry. I love all of Wheatley's books! (Rod G. Boriack, Chicago, IL)
- The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts by Luther K. Snow. Alban Institute, 2004. Congregations have all the gifts and resources (assets) they need to do what they need to do -- they just haven't identified them and put them to use. A great process for congregations that think they don't have the money, staff, or resources to do effective youth ministry. (Rod G. Boriack, Chicago, IL)
- The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. Morgan Road Books, 2006. (ISBN 0767920090) (Paul Hill, Bloomington, MN)
- The Wit of Martin Luther, by Eric W. Gritsch. Fortress Press, 2006. (ISBN 13:9780800638030) (Paul Hill, Bloomington, MN)
- Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, Inc. Penguin (Non-Classics), 2006. Read past the Gore-Tex jackets and outdoor gear and you'll see a business and CEO that are wrapped around a passion for the environment, humanity, and changing the world. It's all about mission. Lots of lessons for the church here. (Rod G. Boriack, Chicago, IL)
- Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer. Jossey-Bass, 1999. “How long it can take to become the person one has always been.” With this opening, Palmer's book invites the reader to begin considering the fundamental question of vocation. Through the story of his own life, Palmer, a Quaker, helps people think about who they are called to be, not what they are going to be when they “grow up.” (Kristen Glass, Chicago, IL)
- Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Young Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith by Sharon Daloz Parks. Jossey-Bass, 2000. An excellent book for working with young adults. Like Palmer, Parks helps to frame the questions of faith within the context of what is going on in one's life. Big questions are the stuff of faith, real life is the stuff of God. A great book. (Kristen Glass, Chicago, IL)
Have comments or suggestions? E-mail bill.bixby@elca.org.