August Books

I have this habit of picking up books wherever they're lying around and starting to read them, sometimes in the beginning, but sometimes not, without really making a commitment to finish reading them.  I'm just not one of those people who has to finish a book after I've begun, unless maybe it's really good.  So here I present a list (in no particular order) of the books--two of which I've finished, three of which I've started this month, three of which I first began between 6 months and 2 years ago, and one of which has been a friend for quite some time--I'm hoping to read this month.  I'll try to give you an update on how everything goes... (and maybe this will help :) )

1) Pursuing God's Will Together: A Discernment Practice for Leadership Groups by Ruth Haley Barton

This book met me, challenged me, and offered practical perspectives on some deep longings and questions I've been struggling with this summer regarding how to discern God's voice, and how to follow the Holy Spirit's leading not just as an individual, but as part of a body.  On a side note, the author is my dear aunt :)

2) Renovation of the Church: What Happens When a Seeker Church Discovers Spiritual Formation by Kent Carlson and Mike Leuken

So far, so good, though I'm not done yet.  I've enjoyed seeing how God prompted the authors of this book to completely reorient the focus of their church; though at times it's lacking specifics, I've been encouraged by this testimony of God's guidance and grace.

3) A Heart for the Work: Journeys Through an African Medical School by Claire Wendland

I should have finished this long before summer began because it was assigned reading for my Medical Anthropology class in the spring, but in the heat of the semester I didn't give it the attention it deserved. Better late than never?  Inspiring so far, and a very insightful blend of anthropological analysis and a gentle exploration of simple human relationships and experience.

4) A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League by Ron Suskind

Required reading for incoming Residential College Advisers (and Assistants/Alternates, like me!).  The main character, Cedric, is one of the most raw, unapologetic participant-observers I've ever read.  Not to mention I was left with much to reflect on, many blessings to be thankful for, and an unexpected instance or two of identification with Cedric.

5) Christ & Culture by H. Richard Niebuhr

... since Ravonne lent it to me almost a year ago and I haven't finished yet!  (For shame.)  But so far, an interesting and useful explication of secular perceptions of culture.  I'm excited to finish because the title leads me to believe that it should be required reading for Anthropologically-inclined Christians.

6) Reclaiming the Body: Christians and the Faithful Use of Modern Medicine by Joel Shuman and Brian Volck, MD

Hopefully the title says most of it; I'm not too far into it yet, but my mom bought it for me (thanks!) and I am certainly not planning to leave Jesus out of my future medical pursuits--particularly because it's He who led me to pursue those pursuits in the first place--so it should be a good'n.

7) Letters to a Young Calvinist: An Invitation to the Reformed Tradition by James K. A. Smith

Another one of those that's been sitting around awhile, having been left in limbo, it was a gift from my parents when I decided to check out Pentapresbycostaterianism, a.k.a. remembering that the Holy Spirit is an actual, real, live, active Person while not forgetting that God's main mission is not to make everything cushy for me here on Earth.

8) Organic Chemistry by Thomas Sorrell

Just kidding.  Mostly.

9) The Bible by God

I'm very behind on my 3-month reading plan, and my prayer is to love the Word, not just get through because I made it a goal... Finding the path of discipline that doesn't cross into obsessive, Pharisaic rule-keeping while not just giving myself a free pass of laziness.