I was able to read five books while on Project Serve France. In case you're wondering, did you work or did you read on this trip, remember...
There's long plane and train rides. Often I was up and hour before anyone else (other than Pat) and you have no television or phone calls to answer. Plus the books were no longer than 250 pages. Here's the books read and a quick review.
"Evangelism Without Additives" by Jim Henderson. Jim Henderson always has great ideas about sharing Jesus with others and once again this book hit the evangelism ball out of the ballpark.
"How (Not) To Speak of God" by Peter Rollins. Peter Rollins is a pastor of Ikon, a church in Northern Ireland. This was the weightiest book I read. He expresses Christian theology in a postmodern context. An example- "Instead of following the Greek influenced idea of orthodoxy as right belief, these chapters show that the emerging community is helping us rediscover the more Hebraic and mystical notion of the orthodox Christian as one who believes in the right way-that is believing in a loving, sacrificial and Christlike manner."
"Static" by Ron Martoia. Another book on sharing Jesus. A interesting twist and one that's becoming more prevalent, is the use of story to set up teaching points. Story is so huge in our culture and Ron uses it to grab your attention then uses it as a context to teach. The basic premise is modern evangelism starts with Genesis chapters two and three - sin. Instead a postmodern way is to start with Genesis chapter one and how we are created in His image, which gives us tremendous value. We also tend to focus on only one part of the Old testament story - sacrifice and purity, which tends to be about legal obligations (Leviticus). Instead include bondage and liberation (Exodus) and exile and restoration (prophets).
"Soul Banquets" by Jim Koenig. This book focuses on how much meals were a part of Jesus and the early churches ministry. Change happened in the context of allowing people to sit at your table. The author then looks at contemporary expresses of sharing meals. An especially moving account of the Episcopal Church that survived the Twin Towers collapse that served only the best food to 9/11 workers everyday for a year.
"Night" by Elie Wiesel. A classic World War Two Holocaust story. How anyone could survive a concentration camp experience is beyond me. An amazing read of the horrors that man is capable of inflicting on others.
Well, that's the story of the stories that I read while in France. May you pick up a book and open your mind to a world of new possibilites in Jesus Christ.
These are the days my friend.
Jim "Train"
