One thing I always look forward to as summer schedules lighten up is the opportunity to pick a few books off my shelf that I’ve been meaning to read but couldn’t find the time. If you are in the same situation and are looking for some suggestions for books to read in the months ahead, here are a few favorites from Pastor Hart and me.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, by Shane Claiborne – This book centers on a community in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia that has decided to live the life that Jesus commended to his disciples. They share their possessions, have community meals, help neighborhood kids with their homework, and seem to enjoy a superabundance of love. It’s a challenging book for those of us who have let fear dominate our lives, but also a book full of hope in the transforming power of Jesus.

Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson – Approaching his death, a pastor writes a letter to his seven year old son, a legacy in which he seeks to explain his life and reveal the twists and turns of his ancestry. Threaded into these reminiscences are hints of fear about a developing relationship between his wife and an associate with a shady reputation. This book is a wonderful exploration of the things that give life meaning, like family, vocation, death, and faith.

Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie, by Ole Edvart Rolvaag - Per Hansa moves his family from a fishing village in Norway to the plains of the Dakota Territory in the last part of the 19th century. They are homesteaders, the people who settled the untamed prairie and bound themselves to it, sometimes at great personal cost. Rolvaag brilliantly describes both the psychological effect of early prairie life and the Norwegian immigrant culture of the time. The characters give lessons in the mysteries of the Universe, not the least of which are the fine line between piety and insanity, the contradictory emotions that form the bond between a mother and child, and man's lust for a place of his own.

The Preacher and the President: Billy Graham and the White House, by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy – This is a fascinating biography of Billy Graham and his relationship to each of the presidents from Harry Truman to George W. Bush. It reveals a man who has struggled to put his faith to work in public ministry, who has been tempted by the halls of power, but who has ultimately followed his calling to be a pastor, even to the presidents of the United States. It is also a very interesting glimpse into the spiritual lives of the last 10 presidents.
Happy reading and let us know your favorites.

Steve