Pastors should keep some books in their offices “for such a time as this.” Books to help parents support their kids through life’s milestones top that list. Pastor/parents review their recent favorites below.
Jo Wiersema and Amy Pagliarella talk about Spark Story Bible by Patti Thisted Arthur. Is it the right Bible to read with your kids? Is it a good choice for Sunday school?
Jo Wiersema and Amy Pagliarella review Desmond Tutu's Children of God Storybook Bible. Read the pros and the cons.
Some recent pieces of fiction that you should add to your "to read" list.
"Brueggemann’s goal is to make the case that the Bible, although ancient, is still relevant for our situation today." — Keith Curl-Dove
Book Review Editor Amy Pagliarella highlights several religious non-fiction books to add to your list.
What can we learn from cats?
"Davignon offers a blanket critique … (h)e views the modern world so negatively that he even critiques congregations that utilize secular tools such as social media to promote their ministries." — Jo Wiersema
Colin Farmer reviews the documentary short "All I See is the Future" — recommending it to churches who want to engage topics like grace, redemption and mass incarceration.
Sober Spirituality is well-written, easy to follow and clearly organized, but it isn't for everyone, writes Susan Graceson.
Looking for a new non-fiction read? Amy Pagliarella has you covered.
Amy Pagliarella recommends some of the latest memoirs.
"Put this book in the hands of Black America via churches, classrooms, Black environmentalist affinity groups and green teams! It is a gift to our community that will ignite a passion to address climate change." — Veronica M. Johnson
"Moving stories are accompanied by actionable steps, for inside and outside our congregations, with suggestions to work toward personal and systemic change without losing hope." — William Morris
"This is a timely book for folks navigating their own faith deconstruction or walking alongside someone who has been wounded by Christians," writes Maddie Gold.
"I was prepared for this book to focus on Black pain and trauma but ... The authors focus on liberation, redemption and transformation rather than the trauma." — Quantisha Mason-Doll
"Imes writes like I imagine she teaches — producing thoughtful discussion that invites students to engage with pop culture references to pieces of daily life (like Netflix) as well as to explore the Bible from Genesis to Revelation."
Jo Wiersema and Amy Pagliarella share the top three children's Bibles, as ranked by Outlook readers. They also review the new children's Bible: The Peace Table.
"I was immediately centered by his view of the Christmas story through a post-traumatic lens; Mary and Jesus were human, one of us, and experienced trauma."
Eric Nolin reviews the "No Small Endeavor" podcast with special attention given to a recent episode on gun violence.
Amy Pagliarella reviews Shane Claiborne's latest book.
“The future of church is going to be digital; the question is how do we harness this for good?”
"Reading this book feels like being in spiritual direction or on a walk with a wise friend. Affirming. Faithful. Good company in hard times."
"I believe we are all aspiring memoirists; we long to see our lives whole, discern their meaning, and share it with our children, grandchildren and others."
"Duncan writes for those who want to know they do not face their finite disappointment in the church alone, yet hold infinite hope for the world beyond the church."
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