Book Displays: December 2014

Christmas and the Incarnation

Christmas : A Candid History by Bruce David Forbes

The Christmas season is upon us and with it the familiar yuletide sights, sounds and traditions. Christmas cards, candy canes, the decorating of Christmas trees, the hanging of stockings and mistletoe, Santa Claus, and classic Christmas stories and music – all signs to us that Christmas is steadily approaching and with it the hustle and bustle of shoppers. But where do all of these Christmas traditions come from, and why is there an ever-present preoccupation with shopping and gift-giving during the Christmas season? More importantly, what do all of these things have to do with the birth of Jesus? In his book, Christmas : A Candid History, Bruce Forbes delves into the history of Christmas, investigating its origins and how it has become the holiday that we celebrate today. Forbes brings new insight to Christmas, addressing important issues like the secularization of Christmas and Christmas for those who are nonreligious. This book is a good read for both those who has become frustrated with Christmas, feeling that it has become a consumer holiday rather than a time for joy and reflection on the birth of Jesus, and for those who just want to know a little more about the history of Christmas and its traditions.

Other Titles:

• Christmas in Calcutta : Anglo-Indian Stories and Essays, Robyn Andrews
• Infancy Gospels : Stories and Identities, Claire Clivaz (ed.)
• The Christmas Encyclopedia, William D. Crump
• Christmas, Ideology and Popular Culture, Sheila Whiteley

Bioethics

Bioethics and the Christian Life by David VanDrunen 

With ever-increasing technological advances allowing us to do things that were impossible in the past, we find ourselves faced with more tough ethical questions than ever before. Questions about the ethics of abortion, artificial reproduction, assisted suicide and stem cell research (among others) have gained widespread attention in the media. Some questions, like cloning or stem cell research, do not directly affect us in our day-to-day lives. But what about other issues like contraception, fertility drugs or forgoing medical treatment for serious illnesses? How should a Christian respond to these various ethical questions? In his book, Bioethics and the Christian Life, David VanDrunen aims to help Christians wade through the murky decisions we face about ethical issues that impact our lives. The first part of the book addresses the foundations of bioethics and how it is integrated into the Christian worldview, evaluating Christian virtues and how they affect our decisions about certain ethical issues. The second part of the book addresses issues pertaining to the beginning of life (e.g. abortion, contraception, fertility drugs), and the second part of the book deals with issues pertaining to the end of life (e.g. suicide, euthanasia, forgoing medical treatment). This book is a great read for anyone looking for guidance about deciding how a Christian ought to respond to the various ethical questions we are faced with today.

Other Titles:

• Ethics Without Intention, Ezio Di Nucci
• Disability and the Good Human Life, Jerome Edmund Bickenbach
• The Bioethics of Pain Management : Beyond Opioids, Daniel S. Goldberg
• Making Sense of Intersex : Changing Ethical Perspectives in Biomedicine, Ellen K. Feder
• Global Bioethics and Human Rights : Contemporary Issues, Wanda Teays
• Bioethics, Bruce Jennings
• Contemporary Debates in Bioethics, Arthur L. Caplan
• Autonomy and the Situated Self : A Challenge to Bioethics, Rachel Haliburton
• Human Subjects Research Regulation : Perspectives on the Future, I. Glen Cohen
• Biotechnology, Education and Life Politics : Debating Genetic Futures from School to Society, Padraig Murphy
• Practicing Medicine and Ethics : Integrating Wisdom, Conscience and Goals of Care, Lauris Kaldjian

Pastoral Ministry

Pastors in the Classics : Timeless Lessons on Life and Ministry from World Literature edited by Leland Ryken (et al.)

Throughout history, pastors and preachers have appeared as prominent parts of various works of literature. Pastors in the Classics sets out to examine twelve timeless works of literature in which pastors figure prominently, drawing attention to specific aspects of pastoral ministry and gleaning profound insights into the pastor’s experience. The book evaluates the good and bad ways in which pastors are often portrayed in literature in order to better understand pastoral ministry and its various facets. This book can help pastors to better understand themselves and their calling outside of typical books dealing with pastoral ministry. It also offers unique insights for pastors and enthusiasts of classic literature alike. If you are looking for a fresh, insightful look into pastoral life and ministry, this is the book for you.

Other Titles:

• Shrink : Faithful Ministry in a Church-Growth Culture, Tim Suttle
• Dangerous Calling : Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry, Paul David Tripp
• The Other 80 Percent : Turning Your Church’s Spectators into Active Disciples, Scott Thumma
• Images of Pastoral Care : Classic Readings, Robert C. Dykstra
• People-Pleasing Pastors : Avoiding the Pitfalls of Approval-Motivated Leadership, Charles Stone
• Ministry Is … : How to Serve Jesus with Passion and Confidence, Dave Earley
• A Door of Hope : Spiritual Conflict in Pastoral Ministry, Robert T. Henderson
• Breaking the Missional Code : Your Church Can Become a Missionary in Your Community, Ed Stetzer
• In Living Color : An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling, Emmanuel Lartey
• Theological Reflection for Human Flourishing : Pastoral Practice and Public Theology, Helen Cameron
• Care of Souls : Revisioning Christian Nurture and Counsel, David G. Benner
• Men and Women in the Household of God : A Contextual Approach to Roles and Ministries in the Pastoral Epistles, Korinna Zamfir
• Secondary Pastoral Care : A Case Study, Video (Teachers TV/UK Department of Education)

WHY are you here?

I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m a TED junkie. If you’ve never heard of it before, let me explain the idea — it’s simple. Take somebody who’s an expert on something or other, put them on a stage, give them between 2 and 20 minutes to talk about their passion, record it on video, and post it online for the world to see. For free. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, TED serves as a clearinghouse for over 1,800 videos on everything from neuroplasticity to how to tie your shoelaces.

To date, the third most-watched video in their collection (with over 18 million views) is by a leadership expert named Simon Sinek, and it’s called “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” (He later wrote a book called Start with Why that unpacks these ideas even further.) The talk is worth watching in and of itself — but so we can move on to my main point, let me give you a quick run-down of his main argument. He says that we as human beings (and organizations) operate on three levels — what, how, and why.

• What describes the actions that you or your group undertakes – for example, the products a company markets or the events a ministry group coordinates.
• How describes the plans or strategies by which these actions get done – for example, the style of music at a worship service or the manufacturing practices a company uses.
• Why describes the purpose, cause, or belief that fuels the whole process– it’s the reason an organization exists or a person gets out of bed in the morning.

He goes on to explain that while everybody knows what they’re doing, and most know how they’re doing it, shockingly few actually understand why. Thus, we tend to live our lives backwards – we waste time and energy worrying about and trying to coordinate the whats rather than letting them fall into place naturally when we truly understand the whys.

So, then, as we gear up for another year at Trinity, let me challenge you to take Simon Sinek’s words to heart. Especially if you’re a returning student, you’re familiar with the whats of college/seminary life: going to class, reading books, writing papers, participating in clubs and teams, getting a job, spending time with friends, getting (probably not enough) sleep… the list goes on and on. And if you think a little harder, you can probably figure out how you’re doing those things: showing up to class on time, paying attention to your professor, making sure the sources you cite are reputable, picking activities that interest you, etc. But have you considered why you’re doing it?

A complementary strategy to Simon Sinek’s is the “Five Whys” technique developed by Sakichi Toyoda and implemented within the Toyota Corporation (yes, that Toyota). When an issue would arise on his production lines, he’d ask why five times in succession, in order to get down to the heart of the matter. So let’s try that here with the question I posed in the previous paragraph. Imagine two classmates. They’re both in the same program and taking the same classes — so their whats are the same. They both get good grades and are well-respected by their professors and fellow students — so you could even say their hows are pretty similar. But ask them why, and you’ll get two completely different stories.

Student 1:

• Why are you going to college? To get a degree.
• Why do you want to get a degree? To get the job I want.
• Why do you want that job? To make enough money.
• Why do you want to make money? To buy the things I want.
• Why do you want to buy these things? To make my life feel fulfilled.

Student 2:

• Why are you going to college? To broaden my understanding of the world.
• Why do you want to broaden your understanding of the world? So that I can better fulfill the place to which God has called me within it.
• Why do you want to fulfill your calling? Because it will bring God glory and me joy.
• Why will it bring God glory? Because I’m living in harmony with God’s plan.
• Why will it bring you joy? Because I’ll be doing what God created me to do.

Like I said before, these two students are doing the same things, using the same methods. Which of them, though, do you think will be under less stress to succeed at any cost? Which will be able to bounce back more easily from setbacks along the way? Who’s in charge of each particular student’s whys? Who do you think will ultimately end up more fulfilled?

I encourage you to try the same exercise on your own life. Why are you at Trinity? (And, while you’re at it, why are you at Trinity?) Be honest — it’s OK if you encounter answers that you’re not completely happy with right now. Part of college/grad school (honestly, it’s not all about writing papers!) is finding and examining those hidden parts of your own life, so that you can better understand both who God created you to be and what role He’s called you to fulfill. Yeah, it might be a little daunting, but it’s totally worth it.

Blessings to you as you begin this new semester!

April e-Reading

The semester is drawing to a close and for many that means papers, projects, and final exams. Spare time is likely to be a luxury over these next several weeks, as is any brain power that hasn’t been exhausted over long hours of study. But if you do have some spare time and brain power left over, here are some fantastic titles on Easter and urban missions. Some of them I’ve reviewed below. These are titles that are not physically shelved here at Rolfing, but are readily available in electronic form. If you’re like me and you’re conditioned to think that legitimate sources are only printed on paper and placed on the shelf, allow these electronic gems to change your mind!

Jesus and the Demise of Death by Matthew Levering is not a light read. It is a thorough study on resurrection and eternal life, both of Christ’s journey post-cross as well as the believer’s. Surprisingly, the author manages to put all of this material together in just 129 pages (plus an extra 60 pages of extensive notes). I highly recommend this for seminarians, as it is not only an informative read but it would certainly be a useful source for papers.

The Resurrection of the Messiah by Christopher Bryan is an invaluable resource on the resurrection. Bryan takes a unique approach, primarily dealing with what he calls “historical certainties” following the crucifixion events. What I like best about this volume is the “bonus material.” From pages 191 to 416, Bryan packs in extensive end notes, extra notes organized topically, and a navigable selection of sources organized by subject material. This would well serve Masters- and Doctoral-level students who are doing research in this field.

The Justice Project makes the claim that the world has never been in greater need of Christians who “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” I like this book for two reasons: its subject material and its accessibility. Like a growing number of Christians, I am increasingly interested in the topic of justice. For those with that shared interest, this is an informative resource. It’s a compilation of short chapters authored by a variety of writers who are professionals in their fields, offering a good mix of scholastic thought and practical theology. This is a resource open to readers at all levels.

 

The Ghetto is an intriguing sociological work that challenges popular culture’s conceptions of the “ghetto.” It addresses the lack of a unified urban theory for cities and seeks to move the discussion to a global context. There is a historical element explaining from whence “ghetto” was originally derived and much discussion on contemporary urban research. This is suitable to college level readers whose interests involve social work and/or ministry in an urban context.

February Recommended Reading

Have you got the cold winter blues yet? Perhaps your anguish was somewhat assuaged with our two recent “snow” days and you enjoyed a long four-day weekend.  Well, assuming that winter will not relent this month, let me recommend some books that you could enjoy reading inside the comfort and warmth of your own place. Add these to your reading list for the next time a polar vortex swoops in and shuts everyone inside with record subzero temperatures (not that we’re hoping that will happen again!).

For February we have some great titles in the lineup. Celebrate African-American Heritage and read up on the theologians and theology of the African American church. You can also check out books on the many different facets of life and work in Family Ministry. In addition, we put together a collection of books in correlation to the undergraduate “Belief” chapel series beginning this month. Here are some e-books on these topics available at Rolfing; find more on our Recommended eReading library guide. And don’t forget to take a look at the displays in the front of the library for some print options!

African-American Heritage
The Black Church and Hip Hop Culture: Toward Bridging the Generational Divide
The Color of Christ: The Son of God & the Saga of Race in America
The Reemergence of Liberation Theologies: Models for the Twenty-First Century
This Side of Heaven: Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith
Honoring the Ancestors: An African Cultural Interpretation of Black Religion and Literature

Family Ministry
Adolescence and Beyond
Family Ethics
Marriage and Relationship Education
Parenting Is Your Highest Calling
Teenagers Matter
Working with Families

Belief Chapel Series
The Christian Atheist
Generous Justice
I Am Second
One.Life
A Public Faith
The Life of the Mind: A Christian Perspective

Jesus Will Be Here by 2050…

…or at least 48% of American believers think so, according to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

A solid but small remnant of 14% admitted that they have no idea whether Jesus will be coming back in the near future. (Which seems like the appropriate response, doesn’t it?)

But popular eschatology aside, such polls can do more than amuse us (though they’re good at that). They can also do more than confirm our worst nightmares about the state of American Christianity (though they’re good at that too).

Groups like Pew can provide pastors with on-the-ground data with which to be better missiologists. Maybe this particular pie chart is not helpful, but the Internet is replete with other kinds of helpful information about the people, cultures, and communities God has positioned you and me to serve.

And luckily for us, much of this information is entirely free to access and use.

Here are a few links to get you started exploring:

• Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life
• U.S. Census Bureau

Is Ministry Easier than Theology?

Absolutely not, says Sarah Coakley.

Credit: Harvard University

Coakley is a celebrated academic theologian. She is also a committed churchwoman, ordained as a priest in the Church of England.

Recently she sat down with Duke’s Faith & Leadership blog for an interview later titled, provocatively, “Ministry Is Not Easier than Theology.” In it she confronts the worrisome gulf — hardwired, she argues, in how modern seminaries are structured — between pastoral (or practical) theology on the one hand and other theological disciplines, like systematics and biblical studies, on the other.

It highlights a larger conversation that is ongoing in the evangelical world about what a seminary education should look like in the first place.

I invite you to peruse the interview and then tell us what you think. In your experience, is Coakley right? Is pastoral theology devalued in seminary?

And if you want to read more of Coakley, note that we have more than a few of her works in our collection at Rolfing, and even more in our I-Share network.