RE: Easy reading - sound theology

[Andrew Swenson]

Tom   Certainly one author that seems to be filling the shelves of Christian Bookshops is Phillip Yancey, and while I hate being a one eyed fan of a particular author I have somehow ended up with all of Phillip's books and found each one to be a source of encouragement and challenge.  Phillip is a journalist who writes his books as a journey of discovery within his own life and I certainly found it a very easy style to read and connect with.   I finally read his book "Church Why bother?" even though it had sat on my bookshelf for a couple of years and again was inspired by stories from his own journey and how as I read your list of issues was struck by the fact that pretty much each one is covered within the 100 pages of the book.   I started reading his books when I was given "The Jesus I never knew" and then "What's so amazing about Grace",  his books "Where is God when it hurts" and "Disappointment with God" are great resources for dealing with pain, suffering and God's supposed lack of response in those situations.   My parents have read some of his books, after giving me "The Jesus I never knew" and they have certainly found them easy to read and understand.   So if you haven't read any Phillip Yancey, give it a go, for as the saying goes "You'll never never know if you never never ..."   cya Andrew Swenson -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Tom Stuart Sent: Monday, 13 October 2003 8:43 AM To: 'insights' Subject: Easy reading - sound theology I think one of the things that we have learned through this debate about homosexuality is the theological and biblical illiteracy of our congregations.  It is what I have experienced across the Mid-Lachlan Mission Area, and I notice a reference to it in a resolution of the NSW Synod.   It is not a new realisation that the easy reading material that fills so much of our Christian Bookshops is the Christian version of “get rich quick” crap.  Most of it seems to be some version of “providence theology”. The vast majority of people in the congregations where I minister find the more serious theological material inaccessible.  It is too hard. I am wondering what books people have found that are easy to read but draw on the rich tradition of faith that is concerned about the priorities of Jesus ministry, opening the grace of God to everyone, a priority to the poor, subverting domination systems, and finding hope in the hopeless.  These may be in the form of novels, or parables, children’s books, videos, faith sharing books.  I feel I need to provide some guidance in selection of reading material around here so that I don’t spend all my time battling on Sunday with all the garbage that genuinely committed Christians have been reading through the week!! I’m sure these books are out there.   Tom   [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.milman.uniting.com.au Ph: 6862 5502  Mobile: 0427 625 502 14 Bushman St Parkes NSW 2870   'Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable'. I prefer to die living than to live dying! "War is a poor chisel with which to carve out the future." - Martin Luther King, Jr     I've stopped 187 spam messages. You can too! One month FREE spam protection at www.cloudmark.com

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