The question came rather innocently in an e-mail from a college friend. “So, what are you reading lately?” I was sitting on my futon with my laptop on my lap desk, and I looked around at the various materials that had been cast off in multiple piles due to finals. Thick hardback and paperback books with multicolored flags sticking out of them, folders filled with notes and outlines, four translations of the Bible, worship planning stuff, an empathy labyrinth… all tools of the seminary student’s life. (Ok, maybe not every seminary student has a empathy labyrinth.) But no books that I would consider I was “reading.”
Aren’t I supposed to be actively reading something? I’m normally not a person to throw around a word like “supposed,” so here’s what I mean. A huge number of professional congregational and specialized ministers have told me that they are always reading a novel for a good escape and to keep their own creative minds active. An even larger number of them have said that if you don’t intentionally keep reading theology, biblical studies, history, congregational studies etc. it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget to read anything.
So, dear readers, I’m asking for your help. Between now and fall semester there are four full months with the first beginning tomorrow. I’m asking for suggestions for summer reading in the following areas:
-Theology
-Biblical Studies
-Christian History
-Worship or Preaching
-Potpourri
I will choose four books from the suggestions and read one a month. After reading the book, to prove to you I read the book, I will post a review/reaction to the book.
Feel free to reply to this post with your suggestions, catch me on Twitter @presbyemily, or e-mail me at emily@fightthebees.com
