A Beautiful Book to Read to Start the Year

or end it, or at any point in the 12 month period.  That's true of any book by Anne Lamott.  Traveling Mercies:  some thoughts on faith is no exception. I do have one regret, I wish I would have read her chapter Mom before my mother died.  I urge you, if you still have your momma, read at least this chapter now. 

Two Sides of the Same Coin

I know that I have talked about this before, but when I get "high and mighty" about being a 'progressive Christian" (what I call just following Jesus!), I am reminded of my progressive pastor at one of my progressive and incredible churches, East Liberty Presbyterian.  Dr. Bush reminded us that the right and left are simply two sides of the same coin, and we need to acknowledge how very thin the coin is.  Before I read Everybody Always, I read Love Does and before I read either one I tried to get a sense of the author, Bob Goff. Does he REALLY follow Jesus? 
(Yes I am embarrassed that I think I have the audacity to ask this question.) The litmus test for me is, where does the author or pastor or priest or person stand on same-gender love issues.  I just that speaks volumes.  I can't understand how people who are trying to follow Christ can condemn, and when I say condemn, I also mean those "hate the sin, love the sinner" people, because of whom they love and with whom they express their love.
As long as a relationship is a God-glorifying one, meaning it is not exploitative and is between two people who have equal power and voice in the relationship and are not trying to hurt or exploit or manipulate anyone else as part of that relationship, if it is a true, expression of love, then it is God-glorifying.  One's anatomy doesn't matter.  Well I read the books before I was able to find anything out either way, but from the books I had the sense that Mr. Goff was all inclusive in his love and acceptance of God's people, even if they loved people with the same body parts.  I couldn't be sure and I love to be sure about this, but as it turns out, he really is one
of those people who loves people who love people, even if they have the same body parts! 
So.
That is just a long way of saying, if Goff was one of those "hate the sin, love the sinner" people or openly anti-love, God is still using him in amazing ways.  Because these books were wonderful examples of ways to live in the world and share God's extravagant love!

LOVE THIS!

Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit was just soooo good.  It was just the perfect kind of book for me, as it showed people who follow Jesus, and in case, even professionally minister in His name, actually acting like Jesus!  And toward people who love people with the same body parts, even!  Can you imagine!  Heaven on earth!
And it also was honest in showing how some people who claim to be following Jesus aren't quite there yet when it comes to understanding that God does not care WHOM we love, God cares THAT we love!
Complicated, but simple and sweet and funny and heart-breaking and beautiful.

The Only Downside

to Operating Instructions:  a Journal of My Son's First Year by the incredible Anne Lamott was that it was not read by the author.  I almost stopped listening after hearing that she was not the narrator.  But Rebecca Lowman did an excellent job.  And the book was so good.  Even for someone who has never been a mother.  After reading this one, I wanted to learn more about Sam Lamott and I knew that even though I hadn't been a mom, I would still love it, since I loved that one and will never be a grandma!

Sometimes

I think that I am far too old to connect with someone far younger than I.  The main character of Red Polka Dot in a World Full of Plaid just seems SO young to me that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I might have.  I can't say if this is a fair reading of the book, though.  I expected Maxine to have more understanding, a greater sense of the people around her and herself, but then I think, what do I know about being 18 anymore?  And could it be that other, more mature 18 year old book characters are simply TOO old.  I have criticized books before for having teen characters who have all of the right answers and can spout poetry, so why did Maxine's innocence bother me so much?
I like RPDIAWFOP's look at faith, though.  That was well done.  So I could recommend this, but I would like to see what real 18 year olds think about it.
I loved Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance, it was one of the best books I read last year and and will keep reading him.  I am just curios as to what others thought about the thoughts and feelings and actions of Maxine and how "real" they were.

Who Was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?

That's not the title of the book I read.  I read The Plot to Kill Hitler:  Dietrich Bonhoeffer:  Pastor, Spy and Unlikely Hero.  As of now there is no Who Was book about him, but I hope there will be! 
Patricia McCormick has written many books but I have only read Sold, which was just exceptional, so I need to read more from her.  Read this that she wrote last fall.  It is very powerful about another man's evil actions. 
Bonhoeffer might have felt that he committed evil acts, but I was thinking about Hitler when I wrote that sentence!
This book was so good in that it raised questions for me and answered questions.  I really want to know more about Bonhoeffer and especially his relationship with Karl Barth, another theologian I admire.  But Bonhoeffer and Barth get into it here.  McCormick says that Barth criticized Bonhoeffer for his role in the plot against Hitler.  At least that's what it sounded like to me.  But other places say that Barth was mad at Bonhoeffer not because he thought Hitler shouldn't be opposed or thwarted, but that Bonhoeffer was kind of a coward for running away from the Nazis and being safe back in the US, while others were dying in Europe.  I want to look into this more. Barth was very anti-Hitler, but the way that McCormick described his conversation with Bonhoeffer, having not known anything else, I would have assumed that Barth was more "live and let live" when it came to Hitler.  Again, that is just me, not having known anything, but this is a book for kids, so it just worries me because the readers might not know about Barth and the Confessing Church and so forth. 

Plans C, D, E and so on!

Listening to an Anne Lamott book will be my whole Alphabet Plan for the new year and always.  Plan B:  Further Thoughts on Faith was another excellent listen.  My mother has been listening along and she really is inspired by Lamott who seems to be the first person to really ask the questions and share the concerns that my mother has.  Great, great stuff. 

Even though

I will never be a mother or a grandmother, and even though I was hesitant to read Some Assembly Required:  A Journal of My Son's First Son, I soon realized that one doesn't have to be a mother or grandmother or son, first or otherwise, or father to appreciate this beautiful and honest and heart-breaking book. 
If I had already fallen in love with Sam Lamott just from what his mother has written about him in her other books, I would have fallen in love after reading this. 

I still can't spell

Hallelujah.  Which is too bad because as a pastor it's a word that I might use more than some.  I also can't spell bulletin, which again, given my vocation, makes it tough!  Hallelujah Anyway:  Reflections on Mercy by Anne Lamott was wonderful.  Yes, I am reading everything I can by her.  In this one she mentions a tweet that she wrote about "the only transgender person she can't stand" and it was easy for me to google that whole debacle.  I was so touched and impressed by her honesty and admission of wrong in this incident.  And her openness regarding the impact that her son had on her dealing with the situation. 
What google couldn't do was tell me which author she is talking about when she writes about an author who said nasty things about her and humiliated her.  Doesn't she know that I need to know so I can hate this author?!?  Doesn't she know that I need to know who did this to her so that I can hope that this author will get bad reviews forever?!?
Oh wait, maybe I am supposed to be merciful.
Live and learn.
And grow.  Excellent book.

Still Don't Really Understand Darning

But that doesn't mean that Stitches:  a Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair is excellent.  It seems that every Anne Lamott book review says, "Her most profound book yet.," and well, I have to agree.  I mean, I am not reading them in the order in which they were published, but every time I read a new one, I am blown away.
Oh, and here is how to darn! 

Why?

Why, why, why didn't I read Anne Lamott before now?  So many people told me to do so!  Why did I wait so long?  On the other hand, I REALLY need this now, you know? Grace (Eventually):  Thoughts on Faith was another read-by-the-author wonderful book.  What strikes me about this book and Small Victories is Lamott's description of her anger and heartbreak surrounding Little Bush's administration.  (My dad called the H.W. "Big Bush" and G.W. "Little Bush and I think I will do that, too.  Thanks, dad!)  I agree that this was a horrible, horrible time in our country.  And that Little Bush made reprehensible decisions and what was even more reprehensible was that he claimed to have a strong faith in Jesus, but I look at our current administration and I wonder what Lamott must be thinking now.  So I have been listening to podcasts like this one (and I just find it SO cool and hard to believe that I was on this podcast once!) and this one and this one.  And I fall deeper in love with Lamott.  Because she is so calm and so reassuring and while being completely aware and active.  I was especially captivated by Lamott's description of an eating binge, as well, you know my deal.  So thank you, Ms. Lamott for your brilliance and your grace, for who you are. 

Back in Seminary School....

I am so surprised by the number of times I get to write that!
Anyway, back then, in another life, I read Elaine Pagels.  So I was very interested when I saw that her new book was on hoopla and then I saw that she was on Fresh Air and I listened and then I listened to the book and it was excellent.  Why Religion?:  A Personal Story is, indeed, a personal one.  She writes about her husband, Heinz, who was killed in a hiking accident shortly after the death of there son. 
We have some similarities in our spiritual journy!  I mean, not exactly, her parents were scientists and she became famous and all, but we both were Evangelical Christians and were "born again" at a Billy Graham revival!  I went to the 1993 revival in Pittsburgh.  And although I had known Christ prior to my coming forward at this event, this was impactful for me.  This is a book that will evoke a lot of feelings, I believe.  For Christians who are more of the black and white kind, it will be disturbing, I think.  But for others and for even those who do not know Christ it is a must read.  It is also a must read for those who have suffered great loss.  Yes, for sure. 

Ms. Lamott

is becoming a SUPER favorite author of mine.  Wow.  I really loved Almost Everything:  Notes on Hope and I just finished Small Victories:  Spotting Improbably Moments of Grace and I loved that, too.  She is hilarious and heart-breaking and thought-provoking and just brilliant.  Wow she was right on about the online dating profiles, too!  I remember when I was going through that and yes, yes, yes, she is spot on!  Wonderful book. 

As the MId-Term

elections loom, even though I know greed will win and there is no hope, so I should already be resignedly miserable, I am still anxious. I guess I am anxious because I know many people who are still hopeful.  I find this hard to imagine.  I am hopeful about many things.  I am certain about Ever Lasting Life.  I am certain about God's Love.  And that is much more important than good results on any election day!  I just don't have any hope for our country.  Because greed seems to win on this side of the Jordan.  So be it. 
Still this is an anxious time and I don't look forward to seeing the crestfallen faces of my dear friends on Wednesday morning.  Anne Lamott's Almost Everything:  Notes of Hope was a wonderful read for this time of ennui. 
I have been encouraged to read her before but foolishly never have.  I am so glad I did.  To get an idea of the magic in this book and the hope, I suggest this article.
For mother, others, those who worry about food and weight or getting older or death.  This book is just a blessing. 

Remarkable

I had read some of Buechner when I was back in seminary school and recently I have subscribed to his daily emails and I highly recommend them!  When I saw The Remarkable Ordinary:  How to Stop, Look and Listen to Life I was super-excited to listen to it.  Not only for the subject matter, but just because of Buechner himself, as I have really come to glean a lot from his writings. 

Raise It!

Raise Your Voice:  Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up by Kathy Khang was a book that I read as part of a Red Letter Christians online book group.  I found my way to the RLCs via Tony Campolo who is just well, pretty amazing. 
I highly recommend this book!  Highly!  I can't say I have gotten the hang of an online book group, but I will be forever grateful to it for helping me to find my way to this book and Khang. 

Thoughtful

Heretics Anonymous was  very well done and thoughtful look at faith and the lack of it and questioning of it.  It MIGHT be offensive to some people, but I can't really imagine too many people being offended.  Well, on the other hand, I can't really imagine anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ supporting our current President, but I have been proven wrong over and over again.  So maybe some will be offended.  Great book though, great discussion starter. 

If Not for the One Story

I don't know.  I did like this book.  Who can NOT like a book that says really great things about Mr. Rogers, right?  The Simple Faith of Mr. Rogers is just that though.  Simple.  And I don't mean that in a bad way.  Faith is both simple and complex.  But I just can't help but think that Mr. Rogers didn't have a simple faith. 
Maybe he did.  I guess it depends on how one defines simple.  But this book could be titled the REALLY REALLY simple faith of Mr. Rogers and seem more accurate.  Because this book is REALLY REALLY simple.
I mean, come on..."toast sticks."
I don't know. 
Maybe just want to reinvent Mr. Rogers in my own image.  I want him to have been a big supporter of LBGTQ issues and was super sad to learn that he told François Clemmons that he had to stay in the closet and even encouraged him to get married.  Here it is in Clemmons' own words.  And he is gracious about it all.  And I know it was a different time.  I know that.  But I also know that it still makes me sad. 
Clemmons did say that Rogers said this:
...I want you to know, Franc, that if you’re gay, it doesn’t matter to me at all. Whatever you say and do is fine with me, but if you’re going to be on the show, as an important member of the Neighborhood, you can’t be ‘out’ as gay. People must not know … Many of the wrong people will get the worst idea, and we don’t want them thinking and talking about you like that. If those people put up enough fuss, then I couldn’t have you on the program. It’s not an issue for me. I don’t think you’re less of a person. I don’t think you’re immoral...
Maybe this article speaks more of my feelings.  It does reveal that Mr. Rogers was human, it says.  And yes, he was.  I just wanted him to be a little less human.  And that's not fair me.
I like this artlce, too.    And this one.
But at the same time, then, shouldn't I be among those who are mad that they changed the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award name? 
Well, I think Mr. Rogers would support the name change.  I do.  And I think he wouldn't want an award named after himself, either. 

Really Powerful

Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self by Joyce Rupp is probably one of those books I will be reading and rereading for a long time.  It's a book that will have different meanings and impact at different times in one's life, so it will always be new.  Our Sunday School class began reading this but I found it too personal, too painful to discuss in Sunday School, so I have only gone twice since we started it!  Isn't that terrible?  I mean, if one can't be exposed in Sunday School, where can one!  Especially at the church I attend.  A pretty amazing place.  And the people in SS are wonderful, so accepting and caring. But it was just too hard.  A door can be a powerful metaphor for many things. Great book and I look forward to reading it again.  

Faith Done Well

The Serpent King was one of those rare books that does faith really, really well.  And even more well because there were SO many opportunities to turn this book into an anti-faith book.  Dill being the son of a preacher who handled snakes before he ended up in prison for child porn and corruption of minors.  But this book...wow.
I can just imagine Jesus reading this book and thinking, "Man, that was really, really well done.  Thank you, good and faithful servant, Jeff Zentner.  I learned a lot about snake handling when it comes to churches, too!  How interesting!