2007 Recommended Reading List

Today I wish to blog about books I have read either in their entirety or in part (but enough "part" to be able to make a recommendation) this year. Some have been textbooks in classes and others have not.

The Holy Wild by Mark Buchanan = I read most of this with my accountability partners this year. It is an excellent book about God's attributes written in plain language. The unique takes in this book on the parable of the Good Samaritan as well as on God's Wrath are especially good.

Me, Myself, and Bob by Phil Vischer = The former CEO of Big Idea, Inc. and the creator of VeggieTales gives an autobiographical look at the rise and fall of his company. You really must read this book in its entirety in order to get the full impact.

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande. Required reading for one of my courses but an excellent study in how to resolve conflict.

Making Peace by Jim Van Yperen. Also required reading for the same course on the subject of resolving conflict.

Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson. The title pretty much describes the content (how to raise boys as a parent).

Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Laine Jones, and Reggie Joiner. A thought provoking study on seven things the authors believe a church must practice. These are more philosophical than theological in nature, but the authors make a strong argument for these practices.

God's Power to Change Your Life by Rick Warren. A study on developing the fruit of the Spirit into your life. Very easy to read.

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. This 17th century monk gives a strong argument for doing what the title says. Beware of moral perfectionist theology within the work, though.

Behind the Screen: Hollywood Insiders on Faith, Film, and Culture by Spencer Lerewenz and Barbara Nicolosi. A collection of essays by practicing Christians in Hollywood on various aspects of the screen world. I found some of the essays to be very valuable while others I felt were quite lacking. Read all of them, though, for some mental candy to chew on. You will likely find some of your attitudes about Hollywood challenged by this material.

and for something different:

The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World by Julie Neal and Mike Neal. It's extremely colorful and very helpful on planning a visit to WDW.

The Imagineering Field Guide to Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World by the Imagineers. Similar in design to the previously read Field Guides for the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, this one covers Animal Kingdom. Very good. Very colorful. Very informative.

Popular Christmas Songs You've Never Heard About

Yes, there are popular Christmas songs you've probably never heard about. That's because they are popular only with particular groups and sub-groups and sub-sub groups and minor cliques and by individual couples etc, etc, etc.

Jingle Bell Country = popular with those who hate rock.

Rudolph the Red State Reindeer = popular with Republicans.

Frosty the Snowperson = popular with the Politically Correct.

Belize Navidad = popular in the country of Belize.

Reindeer Got Run Over By Grandma = popular with Grandmother's who hate the other version.

Santa Claus is Mugging the Town = popular with muggers.

I'll Be Nome For Christmas = popular with the Nome, Alaska Tourist industry.

Single Bells = popular with on-line dating service workers.

White Out Christmas = popular with the makers of white-out.

Standing Still Around the Christmas Tree = popular with traditional Baptists who would never be accused of dancing or rocking or whatever.

Vinter Vonderland = popular with Lawrence Welk fans.

12 Weighs of Christmas = popular with Diet Plan Providers.

Deck the Halls = this is a different version popular with the Smith family next door that hates the Hall family's increasingly gaudy decoration display that constantly shines 7 Billion Watts of Lights into their windows and causes a massive traffic jam in the neighborhood by everyone who is driving by looking at the lights thus causing the Smith's to have hostile feelings towards the Halls and the Smith's wistfully dreaming of violent actions against the Hall's.

and finally:

Oh Christmas Tulip = popular with Calvinists who hang lights and ornaments on their tulips every Christmas season.

Walt Disney World & Your Local Church - Part 3

1)THIS COLUMN WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU IN LIVING COLOR AND THAT'S A VERY GOOD PLACE TO START. WHY DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE USE OF APPEALING COLORS IN OUR CHURCH STRUCTURES? PLAIN WHITE WALLS GIVE THE FEELING OF BEING IN THE HOSPITAL OR AN ASYLUM OR PRISON OR SOMETHING? CONTRAST THAT WITH WDW WHERE VIBRANT COLORS ARE EVERYWHERE.
IT IS A BLESSING FOR YOUR CHURCH TO HAVE IT'S OWN BUILDING. MANY CHURCHES THROUGHOUT CHURCH HISTORY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE BUILDINGS TO USE. AMERICAN CHURCHES TAKE THIS BLESSING FOR GRANTED . PLEASE, I BEG YOU, PAINT OR WALLPAPER THE WALLS WITH VIBRANT COLORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2) EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH SHOULD KNOW WHY YOU ARE THERE. IT ISN'T TO HOLD THE SAME RITUAL WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER WEEK AFTER...... CONTRAST THAT WITH WDW WHERE ALL THE "CAST MEMBERS" (THEY ARE NOT CALLED EMPLOYEES) KNOW THAT THEY ARE THERE TO PROVIDE PEOPLE HAPPINESS.
YOU HAVE A MISSION, A PURPOSE, A REASON TO EXIST. GOD LOVED YOU SO MUCH TO DIE FOR YOU AND HE WANTS YOU TO SHARE THAT LOVE WITH OTHERS. HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW AND WORSHIP HIM AND DRAW CLOSE TO HIM. IN BROAD TERMS WE ARE "TO KNOW CHRIST (RELATIONSHIP) AND MAKE HIM KNOWN (DISCIPLESHIP)." EVERYONE IN THE CHURCH NEEDS TO KNOW THIS!

3) EXCELLENCE! TOO OFTEN OUR INVOLVEMENT IN CHURCH IS HALF-HEARTED AND SLOPPY. WE GO WHEN WE FEEL LIKE IT OR WHEN IT IS CONVENIENT FOR US. WE TO DO JUST "GOOD ENOUGH" IN OUR MINISTRY ACTIVITIES. CONTRAST THAT WITH WDW WHERE EVERY DETAIL INCLUDING THE DESIGN OF TRASH CANS IS CAREFULLY PRESENTED. YOU CAN EVEN NOTICE HAIR ON THE LEG OF ONE OF THE PIRATES IN "PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN". THEY ARE RUTHLESSLY DEDICATED TO THE EXCELLENCE IN THEIR PRODUCT.
WHEN WE DO CHURCH WE SHOULD DO SO WITH EXCELLENCE. THIS IS NOT A RIGID, UNREALISTIC PERFECTIONISM, BUT A COMMITMENT TO GIVE ALL THAT WE ARE TO OUR LORD. THE LORD WORKS THROUGH US AS CHRISTIANS AND IF HE IS WORKING THEN WE WILL DO OUR BEST IN TEACHING LESSONS, DECORATING, WORSHIP, PRAYER, AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE DO IN THE NAME OF CHURCH.

4) CREATIVITY! WE OFTEN TAKE A COOKIE CUTTER APPROACH TO EVERYTHING WE DO. OUR PREACHING/TEACHING STYLES DON'T CHANGE WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GENESIS FLOOD OR SEX IN THE SONG OF SOLOMON OR DOCTRINE IN THE EPISTLES. CONTRAST THIS WITH WDW - CAN YOU IMAGINE IF THE IMAGINNEERS DID "THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE-THE-POOH" AT MAGIC KINGDOM EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THEY DO THE "THE TWILIGHT ZONE TOWER OF TERROR" AT THE DISNEY STUDIOS? (A GREAT MENTAL PICTURE -SEEING PIGLET AND THEN DROPPING THIRTEEN STORIES). DIFFERENT BIBLE LESSONS CALL FOR DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS. THE STORIES OR TEACHINGS ARE NOT ALL THE SAME (THOUGH THEY ALL POINT IN SOME WAY TO THE SAME GOD). CREATIVITY ALSO EXTENDS TO THE DECOR' OF OUR BUILDINGS AND OUR WORSHIP AND ALL THE REST.

These four things are only the beginning. There are others. However, it should be obvious that theology is not something we learn from WDW. You can't "Wish Upon a Star" and get anything your heart desires. Our theology of the afterlife does not come from "The Haunted Mansion". Your fairy god-mother is not showing up anytime soon. However, there are many things churches can learn from this otherwise secular organization. It is a shame we are having to learn aspects of our faith from them rather than them learning from us. It really should not be that way.