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Van-guard (văn’gärd), noun: “The foremost or leading position in a trend or movement.”

the journey forward... exploring the emerging church... navigating spiritual formation... seeking to transform the world... ...through Christ

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Books I'm Reading

Currently Reading:

Evil And the Justice of God

by N. T. Wright

Thy Kingdom Come: An Evangelical's Lament,

How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America

by Randall Balmer

Evangelicals in the Public Square: Four Formative Voices on Political Thought and Action

by J. Budziszewski,

with contributions by David L. Weeks on Carl Henry, John Bolt on Abraham Kuyper, William Edgar on Francis Schaeffer, and Ashley Woodiwiss on John Howard Yoder. Introduction by Michael Cromartie; afterword by Jean Bethke Elshtain

 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

by Douglas Adams

Inside the Organic Church: Learning from 12 Emerging Congregations

by Bob Whitesel

 

 

 


 

Recently Read:

 

The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church

by Gregory A. Boyd

SEE BOB's REVIEW of this Book HERE.

 

Beyond Foundationalism: Shaping Theology in a Postmodern Context

by Stanley J. Grenz and John R. Franke

 

Christians and Politics Beyond the Culture Wars: An Agenda for Engagement

edited by David P. Gushee

 

 

 

 

 

Toward An Evangelical Public Policy: Political Strategies For The Health Of The Nations

by Ronald J. Sider and Diane Knippers

 

The Politics of Jesus

by John Howard Yoder

 

The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others

by Scot McKnight

 

The Measure of a Man
by Martin Luther King J
r.

 

Evangelism Outside the Box: New Ways to Help People Experience the Good News
by Rick Richardson

 

Red, Black, and White
by

Ted Dekker

 

Shaping the Spiritual Life of Students: A Guide for Youth Workers, Pastors, Teachers & Campus Ministers
by Richard R. Dunn

 

The Drama Of Scripture: Finding Our Place In The Biblical Story
by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen

 

The Church of Irresistible Influence, by Robert Lewis

 

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis:

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawntreader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy

by C.S. Lewis

       

 

 

Top 5 Books I Read in 2004:

 

5

The Search to Belong: Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups  by Joseph R. Myers

 

 Read Bob's blog review here.

 

 

4

Mustard Seed Vs. McWorld: Reinventing Life and Faith for the Future by Tom Sine

 

 Read Bob's blog review here.

 

 

 

3

Finding Faith by Brian D. McLaren

 

 Read Bob's blog review here.

 

 

2

Reimagining Spiritual Formation: A Week in the Life of an Experimental Church by Doug Pagitt

 

 Read Bob's blog review here.

 

 

1

Heaven Is a Place on Earth: Why Everything You Do Matters to God by Michael E. Wittmer

 

 Read Bob's blog review here.

 

 

__

 

Top Lecture from 2004:

Creation & New Creation in the New Testament 

by N.T. Wright
 

Read Bob's blog review here

 

 

Top 10 Books I Read in 2005:

(read my review of these books

at my blog HERE)

 

10

Engaging God's World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living
by Cornelius Jr. Plantinga

 

9

Truth Is Stranger Than It Used to Be: Biblical Faith in a Postmodern Age
by J. Richard Middleton and Brian J. Walsh

 

8

Embracing Grace: A Gospel for All of Us

by Scot McKnight

 

7

Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America
by Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith

 

6

God's Politics : Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It by Jim Wallis

 

5

Renovation of the Heart:  Putting on the Character of Christ

by Dallas Willard

 

4

Heaven Is Not My Home: Learning to Live in God's Creation -- by Paul A. Marshall with Lela Hamner Gilbert

 

3

Christianity And The Postmodern Turn: Six Views

Edited by Myron B. Penner

 

2

Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire

by Brian J. Walsh and Sylvia C. Keesmaat

 

1

Out of the Question...Into the Mystery:   Getting Lost in the GodLife Relationship

by Leonard Sweet

 

 

 


Books I've enjoyed:

 

 The Emerging Church, by Dan Kimball

 

 

 

 

 

Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper

 

 

The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God by Brent Curtis, John Eldredge

 

 

A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey, by Brian D. McLaren

 

 

 

 

Created for Community: Connecting Christian Belief With Christian Living, by Stanley J. Grenz

 

 

The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind  by Mark A. Noll

 

 

The Younger Evangelicals: Facing the Challenges of the New World  by Robert E. Webber

 

 

The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard

 

 

 

 

The Church on the Other Side, by Brian D. McLaren

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home  by Richard J. Foster

 

 

The Supremacy of God in Preaching  by John Piper

 


 

Go to "Great Books" for a bibliography of other books that Bob likes by topic

 


 

Hearts & Minds Bookstore - Highly recommended source for the very best books available.

Not just a place to buy books, but a place to get advice on books - a real resource!

Byron Borger will help you find the title that exactly fits your needs and interests.

 

               

Ministry Transformation- The Emerging Church  Personal Transformation- Spiritual Formation  World Transformation- Social Action

Interact with Bob Robinson about the emerging church, spiritual formation, or social action by e-mailing vanguard church with your comments.