(Part 2) Best christian pastoral resources books according to redditors
We found 67 Reddit comments discussing the best christian pastoral resources books. We ranked the 50 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
My library (that is, the one I work for) maintains a shelf of materials (everything from instruction manuals to the occasional video game) that are unfit to be properly catalogued and put on the shelves. They are entirely unregistered. You can just take them. Occasionally I strike gold and get a free copy of a decent book, or, more commonly, books written by raving loonies that are fun for a cheap laugh. We'll go give the thing a once-over to make sure nobody's slipping cult or pyramid scheme brochures between the books. Otherwise, we don't care.
On top of that, we maintain a set of "honor system" shelves filled with mass-market paperbacks. These are technically registered in that we have a list of everything we may or may not still have, but it's not properly catalogued. It's not properly sorted, either; we literally just slap a sticker on the spine identifying the first letter of the author's last name, and none of the other letters in the author's name matter for the purpose of sorting. Patrons don't even have to check them out, and they're returned within the month. Or not. People could just steal a couple dozen of them and nobody would really notice for months, nor would we really care. They're mass-market paperbacks, and putting them in the stacks would be a waste because they'd disintegrate within the year anyway.
Occasionally you'll see a circulation volunteer try and sort the honor system books properly, which is a bit like trying to put out a wildfire by blowing on it.
Would be curious to see which parts of your state or local law code regulate the establishment of private libraries and/or book lending/donation services. As far as I know, most states really do not regulate such establishments outside the usual building codes and such. It's mostly public libraries that get most of the regulatory burden. I'm sure a subscription library (such libraries are quite rare nowadays) would also need to follow certain business laws to ensure you're not scamming members. But all of the laws I'm aware of that would pertain to what you describe in your post are related to the actual business and building, and not to the act of borrowing/lending/holding books.
https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Calling-Confronting-Challenges-Pastoral/dp/1433535823
Here are their top picks for each category:
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Apologetics/Evangelism - Evangelism in a Skeptical World: How to Make the Unbelievable News About Jesus More Believable
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Biblical Studies - Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Gospels
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Children and Youth - The Friend Who Forgives
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Christian Living/Discipleship - The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World
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The Church/Pastoral Leadership - Preaching as Reminding: Stirring Memory in an Age of Forgetfulness
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CT Women - Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian
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Culture and the Arts - Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music?: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock
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Fiction - An Extra Mile: A Story of Embracing God’s Call
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History/Biography - The Spirit of Early Evangelicalism: True Religion in a Modern World
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Missions/Global Church - Megachurch Christianity Reconsidered: Millennials and Social Change in African Perspective
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Politics and Public Life - Scars Across Humanity: Understanding and Overcoming Violence Against Women
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Spiritual Formation - Subversive Sabbath: The Surprising Power of Rest in a Nonstop World
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Theology/Ethics - Seeing God: The Beatific Vision in Christian Tradition
Grace for the Afflicted: A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness https://www.amazon.com/dp/0830845070/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_QyytDb7S0NS9W
You're describing a very large slice of apologetics so certainly. There are a lot of Christians, Muslims, etc. who believe in what you describe and a lot of philosophers in the world, and the number who are both and wish to defend their religion is a lot larger than zero.
Some googling unsurprisingly yields concrete examples. For example, see this philosopher's book in defense of Christianity, including supernatural events such as the resurrection of Jesus and here's his edu page - he has a PhD in Philosophy.
It would be an understatement to say apologetics doesn't have much credibility with most philosophers these days, but that said, there are professional philosophers who create it using the tools of their trade.
The deacon at my parish has set up a religious education program for kids with autism and other special needs (looks like he has a book explaining how to, but I haven't read it). With a moderate to high functioning kid you give them one-on-one time, a great deal of patience, and get to know what are the good approaches for that particular kid to get them to tune in to you. I don't have direct experience with severe.
The R. Scott Clark article (should have a little link next to it). As for pro-FV, I'd go with this:
The Federal Vision
I really think that Clark's article gets to the heart of it. The error, in my opinion is allowing the covenant administration to absorb the substance.
Here is an introductory book length response:
Guy Waters
Here also it the Westminster Seminary Escondido response
But to really make people mad, I would also just suggest the Westminster Confession of Faith!
Preaching After God may be of interest to you.
so....it's not actually about going barefoot everywhere, then?
If anyone else was interested in that, you can find the rest of us unshod folk over at /r/barefoot. :D
OP, how similar do you think your view is to those espoused in, say "the New Friars?"
Your comment reminded me of this book-- Encounter God in the City. I read it when I was just beginning to get involved with reaching out to the poor, and I liked it a lot.
50% is correct.
Richard Snipe is an author, former priest, and researcher who has done a lot of study in this area. He has several books on celibacy and it's modern practice, or lack there of. A Secret World is a book in the accounts of about 1500 priests who were sexually active. He has an ancient looking website but his data is sound. He's been involved in Vatican funded studies on the sex lives of priests. http://www.awrsipe.com
A recent book worth checking out that explores the lack of clerical celibacy is In the Closet of the Vatican by Fredric Martel. There's an interesting chapter on an internal war between gay and straight priests and how gay priests are a bit more protected.
Also, I've mentioned this in this sub before, but the reason for my knowledge on this subject is because I myself was in a consensual relationship with a priest for a year and a half, in the mid 2000's. I was not his first and was not his last partner.
I'm not sure we'll get that far in this conversation. But can I recommend a few resources on this?
Apparently this is good
Currently reading:
Here is a great book on walking through the journey of being called to full-time vocational ministry.
First and foremost is pray and time spent delving into the Word. We can "feel" all sorts of things, but the only infallible guide we have is the Bible. Be in it. All the time. Pray specifically that the Holy Spirit would answer your questions- through Scripture- about the calling.
Also, make sure it is your calling. Lots of people can tell you that you might be a good pastor or missionary or whatever, but it is God and God alone who calls. Once you feel certain from Scripture that you are called, then go to others for affirmation.
Finally, pray and read Scripture even more. The calling/surrendering to full-time vocational ministry is just the beginning step! Start praying about whether you should go to seminary. Start praying about specifically where God would have you serve Him. He will answer those questions through Scripture.
Praying for you, brother!
Firstly, remember he is a human. We, at least in America, tend to put pastors up higher on a totem poll than us. Don't know why. It's not healthy or helpful.
Secondly, he needs this book. Seriously, I bought it just cause I liked the cover, and it's really helped me in my own life, and I'm not a pastor in any way. At least not on paper or pulpit. I think he needs grace, and to show grace. Not saying let him get away with stuff, but he could be taking his frustrations out on you, social media, and his family. There are healthy ways to get rid of frustration. MMORPGs are a good way to deal with it. Also prayer and meditation. He needs to find an outlet (like the rest of us) and go there and take the pastor hat off and be himself.
And speaking from my own experience, leaving a church isn't always a bad thing. I'm glad you were able to find a place to vent it. Just don't let bitterness set root. Once it takes root, it's hard to pull it out.
It just came out away or two ago, Amazon has a few reviews.
https://www.amazon.com/Reformed-Systematic-Theology-Experiential-Revelation/dp/1433559838
A book, not a journal, but still a very good read - http://smile.amazon.com/Maps-Meaning-Levitical-Models-Contemporary/dp/1451482949/
It discusses the role of priests to separate the unclean from society, and then to bring them back. It takes a multi-millennia old idea and brings it up to date with the 21st century. It's told from the point of view of spiritual care and counseling.
Yes
https://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Robert-Letham/dp/1433541300/ref=nodl_