Read My Mind

Last week I began a  list, a rambling, a rant that reflected on books that have shaped American culture in regards to faith. Last week I focused on some postmodern authors like Anne Lamott and Donald Miller. This week I want to work my way back in time just a little bit with the next four…

For a few years now I have tried to be more observant of the church calendar in my devotional life as a Christian. I own several books about incorporating liturgical prayer and spiritual practice into my daily life. I have read some of them. But I admit to being a little intimidated by it all…

I am not a graphic novel enthusiast per se, but even I take note of the goings on at Comic Con International. And part of the hoopla revolves around Christians and their influence on the world of graphic novels.  The Christian Comics Art Society has a booth at the event this year and  members are…

Oh, I couldn’t help but share this bit of bookish news. Kate Middleton and I have something very important in common. We both have a longtime love of the classic “Anne of Green Gables.” On her tour in Canada she revealed she wanted to visit Prince Edward Island because of her fondness for the novel.…

Several of my friends are currently reading the book  “The Twenty-Five Books That Shaped America”.  It’s an okay read. Interesting wording. Not the  twenty-five  best books or twenty-five most memorable books. Twenty five books that shaped  the U.S.’s culture – not someone else’s. Our way of thinking. Our beliefs. Our shared experiences.The list includes some obvious choices…

Over the years, there certainly has been a cottage industry that developed out of discussing all spiritual aspects of the world of Harry Potter. As Harry Potter frenzy hits an all itme  high with the movie finale, I thought now would be a good time to come up with a list of some of the…

Sure there’s been lots of fuss over  the weekend about  the finale of some wizard by the name of Harry Potter, but if  you heartbroken Harry Potter fans are looking to discover a fantasy series  to feed your souls, well, let me recommend  film critic/blogger/author Jeffrey Overstreet’s “Auralia Thread ” series. The mythical saga starts with outcast…

If you attended the Jubilee conference earlier this year – or any number of other conferences- then you have already heard about one of the “it” books of the year in Christian publishing:”Veneer: Living Deeply in a Surface Society. ” It’s a thoughtful look at how to be authentic while  navigating an  often increasingly superficial society…

One of the novels I am looking forward to most this fall is young adult fiction author Sara Zarr’s latest, “How to Save a Life.” Ever since her first book, the acclaimed “Story of a Girl,” she has been on my short list of y/a fiction authors who I believe tackles issues with humor, heart,…

Certainly one of the best movies of last year was the foreign film “Of Gods and Men”  about the murders of a group of monks in Algeria.Yes, the movie has subtitles, but it is a haunting story  that is both a warning about religious extremism and a celebration of community and faith.  So while I…

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