What i'm reading

Hello my friends! It's time for another book rec! 

My mom is a retired librarian. She told me once that she and her colleagues would schedule time in their work days to read. Just... read! As librarians, they needed to know what was on their shelves, what to recommend when students asked, and how to respond to any parental concerns. So, they read the books in their library and counted it as work. Which it was!

When I was in seminary, my favorite part was learning. I loved having my mind blown by new perspectives or takes on the scriptures! I loved researching for my papers (synthesizing it into my own work was another story...) and soaking up all the information I could regarding Bible stories and historical context. 
As a pastor and preacher, I have to continue that learning! That's the only way I'll be able to share new insights with YOU. So, I took a page from my mom and her librarian friends (pun intended?) and scheduled reading time into my work calendar. 
I just finished How the Bible Actually Works by Peter Enns (pictured above). Friends, Peter Enns is one of my FAVES! He has a way of making tough, rich information easy to access, and he writes with such honesty and humor. He is a scholar I could sit and listen to for hours and not get bored. I can also recommend to you The Bible Tells Me So... and The Sin of Certainty. I can also recommend Enns' podcast, The Bible for Normal People.
This book was about the Bible as wisdom literature and how we as people of faith must apply wisdom to what we read in the Bible. It's not an easy task, but Enns helps us through it. If you've ever asked tough questions (especially related to the violence in the Old Testament), this would be an excellent resource for you to consider. 

Since we're headed into advent, my next book will be The First Advent in Palestine by Kelley Nikondeha. I've heard good things! I will let you know when I've finished reading. ​For now, Happy Thanksgiving!