Member: misskate

I listened to the first one on my iPod and fell in love with both the story and the narrator's voice. I found the second and third in the series on the $1 rack at my local library. They should be excellent Summer reads! :oD

posted by clamairy at 12:57 pm (EST) on Mar 31, 2009

I recommend Restorers of Hope: Reaching the Poor in Your Community with Church Based Ministries That Work by Amy Sherman/

This book is more practical and deals with the hard issues of ministering to the poor. Tim Keller's Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road is more theological but also included practical suggestions.

Jimmy Dorrell's Trolls & Truths, while an amazing story, hits me as having less practical application, to mercy ministry in most churches.

See next post

posted by librarianlou at 9:38 am (EST) on Aug 25, 2008

Miss Kate,

The book is Trolls & Truths: 14 Realities About Today's Church That We Don't Want to See-Jimmy Dorrell.

So I'll try to share a few random thoughts:

Dorrell founded a church that continues to meet under a bridge over a major highway. His highly diverse congregation includes wealthy business men, the mentally handicapped and street people.

He makes some excellent points about issues that most churhes ignore.

I think radicals like Dorrell are good for the church. Many of us need to be challenged about our ministry to the least of these.

Still, I get the impression that he thinks his church is the only way to go. His church has no building or paid staff.
I am currently serving on a task force to develop mercy missions in my church. (a church of six years) We are set to move into our new building in October and I see that building as an important tool for reaching out in to the neigbors around us.
We have been meeting in a rented former public school for at least three years.

So I am glad I read the book. I think of a better book that looks at the hard issues of mercy ministry is Tim Keller's Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road.
There is one other title that I will get back to you on.

posted by librarianlou at 9:31 am (EST) on Aug 25, 2008

Thanks misskate, finally located a copy of the Higgs book and will read it as soon as I finish my current read. Peace and joy!

posted by srott at 4:45 pm (EST) on Jun 18, 2008

Well, I have read enough of the fiction so I was wondering if you could recommend anything of a more researched account about her. I have subscribed to a magazine called Biblical Archeology but do not recall anything specific about Mary Magdalene.

posted by srott at 2:59 pm (EST) on May 22, 2008

The Golden Age of Science is a rather dated book but it does give a lot of historical information on the lives of some of the more influential and interesting scientists. I enjoyed it, but then I am something of a science nerd. Can you recommend anything on Mary Magdalene?

posted by srott at 3:01 pm (EST) on May 19, 2008

I love the Chronicles of the Kings. I love just about all of Lynn Austin's books.

They begin with Hezekiah's childhood. He and his brother are snatched from the nursery in the middle of the night. He watches his brother being sacrificed to Molech.

These books have the scripture verses listed at the front. I found myself going back to the scriptures to find out more.

When I started replacing these for our public library, I discovered that this series has been issued twice. Two of the titles are different in the second reprint.

The new series:
1. Gods and Kings
2. Song of Redemption
3. Strength of His Hand
4. Faith of My Fathers
5. Among the Gods

Two excellent family epics are Eve's Daughters and All She Ever Wanted

posted by librarianlou at 2:16 pm (EST) on Feb 20, 2008

Your church sounds wonderful. Makes me want to visit Rome!

posted by Karbie at 12:21 am (EST) on Aug 17, 2007