Reading list
What I am reading now:
(1) The Anatomy of Grace by Peter W. Marty
This book contains a number of short stories reminding us of God’s amazing grace.
(2) Lutheran Study Bible (Augsburg Fortress)
Just finished reading:
(1) A Field Guide for the Missional Congregation by Rick Rouse and Craig Van Gelder
(2) How Good is Good Enough? by Andy Stanley
(3) They Are Us: Lutherans and Immigration by Stephen Bouman and Ralston Deffenbaugh (Augsburg Fortress)
(4) God and Cancer by Timothy Chaffey
This is a great book and a must read. He is a friend of my wife’s and will be coming to Salem Lutheran Church on Nov. 8 to speak about his book.
Coming up on my reading list:
(1) ???
Patrick Thurmer said
Hi Eric,
My name is Patrick Thurmer (Jackson native)… I serve a congregation in Florida. I was surfing and came across your website and blog. I notice you’ve read “Myth of a Christian Nation”… I enjoyed that and will look for others you mention. I’d recommend “the Spirituality of the Cross” by Gene Edward Veith.
Grace & peace
heartofapastor said
Hey Patrick…thanks for stopping by. “Myth of a Christian Nation” was an interesting book. I will check out your recommendation. God bless.
Rev. Paul Wharton said
I came across this on a google search:
The Heart of a PastorThe best funeral preaching advise I have received came from a woman from Salem who died. She left me detailed instructions about her funeral. …
But I could not find it on this sight.
I would like to know.
heartofapastor said
Rev. Paul — That’s a good question. I remember writing that post I can’t remember right now exactly which one it is. But this I can tell you: The jist of what I said was that this woman left me detailed instruction about her funeral service. One of the instructions she left for me was this (and this is written how she wrote it) “DON’T TALK ABOUT ME BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT ME. THIS IS A CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE”. So ever since then we call funerals “A Celebration of New Life”. Often times I have heard funeral sermons that were about the deceased and not one word was mentioned about Jesus, the cross or the resurrection. Somewhere in the Celebration of New Life sermon Jesus and the resurrection needs to be mentioned.
I hope this helps, Rev. Paul if I find this post I will leave the link here. Thanks for stopping by.