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Noticing God, Richard Peace (IVP)
The noise in our world is incessant, relentless. The clamor during November every four years hits a new fever pitch. Amid all the ominous drumbeats, Peace invites us to notice God all around us, in plain and often unobtrusive locals. God is present in ordinariness, mystical moments, community, creation and quiet. Peace (and what a good name for this) encourages us to open our eyes and see.
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The Sacred Word, Broken Word: Biblical Authority and the Dark Side of Scripture, Kenton Sparks (Eerdmans)
Sparks has been a prominent voice wrestling with what it means to live under Scripture’s authority while also honestly dealing with many of the difficult realities Scripture brings to us (questions of violence and evil and suffering, just for starters). Sparks’ primary concern is not supposed “texts of error” but “texts of terror.” Sparks proposal may not suit everyone, but the conversation is vital.
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The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry, David Rohrer (IVP)
Using John the Baptist as our guide, Rohrer (pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle) forges a vision for pastoral ministry that has God (not societal or parish expectations) at its center. “Pastors don’t simply have an institution to create or maintain,” says Rohrer. “They have a prophetic word to proclaim.” But to speak this prophetic word, we must be willing to journey into the sacred wilderness.
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Winn Collier (www.winncollier.com) is pastor of All Souls, a congregation with Baptist ties in Charlottesville, Va. He is a columnist and the author of three books.