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Be Not Afraid, Samuel Wells (Brazos Press)
Wells has penned a theologically deep and emotionally rich account of how faith confronts fear. Dean of the chapel at Duke University since 2005, Wells will become vicar of a prominent London church this summer. “Fear is a sensation of the gut,” he says, and he deals with this very human and very present (everywhere, it seems) reality of fear in our world. However, Wells believes that the gospel of Christ and the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead penetrates our fears. Read it. And be not afraid.
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A Place at the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor, Chris Seay (Baker)
The church is awakening to the call of justice, but many of us are asking how exactly we can cross the many divides and truly be present with our neighbors who are oppressed. Seay offers a guide for a 40-day experience that will help us examine our own poverty as well as encourage us to come alongside others in their poverty. The guide includes introductions to places of intense poverty, daily readings, prayers and actual practices that will put us at the table with the poor.
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Journeys of Faith, Robert Plummer, editor (Zondervan)
A fascinating undercurrent is happening in the Christian church. There are recurring stories of migration, where individuals are converting from one form of Christian faith to another. In this slim volume, four prominent converts within four Christian streams (Evangelical, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican) share their story of why they found another faith tradition compelling. If you’ve ever wondering why someone else would be “that kind of Christian,” then this book is for you.
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Winn Collier is pastor of All Souls, a congregation with Baptist ties in Charlottesville, Va. (www.winncollier.com)