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Between Heaven and Mirth, James Martin (HarperOne)
Martin’s subtitle (Why Joy, Humor and Laughter Are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life) tells you where he’s heading. Martin believes that revelry, enjoyment, the “ability to laugh at life’s absurdities” are essential components to healthy spirituality. Believing that joy is the fruit of faith, this book moves us from a dour faith to a raucous faith. And it was even endorsed by Stephen Colbert.
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The Wisdom of Stability, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (Paraclete)
In a world where we’re constantly encouraged to churn and move and press for the next thing, the next accomplishment, the next place, Wilson-Hartgrove encourages us to sit down. And stay there. Instead of moving quickly, we should dig deep roots. Instead of passing by, we should settle in. This is a wise word for pastors who are ever tempted to vault from one church to the next — and a wise word for all of us who struggle to be present where we are, with the people right in front of us.
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Smalltown Poets, Smalltown Poets Christmas (Friendly City Records)
I have a rule: one new Christmas album a year. I tend toward the traditional, but traditional reinterpreted. The Smalltown Poets do this well. I could have done without the track “St. Nick Is Alright,” but there are 13 other tracks to enjoy.
Winn Collier (www.winncollier.com)is pastor of All Souls, a Baptist congregation in Charlottesville, Va. He is the author of three books, a columnist and a trustee of the Religious Herald.