stevehartland.com

David Ulin, book editor at the LA Times, has an intriguing article about the effects of blogging and twittering on our ability to read.  Here's an excerpt: "Reading is an act of contemplation, perhaps the only act in which we allow ourselves to merge with the consciousness of another… Read More

I'm trying to read less this year.  I love reading; could spend my life reading (with a little skiing sprinkled in).  And for a lot of years I've read a lot (like 50 - 60 books a year).  But this year I've decided to read less, and to think and do more.  It's not working exactly as planned (I'm at 21 books for the year, so far).  So I've got to make an effort to read still less.  This is gonna be difficult.  Old habits die hard.… Read More

Jesus said "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins- and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins" (Mk 2.22).  Here's a contemporary remix of Jesus' ancient words (it's from Hugh MacLeod's "Ignore Everybody" portfolio series and is also found in his new book "Ignore Everybody").  There's lots of wisdom in this for persons with the spiritual gifts of leadership (getting the church on her mission) and faith (vision). Read More

You need one of these.  Really.  I absolutely love mine.  In fact, I haven't been so excited about an English Bible since, well, ever.  The introductions to each book of the Bible are incredibly helpful.  They really set the stage for each book and locate it in place and time.  And the study notes on each page are great.  I want you to profit from your Bible reading; to approach your Bible reading with fresh vigor.  So may I encourage you to take the plunge?  You can get one for $31.49 here (I get no kickback!).… Read More

The Shack - the little book that became a surprise #1 NYT best seller.  Lots of ink is being spilt over it, favorable and otherwise (you can find the reviews).  My take is that the book's definitely got some biblical and theological issues.  Yet it also offers much that is faithful and valuable.  Regardless of where you land on all that, here's… Read More