Jen U
Last week I realized two things.
I spent three days in another gathering of great Christian leaders discussing church and cultural trends and theology. And I was reminded for the 389th time that because I’ve not gone to seminary or studied some of the thinkers and topics covered there, I have less to contribute to these discussions.
During this meeting we also had the opportunity to share something good happening in our ministries. From church merges or learning Spanish to preach in two languages (whoa) to community gardens feeding the homeless, these guys had great stories to share about making a difference. And I realized I once again had little to contribute because I spend my days crossing off copywriting and social media to-do lists that make groups like theirs successful.
“Helping organizations doing good to do better” is my Twitter bio and it’s grown into a fun career. But it means I have nothing that’s “mine”—nothing I lead, nothing I’ve launched. At the same time, I feel unequipped to strike out as a leader without more grounding in history, philosophy and strategy.
So I need a project and I need to learn—how did I not think of Jen University before now?
This new school will include books, blogs, podcasts and magazines. It will not include homework, papers, internships, sororities, or courses involving terms like “cosine” or “lipid.”
To paraphrase Good Will Hunting, you can get a great education for $1.50 in library fines (although I may use this as an excuse to buy a Kindle). I’m compiling a master list of stuff to read and I welcome your suggestions for the best resources in biblical studies, ministry trends, spiritual formation, leadership, theology and doctrine. (I’d even like to see the syllabi from your own graduate programs—email jen@seejenwrite.com.)
It”s time to think about what I want to accomplish before my status changes from “emerging leader” to “over 40, kind of emerged, and not that effective.” Tomorrow I turn 35 (good grief) and Jen U officially begins—Kindle donations welcome.
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Jennifer Taylor
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Twittering @seejenwrite- seejenwrite: I can so relate, especially to the "dinner of discrete objects." The Freedom, and Perils, of Living Alone: http://t.co/j9YLSgHv
- seejenwrite: Love this: “We sometimes do things that are permanently foolish just because we are temporarily upset.”
- seejenwrite: I do not understand decorative soap.
- seejenwrite: Later today I will oovoo w/my future stepdaughter to say happy 12th birthday. Stepmoms of 12-year-olds stay hip to such things.
I haven’t gotten to read it yet, but I’ve heard great things (from people much more well read in ministry than me) about Many Colors by Soong-Chan Rah.
It’s added to the list–thanks!
I have no ideas for you on this… but happy birthday! I didn’t realize our birthdays were so close together
Yes, well, I’m still much older.
Jen,
Please don’t undervalue your contributions to the Kingdom. You are needed.
One of the most impacting books I’ve read recently in the biblical studies department is “Immanuel in Our Place” by Tremper Longman III. The subtitle is “Seeing Christ in Israel’s Worship” and it’s been extraordinary.
I could mention so many others…
The title alone is fantastic. Thanks, Brandon.
Sure thing.
And Happy Birthday!
Out of the Whirlwind (with a subtitle concerning theodicy): a great philosophical description / definition of the problem of evil, and a fair discussion of the only treatment by scripture (in the book of Job). There is more than one “Out of the Whirlwind” book on Job. I can’t remember this particular author’s name. It was an early 90s book. Professor Dan Dyke at CCU would know the author’s name.
For systematic theology, it is hard to beat Jack Cottrell for quality of thought, quality of writing, succinctness, and thoroughness around a topic. He has written dozens of books. The one on baptism is good. He has written several on grace. He probably has written the best defense of Arminian (sp?) thought and the best attack of the 5 points of Calvinism ever written (in God the Ruler).
I believe church history is fundamental to understanding theological and practical differences. The late 1990s critics of the NACC came right out of a specific historical context / group / identity.
Find a book about the history / development of higher criticism – Jon Weatherly can help. Understanding the development of higher criticism, its threat to the church in the late 19th century and early 20th century, its use as a cover for ideology (ideology masquerading as scholarship), and its later limited embracement by some bible-believing church groups (but not all), is critical to understanding why we think the way we do and why others think the way they do (about various theological topics). Higher criticism explains the Christian Church’s split with the Disciples (and many similar splits nationwide among most every denomination).
Jim North’s history of the church is good (starting at Pentecost). I haven’t read his Restoration History book. Murch’s Restoration History is painful. North’s lectures on Restoration History (if available on tape from CCU) are really good. Again, it’s all about context and ways of thinking. As an example: in the history you learn not just the theology behind the non-instumental split, but the other factors (North versus South Civil War animosity, etc.). He turns history into story-telling time. It’s fascinating and informative.
You may want to consider some “world-view” books as well. “Disarming the Secular Gods” comes to mind, but there are probably some secular books as well.
For biblical study, NT Wright is one of the best current scholars. George Eldon Ladd, Leon Morris, I Howard Marshall, D. A. Carson, Douglas Moo, and FF Bruce are some of the more respected scholars (most are dead or past their prime).
I’m going to be busy. Thanks, Robert!
Happy Birthday to be !
Read a blog titled “Reading as Worship” today….There are alot of excellent Kindle freebies out there too. I use Amazon and download Kinlde books directly to my phone and PC. Do not forget ‘Christian’ fiction and fantasy.
Check out CCEL for PDFs of some masterworks and some not so well read awesomeness.
If you do not already subscribe to Bobby Valentine’s or John Marks Hicks blogs you should… theirs is a treasure trove of RM wealth.
Jonathan Edwards, C H Spurgeon and C S Lewis’ websites are great places to look also and alot of their writings are free or close to it.
Great suggestions, thanks! Although I have to admit I find most “Christian” fiction pretty terrible.
The Universe Next Door (now that I’ve thought of the title) is probably the best worldview book from a Christian perspective. It is part historical and part philosophical.
Okay, I had the title slightly off and I found the author. It’s “The Voice from the Whirlwind” by Stephen Vicchio. There is a 1989 edition that is $3 on half.com, and there is a 2001 edition that is quite a bit more $ on Amazon. You could probably get it on interlibrary loan if your local library doesn’t have one of the editions.
I love that we were just discussing this three days ago and you have already taken action! Keep us posted on which book you choose to read first, so I can join in.
May I say I’m happy to be here at Jen U, and I look forward to our first semester. Very cool.
Okay, so actually there are several of you who said you want to enroll. Shall I post the books I’m reading, invite people to read along and share their thoughts?
Um.. “Making the Best of It” by John Stackhouse is a great book on Theology of Culture. It’s newish; fairly academic. I found it fascinating, but then again, I’m me.
Most anything from the Church Fathers (e.g. Augustine, Ambrose, Athanasius, Jerome, Luther, and the like) are always good. A tough but great read is Confessions by Augustine. Dogmatic Theology by William Shed is actually a fairly easy read for being over 140 years old! Works from Wesley, Spurgeon, Edwards, Chambers, and Lewis are always fantastic to get your mind running.
Modern authors should include: Keller, Piper, Gene Edwards, Grudem
A humble suggestion that I’m working to flesh out myself these days:
“The Church in the West is educated beyond it’s obedience, and more education will not help. What is needed is more obedience.”
Sounds like you want stories of God’s great work. A great way to find those stories is to follow God outside and find him where he’s already working and join him.
Nothing wrong with education. Just don’t wait to go join God in the harvest because you don’t know enough. In Jesus, you have everything you need to complete the good works that God has prepared for you.
Just ask God what he’s doing to become famous in your town. What is he doing that’s so big that no single 503(c) can take credit for it? He might not show you the whole picture, but he’ll give you the next step to bring you in on the operation.
Can’t wait to hear what God is doing.
A good point. I see it as a both/and. Certainly I don’t want to become “academic” about my faith or stop obeying. But part of my “good works” would be done better if I knew more.
Hey, it took me a week to get around to this, but here are some theology texts I recommend:
“Life Together” and “Letters and Papers From Prison” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. These are great introductions to his thought, and books that every Christian should read.
“Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art” by Madeleine L’Engle.
“Addicted to Mediocrity” by Francis Schaeffer.
“Intoverts in the Church” by McHugh. Take this one for what it’s worth, but it makes some fantastic points about a group that are marginalized by the Western Church.
“20th Century Theology” by Grenz and Olson. This is a history of theological thought from the Enlightenment to today. A little dry, but it’s one of the best surveys I’ve read.
Happy reading!
I love “Walking on Water.” Great pick and a good read for any of you who haven’t gotten to it yet. Thanks, Dave.
[...] this is is stuff every first-year seminary student already knows, but we’ve already established I have some stuff to learn. One of Bishop Wright’s books has to be next on the list for Jen [...]
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i don’t have any good suggestions, and i am obviously late to this party (fashionably!), but i wanted to tell you that “kind of emerged” cracked me up. That is all.
[...] problem with Jen University is that for every book I read or podcast I listen to, there are a dozen more of equal or greater [...]
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