The Phil Files

What a refreshing break from the routine. I am hiding away in a pretty place reading, resting, and wrting. Sorry, occupational hazard to alliterate. My essentials, a couple of computers, an internet connection, several translations of the Bible, my new Kindle 2 (wow, is that ever great for folks that read like Donna and I do), a beautiful view, books to read, and time to write! Here’s the view:

So what’s been the reading agenda so far?

• The Blue Parakeet: Rethinking How You Read the Bible by Scot McKnight (finished)
• Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan (finished)
• Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Ann Spangler & Lois Tverberg (finished)
• A Theology of Reading: The Hermeneutics of Love by Alan Jacobs (if I have time)
• Gospel of Matthew (many times in multiple versions — in progress)

All of the books are challenging and interesting. I am a big fan of McKnight’s book, The Jesus Creed and did not know what The Blue Parakeet: was about till I got into it. Very interesting read and written well. Moves along, but of course I checked out every note and had to think through a bunch of stuff. Hang on, this book will take your brain and your way of approaching Scripture for a ride.

Crazy Love is Francis Chan as a speaker in written form. It has interactive videos online for the early part of the book. I actually found the latter part of the book more challenging and better reading.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus will be a hot book on the evangelical market for several reasons:

1. Spangler is a popular author, especially among women.
2. The content and title of the book sounds interesting. It is! I found the first half of the book absolutely outstanding. The second half didn’t seem as crisp. I read every footnote with interest and eagerness. I was very impressed with the conversation with scholarly sources while keeping the message of the book very readable for interested Bible students.
3. Great background information in a readable format to help moderns understand much more of what Jesus said and who He was in His time so we can understand Him for our time.
4. Practical tools for incorporating or experiencing some of the Jewish heritage we share as Christians.

The focus of my time has been and will be the Gospel of Matthew. More will come out about all of this later, Lord willing, but I am absolutely certain that Matthew brings us a great resource that has long been neglected while we gravitate toward the other Gospels. I believe Matthew’s story will be a great Gospel for our times for many of the same reasons it was the most popular Gospel among believers for centuries until recent times.

O, one other thing: while not on the nutrition pyramid, those BBW tater chips and a great view help make study better, more focused, and an act of joyful table fellowship with the Lord as I study and read.

Grace!