Good stories can come from anywhere. Often times the more obscure their origin the more poignant they become. Here are a few I’ve picked up lately:
- Yes, Chef: A Memoir by Marcus Samuelsson with Veronica Chambers — My youngest son and I are almost done reading through this story of the Ethiopian-born, Swedish-raised, American-citizen chef Marcus Samuelsson. A powerful take on food, hard work and overcoming challenges.
- Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God edited by Darrell L. Guder — A book of poetry from a master (Rilke) inspired by the faith and spirituality he encountered during a trip to Russia. Rilke’s conclusion is infused with divine immanence: love the world and by doing so love the presence of God into being.
- The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World by Alan J. Roxburgh and Fred Romanuk — I revisited this book recently in conjunction with a video I helped make for Global Service Associates, the missional order I’m a part of. Covers important questions for followers of Jesus today. Where is church? What should the orientation of a church (or an outreach) be like (inward v. outward)?
- Fight Church — This is a bit of a non-traditional recommendation, but it’s so off-the-map that it’s worth mentioning. I haven’t often run across a documentary that examines the confluence of theology and mixed martial arts.
