Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Abi is trying to do some reading....

I have become convinced that time goes by twice as fast for me as the rest of my family. That seems to be the only explanation for why I just can not seem to get things off my "to do list" ... or not.

Sigh.

But I'm still trying to live in each moment -- to be as fully "present" as I can. It is not an easy thing to do....

In the meantime, I have three new books. One I have finished (and loaned to a friend -- hi, Sue!), the second I have begun and a third that must wait just a bit longer.

Sigh.

The first book is what The Abbess considers a "must read" because it is the first book on "leadership" that has been truly "fresh" in a very long time. It is called Making Room for Leadership: Power, Space and Influence. I am hoping that I can find a group that will process this book with me, because I don't think it can be properly internalized without live, gracious and honest feedback. I agree with Len Sweet, who praised it at the Recalibrating Concepts of Church conference at George Fox last month ... get this book! I am grateful that they included MaryKate on the speakers panel. More on what I thought later (when I get my book, with my notes, back ;^) ... no hurry, Sue!)

The second book, which I have already begun, is Organic Leadership: Leading Naturally Right Where You Are -- and since the other books by Neil Cole have been so resonate and influential with me, I was fairly confident this one would be to. It is looking like it will not disappoint ... again, as with Organic Church, it seems like Neil has been thinking the same thoughts and seeing the same movies as I have.

The third book is ReJesus: A Wild Messiah for a Missional Church, by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost ... and, like Neil, Alan's work has always resonated with me ... and I owe so much to Alan's kindness and generosity of spirit from my early blogging days at TFW -- from which sprang The Abbey....

...but I do not think I will get to any reading today.

Sigh.

...living in the moment, being "present" to that which the Spirit sets before you, does not result is dynamic day-planning sessions -- but that's okay with this wee, purple abbess.

Shalom to you....

5 comments:

Len Hjalmarson said...

Lord, give my sister your deep peace today.. that her inner sight might be fixed on your shining face.. that she might know herself more deeply loved today, and swimming in the overflowing river of your goodness..

Paddy O said...

Neal Cole's and Frost/Hirsch's books are also on my bookshelf. I'm mostly through reJesus, and I've started Organic Leadership.

Both really are good stuff.

As a totally separate suggestion that you might find quite interesting: Jose Comblin's The Holy Spirit and Liberation.

Quite good stuff--a missional pneumatology, but written from a Catholic liberation theology perspective, one that is strangely (I'm realizing) rather close to the missional/emerging stuff.

AbiSomeone said...

Len and Paddy...

Thanks for your lovely comments! For some reason, I'm not getting notified of comments...so I'll have to look into that.

God is good...and I've only got two wee chapters left in Neil Cole's book. ;^) It is a timely book, I think, and I pray that those who need to hear this call to both repent and move forward are pricked by the Holy Spirit.

Diane said...

Hi Peggy. All three of those books look interesting and I may buy the first one. I hope, as you get time to read :) that you will blog about what you are learning!

Take care my dear.

AbiSomeone said...

Diane (and all),

I have finished the first two and will have some significant things to say about them ... whenever I get a moment to process.

MaryKate's book is a must-read....

Organic Leadership repeats many things from earlier books, but does a great service in calling forth the priesthood of the believers to leadership through disciple-making/apprenticing.

Later....