What do Francis Chan, Jim Belcher, and N.T. Wright all have in common?

Answer: They have all resigned a pastoral role in order to pursue a new direction in ministry, AND, I read a book by all three this year and found it helpful!


Francis Chan's book was Crazy Love.  An excellent and convicting call to a life that is sold out for Jesus.  Actually I've read two books by Chan, the other great one being Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit. Neither is ponderous, and both are challenging reading.  Chan has left his teaching pastor position at Cornerstone Church of Simi Valley, CA, to serve a ministry in Thailand with his family for the remainder of the year, and then find a new ministry in a major urban area in the U.S.

From Jim Belcher, Deep Church: A Third Way Beyond Emerging and Traditional.  Most books that try to come up with a "third way" tend to get lost, but this one strikes a very good balance.  I'd say that the middle that is described wouldn't bother too many of us.  Belcher has left the PCA church he planted in southern California to study abroad for a year.

Finally, N.T. Wright's "Paul for Everyone" commentary series has a wonderful volume on The Prison Epistles that has been particularly helpful in my preaching through the book.  I also read his tome on The Resurrection and the Son of God and, while huge and hugely technical, found it very helpful nonetheless.  Wright is stepping down from his role as a Bishop in the Anglican Church to take up teaching in a university.

Follow the links if you are interested.