2007 reading

I often pick out a few books I'd like to tackle in the year. Here's my intentions so far (I'll comment a little on my choice), it's only January so I'll add to this list as the year progresses.

Simply Christian (NT Wright)
- I've read more of Wright the last 2 years and he's helped me piece together some convictions I've had about Jesus in history and his teachings
- this book is a must read if you want to connect to the larger story of Christianity
- also good if you find yourself unable to articulate why Jesus is important for people to consider in their quest for meaning, faith, and spirituality

Christ Plays in 10,000 Places (E Peterson)
- I read Eat this Book (his other book in this series on spiritual theology) and loved it
- if you want to understand the scriptures better (open your mind and heart to absorbing them deeper) read Eat this Book
- Christ Plays... is more on Christian spirituality

Fabricating Jesus (C Evans)
- with questions about Jesus and the gospels coming out every other month these days, I thought I'd prepare myself for the conversations a little
- Evans is a renowned scholar on this issue, and a Canadian
- if people still ask you about DaVinci Code or Gnostic Gospels, get them away from the fluff, read this book, and start asking them some questions

The Mission of God (C Wright)
- I keep wanting to expand my understanding of the WHOLE story of the scriptures, the gospel, and connections b/w Old and New Testaments
- Scot McKnight personally recommended this book
- at 608 pages, it'll take me a while to get through it (anyone have speed reading capabilities!)

Jesus (M Borg)
- I think it's good to read a liberal's view once and a while...
- Borg seems to love and want to follow Jesus, though he doesn't have a conservative view of him

The Deity Formerly Known as God (J Stevens)
- this should be fun
- I think it might also be a great path for seekers

Soul Cravings (E McManus)
- McManus is always a decent read, and this book had good reviews so far
- plus I think it might be a good one to pass on to searching friends

Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture (M Frost)
- reading/studying 1 Peter in 2006 made me see the church's place in culture (especially Quebec culture) as God's living and local presence. This book will likely strengthen that conviction.

The Forgotten Ways (A Hirsch)
- reports on the the church's growth in 1st 1-3 centuries
- compares that to it's growth in China in the 20th Century
- highlights the authentic ways of the church, not formulas or programs
- go here to follow a weekly review of it that started last week

Rereading:
The Challenge of Jesus (Wright)
The Divine Conspiracy (Willard)
Embracing Grace (McKnight)
- I'll be doing this on in a small group study

I've got to get more novels into my reading, any suggestion??
What about cultural stuff?
- although I get enough cultural stuff online... there's tons out there (plus, I find every cultural book I've read became outdated within 6-12 months, and there's always traces of it online and in the newspapers, so I hate spending $ on it)
- I try and pick up 2-3 local papers weekly which tells me more about the culture than a book usually does