Welcome to Dennis' Pile of Books

If you were to walk into my office, either at the church or at my house, one thing you would most likely notice many, many books. I have piles of books everywhere so it seems. I love books and surround myself with them wherever I am (at work, on vacation, in the bathroom... you get the picture). So welcome to my pile of books!

On one of my other blogs (Immersed in Mystery) I have a running list of books I have recently read, and ones I am currently reading. In the past few months I began writing short comments after each book title, these were sort of like mini-book reviews, really mini. I thought that rather than lose these comments in the future (I only keep 10 titles on the list at any one time) I would create a blog dedicated to the books I have read.

Having this blog dedicated to the books I have read will also allow me to expand on my comments, perhaps even expanding into a full book review on occasion. Each book will have its own entry, and after the initial 10 entries future books will be noted in this blog when I finish them (in other words the date of the blog entry will indicate the date I finished that book). Mostly this blog is for my own benefit (to help remember all I've read), but I also like to share good books with others. Occasionally I feel the need to warn people about a disappointing book - our free time is scarce enough as it is, no use wasting it on a book that isn't worth the time or effort.

I welcome other comments on these books, it is always interesting to hear how others react to a book I've read - so feel free to leave comments on this blog. And I'm always open to book suggestions from others, I've encountered some great books because of other people's suggestions. Enjoy browsing through my pile of books.

Monday, January 21, 2013

In It for the Long Haul: Building Effective Long-Term Pastorates

by Glenn E. Ludwig
 

This Alban Institute book has many good insights about building (or maintaining in my case) long-term pastorates. Actually it is filled with good advice for ministry in general - regardless of how long one has remained or plans to remain serving the same parish.  I was affirmed in my plans for a sabbatical, and also affirmed in the way in which my own long term pastorate has unfolded.  What was most gratifying about this book is how it dealt with the myths of long term pastorates, some of which I have wondered about in my own context.  The myths were dispelled and the benefits made clear, some of which I knew on one level already, but it was good to have someone articulate them so well.

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