the running reverend

I read A LOT of books this year. Some were fantastic. Many were mediocre. And, inevitably, some could best be described as “underwhelming.” What follows is a list of the five books that I expected great things from, but in the end was left wanting.

5. The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet and Lori Wagner

I desparately wanted to like this book. I’ve had class with Len and greatly appreciate his thinking in a number of respects. But, for all my wanting to like this book, it was a daunting read that I had to force myself to make it through.

4. Beyond Talent: Become Someone Who Gets Extraordinary Results by John Maxwell

I heard good things, but only made it through a few chapters before putting the book down (never to pick it back up).

3. The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: What You Must Learn from the Bold Confrontations of Christ by John MacArthur

Portrayed Jesus to be ultra-masculine and always on the look out for a confrontation. Biggest qualm was that it failed to consider any alternative views.

2. Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived by Rob Bell

I found this book frustrating. My frustration wasn’t with Bell’s deconstruction of the “traditional” Evangelical understanding of heaven, hell, and afterlife. Rather, my frustration was with the writing style (e.g. one sentence paragraphs and poorly constructed sentences) and Bell’s lack of willingness to articulate what it is that he does believe. It was a great conversation starter, but it had potential to be so much more.

1. Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition by Todd Burpo