I haven’t done much reading this holiday, in fact I really haven’t done any! Sure I have read the odd blog, newspaper story, and recipe, but no books.

So today I sat down (on the last day of my holiday no less) to read Shane Claiborne’s book called the irresistible revolution. I read 2 pages, skimmed the chapter, skimmed the book and decided I wasn’t reading another on of “these.” What do I mean by these? Well, this book was another one of those “I grew up in church, got converted a million times, was conservative, went charismatic, went on a mission trip, found God, got back and left God, went back to a conservative church, went on staff, realized I was “postmodern” left church staff (remembering to mention how I did it with no money, and a big family), church planted, and now wrote a book. Of course not to forget to mention the ongoing wrestling of why they felt like a round peg in a square hole.” And have the audacity to tell me why I should change too!

Anyway, that is not a fair assessment of Shane’s book, and I am not critiquing him (I never read his book), but I have read way to many of “these” books, and every time realizing that the people I connect with and even my own story doesn’t resemble any of these stories!

Last Thursday I met up with Pernell Goodyear from the FRWY and in passing he made a comment about not reading as much anymore and through that has found that he has come up with an idea or concept for his community without it being overly inspired by “the ways other have done or said it should be done” and I am really connecting with that.

I love reading and my wonderful Mother-In-Law bought me a bunch of new books from my wish list this Christmas, but my reading list is going to change. I am going to read more in areas that interest me outside of the “testimonial church planting” kind and develop a wider educational discipline.

Here’s to 2007, predictions and my ongoing rants.