I've been working through a couple of different reads. Here's my list as summer winds down.

Liz has done a bunch of research to suggest that experience may not be all its cracked up to be. Remember the enrgy you had when you didn't know what you were doing.

Liz suggests that those of us who are a bit older and experienced might benefit from reclaiming our rookie days. Good stuff.

Liz spoke at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, and you can see the notes of her talk here.

I borrowed this book from my friend Glen Ramsay. It's sitting there gazing at me from the nightstand, saying, "open me and read." I've got to get to this one.

Amazon says: A revelatory look at how Roger Williams shaped the nature of religion,political power and individual rights in America. Acclaimed historian John M. Barry explores the development of the fundamental ideas through the story of the man who was the first to link religious freedom to individual liberty, and who created in America the first Government and society on earth informed by those beliefs. The story is essential to the continuing debate over how we define the role of religion and political power in modern American life.

I've read a number of different Buddhist-Christian dialgue books over the years. Honestly, Buddhism is really hard for westerner's to get our head around. Most of the books in this field are highly intelectual and written for the graduate level college course.

In some ways, this one is no different except, that Paul Knitter frequently breaks away from the rhetoric and talks openly and honestly about how a particular way of thinking interacts with his Christian faith. I'm finding his honesty very insightful.

I like this book, and it's helping me embrace some challenging Christian doctrines.

You'll be challenged in this read, so don't read it if you are settled in your Christian faith and don't want to be challenged.

As I wroter last week on my facebook page: On my summer reading list, among a stack of books is now this one (on my kindle) If a book is too much for you then take in the article in the Atlantic (http://www.theatlantic.com/…/the-case-for-reparatio…/361631/ ) from last June. The book and article are a helpful perspective on America's long sorted history with race relations. This is a challenging read. Not in it's difficulty but in the way it will challenge your perspective. But, I believe it's an important subject for all of us to wrestle.

I know that St. Matthew Lutheran in Avon, CT have selected this book as the study focus for this fall. Good for them. Maybe yu'll consider diving in as well.

OK Last one, which I just finished.

Bruce Weber is a fine writer. This is the record of his 2011 bicycle ride across america. While it's about his journey, it's also about life and death, and romance, love lost, and the way people touch our lives.

Bruce is currently the obituarist for the New York Times, so he has this wonderful way of telling a story from the perspective of, well, it just might be the last.

It's a light read, and cyclist or non will enjoy it equally.