Reading

It's nothing new.

The discussion of the best-sellers list at Christian bookstores, I mean. I'm not the only blogger to notice.

But, because I work in ministry full-time, one of my tasks is to read books that people want to use to maybe teach a class or lead a small group or even try to get the author to come do a seminar.

So, I read books that others are excited about.

And sometimes I fail to understand why they are after I read the book. As in most cases, there is usually grass and weeds. But even in the cases where there is more grass than there are weeds it seems like much of that is common sense or simple derivations from reading the Bible. So, generally, I fail to see why others are so excited about the book.

Most of them are written poorly.
Most of them are loaded with "pats-on-the-back" examples of how the seminar that led to writing the book helped others.
Most of them are big because they managed to get the right promotion on the right radio show hosted by the right host.
Most of them glaze over the hard issues with a sentence or two, which comes across like happy talk.

And, then I think the same things are true in the cases of popular authors like Oprah and Dr. Phil and Dr. Laura and Rush Limbaugh and Al Franken.

But for some reason, I have a higher expectation of authors who happen to be followers of Christ.

Which might be one reason I'm hesitant to write anything for publication. I'm not sure I want to become part of the game.

Which might be one of the frustrations I have, too. The best books I've read have to be special ordered...generally speaking. And when I do recommend books to folks, most people don't take the time to do that, or when they do, usually come back with a "that was different" kind of response.

I'm feeling disengaged from my fellow man today.

And, (I'm not sure who said it but somebody did because now it's a saying) I'm not sure I'm enjoying living in an age where common sense is considered cutting edge.