“The Book of Awesome” by Neil Pasricha, Author of 1000awesomethings.com
I recently had a good friend invite me to journal the blessing(s) I receive(d) each day and we would then share them with each other as a form of accountability.  It is my hypothesis that most of the people who live in Suburban and Urban Denver take what they have for granted and don’t feel like what they have is enough. The other belief I have is that we do not appreciate all the ways God shows up and shows off on a daily basis on our lives. In this book the author lifts up hundreds of ways we might stop and give thanks each day for little things that can offer happiness. The book is set up in a format of short stories or anecdotes. It is a great tool for those of us on the run who need to be reminded to slowdown and smell the roses. The book was recommended to me by GGCC participant Mike Thompson. ~ Pastor Dave  http://www.amazon.com/Book-Awesome-Neil-Pasricha/dp/0425238903/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320810565&sr=8-1

“Life’s Greatest Lessons” authored by Hal Urban. Urban is a leader in the field of what is known as “Character Education.” The book has 20 portions each dedicated to a something we all need to learn to be a person of character, but for whatever reason not all of us have learned it. The chapters include such things as … “Success is More Than Making Money….Life is Hard --Not Always Fair….Goals are Dreams With Deadlines….It’s OK to Fail—Everyone Else Has……Life is Simple When You Know What is Essential…” I would love to see every freshman in high school reading this book and talking it over with mentors and peers. Reality is many of us adults have moved well along in life and these are lessons we could still all use a lesson in. The musicianPeter Mayer who is a good friend of the GGCC missional community recommended this book to me. ~ Pastor Dave   http://www.amazon.com/Lifes-Greatest-Lessons-Things-Matter/dp/074323782X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320810611&sr=1-1

“Open” the biography of Andre Agassi. The book is certainly centered on the life of tennis star Andre Agassi. However, it is much more than a sports book. It is really a book on relationships. He wrestled mightily as many sons do with his relationship with his father. He went through a marital breakdown with Brooke Shields on his way to finding marital bliss with Steffi Graf. Within the pages of this book is the struggle of a boy to become a man. Andre’s faith life is discussed to a small degree in the book, yet you get the feeling that his faith in Jesus became a big reason for the transformation that transpires over the course of his life. The boys on the Mountain Visa High School tennis team recommended that I read this book. ~ Pastor Dave   http://www.amazon.com/Open-Autobiography-Vintage-Andre-Agassi/dp/0307388409/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320810639&sr=1-1

“Soul Gardening” by Terry Hershey. Hershey is theologian that I cannot get enough of right now. He is spot on it seems with each thing he writes. He challenges me to be attentive in some way to a portion of my spiritual life that I have allowed a void to grow in. Hershey’s big word right now is PAUSE. Often I have reflected over the years on the number of times where if I had passed and waited a moment I could have saved a great deal of pain and suffering for me and others. The book causes one to pause and ponder how if we cultivate the garden within (and did we not all come from the decedents of the Garden of Eden?) our lives will flourish more and grow based upon our capacity to pause and better cultivate the garden within. Hershey has another more recent work titled PAUSE which I have not read as of yet. Terry Hershey was recommended to me by my wonderful colleague Vikki Luce. ~ Pastor Dave  http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Gardening-Terry-Hershey/dp/0806640375/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320810676&sr=1-1

“Generous Justice” by Tim Keller. Keller is a pastoral hero for me. He pastors Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. I was able to hear him preach in New York City over Labor Day 2010. He leads a worshipping community of over 6000 in worship each week and his congregation does not have facilities which they own; they meet in a variety of leased and borrowed places in the city. In this book Keller has strong words for people who do not care about the poor. “All I know is, if we don’t care about the poor, if my church doesn’t care about the poor, that’s evil.” He uses the term “generous justice” because he sees a large difference between justice and charity. Pastor Keller and his works were recommended to me by my brother-in-law, Dr. Tom Greenwald and his son (my nephew) Miles Greenwald. ~ Pastor Dave   http://www.amazon.com/Generous-Justice-Gods-Grace-Makes/dp/0525951903/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320810705&sr=1-1

"The Furious Longing of God" by Brennan Manning.  I read this short book on my trip to Nicaragua. It was a great match for that trip, but I think it’s a great match for wherever we are in our lives. Manning talks about his past and his lifelong discovery of God’s intense love for us, and how once we receive it nothing will ever be the same. It’s not what we do for God, it’s what God has done and does for us. Sit with this book when you need to be reminded that you are indeed a precious, beloved child of God. ~ Vikki   http://www.amazon.com/Furious-Longing-God-Brennan-Manning/dp/1434767507/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312952079&sr=8-1