When life sucks the joy out of you, it may be time to do an about-face, a turn heel, out with the old, in with the new complete change. Such is the call from evangelical pastor Rick Warren and fundamentalist turned Anglican turned Catholic priest Dwight Longenecker. As disparate as their paths seem to be, I highly recommend reading both their books at the same time. 

The Romance of Religion, Fighting for Goodness, Truth, and Beauty maintains that “to really see something, you have to see something more.” The cynic, Longenecker says, is the man with a short focal point who sees only glass when he looks at a window. As a writer of literary fiction, I often stand on the other side of the window waving my arms and pleading with the cynic to look through the glass and consider the landscape, its goodness, truth, and beauty. This book thrills my soul.

The author gives the best definition of faith I have ever read (see page 188). He challenges those who tend to see faith as a warranty (agree to the terms and you’ll be protected) to embrace the total transformation that true faith requires. Please don’t let the fact that the author found his spiritual home in the Catholic Church after that body invited disaffected Anglican priests who were married with children to minister in the Catholic Church stop you from reading his passionate call to a faith worth living and dying for.

The Daniel Plan, 40 Days to a Healthier Life, preaches what we all know. A healthy life is only achieved through commitment and balance. Call it what you will, the essentials involve some kind of faith, the right balance and portions of food, a fitness program you will actually do, friends who encourage and motivate you, and the proper focus.

The chapter on focus is especially powerful. Before you can change your health you have to engage your brain. As he did in The Purpose Driven Life, Warren excels in common sense exposition that cuts through a lot of  noise around healthy living that sends us straight to the frig for the ice cream.

Next I’m reaching for lighter fare some of my friends have given me, The Novel, by James Michener, a somewhat dated but probably still true fictional treatment of the publishing industry, and The Living Room, by Robert Whitlow, about – a novelist.  I wonder if this is a healthy focus?

What’s on your summer reading list?