Barbara K. Lundblad

Is That Poop on My Arm? Parenting While Christian

Marriage, Family & Relationships

“Lind-Ayres dares to be honest about messiness, both the messiness of poop and the messiness of faith. Perhaps only parents will see the connection at first, but whether or not we ever have children, most of us know that the life of faith is often messy rather than predictable. The author is a gifted writer whose metaphors and descriptions open us to see ordinary experiences afresh. Every chapter invites readers into these collisions between the mundane and the mysterious. Parenting while Christian isn’t easy. Lind-Ayres, the parent/pastor, admits, ‘It is easier to preach a sermon than it is to sit with small children during worship.’ While the author has done both, he honors the challenging work of respecting children as part of the congregation, rather than sending them away so the sanctuary will be quiet. ‘Maundy Thursday’ startles us with the anguishing pain of loss and the outpouring of communal love. The final chapter offers one of the most poignant pictures of the communion of saints I have read anywhere. But you’ll have to read to the end to see that picture with your own eyes.”

Postils for Preaching

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“It's rare to find one book that weaves together scholarly insights on the texts, liturgical sensitivity, connections to art and literature, suggestions for hymns, and cues for where a sermon might go. If you can read only one new book for this lectionary cycle, Postils for Preaching will not disappoint you.”

Sanctuary

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Heidi Neumark’s powerful book will retain its power long after Donald Trump’s presidency. Neumark has the unique ability to bring together people and events that are seldom in the same space—consider her chapter, ‘Bed Bugs, Condoms, Frankincense, and Myrrh.’ Biblical texts and church seasons intersect with politics without apology: ‘It’s remarkable,’ she writes, ‘that people who gather to worship in spaces with a cross prominently displayed become upset about politics in the sanctuary.’ You will never say ‘sanctuary’ again without hearing her passionate plea for the church to take sides—based on the Bible—with those whose lives are demeaned and dismissed. This is a book many have been waiting for; hopefully, it will also be read by those who didn’t know they were waiting.”

Under the Oak Tree

Church Leadership & Ministry

“Far from being an abstract treatise, this book provides a frame for thinking anew about preaching, worship, evangelism, and almost every aspect of congregational life, including the role of the minister. Every chapter includes practical implications that flesh out ways conversation shapes ministry on the ground. This book will give new energy to congregations and ministers alike, even when it sounds scary.”