Book Learning...
In each issue of Creator magazine, we review things. In 2009 I decided to take a look back at the book reviews beginning with the 1998 issues. I was looking for all the books that received a “Highly Recommended” rating [caveat: in the 10 years that have passed, and given the state of "book" publishing, some of these titles may no longer be available...if so, check Interlibrary Loan at your local library, or Amazon for used copies...and, there are many, many newer resources that are worthy but not on this list]. In essence these are resources that we felt [at the time...your results may vary] should be on any serious church musician’s or worship leader’s bookshelf:
Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down – Marva J. Dawn(Eerdmans)
Hymnology: A collection of Source Readings – David W. Music(The Scarecrow Press)
Creating Four Part Harmony – Lois and Fred Bock (Hope – now out of print)
25 Most Treasured Gospel Hymn Stories – Kenneth W. Osbeck(Kregel)
Innocent Sounds: Building Choral Tone and Artistry in Your Children’s Choir – Marie Stultz (MorningStar)
The Heart of the Artist – Rory Nolan (Zondervan)
Revealing Riches & Building Lives: Youth Choir Ministry in the New Millenium – Randy Edwards (MorningStar)
Fresh Faith – Jim Cymbala with Dean Merrill (Zondervan)
A Child Shall Lead: Children in Worship – John D. Witvliet, ed.(Choristers Guild and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship)
The Prymer: The Prayer Book of the Medieval Era Adapted for Contemporary Use – Robert Webber (Paraclete)
The Holy Bible: Botts Illustrated Edition – ed. Timothy R. Botts (Tyndale House) ~ An illustrated Bible for pulpit or communion table
Our God Reigns: The Stories Behind Your Favorite Paise and Worship Songs – Phil Crstensen and Shari MacDonald (Kregel)
Growing Weary of Doing Good?: Encouragement for Exhausted Women – Karla Worley (New Hope)
Worship Without Words: The Signs and Symbols of Our Faith – Patricia S. Klein (Paraclete)
Temperment: The Idea that Solved Music’s Greatest Riddle – Stuart Isacoff (Borzoi Books/Alfred A. Knopf)
Courageous Leadership – Bill Hybels (Zondervan)
Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart – Greg Askmakoupoulos(Integrity Publishers)
This Idea Will Work – Bob Burroughs (Lorenz)
Choral Conducting Philosophy and Practice – Colin Durant(Routledge)
Postlude to Prelude: Music Ministry’s Other Six Days – C. Randall Bradley (MorningStar)
A Contemporary Handbook for Weddings & Funerals and Other Occasions – Aubrey Malphure and Keith Wilhite, eds.(Kregel)
Exploring the Worship Spectrum: Six Views – Paul A. Basden, ed. (Zondervan)
The Leadership Labyrinth: Negotiating the Paradoxes of Ministry – Judson Edwards (Smith & Helwys)
Breakout Churches: Discover How to Make the Leap – Thom S. Rainer (Zondervan)
The 21 Most Effective Prayers of the Bible – David Early(Barbour)
The Illustrated Everyday Bible Companion – George Knight(Barbour)
The Complete Worship Service: Creating a Taste of Heaven on Earth – Kevin J. Navarro (Baker Books)
Moving Spirits, Building Lives: The Church Musician as Transformational Leader – Hugh Ballou (Morris)
With One Voice: Discovering Christ’s Song in Our Worship – Reggie Kidd (Baker Books)
Treasures from the Psalms: 100 Meditations from the Devotional Treasury of the Ages – Henry Gariepy (Baker Books)
The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship: A Brief Introduction & Guide to Resources – John D. Witvliet (Eerdmans)
The Jesus Way – Eugene H. Peterson (Wm. B. Eerdmans)
The Sense of the Call – Marva J. Dawn (Wm. B. Eerdmans)
An Architecture of Immanence: Architecture for Worship and Ministry Today – Mark A. Torgerson (Wm. B. Eerdmans)
Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation – Allen P. Ross (Kregel)
Reveal: Where Are You? – Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson(Willow Creek Resources)
Axiom – Bill Hybels (Zondervan)
One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship– C. Michael Hawn (The Alban Institute)
Jesus’ Chairs: A Guide to Christian Songwriting – Robert Sterling (Wade & Matthews Press)
The Eighth Day of Creation: An Anthology of Christian Scripture – C. Clifton Black (Wm. B. Eerdmans)
The Lion Companion to Christian Art – Michele P. Brown (Lion Hudson plc)