“What about the dinosaurs? Couldn’t there have been a baby dinosaur on Noah’s Ark?”

“Do you believe we really come from monkeys?”

“I believe the Bible, not scientists.”

I’ve heard all of these and more!

This summer, read along with me a book co-authored by one of my all-time favorite scientists, Francis Collins:

The Language of Science and Faith: Straight Answers to Genuine Questions (Karl W. Giberson and Francis S. Collins).

Francis Collins is a world-renown geneticist who is probably best known for spearheading the Human Genome Project and for his groundbreaking discoveries of disease genes. He is currently the head of the National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Collins is a committed evangelical Christian who affirms that faith does not require rejecting science.

Get your copy and in a week or so I’ll post the first response.

 Meanwhile, how about an interim book? Last winter I introduced the “read-along” series with a challenge from Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com.

Here’s the nutshell: People who are open to changing their minds are not afraid of or threatened by new things – they revel in them. People who cling to one point of view cannot afford to have their minds changed by someone else’s input.

The goal of these read-alongs is to examine topics new and bold, to read a book in (virtual) community that challenges and probes.

I am delighted to introduce you to the first book published by a dear hometown friend, Sally Gary:

Loves God, Likes Girls: A Memoir 

 Sally has been my friend since childhood. Her mother was my second grade teacher (and is the Mother Teresa of second grade teachers). We went to the same church, the same high school, the same college. Sally has been a debate and speech coach, practiced law, and taught at Abilene Christian University. Sally founded and now serves as the executive director of CenterPeace, a non-profit dedicated to providing community and opening conversations about faith and homosexuality.

 Upload this book. Read. I think you will (as I did)  find it impossible to put down.

I marathon-read it… it’s that kind of book.

 Here’s one review:

Regardless of your views on homosexuality, only the stony-hearted and sheltered will be unmoved by Sally’s story.

 Here is what this book is not:

• It is not an in-depth discussion of scriptures.
• It is not a one-size-fits-all interpretation of scripture.
• It does not offer a cure, a solution, or any kind of quippy answer.
• It is not everyone’s story.

 Here is what this book is:

• It is Sally’s story, and it is hers to tell.
• It is her truth.

 Loves God, Likes Girls explores the damage that is often done by secrets.

 In his review, Jonathan Storment wrote :

It’s incredibly hard to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Because most of the time it’s so hard to get out of our own.

For a couple of hours, put yourself in Sally’s shoes. You won’t regret it. After you’ve read Loves God, Likes Girls, please post your comments/thoughts/response.

Welcome back to the Read-Along! Please share with friends who might be interested in reading either or both books along with us.