An Exclusive Possession or a Good Obsession?

by Brian D. McLaren, author of Naked Spirituality and many other books
 
It's surprising in some ways that Frederick Buechner was a popular writer among the Evangelical pastors with whom I flocked for two-and-a-half decades of my life. Any author who might be labeled "liberal" or "mainline" would normally be avoided by us ... but a few, like Walter Brueggemann, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Fred Buechner - somehow flew under or over our evangelical radar. Maybe the undeniable richness of his writing somehow calmed our normal theological skittishness. Or maybe we sensed that Fred's writing had a deeply evangelical flavor, in the best sense of the word, so we trusted it.
 
When I try to identify what it was that first attracted me in his work, I keep coming back to this: in those days I saw my faith as an exclusive...

Read more and comment:    An Exclusive Possession or a Good Obsession?

Resources For Christians

Through Christian author Frederick Buechner’s thirty-six books, many Christians have come to realize a deeper faith and an enriched perspective on what it means to be a Christian. On this website we have collected a number of resources to help Christians explore Buechner’s writings and grow in their faith.

  • Theme Pages – We have profiled seven of Buechner’s key themes and developed a web page for each. Each page goes into greater depth on one specific theme and includes examples of passages that deal with that theme.
  • Quote-of-the-Day – Mr. Buechner’s profound statements have served as a treasure trove of quotations. We can provide you with one of his helpful and insightful quotes each day, delivered via email, Twitter, Facebook, or other avenues.
  • Search By Topic – In the MyBuechner area of this website (sign in required), we have digitized all of Frederick Buechner’s books and made them searchable. You can thus search for a particular topic and find all the places where it is mentioned in Buechner’s books.
  • Search By Phrase – If you’ve remembered part of one of Buechner’s quotes, you can search for that phrase and find the rest of the passage around it. Use the Search function in the MyBuechner area.
  • Quotation Archive – For those of you who would simply like to browse through many of Buechner’s famous quotes about life, this section is entirely dedicated to listing passages that have inspired many.
  • Audio and Video recordings – Hear and see Buechner delivering many of his sermons.
  • Discussion Forum – Because Fred's Facebook Page has been so popular, it has become our defacto Discussion Forum. Feel free to share your ideas and inspiration from Buechners books with other Buechner fans.
  • Facebook Share – Whenever you Share an item on Facebook (found under the Share / Save button in various locations or our site) the item you have “Shared” will be stored on your Favorites page in the MyBuechner area (if you are logged in), and will also be posted to your Facebook page (if you are logged in there).

In addition to inspiring Christians around the world, Buechner’s writings have served to help people through a wide variety of life’s challenges. Many of Buechner’s books deal with the harsh realities of life, including failure, suicide, isolation, death, adultery, guilt, hatred, and many others. Through this they have served as beacons of hope that there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not another train! Learn more how you can help others here.

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If you would like to share a piece of your work - for instance, a sermon or song or poem - that was inspired by Buechner’s writings, please go to the InspiredBy Buechner page.
If Frederick Buechner’s writings have influenced your faith, please share this with others on our Buechner Facebook Page.
If you like this Resource Center, click the Facebook button (under Share / Save above) so that your vote will be registered on our website and this Resource Center will be posted to your Facebook page.

 

What Others Have To Say

"I’ve been reading Buechner since 1982. Here’s what I’ve learned: when you need a fresh look at sleep-worn thought, a dare to rethink what you thought you knew, an honest glimpse into an honest heart – read Frederick Buechner."

Max Lucado

"In the beginning, we’re told, was the word. Every once in a while someone shows up on the planet who is word-obsessed and word-gifted; and the light and darkness get named again. In our day, that someone is Buechner."

John Ortberg

"When I forget the power of the word, I read Frederick Buechner. When I forget the deep relief of telling the truth, I read Frederick Buechner. When I forget to look for the holiness all around me, I read Frederick Buechner. When I forget why the gospel matters, I read Frederick Buechner."

Barbara Brown Taylor

"Buechner's words, both written and spoken, have the power to revolutionize and revitalize belief and faith. He reveals the presence of God in the midst of daily life. He faces and embraces difficult questions and doubt as essential components of our lives, rather than as enemies that destroy us."

HarperCollins

"At my church's Bible Study each week, there is always a special moment when each of us who have a copy of Buechner's book rejoice in sharing his writings to all. We always leave filled with His word and a smile on our faces!"

Jesse D. Brittain

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