Behind the walls of an evidently ordinary home are overwhelmed parents ill-prepared to deal with the behavioral issues related to childhood trauma. And behind the eyes of a seemingly normal child is an insecure soul unprepared to deal with the ever-emerging subconscious crisis of identity.
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It’s that time of year again. I am looking back at all I read this past year and looking ahead at my goals for the new year. Physically, movement is life. Reading is the motion and animation of the inner life. It’s a necessary and enriching experience without which my heart and mind would only grow stagnant. It keeps me aware of the past, conversant in our ever-changing culture, immersed in otherworldly imagination, sharpened by stimulating prose, and rooted in timeless truths. Tim Keller felt compelled to read broadly and deeply in order to prevent his preaching from growing stale and repetitive. I want to follow in that sentiment, which is brimming with both humility and wisdom. In descending order, here are the books that I enjoyed most this past year. I recommend them to you. Tolle lege!
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In their short letters, Peter and Jude were addressing a nascent threat arising in the early church: false teachers who denied the future return of Christ, and accordingly taught that there was no future judgment and no need to pursue sanctification. They preyed upon the Christians’ exilic fatigue in the world and subtly deceived them into giving up and walking away from the faith. It was like a precursory postmodernism. Apostasy is a real allurement, but a slow—almost inadvertent—one that progresses from impatience to doubt and skepticism, to cynicism and bitterness, to eventual rejection and desertion. Savage wolves in sheep’s clothing are creeping into the church, casing the fold, and culling out who they might devour next.
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When I first began considering, praying, and planning to plant a church, I desired to be as prepared as possible, so I reached out to three friends who had successfully planted and asked them for resources on church planting that could prepare me for such a daunting task. Surprisingly, they each responded in a similar way; there really are no helpful books because most overemphasize the business/entrepreneurial aspects while neglecting a robust, biblical vision. They recommended I read the Pastoral Epistles, be sent and supported by a local church, and have a healthy church model to replicate. While I wholeheartedly agree with their assessment of most church planting books and their practical advice, I have found some resources that I believe to be incredibly practical, motivating, and sharpening in all phases of the planting process. This is my essential reading list for a prospective planter that covers all the bases.
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Having recently finished preaching 25 sermons through Peter’s first epistle in a series entitled “Exiles on Mission,” I have chronicled some of the most important lessons learned. I chose this book because I found it to be particularly relevant to our church’s situation: a new church plant in one of the most secular, unchurched, post-Christian parts of our country. Peter’s letter is like a roadmap for our journey or an instruction manual for our life that contains our marching orders. I tailored the application and implications of his letter specifically to my congregation as we are breaking into new, hard soil and establishing our culture from the ground up. The advice of Diane Chambers (from the show Cheers) to a belligerent Yankees fan in Boston is particularly relevant to our situation: “Please bear in mind, you are in an alien camp. Tact is perhaps your wisest recourse.” My simple hope is that these ordinary, timeless principles are an encouragement from one fellow, weary exile on mission to another as we find ourselves in an increasing hostile, alien camp.
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This has been a whirlwind year for me. With moving across the country, buying and renovating a house in rural NH, planting a church, and taking on the role of senior pastor, I did not read as much as I have in years prior. I’ve also started working out, watching the Celtics, and tackling more projects at our home. This year has also been one of continuing lament and grief as I try to make sense of life here in NH without Mom. I foresee my reading goals shifting in the years to come and will probably set a goal of 30 books instead of 60. I need to slow down, read bigger books, better books, prioritize my Bible reading, and overall, pursue a more balanced approach. I was playing catch up after seminary, but now I’m ready for a more ordinary and sustainable reading plan.
Here are my favorite books read this past year—
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Thank you all for being here. Your presence is a tremendous source of comfort to our family and a testament to the fact that Mom invested her life in people. You are all here because Kathy LeDuc touched your life in a profound way. I know Mom would not be comfortable with us making much of her this morning. She would only want Jesus Christ to be glorified and made much of. But I hope to do both.
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“I’m going home, back to New Hampshire. I’m so determined; I’m so determined.” As a sojourner in CA for eight years, I maintained a certain soundtrack to my life. I listened to songs that reminded me of and made me reflect on home. One of my most-often-played and most-often-listened-to songs was “New Hampshire” by Matt Pond PA—an eerily beautiful song about regret and nostalgia.1 When some people on the West Coast had the audacity to tell me I would never go back, this one line became my prayer, my manifesto, my stubborn anthem that I sang along to. The line resonated with my heart and reinforced my deepest desire. Returning home was my burning passion and most cherished dream.
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There are countless books out there on the topic of productivity—religious and secular. I have read many of them. They sit heavily marked up on my bookshelves. I have my favorites; and I refer to them often. Each one has its own distinct philosophy and presuppositions, its own unique set of values and goals, as well as its innovative purpose and plan. Whether the focus is on self-improvement, time-management, goal-setting, better efficiency, or guaranteed success, the push for productivity is most often driven by a self-focused and utilitarian ethos. But Redeeming Productivity is different.
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Emily Dickinson once wrote, “I can wade grief, whole pools of it, I’m used to that.” On one hand, I can relate as I have been literally wading grief my entire life. I lost my birth mother at two years old and just lost my adoptive mom a year ago. It’s been a constant, lifelong journey—subconscious at times, palpable at others. Yet on the other hand, I can’t quite relate to the last part because grief is not something you get used to in this life. It is ever present—yes—but it is never normalized. Even in the ubiquity of tragedy, we wrestle and reckon with it, but never actually come to grips with it. The hurting and aching following loss will always remain in our hearts on this side of glory. Through the grieving process I’ve found comfort in Scripture and in songs, but I’ve also found it in great books.
Continue readingSuch were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus and the Spirit of our God.
Informing the intellect—Igniting the affections—Inclining the will
Informing the Reforming
for a new generation of non-conformists
Informing the intellect—Igniting the affections—Inclining the will
The Bible Sojourner
Things read, things written, etc.
Maximum Mandatum 