tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61905250551049823092024-03-21T08:18:49.166-04:00Wencl. (wen-suhl)proper noun. surname of Czech origin.Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.comBlogger487125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-67534239692128110222024-03-16T16:14:00.000-04:002024-03-16T16:14:05.109-04:00A brief bio of Patrick of Ireland<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVGOEbwP_Sd-5FKK_lWbs8CPAFkH9HpT0WLAJj0gqxActMXw6FPa4mlxp6M8ZH44GvOMtSIuMDV1kpTYLqBL_3OSXngnow51fvqvcLiSpncE2hEPurykw4ZX97vwZJpgmGr3gqDpudIzAyHmc3cAQnGzH1Iw2rhiWa6fn-pfdoOFnOmjJ8cjlNbwOydMU/s1024/_4215d8a8-b6b6-49d5-9fc8-1e25f6fb79fc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVGOEbwP_Sd-5FKK_lWbs8CPAFkH9HpT0WLAJj0gqxActMXw6FPa4mlxp6M8ZH44GvOMtSIuMDV1kpTYLqBL_3OSXngnow51fvqvcLiSpncE2hEPurykw4ZX97vwZJpgmGr3gqDpudIzAyHmc3cAQnGzH1Iw2rhiWa6fn-pfdoOFnOmjJ8cjlNbwOydMU/s320/_4215d8a8-b6b6-49d5-9fc8-1e25f6fb79fc.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Towards the end of the fourth century A.D., the might of the Roman Empire was waning. Its legions were becoming less and less effective at keeping the barbarians out of its territory. The troops stationed in the remote isle of Brittania were recalled to help protect the borders closer to Rome. The people left behind in Brittania faced increasing danger from across the sea. The west coast in particular, from Scotland in the north to Wales in the south, was frequently set upon by raiders and pirates from Ireland. To Christians living at this time, it seemed as though the end of the world had come and Christ’s return was imminent.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f94bcdda-7fff-ed38-db8f-d978369a12f1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">During this period of upheaval and transition, a young teenager, Patrick, was taken captive by Irish raiders and brought back to Ireland as a slave. Although he had been raised in the church – his father was a deacon and his grandfather a pastor – Patrick had not come to trust in Christ himself. He explains in his brief autobiography written at the end of his life:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I was then about sixteen years of age. I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of people—and deservedly so, because we turned away from God, and did not keep his commandments… And there [in Ireland] the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my abjection, and mercy on my youth and ignorance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Patrick escaped from slavery after six years and found his way back home to Brittania. Yet, as he continued to grow in his faith and reflected on Christ’s return, Patrick became convinced that God wanted him to take the gospel to the pagan peoples of Ireland. He later wrote of his decision and subsequent activities:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from the unbelievers, bearing the reproach of my going abroad, and many persecutions even unto bonds, and to give my free birth for the benefit of others; and, should I be worthy, I am prepared to give even my life without hesitation and most gladly for his name, and it is there that I wish to spend it until I die, if the Lord would grant it to me.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Despite trials, including death threats and additional periods of imprisonment, Patrick’s preaching was effective – thousands became followers of Christ. He established elders in the churches just as the Apostle Paul had done and his protégés did after him (Titus 1:5). The Irish church produced many missionaries in the decades and centuries following Patrick’s death, carrying on the mission that he started.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-right: 324pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><hr /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Michael A. G. Haykin. 2011. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rediscovering the Church Fathers: Who They Were and How They Shaped the Church</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. Wheaton, IL: Crossway.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Ibid.</span></p></span></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-88406582558950912862024-03-10T17:30:00.005-04:002024-03-10T17:30:56.618-04:00Review: Rediscovering the Church Fathers<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcIAIqRY4KuTj4M_yzN6cFiU-dyCp30xxY2B74_Q0snzZilyLNb16d88teFOMTzLI03M4PXg3aSww8PIaw0wOGjcgywH7QLJSN5JprwuQevPW4_iIHbZ_GpkGWnKIuVoSbSMKWM-d2Fqqd_WBJnBWVejPED14f4XGKK6MhWXUdlQatYDVnqreO8635OvK/s400/rediscovering.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcIAIqRY4KuTj4M_yzN6cFiU-dyCp30xxY2B74_Q0snzZilyLNb16d88teFOMTzLI03M4PXg3aSww8PIaw0wOGjcgywH7QLJSN5JprwuQevPW4_iIHbZ_GpkGWnKIuVoSbSMKWM-d2Fqqd_WBJnBWVejPED14f4XGKK6MhWXUdlQatYDVnqreO8635OvK/s320/rediscovering.jpeg" width="214" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rediscovering the Church Fathers<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> by Michael A. G. Haykin takes readers to the first few centuries after the period of the New Testament to consider key figures and controversies that rose to prominence in the Christian Church. For me, it was a rediscovery not only of the fathers but also of a special time in my life when I took a weeklong intensive with Dr. Haykin covering the same material found in this book.</span></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7d16e794-7fff-8196-b33f-1ede10c3731b"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the first disciples of the apostles to the missionary endeavors of Patrick of Ireland, much happened in the history of Christ’s followers. There were terrible persecutions and temptations to compromise in matters of Christian beliefs and behaviors. Church leaders and congregants wrestled with questions about Jesus’ human and divine natures and the “cultural Christianity” that arose after the religion’s official endorsement by the Roman Emperor.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Haykin introduces readers to such figures as Ignatius, Origen, Cyprian, and Basil of Caesarea. He gives a short overview of their lives and the influences they had on the controversies of the day as well as what we can learn from their example. Having studied this material before, it was a pleasant return for me.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If you’ve never so much as dipped your toe in this era of church history, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Rediscovering the Church Fathers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> is a good place to get started without getting overwhelmed. And once you’ve finished, if your appetite has been wetted, Haykin provides a list of additional works for you to continue your journey of discovery. Highly recommended.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Disclosure: A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.</span></p></span></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-13332133114081577222024-01-30T20:41:00.003-05:002024-01-30T20:41:21.576-05:00Review: Apostasy from the Gospel<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmpDCp4IaV7ZoFt4Xb9L6BoJi_mN5kBbcFRNZ6NtpxSLXOxUEUnMTcynXUVAl1tbim7GGqVU6bF-B4mVqaTnvOhZzhqw2I_nb4nDqgVQfw5rDlG2ZfJ8twoWoORNzEnLI23VtykkLOcGhm2TOGEsPXF8ZHSFmFk3k12Bkmk1zTWulSpwb74jDc5rA92Iy/s2143/Apostasy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2143" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmpDCp4IaV7ZoFt4Xb9L6BoJi_mN5kBbcFRNZ6NtpxSLXOxUEUnMTcynXUVAl1tbim7GGqVU6bF-B4mVqaTnvOhZzhqw2I_nb4nDqgVQfw5rDlG2ZfJ8twoWoORNzEnLI23VtykkLOcGhm2TOGEsPXF8ZHSFmFk3k12Bkmk1zTWulSpwb74jDc5rA92Iy/s320/Apostasy.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">John Owen holds a prominent place among the great thinkers in the history of the Christian church. His writings on sin and temptation, the Holy Spirit, and his commentary on the book of Hebrews are still printed and read widely today, but they are only a fraction of the total material he produced. Now, Crossway has committed to publishing a whopping 40 volumes of his works!</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba4a13c5-7fff-aee0-d98d-e4064b56d8f7"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From this astounding collection, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Apostasy from the Gospel</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, Volume 14, contains material Owen prepared while working on his Hebrews commentary, an exposition of Hebrews 6:4–6. These few verses have been the subject of much debate throughout church history, and Owen brings his deep thinking to bear on all of it. It’s about as thorough a treatment of these verses as one could ever hope to find.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Although Owen’s original work is in the public domain and is easily accessible online, Crossway’s edition has some additional features not found in others. Since the original 17th-century language hasn’t been updated, multiple footnotes provide definitions of obscure and archaic words that litter the text. The best feature is the 65-page introduction by Joel Beeke, one of today’s foremost experts on the Puritans and their works. He not only provides a survey of Owen’s life but of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Apostasy from the Gospel </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">as well.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">If you’ve never read anything by Owen before, I recommend something lighter with modernized language, such as volumes in the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Puritan Treasures for Today</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> series by Reformation Heritage Books. Once you’ve gotten your feet wet, this or any other volume from Crossway’s collection of his works is well worth your time.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.</span></p></span></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-9352262988116388122024-01-08T16:00:00.002-05:002024-01-08T16:00:47.571-05:00On any given Sunday in the life of the pastor<span id="docs-internal-guid-79be5ef5-7fff-659d-c537-429482d9ac27"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHf5xa9Ro3AD-TC8ijVWG0tALhqud9iD39XqwjPCgNjFD9EY6-E6QCWYpEGlM62SK02NoUKQmpUknOH8a6lBz2pI5k7cYXfRf8Nz61mDdiLJbRR6NXmKx_jj2Fh9VjRdpDgHsMMTrtTyuF3r3Tiyk9_lDNMTDaYx9_Fy6g4GPK61yFeLsxl9M5P4lL9kQ1/s2240/Blogger%2002.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHf5xa9Ro3AD-TC8ijVWG0tALhqud9iD39XqwjPCgNjFD9EY6-E6QCWYpEGlM62SK02NoUKQmpUknOH8a6lBz2pI5k7cYXfRf8Nz61mDdiLJbRR6NXmKx_jj2Fh9VjRdpDgHsMMTrtTyuF3r3Tiyk9_lDNMTDaYx9_Fy6g4GPK61yFeLsxl9M5P4lL9kQ1/w400-h225/Blogger%2002.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />What does a pastor actually do? For those whose only interaction with the pastor is Sunday morning, what keeps him occupied on the other six days of the week may be a mystery. Although prayer and Bible study are constants from week to week, <b>the life of a pastor may be quite varied from day to day.</b> There are meetings, phone calls, text messages, and home visits — some planned, some spontaneous. There’s administrative work with the church secretary about announcements and the bulletin, coordinating work schedules with the custodian, arranging building access to meter readers, and filling out forms for the bank.</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since Sunday is the day most people know the pastor is working, I thought I’d keep track of my activity throughout the day and share it with you below.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><hr /><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday, January 7, 2024</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">6:15 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Wake up. Get dressed and ready for church. Eat breakfast. Help a little with the kids’ morning routine. (My wife does so much!)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">7:30 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Time in prayer and Bible reading.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">8:15 am.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Gather my backpack, grab a water bottle, and drive to the church.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">8:35 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Interactions with various church members. Start in the sanctuary with the praise team who are trickling in. Visit a small group that is gearing up for a new study next week. Make a note to include the title of the new study in this week’s email update. Back to the lobby to talk with volunteers and make final preparations for the morning service. Print my sermon notes. A member has questions about some constitutional amendments up for a vote next week. A meeting is planned for later this week.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">9:50 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">More interactions with folks making their way into the sanctuary. Pleasant conversations about the New Year.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">10 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sunday morning service begins. I give announcements and do the Scripture reading.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">10:20 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Preach a sermon on Acts 2:29–40.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">11:20 am.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Morning service is over. Greet folks on their way out. A young man asks to talk with me about baptism. We converse and set an appointment to meet on Wednesday evening.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">11:50 am. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Gather my things to leave. Talk with one of our worship leaders and invite him over for lunch.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">12:05 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Depart for home.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">12:25 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Arrive home. The family has already eaten, but they made a meal for the worship leader and me. (Again, my wife does so much.) We enjoy a good lunch and have an even better conversation about life, ministry, and his future plans.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1:50 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Worship leader departs for his home. I’m finally able to spend some time with my family.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">3:15 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Phone call. Urgent counseling situation.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">4:45 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Phone call ends. Just in time to eat dinner with family.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">5:30 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Gather my things. Depart for church after a frantic five minutes looking for my glasses. Hit every red light on the way there.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">6 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Pay a visit to the young adult small group. We read and then have a good discussion about 1 John 3. Stick around for some life discussion.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">7:25 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Depart from the church. See a text message from a church member, so I call to check in on him. A good conversation ending in prayer.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">7:55 pm.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Exit car. Tuck my kids in. Enjoy a TV show with my wife and organize my calendar for the coming week.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-78993101703495985642024-01-04T10:00:00.001-05:002024-01-04T10:00:00.135-05:00Every book I read in 2023<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaJeA8wemTQhyUGa_6UbukYRHwRZJeNvVsxTHmqyGlwwE5M3BjNF5ZjV6C6LOEanMGhaDrx6TaT51D_2byM7wZXXiqkq7M9CELKKi2SnE3AK48kDgkPiaBhQiTGu8OJcQN0i5OuETW6ZqafZTXLsIU6BMe6ArCjuI6F1unCYWkjtYVkZ0ZlFkYQes0Ptx/s2240/Blogger%20(5).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaJeA8wemTQhyUGa_6UbukYRHwRZJeNvVsxTHmqyGlwwE5M3BjNF5ZjV6C6LOEanMGhaDrx6TaT51D_2byM7wZXXiqkq7M9CELKKi2SnE3AK48kDgkPiaBhQiTGu8OJcQN0i5OuETW6ZqafZTXLsIU6BMe6ArCjuI6F1unCYWkjtYVkZ0ZlFkYQes0Ptx/w400-h225/Blogger%20(5).png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />In December, I made it to my first anniversary as the lead pastor of Beavercreek Baptist Church. It’s been a busy year adapting to my new role and church. Even so, I managed to make use of my drive time to listen to audiobooks and did some more reading at other times, so I have a decent catalogue of books read this year.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Items marked with a headphone icon (🎧) were audiobooks. The books I read to my children are in another post.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four Portraits, One Jesus </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Mark L. Strauss</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An academic treatment of the four Gospels. A lot of good information on their background, interrelatedness, and content.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calvin's Tormentors: Understanding the Conflicts That Shaped the Reformer </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Gary W Jenkins</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An interesting look at Calvin. The subtitle says it all.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, Volume VII</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got this as a review copy. It’s the last in a multi-volume series taken from some notebooks Spurgeon kept during the first few years. Even as a young man, Spurgeon could preach!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Beginning of the Gospel: A Theology of Mark </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Peter Orr</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read this in preparation for a sermon series on Mark’s Gospel. Well worth the read.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evangellyfish </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Douglas Wilson</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A fictional story that kind of lampoons mega-churches and celebrity pastors. Well-written and funny but hopefully not a true representation of the behind-the-scenes happenings at most such churches.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Mark: A Commentary </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by J. C. Ryle</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ryle was one of the few ministers in the Church of England to receive high praise from Charles Spurgeon. When I started planning out a sermon series on Mark, was surprised to find any commentary in audiobook format, much less a good one like this. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Workers for Your Joy </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by David Mathis</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mathis has long been associated with Desiring God and has written multiple books. This one is about the pastorate, and this new pastor found it very encouraging.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talks to Farmers </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by C. H. Spurgeon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A collection of Spurgeon sermons all based on Scriptures containing farming imagery. His ability to weave metaphor and allegory into the message while still explaining the meaning of the text is an inspiration and a challenge to me to up my preaching game.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The God Who Judges and Saves: A Theology of 2 Peter and Jude</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Matthew S. Harmon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Biblical theology is a good discipline for understanding specific passages and books of the Bible. Since 2 Peter and Jude aren’t well known, even in Christian circles, this is a good introduction to them.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Plurality Principle: How to Build and Maintain a Thriving Church Leadership Team </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Dave Harvey</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A book about elders. As a solo pastor, I appreciate the need for such a plurality.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">English Lit Relit </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Richard Armour</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Armour is one of my favorite humor writers from a prior generation. In this one, English Literature gets the royal treatment.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Matthew Henry</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The famed Bible commentator had a good deal to say about humility, and it is well worth reading.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">English Literature in the Sixteenth Century (Excluding Drama) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by C. S. Lewis</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of Lewis’s academic works. Quite thorough.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Church is a Team Sport </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Jim Putman</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Written by a pastor and wrestling coach, it’s a call to lead and develop your church as a committed and effective team.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Imperfect Disciple </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Jared C. Wilson</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wilson’s style is honest, gritty, and down-to-earth. If you’re feeling plateaued in your Christian walk and need your status quo shaken up, this is a good read.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Retreat </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Kees Postma</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A fictional story about a pastor who’s feeling burnt out and wondering whether he should leave the ministry. He hopes that a pastor’s retreat in Ireland will help him decide. Originally written in Dutch, I enjoyed the glimpse into a different culture even if a few parts were lost in translation.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Wright Brothers </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by David McCullough</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Written and narrated by one of my favorite authors of history, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the race to achieve manned flight. As a new resident of the Dayton area, it’s kind of required reading.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gleanings in Genesis </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by A. W. Pink</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although he sometimes goes too far with his typology, Pink’s ability to see parallels between Genesis and the gospel is one that more Christians ought to develop.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Robert's Rules in Plain English </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Doris P. Zimmerman</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not the most exciting read, but necessary as a pastor. I have to chair all church business meetings.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Thomas Brooks</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Puritans are a much-maligned group in the present day, but their writings are saturated with Scripture and gospel truth. Charles Spurgeon greatly valued Thomas Brooks, and if you’ve ever struggled with sin, depression, or any kind of spiritual angst, this book is high on my list for you. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spurgeon the Pastor </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Geoffrey Chang</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chang is a Spurgeon scholar, and in this book, he gives us a picture of the “Prince of Preachers” as pastor. He did so much throughout the week that, if you only know him by his sermons or writings, you’re missing out on much that he has to teach.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Fading of the Flesh and the Flourishing of Faith </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by George Swinnock</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book of Ecclesiastes tells us It is good to reflect on death, and Swinnock takes his readers on a tour of the last few verses of Psalm 73, particularly verse 26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s Jury </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Cullen Murphy</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A look at the Inquisition in Italy and Spain with a view to their influence on history and parallels in our modern day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Marvel 1602 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Neil Gaiman</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A fun comic that considers what the Marvel superheroes would be like in an Elizabethan age.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forgotten Reformer: Myles Coverdale and the First Forty Years of the English Reformation </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by G. F. Main</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was easily my favorite book of 2023. Well written, an engaging narrative, and a look at the Protestant Reformation from an angle I’ve not seen covered before.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christianity and Liberalism </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by J. Gresham Machen</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Liberal theology, which attempts to “de-supernaturalize” Christianity, has been around for a long time. This is the 100th anniversary of the publication of Machen’s seminal work and is still extremely relevant today.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The First Jesuits </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by John W. O’Malley</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Given my interest in Spanish Protestant reformers in the 16th century, it was only a matter of time before I gave considerable attention to other religious movements that originated in Spain at the same time. The author is largely sympathetic to the Jesuits, but that actually makes the book a more enjoyable “read.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gospel-Centered Discipleship </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Jonathan K. Dodson</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last third of the book was the most practical, and thus the most useful to me. I’ll be applying its principles in my role as pastor and teacher at church.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Praying Church </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Paul E. Miller</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve read other books on prayer by Miller, and each has been challenging and encouraging. I also got to hear him speak at a conference in September.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter Martyr Vermigli </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Simonetta Carr</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although it was a kid’s book, I enjoyed learning about a little-known Italian Protestant reformer.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Spiritual Marriage between Christ and His Church and Every One of the Faithful </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Girolamo Zanchi</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A translation of a 16th-century work by one of the few Italian Protestant Reformers. His association with Calvin and Geneva as well as his influence on the Spanish protestants who passed through there in the late 1550s was sufficient reason for me to read it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Resilient Leader: How Adversity Can Change You and Your Ministry for the Better </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Alfred Ells</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The author comes from a mega-church and charismatic environment, and it shows. He was also much too lenient regarding the restoration of ministers to leadership positions after a major moral failure. Despite its flaws, there was plenty of good counsel regarding resilience.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Messages that Move: How to Give Bible Talks that Challenge and Inspire </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Tim Hawkins</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m always working to improve my preaching. This one had some helpful practical tips to hone my messages.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Overseer: The Missing Jewel in the Crown of Glory </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Rob Peters</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In October I went to a one-day seminar by Dr. Peters with my deacons. The day gave us some insight into our church and how I could better lead it, embracing my role not only as shepherd and elder, but overseer as well.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Real Ponies Don’t Go Oink! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Pat McManus</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some lighthearted outdoorsman humor. I love stories involving the goofball antics of Crazy Eddie Muldoon, Retch Sweeney, and that rascal Rancid Crabtree.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-26897136589233094402024-01-03T10:00:00.001-05:002024-01-03T10:00:00.142-05:00Every book I read my children in 2023<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9PseJr9kyKcygQRdQrYAyHvWeAYaK_7i2s1KoVPb-mAWelQUToaf8G8LlFBUi5ajCatmxcuEA7AzF3tIr-2bemtPqAZjEwyL-sgexxIt-4RNIsXi67gV1EiLqA3KSd6XwuJR5SqXVbeJnRC7qbIewskXAe1zRXwbEIfYKlUE9rAnfzkdh5Q_yD9Edl_E/s2240/Blogger%20(4).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9PseJr9kyKcygQRdQrYAyHvWeAYaK_7i2s1KoVPb-mAWelQUToaf8G8LlFBUi5ajCatmxcuEA7AzF3tIr-2bemtPqAZjEwyL-sgexxIt-4RNIsXi67gV1EiLqA3KSd6XwuJR5SqXVbeJnRC7qbIewskXAe1zRXwbEIfYKlUE9rAnfzkdh5Q_yD9Edl_E/w400-h225/Blogger%20(4).png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />One of my favorite activities is my nightly reading time with my children. Lukas and Abby normally sit, one on either side of me, and I read various stories to them before bed. Natalie, who is a little younger, has her own reading time with me as well. Fifteen minutes to a half-hour each night has allowed us to get through many books this year.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cb1d49d9-7fff-06c1-5ebe-28f331f4584f"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Items marked with a headphone icon (🎧) were audiobooks.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is everything we finished this year.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Abby, Lukas, and Natalie</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Throne of Fire </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Rick Riordan</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The second in a trilogy based on Egyptian mythology. It’s from the author of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Percy Jackson</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> series and has a similar vibe. Although the series is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harry Potter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">-like fantasy, it gives some insight into the worldview of a people who appear frequently in the Bible.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Serpent’s Shadow </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Rick Riordan</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last in the trilogy. Too much boyfriend-girlfriend stuff considering I was reading to a 7-, 9-, and 11-year-old.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Farmer Boy </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Laura Ingalls Wilder</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My wife had been asking me to read this to the kids, so I finally set around to do it. Unlike virtually every other book series we’ve done, I haven’t followed any kind of order with the Little House books.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Christmas Carol </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Charles Dickens</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read this story every year, listen to the audiobook, and watch the movies. Last year, I read it to my children, and I hope to keep that tradition alive for many years to come.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John Owen</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Irenaeus of Lyon </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Simonetta Carr</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christian Biographies for Young Readers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> series. A great introduction to church history. I started reading these to Abby and Lukas (below) and Natalie decided to join in for these two.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fig Pudding </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(🎧) by Ralph Fletcher</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have read this book multiple times since receiving it as a Christmas present from my 4th-grade teacher, Mrs. Grochowalski. Well-written and compelling, it tells about a year in the life of a family and feels very true to life. Beginning and ending at Christmas, readers will laugh and cry multiple times before turning that last page. I got the audiobook for the ride to Grandma’s house for Christmas.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Abby and Lukas:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">God’s Smuggler </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Brother Andrew</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A true story about how a Dutch Christian came to sneak Bibles over the Iron Curtain. This book has been in print since my parents were young, and the copy I read to the kids was from the ’60s. The kids commented on how they liked the smell of old books. I remember becoming familiar with that smell during my own childhood reading by flashlight in a tent in the backyard.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Dragon and the Stone </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Kathryn L. Butler</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We started this hoping it would be the next Narnia or Kane Chronicles, but we couldn’t finish it. Each chapter had basically the same plot — monster attack, someone gets hurt, girl uses magic to get out of the situation, wounds nursed, travel continues. By the time it seemed like the story was taking a new turn, we all decided we had lost interest and decided to quit about two-thirds of the way through.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Fine and Pleasant Misery </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Patrick F. McManus</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not a kids’ book, but full of humorous short stories about the great outdoors. I often read a few of McManus’s stories on long car rides, and the kids prevailed upon me to read them the whole book.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Deathwatch </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Robb White</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A story about a young man who must struggle to survive the harsh environment of the desert in the American Southwest while being hunted by a madman with a rifle. Kind of like “The Most Dangerous Game.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Martin Luther</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Marie Durand</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John Knox</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Jonathan Edwards</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Anselm </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Simonetta Carr</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Christian Biographies for Young Readers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> series. A great introduction to church history.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Natalie and Lukas:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by J. K. Rowling</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In 2020, I read most of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Harry Potter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> series with Abby and Lukas. This year, I got to do it again with Lukas and Ducky. (We’re not all the way through </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Goblet of Fire</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Tales of Terror (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">by Edgar Allen Poe</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The kids wanted something “scary,” so we covered </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Telltale Heart</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Cask of Amontillado</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The Fall of the House of Usher</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To Abby:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Athanasius </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(🎧) by Simonetta Carr</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book that kicked off the kids’ interest in reading Christian biographies together. We listened to it in the car on the way to and from piano lessons.</span></span></p><br /></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-83921974292382646372024-01-02T07:30:00.001-05:002024-01-02T07:30:00.141-05:00Crossway's Annual $2.99 Sale!<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 96px; overflow: hidden; width: 96px;"><img height="96" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/KbXTCAxrwB_NXV1sIC2yeIeVSLoS-VrD-nZ3Jb4eMgA-BO5XsvnCwGKnPpsZPk5lOUV0GKGBDb9HgCdbxN5L9LmLxMzHyDGGrJQBwXTDT0bKn1TWPcR2pxTpWjAG4u7Mzws7rYf4qQ72o8M5Z0DOShg" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="96" /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 96px; overflow: hidden; width: 96px;"><img height="96" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/N5Djx_tEPXdrfcpHTpyZZxK50musvuUmHIJ_I2H9o91TwTQgrrBuqClLxAGCk8JWAtCQQj45PFEtQHFglRzLgcUyZxXz16TxUCzR_VLLB2uGCuYPT8HkzXu-1trj_0Oy6lffDe4vzqzb2ZkKD7V7cQM" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="96" /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 96px; overflow: hidden; width: 96px;"><img height="96" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/nS_d1G2W_4Kxv92Ufpno9JMf4Wl0VKt7z31m_HjltZuIHj6Oklkvr5Q_JTiGGETNM-vg_vn8CEb1C6UzPPuUKfF4WG2hGuYNHWkxnc3njpuQ10CutAwt4P3Xla5Wlpa3hxNCkvRV_W6CIgnN0XCMzyE" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="96" /></span></span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-e3b23beb-7fff-6891-274c-be74220d0620"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">With the high inflation we’ve experienced over the last few years, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">it’s no surprise that the cost of books has gone up.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Switching to digital can result in some cost savings, but a monthly subscription to Audible now costs over $15 after taxes.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">However, for the next few days, </span><a href="https://www.crossway.org/articles/crossway-special-all-ebooks-and-audiobooks-299-2024/?fbclid=IwAR0hQsA-6E2mBFkGN69OdM46D9fbCJwXG56XVVqhTjfToDXqya47yM_vpGE" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Crossway has a sale</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> on their digital books (ebook and audio) that cuts prices down by upwards of 90% in some cases. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Through January 5, you can purchase any ebook or audiobook from Crossway for </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">only $2.99</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That includes pre-orders like </span><a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/empowered-witness-ebook/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Empowered Witness</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(reg. $17.99), new releases like </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Remaking the World </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">(reg. $29.99), and big academic works like </span><a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/biblical-theology-ebook-2/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Biblical Theology</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> (reg. $64.99).</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether you are a pastor, student, stay-at-home mom, or something else, <b>if you’re a Christian, there’s something in this sale that’s worth your while.</b></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 144px; overflow: hidden; width: 108px;"><img height="144" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Pu1sraaQ9yDLppTwZ6Yk7p4nSWjqWKXsCbRCOfXhJMJ7G721X_4izmGFF55RVIHL3WcHQPmChAfSjalqepUBpwPocM6lcTj0A3U-lR3xVbuN9C0F632bhy6LnatbtwHcENhLpwFto76qecTErpkqjLI" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="108" /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 144px; overflow: hidden; width: 96px;"><img height="144" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/gxum5gTR4xt0NECoVZm9QIDgESJPXixszh9dhdrDq3dnjQwOSx0E14DB98fDH3W3vnsgu-wKRPLILkDbtn5OGLsrrDbg9eiQUk_9FtABo0RsPdQfdE8or_5im6PJJPU5CDr2QXnIpA70n5-elknndLc" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="96" /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 144px; overflow: hidden; width: 99px;"><img height="144" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/9QrUtXnoxEGKNvArIg6mdSoRZ-8Z7Xij7Anp0li44S5bP_lvNDJ3u4dvhazBEITBUXpclQ6jLNP_3vhkHSmLnc1gqXsftU4LUMLJX3slp-UfPML8k3qqQqyKiuWaJIetW673pVBnT0srsMUJKcDv5-s" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="99" /></span></span></span></p><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 144px; overflow: hidden; width: 99px;"><br /></span></span></div></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-73803386247409816542024-01-01T12:55:00.002-05:002024-01-01T12:55:51.728-05:00Tidbits of Greek<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWPL7JHPtiAtSUVXluxtLgEqtK3vuTUatoyHeiv1rAi-9PRs2uOQY3pAvBks1dO_9GWTzApvEaR_sKN59DSQ3_hkWsalJ2aoKEU1idaOI_g9_ANmV1gHRMlxZWFG73BHTzgE1AuqfvA9pk2A75kASP-Cy77Af5fyeMMgAB_opmxNbDKKuEYlzlI7-w2ZG/s2240/Blogger%20(3).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWPL7JHPtiAtSUVXluxtLgEqtK3vuTUatoyHeiv1rAi-9PRs2uOQY3pAvBks1dO_9GWTzApvEaR_sKN59DSQ3_hkWsalJ2aoKEU1idaOI_g9_ANmV1gHRMlxZWFG73BHTzgE1AuqfvA9pk2A75kASP-Cy77Af5fyeMMgAB_opmxNbDKKuEYlzlI7-w2ZG/w400-h225/Blogger%20(3).png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>We often take the accessibility of the Bible for granted.</b><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Thanks to the hard work of archaeologists, linguists, translators, and others, we not only have multiple reliable English translations, but a host of resources to explain its meaning. Even complicated discussions regarding the original Greek and Hebrew of the Old and New Testaments are accessible to people without any experience with those languages.</span></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-48f23e9e-7fff-d00a-16f2-8d75522b297d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Yet, there is still great value in learning Greek and Hebrew. At a most fundamental level, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">studying these languages has bolstered my confidence in our English translations.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Although I always consult the biblical languages when preparing a sermon, I decided to work harder this year at improving my understanding of Greek. That’s why I’m following a Bible reading plan that will take me through the entire New Testament. Even from the first day, I’m picking up on “tidbits of Greek” that give me a better understanding or appreciation for God’s word.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Case in point: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In the first 14 verses of John’s Gospel, I came across a few words sharing the same root in Greek, creating a poignant contrast between those who believe the gospel and those who don’t:</span></span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="83"></col><col width="256"></col><col width="90"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John 1:5</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">overcome</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> it.</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">κατέ</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">λαβεν</span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John 1:11</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">He came to his own, and his own people did not </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">receive</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> him.</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">παρέ</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">λαβον</span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John 1:12</span></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But to all who did </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">receive</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">ἔ</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">λαβον</span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It’s hardly a new insight, and the English translation captures the parallel between verses 11 and 12 perfectly. However, reading this passage in Greek helped me link these verses to verse 5 as well. Those who reject Christ have </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">not</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> overcome him, nor will they.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don’t have to go to a Bible college or seminary to learn Greek and Hebrew. Sites like Biblingo make even learning biblical languages accessible. But whether you study those languages or not, never stop seeking to read and understand God’s word.</span></span></p></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-22480303803130891202023-12-31T09:22:00.001-05:002023-12-31T09:22:05.837-05:00Reading the Bible in 2024<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0xIJfm98vdwRUdkb1OvcNshxsbTvED2REo-LYreODykO-fr-alfiV8Z8O8G_638uX7wsCd3zbPM8GjcEaw-LDpdgBogGO4pHVSLfwmQiHOMKwmPQhoegoF7iKRsenf_MURVGyIzNvEukeHRYOtdqkKviHFWklD4yX4GfnhbY6zPd749CLyp4METP0dG4/s2240/Blogger%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv0xIJfm98vdwRUdkb1OvcNshxsbTvED2REo-LYreODykO-fr-alfiV8Z8O8G_638uX7wsCd3zbPM8GjcEaw-LDpdgBogGO4pHVSLfwmQiHOMKwmPQhoegoF7iKRsenf_MURVGyIzNvEukeHRYOtdqkKviHFWklD4yX4GfnhbY6zPd749CLyp4METP0dG4/w400-h225/Blogger%20(1).png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />What if 2024 could be a milestone year in your discipleship journey with Jesus?<span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> If you want to experience spiritual growth, the single most important habit you can develop is daily Bible intake. That’s it. Simply set aside a few minutes each day to pray and read God’s word, and you will have a more dynamic and active relationship with God than you will from just listening to Christian radio or hearing a sermon once a week.</span></span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-2a96df01-7fff-d0a5-60e5-a640a04d3c63"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, where should you begin? If you don’t already have a habit of daily Bible reading, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">you should first identify a consistent time when you can read each day</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, preferably right after you wake up. This may require becoming more disciplined about your morning morning (or, more likely, your </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">evening</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> routine) than you’re used to. If the morning just isn’t right for you, that’s okay. Identify a time each day when you can do your Bible reading, such as during a lunch break or right after work. Just remember that the later you plan to study the word, the less flexibility you’ll have to make up for an unexpected interruption to your reading time.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Once you’ve settled on a time, you have to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">decide what to read.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> I recommend using a 90-day or longer Bible reading plan on YouVersion. This gives you a clear goal and allows you to track your progress over time. If you’ve never read the Bible outside of a small group or Sunday morning service, start small. Try the Gospel of John, one chapter a day, then try a plan to take you through the New Testament. Below are a few plans I recommend:</span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Reading Plan</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Description</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Length</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Comments</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/13418-foundations-new-testament" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">New Testament</span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Matthew to Revelation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">10 Months</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">About 1 chapter a day. A great place to begin.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/22-old-testament-in-2-years" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Old Testament</span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Genesis to Malachi</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">2 Years</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">About 2 chapters a day. Readings from up to two books at a time help with the more “tedious” sections of the Old Testament. Good for those who’ve never read through the Old Testament before.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/4-canonical" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Canonical</span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Genesis to Revelation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1 Year</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">An average of 4 chapters a day. This is a straight shot through the Bible.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/8-blended" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Blended</span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Genesis to Revelation</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">1 Year</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">An average of 4 chapters a day. Readings from up to two books at a time help with the more “tedious” sections of the Old Testament.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The third action you should take is to </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">tell someone about your reading plan. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Don’t limit it to one person (or other Christians) either. The more people who know about your plan to read Scripture on a regular basis, the more opportunities you will have to be blessed by their inquiry on your progress. “How’s that Bible reading going?” will help to keep you working toward your goal and can lead to some great conversations in your small group, at the dinner table, and around the breakroom.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">May 2024 be a milestone year in your discipleship journey as you encounter Jesus through the pages of his word.</span></p></span></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-81372539897271886532023-10-09T18:12:00.001-04:002023-10-09T18:12:35.088-04:00The link between hypocrisy and apostasy<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDngLYLqomNL9xf4L23MOqtA-8NwkFx_FJpVbg994Cx1EKKGfkNIT-VzEs4ViYeMhjEf_Vryw0tvLWWTFeXX1k6OZ-XnYujkHiP-8eRuG8coa8g2S1u6B1y2DTxh3pKJIS0yQxM9cnR5IxvLdImRs0bmN3FiDAk1tCB6zNJ7_HEeqqQ-ldufXy1r_DR_7/s2240/Blogger%2002%20(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDngLYLqomNL9xf4L23MOqtA-8NwkFx_FJpVbg994Cx1EKKGfkNIT-VzEs4ViYeMhjEf_Vryw0tvLWWTFeXX1k6OZ-XnYujkHiP-8eRuG8coa8g2S1u6B1y2DTxh3pKJIS0yQxM9cnR5IxvLdImRs0bmN3FiDAk1tCB6zNJ7_HEeqqQ-ldufXy1r_DR_7/s320/Blogger%2002%20(1).png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />John Gill pastored a Baptist church in London in the 1700s. He was the preeminent Baptist theologian of his time, attaining a level of fame equal to his predecessor, Benjamin Keach, and his successor, Charles Spurgeon, both of whom pastored the same church he did.¹<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Although Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible has achieved lasting recognition, Gill also produced a commentary or “exposition” of the whole Bible, one I heartily recommend (though it is currently out of print and available in </span><a href="https://www.logos.com/product/46388/the-expositions-of-john-gill" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">digital format</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> only).</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As I was preparing for a sermon, I came across this salient observation:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Apostacy is generally the fruit and effect of hypocrisy.”</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">²</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes in discipleship or counseling relationships, I have known people to admit to engaging in a pattern of sinful behavior — illegal drugs, sex outside of marriage, etc. When asked about how their behavior fits with the lifestyle expected of Christian believers in the New Testament, they tend to avoid eye contact and sheepishly admit that they are living outside of God’s revealed will.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is good that they recognize their hypocrisy — the contrast between their actions and God’s word. I usually point them to a few passages in the Bible to confirm that, indeed, God does not approve of such behavior and calls us to repent of it. I also point them to some warning passages in the New Testament, such as </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hebrews 3:12–14</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin’s deception. For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I explain that when the way we live does not match what we say we believe, we’re going to experience some level of discomfort or friction in our minds. We may try to ignore it, but God will keep prodding us about it, like a pebble in our shoe that keeps irritating us. Eventually, something has to give: either we will change how we live to conform with what we believe, or we will change what we believe to conform with how we live.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every time we experience that discomfort, we have an opportunity to repent and turn back to God. When we fail to do so, we become hardened by sin’s deception, and our heart turns away from God. It is not uncommon for people who ignore the warnings of conscience, Scripture, and other believers to turn away from God entirely. This is known as “apostasy.” Gill’s observation rings all too true: “Apostacy is generally the fruit and effect of hypocrisy.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5c8339df-7fff-f633-42e9-ca694cfe3c4f"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The author of Hebrews makes it clear how we are to live in light of this truth and the risk it poses to our salvation. We are saved “become participants in Christ” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">only</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “if we hold firmly until the end the reality that we had at the start.” Therefore, “watch out,” both for yourself and for your fellow believers, “and encourage each other daily.” Otherwise, we can all too easily become “hardened by sin’s deception” and have “an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">_______________</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;">¹ </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Robert Briggs and Jessica Parks, </span></span><span style="font-size: small; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John Gill: A Guide to His Life and Writings,</span><span style="font-size: small; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Faithlife Author Guides, (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife), 2021.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; white-space-collapse: preserve;">² </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">John Gill, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">An Exposition of the Old Testament, Vol. 4</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">, The Baptist Commentary Series. (London: Mathews and Leigh), 1810.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-11212675535710142882023-10-09T14:09:00.001-04:002023-10-09T14:09:08.946-04:00Review: Gospel-Centered Discipleship<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><i><a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/gospel-centered-discipleship-tpb-2/"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.crossway.org/books/gospel-centered-discipleship-tpb-2/"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDcVcSA2YoXcWLX9GW90IUFvtVHTrAm7PQhldXa7KHj6KzPw4QWd8oucLRwxj60lZM8QTm3AAB_CzPq-dbkKXVvUnYSvW8lwBORinXbQgCz6_5KK2Tkv9HSPfUkzcB9li97wrbYNHNGINv0yULUkBUuZ351759PPWRIpjLiJfdLggMdDW9DYu3AZHnAHz/s2143/gcd2e.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2143" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDcVcSA2YoXcWLX9GW90IUFvtVHTrAm7PQhldXa7KHj6KzPw4QWd8oucLRwxj60lZM8QTm3AAB_CzPq-dbkKXVvUnYSvW8lwBORinXbQgCz6_5KK2Tkv9HSPfUkzcB9li97wrbYNHNGINv0yULUkBUuZ351759PPWRIpjLiJfdLggMdDW9DYu3AZHnAHz/s320/gcd2e.png" width="320" /></a></div>Gospel-Centered Discipleship</i> by Jonathan K. Dodson came out more than a decade ago, but its popularity warranted a second edition, one in which the author seeks to address some of the shortcomings of the first. His approach to discipleship hasn’t changed, but he has adopted a more long-term view of the process, and some of the rougher edges of his writing have been smoothed over — something attributable to his own discipleship experience in the intervening years. <br /><br />I must admit that my motivation for reading the book was to glean practical advice for my efforts at discipling and being discipled, so I most enjoyed the last third of the book. The first two sections consider what discipleship is and what it aims to accomplish. The third section addresses how discipleship groups form and operate. Dodson is by no means suggesting his way is “the” way to practice discipleship in the church. He simply provides insight and advice that can be adapted to meet any church’s needs.<br /><br />Gatherings of believers outside the Sunday service can become little more than a social club or dry instruction period. Pursuing discipleship should include elements of both, but it’s not about finding a balance between two extremes. It’s about keeping Jesus Christ and the truth of the gospel in the center. That’s where <i>Gospel-Centered Discipleship</i> keeps its focus. The basic principles for discipleship that Dodson presents are (1) Repent of sin, (2) Rejoice in Christ, and (3) Reproduce Disciples. It’s simple and easy to put into practice.<br /><br />If you’re looking for a complete discipleship program to implement in your church, look elsewhere. But if you’re wanting to begin a conversation and get some foundational principles so you can start a discipleship group on your own or improve your experience in one you’re connected to, <i>Gospel-Centered Discipleship</i> is a good place to start.<br /><br />Note: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-59122987500579859372023-09-19T13:42:00.003-04:002023-09-19T13:42:23.337-04:00Freebies | September 2023<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrl7uZtOqVzVAv4TMu95T2AvfphkukYBu0kE-zaXMBwhp2-63i1ZbOn59JvYH1kgxEuxSwYNPavBlHOtJlLmbqV2XBietCYYwrC3dr2xIakeqDC3AIm8C3GuJzzI3v2OY7z33YAHexRXw66nw5yxrpuQDiZSqbozkTnDspNho4g361R2pVrDxkvrrEhBJ/s200/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrl7uZtOqVzVAv4TMu95T2AvfphkukYBu0kE-zaXMBwhp2-63i1ZbOn59JvYH1kgxEuxSwYNPavBlHOtJlLmbqV2XBietCYYwrC3dr2xIakeqDC3AIm8C3GuJzzI3v2OY7z33YAHexRXw66nw5yxrpuQDiZSqbozkTnDspNho4g361R2pVrDxkvrrEhBJ/w200-h200/cover.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every month publishers are giving away ebooks and audiobooks for free. If you don’t mind reading on a computer, tablet, or e-reader, you could have enough <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">good</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reading material to last you the rest of your life. Here are a few that I found this month.</span></span><p></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; table-layout: fixed; width: 468pt;"><colgroup><col></col><col></col><col></col><col></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Title</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Type</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Source</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Catch?</span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.logos.com/free-book" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Exploring Galatians: An Expository Commentary</span></span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.logos.com/free-ebook" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel</span></span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Logos ebook</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Logos Bible Software</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Must have a Logos account. Account creation is free.</span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.logos.com/free-audiobook" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Christian in Complete Armour: Spiritual Arms for the Battle</span></span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">audiobook</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Logos Bible Software</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Must have a Logos account. Account creation is free.</span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.thegoodbook.com/free-ebook" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Proverbs for You</span></span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ebook</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Good Book Company</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Subscribe to their mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.</span></span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://mailchi.mp/heritagebooks.org/sept23ebook?fbclid=IwAR2yYds5McgDPYaQuZva4_Gvx6K-eYlI8SMnvwYf265WGNSlirEjUgQAMCM" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fighting Satan</span></span></a></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ebook</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reformation Heritage Books</span></span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fill out a short survey. You will be added to their mailing list. You can unsubscribe at any time.</span></span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e92484ba-7fff-4f82-ffdb-8b37b3a11d30"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: I strive to ensure the information above is accurate at the time of publication. Some offers may be time-limited. Most, if not all, cease being available at the end of the month.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-88315796842989019402023-09-03T18:46:00.002-04:002023-09-03T18:46:36.634-04:00From Seed to Harvest: Lessons from Mark 4:26–29<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS6UMl8bcPCcRtUzRy5X23JIz0hYViBKgv2yRq_jopz_EzSD9Cqw8Zn4PMz02fwmHG2oe9kVcW66a8rRv4cT45WKFBuwZyGEnKlzQP0NvWtQeOysfQlNadBxueJrs-zWkZxf-sWshDQe_TdW8sTG_Glqlz-3Eg6SUAU_U1MYGirwzT-XLla9hjVVqCj8c/s2240/Blogger%2002.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNS6UMl8bcPCcRtUzRy5X23JIz0hYViBKgv2yRq_jopz_EzSD9Cqw8Zn4PMz02fwmHG2oe9kVcW66a8rRv4cT45WKFBuwZyGEnKlzQP0NvWtQeOysfQlNadBxueJrs-zWkZxf-sWshDQe_TdW8sTG_Glqlz-3Eg6SUAU_U1MYGirwzT-XLla9hjVVqCj8c/w400-h225/Blogger%2002.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Jesus’ parables are among some of the best-known and most-loved passages of Scripture. It’s not uncommon for people in secular society to show an awareness of Jesus’ parables — the Parable of the Prodigal Son being the most famous. The Gospel of John does not contain any parables per se, though Jesus does use analogies, proverbs, and aphorisms throughout. Mark’s Gospel has some parables, but they are often overlooked because much of Mark’s material is repeated in Matthew and Luke. Since those two have a greater amount of material unique to them, they tend to get more attention. Mark’s unique material doesn’t usually come in large chunks, but rather in small details.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b8a5a74d-7fff-e3e6-a7a9-74283d3b6264"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The word “parable” comes from the Greek for “to set beside” or, as I might sloppily render it, “to throw together.” It is, at the most basic level, a comparison of two things to highlight some commonality (or contrast) that gives insight into the nature of one of those things. In short, a parable is a metaphor, an analogy.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Mark 4:26–29, Jesus tells a parable not found in Matthew or Luke. He says that God’s kingdom is like a man scattering seed that mysteriously sprouts and grows while he is unaware in a gradual process that culminates with a harvest. Jesus’ point is that God’s kingdom will grow as the message is proclaimed and it takes root in the hearts of those who hear. The way this message takes root in human hearts (conversion) is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit, not human labor or ingenuity. As mysterious as this growth is, it is also assured — it will happen, and it will culminate with God’s people being brought together under God’s rule forever at the end of days.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There is much to encourage us in this parable that is unique to Mark. When it seems like our efforts at sharing the good news about Jesus are being met with indifference and a lack of results, we can be confident that God’s kingdom is indeed growing, we just don’t see it yet. When Martin Luther reflected on the amazing response to the gospel message and the expansion of its influence throughout Europe, he knew where to point people for an explanation of the phenomenon: “I did nothing; the Word did everything.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">May we have as much confidence in God’s word at the sowing as he had at the harvest.</span></span></p></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-72036240498808989482023-08-13T18:46:00.005-04:002023-08-13T18:58:22.095-04:00The Pastor's Book Recommendation: After Acts<div style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 1.38; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Many people know that the Apostle Peter was crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy of being put to death in the same manner as his Lord. They can tell you that the Apostle Paul was beheaded in Rome. But is that <i>really</i> what happened? And if it is, how do we know?
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While doing research for my recent sermon on 2 Peter, I decided to brush up on the details of Peter’s life, and one of the books I consulted was <i><a href="https://www.christianbook.com/after-acts-exploring-lives-legends-apostles/bryan-litfin/9780802412409/pd/412409?event=ERRCER1">After Acts</a></i>. In it, Professor Brian Litfin tells the apostles’ stories as they were handed down to us, all while separating fact from fiction. Not only does he tell us where these stories came from and when they were written, but he also analyzes them and grades their authenticity.
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Some books I read are heavy on footnotes and academic jargon, but <i>After Acts</i> is aimed at a wide audience. Litfin does cite his sources, but such notes are unobtrusive and don’t distract from the reading experience. If you’ve ever wanted to know what happened to the apostles after the book of Acts, this is a good place to start.
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Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-13739687130714440952023-06-24T09:43:00.001-04:002023-06-24T09:43:50.839-04:00Finding rest and reflecting on the post-mission trip experience.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDVBDHNTLEWcUOWkmYJCdyCeUNQdcdLxLOa0-1yzhGW5f1QgR0P1SDNKz0VO4pX-6iHFKhe52-Py6ZqNLACrFZKXPgla0oNnP2rE_u52j62cyFoX0hWKzU_RqHFf_sjFzEmNKgyfRgksE63N9EPo52tr5OBesGNoqp79LLuRrW-yg0rdJp4lYCumTDm2B/s960/missiontrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="960" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDVBDHNTLEWcUOWkmYJCdyCeUNQdcdLxLOa0-1yzhGW5f1QgR0P1SDNKz0VO4pX-6iHFKhe52-Py6ZqNLACrFZKXPgla0oNnP2rE_u52j62cyFoX0hWKzU_RqHFf_sjFzEmNKgyfRgksE63N9EPo52tr5OBesGNoqp79LLuRrW-yg0rdJp4lYCumTDm2B/s320/missiontrip.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The mission trip to help Blue Springs Baptist Church in Rutledge, Tennessee, has come to an end. Our crew had the privilege of serving over a thousand meals and sharing God's love with children from all walks of life. Some of these children were excitedly anticipating summer vacations, while others faced the harsh reality of empty pantries or abusive situations at home.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through it all, we listened to their stories, shared our own, and conveyed the most important story of all—the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. The true impact of this week and our ongoing prayers may only be fully revealed in eternity, but our eyes have been opened, and our passion ignited to witness the transformative power of the gospel.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As we return to our homes with a renewed appreciation for the many blessings we have, not the least of which is the comfort and familiarity of sleeping in our own beds, don’t be surprised if your post-mission-trip experience includes some feelings of disappointment and melancholy. You might find that your family, friends, and fellow church members seem indifferent toward the moments that broke your heart or uninspired by your newfound enthusiasm.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is normal. Remember, you were there; they weren’t. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proverbs 14:10</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> highlights this reality:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The heart knows its own bitterness, and no outsider shares in its joy.” Leave space for God to work in the lives of others, and praise him for taking you on this eye-opening journey. Ultimately, God is using this trip to bring about change in </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">you</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On that note, you might feel confused and discouraged at how quickly the spiritual “high” from the trip fades and you find yourself slipping back into sinful thoughts, actions, and attitudes. It’s important to acknowledge that the all-day intensity of serving and interacting with others throughout the week is not sustainable long-term. While it may have felt like the ideal way to “do church,” maintaining that level of intensity would quickly lead to burnout. Even the locals, who could return home to rest in their own beds, felt exhausted at the end of each day.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Physically and emotionally drained, we now need time to rest and recover. Genuine change often happens gradually as God works within us and our church over time. Chris Mulligan, who accompanied us and ensured our needs were met, shared that Blue Springs Baptist Church has undergone significant transformation since Pastor Jared</span>’<span style="font-family: inherit;">s arrival four years ago. Patience is key as we navigate personal and church-wide change. It is all in God’s hands, and he is faithfully working.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6e21e3a1-7fff-b91f-599d-e2d99ea0cabe"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let the words of </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Philippians 1:6</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> dwell in your thoughts and prayers this weekend: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-17096201764086921472023-05-04T21:04:00.001-04:002023-05-04T21:04:57.124-04:00We could all do with a little more meekness.<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZnLyeMz2V6GOuXABYpugszpx_WL_V2GRvEAYZyBECEbVyp2vYmYCj-IUSjkEEN18tbOMLNTNnscYNQShs4081O9sg6eDzkHGr2QGHNGx52OYbKJ28VzznXaxc65LFt2ENl5-wze3nouhQ_lF5CySe4F6ve14WGzfsi4MM-PiSk_nW-_og_2LMxFDWQ/s2240/Blogger%2002.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZnLyeMz2V6GOuXABYpugszpx_WL_V2GRvEAYZyBECEbVyp2vYmYCj-IUSjkEEN18tbOMLNTNnscYNQShs4081O9sg6eDzkHGr2QGHNGx52OYbKJ28VzznXaxc65LFt2ENl5-wze3nouhQ_lF5CySe4F6ve14WGzfsi4MM-PiSk_nW-_og_2LMxFDWQ/w640-h360/Blogger%2002.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />A week or so ago I was listening to a podcast when one of the speakers recommended <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Discourse on Meekness and Quietness of Spirit </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Matthew Henry. If you think the title sounds like it’s old, you’re right. Henry was a Presbyterian minister from the early 1700s. His commentary on the whole Bible (in five volumes) has served many a pastor for the last few hundred years, including this one. </span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-660c21d4-7fff-4ab9-c965-df840bdc049c"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discourse </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is a powerful treatment on humility and inner peace. The podcaster explained that he used the book when counseling men dealing with anger and anxiety. Though some of the language can be challenging at first, it’s not hard to follow, and I can see why he recommended it. Below is a sample of quotations from the work, which is available for free in digital format (web page, PDF, epub, mobi) </span><a href="https://www.monergism.com/discourse-meekness-and-quietness-spirit-ebook" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some choice quotations:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A meek man will never be angry at a child, at a servant, at a friend, until he has first seriously weighed the cause in just and even balances, while a steady and impartial hand holds the scales, and a free and unprejudiced thought judges it necessary.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He that is of a meek spirit will be quick to forgive injuries and affronts, and has some excuse or other ready with which to extenuate and qualify the provocation, which an angry man, for the exasperating and justifying of his own resentments, will industriously aggravate.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">…if we soberly reflect, we shall find we have been often the worse for our speaking, but seldom the worse for our silence.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">True courage is such a presence of mind as enables a man rather to suffer than to sin; to choose affliction rather than iniquity; to pass by an affront though he lose by it, and be hissed as a fool and a coward, rather than engage in a sinful quarrel.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A meek and quiet Christian lives very comfortably, for he enjoys himself, he enjoys his friends, he enjoys his God, and he puts it out of the reach of his enemies to disturb him in these enjoyments.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Man was intended to be a sociable creature, and a Christian much more so.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our present state of imperfection, there can be no friendship, correspondence, or conversation maintained without mutual allowances; we do not yet dwell with angels or spirits of just men made perfect, but with men subject to like passions. Now meekness teaches us to consider this, and to allow accordingly; and so distance and strangeness, feuds and quarrels are happily prevented, and the beginnings of them crushed by a timely care.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The days of old age would not be such evil days if old people did not, by their own frowardness and unquietness, make them worse than otherwise they would be.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It is for lack of meekness that we are so impatient of contradiction in our opinions, desires, and designs, that we must have our own saying, right or wrong, and everything our own way; that we are so impatient of competitors, not enduring that any should stand in our light, or share in that work of honor which we would engross to ourselves; that we are so impatient of contempt, so quick in our apprehension and resentment of the least slight of affront, and so pregnant in our fancy of injuries, where really there are none, or none intended.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Think how all these things, which now disquiet us, will appear when we come to look death in the face: how small and inconsiderable they seem to one that is stepping into eternity.</span></p></span></span><p style="height: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">x</span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-66569195926802566602023-04-08T07:00:00.001-04:002023-04-08T07:00:00.196-04:00An Easter Carol<h3 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following is inspired by the opening paragraphs of Charles Dickens’ </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH752oCKXcRp9jGcIoIxua4y3X91zBT_s1BZVVL5vXUIgE2yEWr2RyoLazDicGDWOImhZcMsDN9rghixsOqng4rRfcsefUbX16UrbTv2nxIMZPDR1NNj_LO7g7aXK3iI6r7Apbyq_XEms_Dsl9FiexB58Z8-8yW6McCF6eAfaZ-Hj2JMt_q-aFNfIqA/s2240/Blogger%20(5).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH752oCKXcRp9jGcIoIxua4y3X91zBT_s1BZVVL5vXUIgE2yEWr2RyoLazDicGDWOImhZcMsDN9rghixsOqng4rRfcsefUbX16UrbTv2nxIMZPDR1NNj_LO7g7aXK3iI6r7Apbyq_XEms_Dsl9FiexB58Z8-8yW6McCF6eAfaZ-Hj2JMt_q-aFNfIqA/s320/Blogger%20(5).png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jesus was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The record of his burial was affirmed by the chief priests, the Pharisees, the man from Arimathea, and the governor. Pilate signed it. And Pilate’s name was good upon ‘change for anything he chose to put his hand to. Jesus was as dead as a door-nail.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a crucifixion nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and I wash my hands of it. You will, therefore, permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Jesus was as dead as a door-nail.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pilate knew he was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? As governor, Pilate had sole authority to order the execution, and he did. His soldiers carried it out. He dictated the sign they hung over his body. Pilate received confirmation from the officer who oversaw it, and he gave custody of the body over to the man from Arimathea. And even Pilate was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event but that he was an excellent man of politics on the very day of the crucifixion, and he solemnized it to his undoubted political advantage.</span></span></p><p style="height: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-01f00dad-7fff-99bb-81d7-0e7d1bac70b6"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The mention of Jesus’ crucifixion brings me back to the point I started from. There is no doubt that Jesus was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. If we were not perfectly convinced that Jesus died before Sunday morning began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll through a garden than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman turning out in the early morning hours to smell the roses.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-16555011335237790642023-03-13T07:57:00.002-04:002023-03-13T10:26:03.937-04:00The God Who Judges and Saves [Review]<span id="docs-internal-guid-bc40f278-7fff-c4a8-924b-771751c2fd34"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yuRG8PAqlb3xQdD3Iuhl8J56v_csY7_DBRASVdJrLqSBIintFUmstAnUqRfPV1ZtSvz_puv8hnA26LQRXNNw4FsGWJx0SuoBZ0YKFCTrJgAWqJJCPS-D9aWb-G1TvYoTfe6x-EbYhWRb35z9qMX3v3nrktX7hk6pLLUWvCY2Mss463huI8wplc1riA/s2143/godwhojudgesandsaves.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2143" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yuRG8PAqlb3xQdD3Iuhl8J56v_csY7_DBRASVdJrLqSBIintFUmstAnUqRfPV1ZtSvz_puv8hnA26LQRXNNw4FsGWJx0SuoBZ0YKFCTrJgAWqJJCPS-D9aWb-G1TvYoTfe6x-EbYhWRb35z9qMX3v3nrktX7hk6pLLUWvCY2Mss463huI8wplc1riA/s320/godwhojudgesandsaves.png" width="320" /></a></div>The God Who Judges and Saves: A Theology of 2 Peter and Jude</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Matthew S. Harmon is another excellent volume in Crossway’s New Testament Theology Series. At just 128 pages, it’s a short but insightful exploration of these two often-overlooked New Testament books. Harmon’s writing is clear and accessible, making it an excellent resource for pastors, students, and laypeople alike.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the book’s strengths is the way it helps readers understand the historical, cultural, and Scriptural context of 2 Peter and Jude. Harmon explains how these books fit within the Bible’s story and how they point to a nearly complete canon of Scripture. He also explains Jude’s use of Jewish pseudepigrapha (legends based on Bible characters and events).</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also appreciated how Harmon pointed out that both 2 Peter and Jude were addressing false teachers and the link between their doctrine and their life (“ungodliness” is Jude’s favorite term for the false teachers’ teaching and behavior). According to these New Testament writers, both Old Testament history and our understanding of the end-times call us to pursue godliness. “Rightly understood, eschatology leads to ethics.”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overall, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The God Who Judges and Saves</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is an excellent resource for anyone looking for a solid overview of the themes and teaching presented in 2 Peter and Jude. Solidly recommended.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few choice quotes:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If godliness refers to orienting the totality of one’s life to God such that one’s thoughts, inclinations, attitudes, beliefs, and actions are united toward the worship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then those who fail to submit to his authority as Lord and Master are by definition ungodly.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jude appears to have been written to believers who were familiar with Jewish traditions and noncanonical Jewish literature, whereas Peter seems to be addressing readers living in a more Greco-Roman context.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is far less interested in satisfying our curiosity about the details of how human history ends than he is about exhorting us to live in a way that will prepare us for the end of human history.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jude and Peter both knew that in order for Christians to live faithfully as God’s people, they need to look both backward and forward—backward to what God has done throughout redemptive history, and forward to what God has promised to do in the future.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing this review.</span></p></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-8823922191182470732023-02-05T20:33:00.000-05:002023-02-05T20:33:17.729-05:00The Biggest Story Bible Storybook [review]<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQmo1-EswD3yfgDcfM3NprSQp323Md6SlwV_IDwfg3UH_yi0FAGRvPf6Coek3fnYpdrsYLvBYSeim7HcqmR1WakYo4KLgMFj3S7T4oq9YEtoDyhj-XiVcvGH3VSrZFLnnVJfS6hwKmr1qLN4JRI3M0nt_D1FxpnNQBCYVK3MESaIE1NkPkVdGMCtAuQ/s2143/thebiggeststory.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2143" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQmo1-EswD3yfgDcfM3NprSQp323Md6SlwV_IDwfg3UH_yi0FAGRvPf6Coek3fnYpdrsYLvBYSeim7HcqmR1WakYo4KLgMFj3S7T4oq9YEtoDyhj-XiVcvGH3VSrZFLnnVJfS6hwKmr1qLN4JRI3M0nt_D1FxpnNQBCYVK3MESaIE1NkPkVdGMCtAuQ/s320/thebiggeststory.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">My children have enjoyed Bible storybooks almost since they were born. We’ve done board books, early readers, and bigger volumes like <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Biggest Story Bible Storybook</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As storybooks go, this one is set apart by its art style and writing.</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best part of the present volume is its unique art style. Every page is a kaleidoscope of vivid colors as the cover suggests. It’s beautiful and has a kind of Scandinavian look to it, which my children (ages 7, 9, and 11) all found engaging. I hope they make the prints available for other uses.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve enjoyed various books by Kevin DeYoung before, but I didn’t care for his writing style in this one. My girls didn’t have an opinion, but my 9-year-old son found it “funny,” which is what DeYoung was going for. The humor didn’t land with me, and I thought it was irreverent in places — not enough to permanently shelve it, but enough that it won’t be my first recommendation for a Bible storybook.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-de74e0ea-7fff-9cdf-b296-15f447f79ae5"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing this review.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-63237018889330617452023-02-04T16:32:00.003-05:002023-02-04T16:32:31.536-05:00The Beginning of the Gospel [review]<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-91ad114f-7fff-4c06-ea00-85b43c284887"></span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ba687a69-7fff-f05a-9d2e-067b80787fd8"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3L3MPrAANui0fKg3YdPSqC1gXG_IZHtJaer39HhXg2ioFEgjFtK5v69k16V9P52AUMmO7hDoos7pSYsMGe_Nx3mlTvCO4HV8L1jvI8-lTXd1Sc5S6wruz-i6bkQKZ3Z8DD42jolFMoE9bZ3EjegE5lder0eE1OYg7oTJiakEN6x_9nRpNmBy_2SznQ/s2143/beginning_orr.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2143" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3L3MPrAANui0fKg3YdPSqC1gXG_IZHtJaer39HhXg2ioFEgjFtK5v69k16V9P52AUMmO7hDoos7pSYsMGe_Nx3mlTvCO4HV8L1jvI8-lTXd1Sc5S6wruz-i6bkQKZ3Z8DD42jolFMoE9bZ3EjegE5lder0eE1OYg7oTJiakEN6x_9nRpNmBy_2SznQ/s320/beginning_orr.png" width="320" /></a></div>Whether I am preaching, leading a class, or just digging into a book of the Bible on my own, I like to orient myself first by reading some kind of introductory material — its outline, major themes, relation to the rest of the Bible, etc. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Beginning of the Gospel: A Theology of Mark</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Peter Orr is exactly the kind of introductory material I’m looking for.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I purchased </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Beginning of the Gospel </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to prepare for a new sermon series through Mark, then the publisher sent me a review copy as well. I suppose I was meant to read it, and I’m glad I did. It’s much shorter than a commentary, but it provides an insightful look at the Gospel of Mark as well as its relationship to the rest of the Bible, specifically the Old Testament prophecies and the letters of Peter and Paul.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each chapter explores one theme from the Gospel, such as Jesus’ identity or the place of the Old Testament law in Jesus’ teaching and the New Testament Christian community. It was a quick read, and I was riveted to every page as I kept encountering connections and ideas I hadn’t seen before. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The book’s endorsements say “This is maybe the best short theology of Mark I’ve read,” “This is essential reading for all who study and teach Mark’s Gospel,” and “Peter Orr offers a brief, accessible, and insightful survey of the theology of Mark’s Gospel.” I heartily agree and recommend it to anyone considering a deeper look at the Gospel of Mark.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few select quotes:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compare the beginnings of the Gospels. Matthew provides a genealogy situating Jesus in the history of Israel followed by a birth narrative. Luke has a longer birth narrative and then a genealogy that traces Jesus back to Adam. John refers to Jesus’s eternal presence with God. Mark, in contrast, has Jesus burst onto the scene seemingly from nowhere.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outside of these first five books of the New Testament, the word for “disciple” (</span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">mathētēs</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) never appears.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What Paul teaches in his letters, Mark displays in his narrative, demonstrating that even those closest to Jesus could not live the Christian life apart from the effects of the cross and resurrection.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God is the one, Paul tells us, who delivered over his own Son for us (Rom. 4:25; 8:32).10 So it is in Mark as well.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mark stresses Jesus’s death, and the question remains, what does it mean to give his life as a ransom? A ransom to whom? When we consider the Old Testament background, we see that the ransom is to the Lord.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nobody calls him “King” until “he stands before Pilate on the way to the cross; yet from that point forward, within the space of thirty verses, he is called ‘king’ six times: three times by Pilate (15:2, 9,12), twice by mockers just before and just after his crucifixion (15:18, 32), and once by the inscription over his cross (15:26).”</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(I’m not sure I need to do this because I purchased a copy for myself, but just in case) Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing this review.</span></p></span></div>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-65972050689624898402023-01-23T19:13:00.003-05:002023-01-23T19:13:43.578-05:00The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, Volume VII<p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSC6usvxaE2oLcE2o53AaYdxoA70rCI9N9-51fDWDJpwQv3habXbtazrzcxJjLby0BrpYk01Vr4EN1Zrl_wvagnKC0SbhjHUeOyqG5Bq9bKcCtpXkopholHbhfzwDpYIp5BE0gJWx_-MSQmGOqtTSGzW7yUvtO-_FECqyqJfSfvb_vCQAlYBeTN0iNgw/s800/SpurgeonVII.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSC6usvxaE2oLcE2o53AaYdxoA70rCI9N9-51fDWDJpwQv3habXbtazrzcxJjLby0BrpYk01Vr4EN1Zrl_wvagnKC0SbhjHUeOyqG5Bq9bKcCtpXkopholHbhfzwDpYIp5BE0gJWx_-MSQmGOqtTSGzW7yUvtO-_FECqyqJfSfvb_vCQAlYBeTN0iNgw/s320/SpurgeonVII.jpeg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been following <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">since the release of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume I</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in early 2017. The ambitious project promised 12 volumes based on handwritten notes Spurgeon produced in his first few years of ministry. The first few volumes contained full-color scans of each notebook, a fully-formatted transcription, and copious footnotes regarding everything from stains and misspellings to excerpts from Spurgeon’s sources, explanations of historical or cultural references, quotes from Spurgeon’s later writings, and definitions of unfamiliar words.</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around the time </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume III </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">appeared, the series got off track when the scholar who was producing all of this material </span><a href="https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/sbc-digest-seminary-profs-christian-george-david-sills-resign/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was forced to resign</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from his position at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary “due to a personal moral failing.” The project was put on hold while I assume contractual issues between the scholar, the school (which owns the notebooks), and the publisher were worked out, a new editor and research team was set up, and the plan for the rest of the series was revised.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Almost two-and-a-half years after going on hiatus, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume IV </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was finally published. Gone were the extensive footnotes regarding ink blots and page folds in the manuscript. (I didn’t mind that loss.) The planned 12 volumes were reduced to 9 as notebooks 10-12 did not contain sermon material. In December 2021, when </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VI </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">came out, the front matter still outlined the planned 9 volumes for the series. However, that was not to be.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can only guess at what changed between December 2021 and the fall of 2022, but when </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VII </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">released, it was marketed as the biggest and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">final </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">volume in the series. Presumably, it had to do with time and money. The original editor almost surely had to be bought out of his contract, and the series was probably not bringing in enough revenue to justify the hours the research team was putting into the project. When you consider that all seven volumes are included in the Baptist Silver tier of Logos 10, it seems like the publisher is trying to cut its losses and salvage what it can from the series. Cramming the last three notebooks into one massive, final volume allowed them to end the project and move on to other things. I can’t blame Midwestern or the publisher for bum-rushing the last volume, but it’s still a disappointing end.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was no way to put three notebooks’ worth of material into </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VII</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (even if it is massive) without a major departure from the format of the first six volumes. Notebook 6 was 128 pages and became </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VI</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Notebooks 7-9, which make up </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VII</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, contain 467 handwritten pages. Even with the formatting changes to reduce the size, the volume feels cramped. A couple of the changes make for a better reading experience, but overall, the work is less than its predecessors and suffers for it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best change is the addition of a 1-page introduction to each sermon. This is where Spurgeon’s sources are identified and comparisons are made to his later body of work. Historical context, if discernible and applicable, appears here too. It is more reader-friendly to provide this information in an introduction than in notes that appear after each sermon transcript as in Volumes I through VI. However, the gain of an introduction brings the loss of all footnotes. There are far fewer quotations from his later sermons. Other useful information that would have appeared in the footnotes is absent altogether. Sometimes Spurgeon makes a passing reference to ancient myths, persons from English history, and contemporary issues, but if the editors don’t make a note of it in the introduction (and they normally don’t), the reader is on his own. For example, in one sermon, Spurgeon has “56 Hymn. Il Book. Watts.” The editors provide no further information. Had this appeared in an earlier volume, there would have been a comment about Spurgeon’s hymnody and a verse or two from the hymn.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The page scans from the notebooks no longer appear opposite their transcription. Instead, they are printed two-to-a-page on their side and appear after the last transcribed page of each notebook. As a result, they lose whatever value they had in the first six volumes because any meaningful comparison between page scan and transcription requires flipping pages and turning the book 90 degrees. It would have been better to exclude the scans entirely, but they probably considered that too great a departure from what came before.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As with each previous edition in the series, I read </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VII</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from cover to cover. Despite the trouble with the publishing process behind the scenes, the book is worth reading because Spurgeon is worth reading. Even at only 19 or 20 years old, his preaching had developed to the point that his messages were on par with his later material that appears in his </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Park Street Pulpit </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">series. Although I think Spurgeon deserved better, I still recommend the series, and I’m glad to complete my collection.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Regarding the presentation of the material, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the book is available in standard and collector’s editions. I requested and received a review copy of the collector’s edition of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VII</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from the publisher.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The standard edition has cloth-over-board covers; sewn binding; thick, glossy pages; and full-color facsimiles (two-to-a-page) of notebooks 7-9. Besides having a better cover, the collector’s edition also contains photographs of Spurgeon, volumes from his library, and other pictures not included in the previous volumes. The collector’s edition also has gilded pages and a box cover. Although both are beautiful, I prefer the collector’s edition and have purchased it for previous volumes in the series.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For an excerpt, including the front matter and the first sermon</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in this volume, </span><a href="https://bhacademic.bhpublishinggroup.com/products/the-lost-sermons-of-c-h-spurgeon-volume-vii-3/#flipbook-sampler/25" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. If you’re interested in snagging a copy for yourself, you can find </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, Volume VII </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">online at LifeWay.com and other retail stores. Lifeway also has a complete set of all seven volumes in the </span><a href="https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-lost-sermons-of-c-h-spurgeon-volumes-i-vii-standard-edition-bundle-P005842838" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">standard</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-lost-sermons-of-c-h-spurgeon-volumes-i-vii-collector-s-edition-bundle-P005842868" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">collector’s</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> editions as well (65% off at the time of this writing).</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few select quotes from </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Volume VII</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Death… Like some cliff worn at the base by a foaming torrent, we wonder that it has not fallen, yet wonder when it does. (p. 133)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">How infinitely is man inferior to his Maker. (p. 153)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lord, I thank thee for necessary ignorance, though I repent of that which is unnecessary. (p. 155)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">God is not obliged to reveal himself, nor will he to gratify vain man's idle curiosity. (p. 159)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Minister who hopes to go through the world without trial will be mistaken. (p. 315)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">True religion is more than a smile at a bold assertion or triumphant proof. (p. 392)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fear not to die, but fear to doubt, for he who doubts dies a hundred deaths in fearing one. (p. 519)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is a man to be a Christian sage in an instant, or a theologian in an hour? No, we begin with a slight tinge of light, and by degrees the sun arises. (p. 528)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He who knows his heart will humble his heart. (p. 542)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh those words on the cross, "Father forgive them." There is more real melody there than in the finest compositions of Handel. (p. 596)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 11pt 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our doctrines never were nor ever can be pleasing to ungodly men. (p. 628)</span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-72517395236773455082023-01-04T09:40:00.001-05:002023-01-04T09:40:42.119-05:00Every book I read my children in 2022<span id="docs-internal-guid-790c667c-7fff-31e0-9f64-b525273911bc"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGyk1q-pnPA_0GS0--ToLR-yydWf_ARo6UMih8OxC4aYd--875f11XEH4s5wbB2jbswwEO13b4XQAAIhAgfGd2PdhOBAvePvhKaEC3miU9hMeb-v9wsgGPEN-D5WpTUXgUaTBFA0CKhBPUDP-_dhjsS-cSrGsRRdz9lYxGiBofYf5B__jwZv9bzq3tw/s729/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-04%20at%209.23.12%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="729" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGyk1q-pnPA_0GS0--ToLR-yydWf_ARo6UMih8OxC4aYd--875f11XEH4s5wbB2jbswwEO13b4XQAAIhAgfGd2PdhOBAvePvhKaEC3miU9hMeb-v9wsgGPEN-D5WpTUXgUaTBFA0CKhBPUDP-_dhjsS-cSrGsRRdz9lYxGiBofYf5B__jwZv9bzq3tw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-04%20at%209.23.12%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>One of my favorite activities is my nightly reading time with my children. Lukas and Abby normally sit, one on either side of me, and I read various stories to them before bed. Natalie, who is a little younger, has her own reading time with me as well. Fifteen minutes to a half-hour each night has allowed us to get through many books this year.</span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is everything we finished this year.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Abby and Lukas:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Long Winter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Laura Ingalls Wilder</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Normally I’m a stickler for reading a series in order, but we have been jumping around with the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little House </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">series. This one we read during the not-so-long (but still long) winter of Indiana. A wonderful glimpse at an important time in our nation’s history.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Light in the Forest</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Conrad Richter</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A white boy who was kidnapped and then raised by Delaware Indians has a hard time adapting after a prisoner exchange brings him back to a society he never knew. Inspired by historical events. This was one my father suggested to me when I was a kid, and I have fond memories of reading it by the light of a flashlight during my backyard camping days.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Star Wars, Episode IX: Duel of the Fates </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This was the original screenplay and is much better than what we got in </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Rise of Skywalker</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chronicles of Narnia </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by C.S. Lewis</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Magician’s Nephew</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Horse and His Boy</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prince Caspian</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Voyage of the Dawn Treader</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Silver Chair</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Last Battle</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A couple of years ago we read through all seven books, and it seemed time to do so again. We love them all, but </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Horse and His Boy </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is probably our favorite of the bunch.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Bunyan: The Journey of a Pilgrim </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Brian H. Cosby</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A dramatized biography about the author of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pilgrim’s Progress</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which I read to Abby and Lukas last year. Bunyan’s own life was full of challenges, like losing his mother and sister in a matter of months, being pressed into military service at the age of 16, and spending years in prison for being a non-conformist Baptist minister.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Pilgrim’s Progress, Part II </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by John Bunyan</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sequel to </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pilgrim’s Progress</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, in which Christian’s wife and children follow his trail to the Celestial City. It’s not as well known as the original, but still worth a read.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Natalie:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Epic: The Story that Changed the World</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Aaron Armstrong</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Forty Bible stories, all enriched with captivating illustrations and a clear explanation of how they link to the gospel.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ghost of Windy Hill </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Clyde Robert Bulla</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of those “Weekly Readers” from ages past. A family is invited to live in a house to prove it is not haunted. Spoilers: It’s not haunted, but something is going on. As kids’ mysteries go, this one didn’t have much mystery or suspense.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Count of Monte Cristo (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Alexandre Dumas</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The classic tale of treachery and revenge from the author of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Three Musketeers</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Man in the Iron Mask</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Betty MacDonald</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Humorous stories about children with bad habits and the magical remedies used to address them, such as the Won’t-Pick-Up-Toys Cure and the Slow-Eater-Tiny-Bite-Taker Cure. My favorite parts are the different ways the parents respond to the children and to each other. MacDonald had great insight into people.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Secret Cave </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Claire Huchet Bishop</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A fictional story about a group of schoolchildren in occupied France during World War II who have to hide some Jewish children from the Nazis. It was appropriate to read to a 6-year-old, but too unrealistic for older children. No sane person would tell twenty kids under the age of 10 that they are hiding a bunch of Jews and then expect them to keep it a secret from bad people intent on finding them.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good Night Tales </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by C. S. Fritz</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A well-illustrated collection of fairy tales inspired by parables, proverbs, and stories from Scripture.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around the World in 80 Days (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Jules Verne</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the 1800s and early 1900s, the travelogue was a popular kind of adventure story. In this one, a man bets his fortune that he can travel around the world in 80 days. The hijinks along the way don’t always give a fair shake to other cultures, but it gives a glimpse into just how globalized the world already was.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chocolate Touch </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Patrick Skene Catling</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A modern take on the ancient Greek story about King Midas and his lust for gold. In this case, it’s a boy who just can’t get enough chocolate. It reads like an extended </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Piggle Wiggle </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">story. Lukas hung around for most of the reading too.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three of the more memorable short stories: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Red-Headed League</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Speckled Band</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Copper Beeches</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Three Musketeers (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Alexandre Dumas</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A swashbuckling adventure story. What I like about these Great Illustrated Classics is how they abridge the story but don’t wildly alter the plot. It’s like encountering the story for the first time. For Natalie, it is.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Black Beauty (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Anna Sewell</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The biggest shock to me is that the story is told from the first-person perspective of the horse. It’s a well-told animal story, and it’s no wonder why people consider this a classic.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The House at Pooh Corner </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by A. A. Milne</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will always love the Winnie-the-Pooh films Disney made, particularly </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The books hit me right in the soft spot as I find them to be a beautiful representation of the spirit, heart, and mind of a six-year-old. There’s a unique mixture of joy and silliness at that age that older children lack, and I’m afraid Natalie will grow out of it too soon. I’ll have to save these books for when I have grandchildren someday.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matilda </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Roald Dahl</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never read anything by Dahl until I became an adult and my children came home with his books from school. They have a very English black humor that might be too heavy if not played as comedy. Somehow it works.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chitty Chitty Bang Bang </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Ian Fleming</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The creator of James Bond dabbled in children’s literature. If you only know the film, you don’t know the story of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chitty Chitty Bang Bang</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. There is a little overlap at the beginning, but the main plot is very different.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the Shores of Silver Lake </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Laura Ingalls Wilder</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Little House</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> series taking place just before </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Long Winter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This is when the family tries homesteading again.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">White Fang (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Jack London</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We read </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Call<br /> of the Wild</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last year, so it seemed fitting to read this one. Still, London’s stories are brutal, even in this children’s edition.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Captains Courageous (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Rudyard Kipling</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A wealthy, aristocratic boy falls overboard from an ocean liner and ends up in a fishing boat. When no one believes that he comes from money, he’s forced to earn his keep until the ship will return to port at the end of the season. It’s another of those classic stories about someone separated from a life of privilege and having to learn the value of hard work and humility. I’m surprised it’s not been turned into a big-budget movie yet.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Last of the Mohicans (Great Illustrated Classics) </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by James Fenimore Cooper </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I loved Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal of Hawkeye in the 1992 film. It’s too violent for my children, but the Great Illustrated Classics version is appropriate for a younger audience. This story set during the French and Indian War is amazing (and amazingly long in the unabridged edition).</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To Abby, Lukas, and Natalie</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Charles Dickens</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I make a point of reading this every year at Christmas. This is the second year I read it to my children.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Red Pyramid </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Rick Riordan</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first in a trilogy based on Egyptian mythology. It’s from the author of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Percy Jackson</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> series and has a similar vibe. My favorite part of the book is a brief mention of Moses — “The only foreigner to defeat the House [Pharaoh’s magicians] in a magic duel” (p. 161). Although the series is a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harry Potter</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">-like fantasy, it gives some insight into the worldview of a people who appear frequently in the Bible.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-48370002766858371792023-01-04T09:25:00.000-05:002023-01-04T09:25:06.023-05:00Every book I read in 2022<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7Gkt82KLLAuKExcOkZ83xeEpG9N5MYAh6piNbnqviFNw7s16cGdyxsKZ1ucGq0FzxcNvrI46ql1CJGX3hJVjIQDn6uaSy0OrOw831lNlIdKSIlmxdK_yIU8harI2q4thA-lGvor8Dm90AWxpDsG20qniCQ8bBZgXZ2jiCxdJ9W0EBMD82QThTaB_Xg/s608/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-04%20at%209.22.35%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="608" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7Gkt82KLLAuKExcOkZ83xeEpG9N5MYAh6piNbnqviFNw7s16cGdyxsKZ1ucGq0FzxcNvrI46ql1CJGX3hJVjIQDn6uaSy0OrOw831lNlIdKSIlmxdK_yIU8harI2q4thA-lGvor8Dm90AWxpDsG20qniCQ8bBZgXZ2jiCxdJ9W0EBMD82QThTaB_Xg/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-01-04%20at%209.22.35%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">My aim for 2022 was to write a book, which meant reading a lot of old books, academic papers, and so forth. I’m not including all of that material in the list below. Although I’ve been a little distracted from writing with the move to Ohio and transition to full-time pastoral ministry, Lord willing, I’ll make more progress this year.</span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For now, here is my list. Items marked with a headphone icon (🎧) were audiobooks. The books I read to my children are in another post.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Complete Sherlock Holmes </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This 58-hour audiobook contains every story written by Doyle and is a delight to the ears. Simon Vance is one of the best narrators I’ve ever heard. This was my third time working through the complete collection, and I finished it in January after having started it in 2021.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Medieval Christianity: A New History </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Kevin Madigan</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to familiarize myself with the context into which the Protestant Reformers were born. This was a helpful reminder of how far the church had strayed from its New Testament roots by the end of the middle ages.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Church History in Plain Language, Fifth Edition </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Bruce L. Shelley</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From Christ to the Covid pandemic and a lot of stuff in between. There was a little too much on the Covid pandemic given how speculative it is to assign it much significance in all of church history (I don’t recall the author commenting on the black death or the Spanish flu). Then again, they have to justify a fifth edition somehow, right?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Knowing Sin</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Mark Jones</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A few minor quirks aside, this is a great book about what the Bible teaches about sin as well as how Christians throughout history, particularly the Puritans, have understood it.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone Can Do Anything</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Plague and I</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Onions in the Stew </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Betty MacDonald</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The author of the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">books also wrote some autobiographical humor books too. It’s fascinating to learn about life during the first half of the 20th century, especially during the Great Depression. I’m typically more surprised by what hasn’t changed than by what has.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Heretics and Believers: A History of the English Reformation </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Peter Marshall</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I listened to this to become familiar with the events of the English Reformation, something extremely important for my ongoing book project.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Time Traveller's Guide to Elizabethan England </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Ian Mortimer</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you were planning to visit England during the second half of the 16th century, this would be the book to read beforehand. It gives a helpful overview of the period, correcting modern misconceptions, and bringing to light interesting and sometimes humorous snapshots of things that happened during the reign of Elizabeth I.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Bessel van der Kolk</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read something about being “trauma-informed” and this book was recommended reading. There are some good insights and some that I would reject entirely. If I’ve learned anything about the practice of psychology, it’s that it largely subscribes to a philosophy of pragmatism. That also leaves it subject to the spirit of the age, as the author laments.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">William Perkins (Bitesize Biographies)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Joel Beeke and Stephen Yuille</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the more influential pastors and theologians during the English Reformation. There was surprisingly little about his life. The focus was on his writings and teachings.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spain: The Centre of the World 1519-1682 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Robert Goodwin</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I wanted to get a grasp of what was going on through about 1610, so I only listened to the first 15 hours of the book. Thoroughly enjoyable, I will probably get through the rest of it once I have more time of just “pleasure listening.”</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">40 Questions about Prayer</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Joseph C. Harrod</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I really like the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">40 Questions </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">series, but this wasn’t my favorite. I learned a few things and definitely benefitted from the read, but there are a lot of books on prayer.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imprudent King: A New Life of Philip II </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Geoffrey Parker</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This king of Spain was a significant actor on the world stage in the second half of the 16th century. Anglophiles will remember him as husband to “Bloody” Mary Tudor and adversary to Elizabeth I.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Armada </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Garrett Mattingly</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An older work that explores the leadup to the failed invasion of England and its aftermath.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Living by Revealed Truth: The Life and Pastoral Theology of Charles Haddon Spurgeon</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Tom Nettles</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started this massive volume last year and finally finished it in October. Having read the four-part autobiography of Spurgeon completed by his wife after his death, this covers a lot of the same ground but with additional sources from others who knew him as well as material from his sermons and writings.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emperor: A New Life of Charles V </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Geoffrey Parker</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most Protestants are aware that Charles V oversaw the Diet of Worms where Martin Luther gave his bold response to charges of heresy. He was also the ruler of the largest empire of its time, including Spain (he was Philip II’s father).</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Completion of C.S. Lewis</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Harry Lee Poe</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The third and final volume of a biography of the man who gave us </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Chronicles of Narnia</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mere Christianity</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Screwtape Letters</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and much more. Each volume in the biography is worth reading (and re-reading). In 2020, I said </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Becoming C.S. Lewis </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was the best book I had read all year. In 2021, I said </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Making of C.S. Lewis </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">was the best book I had read all year. True to form, I can say the same for this one in 2022.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Not Be a Broke Pastor</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by S. L. Potts</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do I really need to say anything about this?</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Honest Evangelism</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Rico Tice</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A short book that doesn’t pretend that sharing your faith isn’t hard. A good word of encouragement.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Out of My Mind </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Richard Armour</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A humor book from the early 1970s. The author revels in puns. One of the things I most appreciate is how humor and the stories he tells give a lot of insight into how people thought and acted in a prior generation.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Trial of the 16th Century: Century: Calvin & Servetus </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Jonathan Moorhead</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most people know little about John Calvin apart from the fact that he had Servetus burned at the stake for heresy… except that isn’t exactly what happened. The book explains what led up to the infamous execution and sets the record straight about Calvin’s involvement.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lectures to My Students </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by C. H. Spurgeon</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spurgeon ran a pastor’s college in the late 1800s. One of his students took down his lectures, and they were eventually published. I've read the book before, but wanted a refresher as a new pastor myself!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Life of Elijah </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by A. W. Pink</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some books I read for learning information. Other books I read because of the encouragement they provide. This one is a great source of both. Read on the recommendation of my mother-in-law.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Christmas Carol </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Charles Dickens</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every December, I read (or listen to) this book. The audiobook is read by Tim Curry.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ongoing:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m always reading at least one book, if not more. Here’s what I haven’t quite finished yet.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acts: 6 Volumes in 3 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Martyn Lloyd-Jones</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been slowly working through this large collection of sermons by the famous Welsh pastor. It takes about 30 minutes to make 1% progress on my Kindle, and I only read every once in a while. I expect it will take a few years to finish.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calvin's Tormentors: Understanding the Conflicts That Shaped the Reformer </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Gary W Jenkins</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The subtitle says it all.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon, Volume VII</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got this as a review copy. It’s the last in a multi-volume series taken from some notebooks Spurgeon kept during the first few years. Even as a young man, Spurgeon could preach!</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Four Portaits, One Jesus </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(🎧) by Mark L. Strauss</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ff49c88d-7fff-d21e-84f8-5af1700f4c44"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An academic treatment of the four Gospels.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-9340562030432461112022-12-02T14:17:00.004-05:002022-12-02T14:17:56.282-05:00Why I left a rewarding career to become a pastor<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLn2FXk04cZyS2jm2jhyHZe94HMiul6wKNwkyqajuMvkk9f6wiGzsbtko2JmZzbg5jpVdbVjnZwPvjUv4KJHAiLyItVtr_GeWs_etha4K39k3HGZaTBFYt_A7EmIkzvHkScTMGCH9I9L63c3iXyMVnIPrZohB0oLO7NqaR6kLxyjpKN31Tv79_9QvoA/s2240/Blogger.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="2240" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLn2FXk04cZyS2jm2jhyHZe94HMiul6wKNwkyqajuMvkk9f6wiGzsbtko2JmZzbg5jpVdbVjnZwPvjUv4KJHAiLyItVtr_GeWs_etha4K39k3HGZaTBFYt_A7EmIkzvHkScTMGCH9I9L63c3iXyMVnIPrZohB0oLO7NqaR6kLxyjpKN31Tv79_9QvoA/s320/Blogger.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Leaving a rewarding and promising career with the Federal Government to pursue full-time service as a pastor requires some explanation. After all, I loved my job and was pretty good at it. I had excellent benefits, including vacation, insurance, and retirement. I even admire and respect my colleagues and management. My wife had a good job, we have close friendships we’ve developed over the last decade and a half, and our children were happy with their school. We even had ways of serving in our local church.</span><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-27023e19-7fff-5514-8800-6ce4a08e3cff"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So why would I do it? Why would I leave all that to become a pastor?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During the interview process with Beavercreek Baptist Church, somebody specifically asked me, “Why would you give up a GS-13 to come </span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">?” This is how I responded:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I believe Jesus’ words when he said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.” (Luke 18:29–30 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CSB</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am doing this “because of the kingdom of God.” God has blessed me beyond measure by drawing me to himself and granting me grace, peace, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. We all have sinned — violated God’s standards of goodness and justice — and face the prospect of an eternity separated from him in hell. Because Jesus was fully God and fully man, he lived a perfect life and willingly died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve. By raising him from the dead, God vindicated his sacrifice and offers forgiveness to all who will come to Jesus to receive it. That’s what I did.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the years, God has equipped me to serve him as a pastor. By making this transition to full-time ministry, I can dedicate myself more to sharing the good news about Jesus with others and leading his people in promoting God’s kingdom.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am doing this because I believe Jesus’ promise about the reward. He said that anyone who gives up something for the kingdom of God (specifically houses and family) will receive “many times more” and “eternal life.” That does not mean that my bank account balances and investments will be worth more at retirement than if I had stayed in the Federal Government. God could do it, but that’s not what he promised, and that’s not my hope.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There may be some fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in this life — indeed, we’ve already seen some material blessings come we had not expected — but I believe the fullness of <span id="docs-internal-guid-0aa4accc-7fff-489a-08a4-c8889eda7e6a"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Jesus’</span></span> promise will come after this mortal life is over. By “giving up” now, I will be better off then. If I didn’t</span> believe Jesus’ words, I couldn’t step away from such a wonderful career. If I am staking my eternity on the truthfulness of the statement “Jesus died for my sins and God raised him from the dead,” I can give up things now in the hope of a greater reward in heaven.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lest I be misunderstood, please understand that being a pastor does not make me better than someone in a secular career. I believe God has called me to this ministry, and I am trying to be obedient to that call. God calls the majority of people to pursue successful secular careers — everyone is called to honest work so that we may have “something to share with anyone in need.” (Ephesians 4:48 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CSB</span><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not everyone is called to be a pastor. But everyone must believe in Jesus to be forgiven of their sins and enter into a right relationship with God. If you have not turned to him, if you are not actively involved in the community Jesus created — his church — I encourage you to reach out to me. I’d love to talk.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to follow my life and ministry, please </span><a href="https://andrewwencl.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">bookmark</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> this blog, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/a.wencl" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">friend me</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on Facebook, or visit the </span><a href="https://www.mybbc.org/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">website</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of Beavercreek Baptist Church. You can also send me an email at</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pastor Andrew @ mybbc.org (no spaces)</span></p></span></span>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6190525055104982309.post-77880823774229861062022-11-13T15:40:00.003-05:002022-11-13T15:40:44.686-05:0040 Questions about Women in Ministry [review]<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1k8QyI8LgWF_ba4W-l2m2JfQXtu57yfCcjEawmD9eczTOIGaEJfBkWXarn9HxKlxXp-K1aIMF3x3R7HXKjAfOxyoKvGmr7yn0NKEBySQ4r-ENGibPIirAQvzE7l2Rz-7Gc0iBAt_SEwzc74HCVIbVOPbZ_T5DxDJfmcY2S5z7WmLO1r_zXRsQiQtNA/s627/40questionswomen.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1k8QyI8LgWF_ba4W-l2m2JfQXtu57yfCcjEawmD9eczTOIGaEJfBkWXarn9HxKlxXp-K1aIMF3x3R7HXKjAfOxyoKvGmr7yn0NKEBySQ4r-ENGibPIirAQvzE7l2Rz-7Gc0iBAt_SEwzc74HCVIbVOPbZ_T5DxDJfmcY2S5z7WmLO1r_zXRsQiQtNA/s320/40questionswomen.jpeg" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love the <span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">40 Questions </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">book series from Kregel. Each book is like a one-volume course or seminar on its respective subject matter. I was offered a chance to review an advance copy of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">40 Questions about Women in Ministry </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">by Sue Edwards and Kelley Mathews, so I jumped at the chance. </span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it comes to women in ministry, there are two broad camps that people fall into — complementarian and egalitarian. The first holds that God has distinct roles for men and women in the church, whereas the second believes that women can do anything men can do in the church (specifically preach and serve as pastor). The authors immediately had me raising my eyebrow when they dedicated their first chapter to explaining why they were dispensing with the established terms “complementarian“ and “egalitarian“ in favor of “hierarch” and “heterarch,” which they use throughout the rest of the book.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To reject the terms that people have chosen (or adopted) to refer to their position because the authors “believe that neither term accurately reflects the core difference between these two groups” (pg. 29) strikes me as presumptuous. It would be like writing a book about Calvinism and Arminianism, but refusing to use these well-established labels.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The authors use their made-up terms in order to present themselves as either a neutral third party or perhaps a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">via media</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (middle way), but considering how broad they say these two camps are, it’s a little disingenuous to pretend they don’t fit within either camp. It did not take long for me to notice that the authors were harder on the complementarian (“hierarch”) side and soft-pedaling issues in the egalitarian (“heterarch”) camp. I even asked my wife to read a section and tell me what she thought. Without prompting, she said that the authors were favoring the egalitarian view.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here’s an example of some criticism leveled at the complementarian view:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We believe </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">in most cases hierarchs [complementarians] don’t skip over the biblical women passages intentionally or out of malice. Many simply don’t find them interesting or valuable enough to warrant the work</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, just like the young preacher who couldn’t find the need to include Rahab as an illustration in his sermon—even though the Holy Spirit, through James, did. (pg. 129, emphasis mine)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They also presented the ESV as a sectarian Bible translation:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fellow </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">hierarchs [complementarians] who teamed up to produce the English Standard Version (ESV)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> believed so strongly that the woman’s desire for her husband and 3:16 referred to a power struggle, rather than sexual desire, that they </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">interpreted the Hebrew to match their belief</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: rather than translating the Hebrew preposition </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">el </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as “to/toward/for,” they chose to render it “contrary to.” (pg. 89, emphasis mine)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the New Testament passages that indicate the pastorate is limited to qualified men, the authors tended to argue that Paul was addressing a specific issue in a specific church in a specific culture that is not analogous to us in the present day. However, by the end of the book, the authors were all but admitting they held to the egalitarian view:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a heterarchical [egalitarian] structure tends to give women a more authentic voice at the leadership table</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, as my student learned, it’s no guarantee. The core issue is about respect, women’s value, and a belief that God created men and women to serve together as brothers and sisters in God’s family and church. (pg. 298, emphasis mine)</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While there was much in the book I could agree with, I wish the authors had acknowledged at the beginning what was apparent throughout — they are writing from the egalitarian side. They may not like the labels and think of themselves as a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">via media</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but a third way they are not.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2895c173-7fff-400f-30ba-3e0fe21fb096"></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disclosure of material connection: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of providing this review.</span></span></p>Wenclhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18239996919317068041noreply@blogger.com0