tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16612612472912123782024-02-19T08:18:37.430-06:00Beneath the CrustMan shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the Mouth of God
-Matthew 4:4Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.comBlogger1023125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-51009673044000764042018-12-07T17:57:00.000-06:002018-12-07T17:57:56.576-06:00Top 10 Books--2018<br />
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Every December, I put out a list of what I consider to be the
best books I have read during the previous year. I generally read over 100
books each year, and not surprisingly, the quality varies. As an aside, I would
comment that I no longer feel guilty for setting a book aside that isn’t
stirring me at the moment. Often, I will come back later and it will settle on
me more strongly. For example, yesterday I finished reading Robert Bly’s <i>Iron John</i>, a book I had previously
attempted on 3 occasions. People often will ask me for recommendations on what
to read and these top ten lists are often a good place to start. </div>
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10) <i>Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump </i>by John Fea (2018)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Believe Me</i> was written by John Fea, an evangelical and
historian who writes on his blog about the “intersection of American history, religion,
politics, and academic life.” <i>Believe Me</i> deals with Trump-era conservativism
including several important issues to consider, such as evangelical politics of
fear and what President Trump means by “great again.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fea calls evangelicals to hope,
humility, and history. Fea captures several reasons why I am in the 19 percent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9) <i>My Name is Asher Lev</i> by Chaim Potok (1972)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Written in 1972, Potok told the story of Asher Lev, a Hasidic Jewish boy living in New York City. His family is deeply immersed in
the Jewish culture, not only locally, but nationally and internationally. His
father works for the “Rebbe,” who is essentially the head of their order.
Asher, however, appears to be an artistic genius from an early age. He is compelled to paint, even when discouraged from doing so. What makes
this story so compelling is the way that Potok wrote of the tension between
Father and Son, between their fundamentalism and Asher’s gifting. Though 46
years old, the book has lost none of its beauty. <o:p></o:p></div>
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8) <i>Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher,
and Christ Follower</i> by Gary Moon (2018) <o:p></o:p></div>
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I do not read a lot of biographies, but I was excited for
this one. Dallas Willard, who died in 2013, is one of my spiritual heroes.
Willard also had a deep impact upon the author, Gary Moon. Moon clearly did his research,
introducing us to Willard as a young man and tracing his history up through his
death. Willard came from meager roots, instilled with a strong work ethic;
however, he was also gifted with a remarkable intellect. Moon commented that there
are few geniuses, but he believes Willard was one. Willard became a Southern
Baptist pastor, but ultimately became a tenured philosophy professor at USC. He
stated that he had clearly heard God say that if he became a pastor, the
universities would be closed to him, but if he entered the university, both the
university and the church would be open. Some of my favorite books have been
written by Willard, and Moon’s biography is a welcome addition. <o:p></o:p></div>
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7) <i>Dignity Revolution: Reclaiming God’s Rich Vision for
Humanity </i>by Daniel Darling (2018)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been discouraged with how frequently we humans do not
treat one another with dignity. It seems that in our social media culture,
conversations are increasingly charged with sarcasm, name calling, and
devaluing of others. I have frequently said that we have a tendency to treat
people from other groups as less valuable. Darling wrote about these issues I
have been thinking about with clarity, dignity, and courage. He tackles not
just one, but many, pet issues that we hold dearly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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6) <i>Stumbling Toward Wholeness: How the Love of God Changes
Us</i> by Andrew Bauman (2018)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I read a lot of books about wholeness. I believe that our
sanctification is deeply, if not principally, a journey toward becoming whole.
This year I read two other wonderful volumes about wholeness including <i>Whole </i>by
Steve Wiens and <i>Wholeheartedness </i>by Chuck DeGroat, whose book was on my top 10
list in 2016. I also tried to read <i>Wholeness and that Implicate Order </i>by David
Bohm, which was a challenge. Regardless, Bauman writes with honesty about what wholeness
looks like. I laughed, I cried, I cheered…literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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3) <i>Devotions: The Selected Poems</i> of Mary Oliver (2017)<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a stunning anthology of poems written by the
incomparable Mary Oliver. A Pulitzer-prize winning poet, her works spans
several decades and this might be the finest collection of her work. If you are
reluctant to try poetry, this may be a wonderful place to start.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4) <i>The Hidden Life: Awakened</i> by Kitty Crenshaw and Catherine
Snapp (2016)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>The Hidden Life</i> is another biography of sorts. It tells the
story of Betty Skinner’s spiritual journey from dark night to wisdom. A woman
now in her 90s, Betty was hospitalized for several months for depression when
she was in her 40s. Her doctor had told her that she "had a hole in her soul." Slowly,
she began to explore her own soul and her own needs, ultimately becoming a
mentor to others. I actually read this book twice this year. I read an earlier
version first in March. I contacted one of the authors and asked if the newer
version, which was retitled, was the same book. She told me that a few sections—specifically
about neuroscience—were added, but it was otherwise very similar. She then
graciously sent me the new version, which I read two months later and liked just as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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3) <i>Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of
Setbacks and Difficult People</i> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Bob
Goff (2018)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In 2015, <i>Love Does </i>by Bob Goff was my favorite book. I told
my friend Mark that if I ever wrote a book, <i>Love Does</i> was the kind of book I
would hope to write. <i>Everybody, Always </i>is no different. Goff is a captivating,
humorous writer. He lives life on the edge, taking risks, and doing great big
things under the heading of “love.” I come away from his essays with renewed
energy and a desire to love better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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2) <i>Courage, Dear Heart: Letters to a Weary World</i> by Rebecca
Reynolds (2018)<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of my favorite places on the Interwebs is “the Rabbit
Room Chinwag,” a community of nearly 2000 creatives who discuss things
like beauty, goodness, and Gargan rockroaches. My first exposure to Reynolds was
through the Rabbit Room, where she is a frequent fixture. She had written an
essay for one volume of the <i>Molehill</i>, which is an anthology of poetry, stories,
art, and recipes from a variety of Rabbit Room folks. I remember telling my
wife how blown away I was by that essay and read section of it to her. When I
heard she was writing a book, I couldn’t wait for its release. I don’t think I
was alone. Shortly after it was published, many online sources—including Amazon—ran
out of copies. <o:p></o:p></div>
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On Goodreads, I had this to say about <i>Courage, Dear Heart</i>: “I cannot speak highly
enough about this book. Reynolds writes with intelligence, humility, and heart.
She writes about the human condition not as an intellectual treatise, but as
one who has seen it, who has lived it. She is a storyteller, through and
through. I do not know which of the letters is my favorite, but I resonated
deeply with several of them, perhaps a letter to the fearful, a letter to those
living in chaos, or a letter to the disillusioned. I hope she doesn’t stop
here; the world needs more storytellers like her.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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1) <i>Schema of a Soul: What Kind of Love is Stronger than Death?</i> by Kimberlye Berg (2013) <o:p></o:p></div>
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This book blew me away. I described it on my blog as one of
the most beautiful books I had ever read. In it, Berg tells the story of the
loss of her son, Michael, and the subsequent journey through the pain. In my
review, I wrote, “It is a memoir. A eulogy. A love letter to her husband. A
confession. A prayer. Poetic. Raw. Honest. Tragic. And beautiful all the same.
She treasures words.” I cried half a dozen times. Schema is one of the best books I have
read. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Honorable Mention</u></div>
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<i>The Power of Vulnerability: Authenticity, Connection, and Courage</i> by Brene Brown (2013)</div>
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Brene Brown is one of my favorite authors. If you are unfamiliar with Brown, she is a college social work professor who blew up the Internet with her 2010 TEDxHouston talk "The Power of Vulnerability," which according to the TED website is the 4th most popular TED talk ever given, now standing at more than 37 million views. She has written several great books, but listening to her is an even greater treat. The 6 hour, 30 minute audio brings together her work on shame, authenticity, courage, and connection. I've listened to it several times, and I have no doubt I will listen again. </div>
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Previous top 10 lists<br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2017/12/top-ten-books-of-2017.html">2017</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2016/12/top-ten-books-of-2016.html">2016</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2015/12/my-top-ten-books-of-2015.html">2015</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2014/12/my-top-ten-books-of-2014.html">2014</a></li>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2013/12/books-of-year-2013.html">2013 </a>(only 5 for some reason)</li>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2012/12/best-books-of-2012.html">2012</a></li>
<li>2011--skipped it</li>
<li><a href="https://docsdining.blogspot.com/2010/07/2010-book-list.html">2010</a></li>
</ul>
Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-88036254499626596242018-08-09T07:59:00.000-05:002018-08-09T07:59:11.083-05:00Book Review: How Joyful People ThinkIn <a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Joyful-People-Think-Thinking/dp/0801075750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533818914&sr=8-1&keywords=Jamie+Rasmussen">How Joyful People Think</a> (Baker, 2018), pastor Jamie Rasmussen explores eight elements of right thinking derived from Philippians 4:8, which reads "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything of excellence, if there is anything that is worthy of praise, think about these things" (ESV). Rasmussen suggests that in this passage, Paul has given us a path to joy in the way that we think. <br />
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There were several things I appreciated about Rasumssen's book. First, as a pastor, there is assuredly a pastoral heart behind his writing. He desires his readers to not only understand this verse, but to take it within themselves, to have it become a part of who they are and how they live. Second, in the case of the eight traits, he explores the original Greek words, including their usage and meaning. I particularly appreciated his exploration of the word "whatever," whose meaning has morphed even in the last 60 years. The author desires that his readers understand authorial intent. Third, like me, Rasmussen has been influenced by our friend Larry Crabb, so the relational nature of these traits comes through loud and clear. <br />
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On the whole, I would happily recommend this book. We need books that explore and try to understand what the Bible is actually saying and to live in that reality. <br />
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<i>I received a copy of this book in exchange for my review. The opinions expressed here are my own. </i>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-320841993571152982018-07-07T08:58:00.000-05:002018-07-07T08:58:32.490-05:00Book Review: Believe Me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had seen John Fea's book, <u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Me-Evangelical-Donald-Trump/dp/0802876412/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530971629&sr=8-1&keywords=believe+me">Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump</a></u> (2018), featured on Eerdman's Facebook and Twitter feeds. I had never heard of him, but there was enough present in those short social media posts to intrigue me. Fea is an evangelical and chair of the history department at Messiah College in Pennsylvania, a historian who writes about "the intersection of American history, religion, politics, and academic life" (from his blog), no doubt appropriate preparation for writing a book of this sort.<br />
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In <u>Believe Me</u>, Fea explores Donald Trump's popularity among American evangelicals--81% of them anyway. Along the way, he addresses the inconsistencies that many conservative religious leaders have demonstrated over time in their responses to different presidents, Clinton and Trump, for example, giving an unlimited pass to one while wanting to burn the other at the stake. Fea shared this example from a 1998 letter from James Dobson (a Trump supporter) questioning Clinton's morality: <i>"As it turns out character DOES matter. You can't run a family, let alone a country, without it. How foolish to believe that a person who lacks honesty and moral integrity is qualified to lead a nation and the world! Nevertheless, our people continue to say that the President is doing a good job even if they don't respect him personally. Those two positions are fundamentally incompatible. In the book of James, the question is posed 'Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?' (James 3:11, NIV). The answer is no."</i> In my opinion, those who fail to see the hypocrisy in this statement are blind.<br />
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When Fea wrote of "the evangelical politics of fear," I resonated with the phrase. I think he is right when he suggests that fear drives many of the political viewpoints and voting practices among evangelicals. We place our hope not in God, the All-Sovereign, but in compromised earthly powers, especially those who tell us what to be afraid of and how they are the only ones who can fix it. The fear-mongering is reminiscent of Richard Dreyfuss's Senator Rumson in 1995's <i>The American President</i>. I was grateful that Fea is a historian; he was able to trace the roots of these fears to the 17th century up into the 21st century, with particular attention to the civil rights movement.<br />
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His thoughts on Trump's slogan, "Make America Great Again," were also beneficial. He commented that as a historian, he was less interested in the definition of great than what Trump means by the word again. To what era is Trump referring? And from whose perspective? It remains nebulous. Fea rightly draws the distinction between history and nostalgia, noting that "nostalgia is closely related to fear." Fea writes, "Sometimes evangelicals will seek refuge from change in a Christian past that never existed in the first place. At other times they will try to travel back to a Christian past that did exist--but, like the present, was compromised by sin."<br />
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In his conclusion, Fea calls evangelicals to three things: hope, not fear; humilty, not power; and history, not nostaligia.<br />
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I found <u>Believe Me</u> to be an insightful, timely book and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Unfortunately, I suspect most of the 81% will not even consider reading it; it's something that Trump would quickly dismiss as "fake news." As Americans, we tend to prefer political propaganda propagated by Twitter, Facebook, and our preferred news networks than actually digging in, with humility, to consider what might be true. As Christians, whose primary citizenship is in an eternal kingdom, we cannot afford to do this any longer.<br />
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I cannot think of a better way to conclude this book than with the quote that first intrigued me: <b>"The Court Evangelicals have decided that what Donald Trump can give them is more valuable than the damage their Christian witness will suffer because of their association with the president."</b><br />
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This is a really important book. Believe me.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-19106187467860148262018-02-01T16:07:00.000-06:002018-02-01T16:07:25.982-06:00Book Review: The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spend a lot of time reading and thinking about John 13-17, the upper room discourse. It is arguably my favorite section of scripture. It shows the intimacy of Jesus with his disciples at a depth that we do not find elsewhere in the scriptures. John was inspired to recollect this evening meal with detail we do not get to see in many places. I like to envision what that dinner and conversation looked like, what everyone felt.<br />
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D.A. Carson chose to explore this section in great detail as well, devoting over 200 pages to Jesus' Farewell discourse in his new book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Farewell-Discourse-Final-Prayer-Jesus/dp/0801075904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517521973&sr=8-1&keywords=farewell+discourse+and+final+prayer">The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus</a> (Baker, 2018). Carson's exposition focuses on chapters 14 to 17, though in the prologue, he starts with chapter 13. <br />
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As I began reading the prologue, I was immediately drawn in to Carson's wording. I felt a kindred spirit as he envisioned the upper room as I have so often done. He effectively places the reader right there in the midst of the thirteen men. I was hoping for that sort of magic (forgive me, that seems to be the best-fitting word) throughout the remainder of the book. It was there, but less present. <br />
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Carson is undoubtedly a master exegete. His capacity to examine a text and help us to see what is actually being communicated is remarkable. In this book, he identifies details and themes that most people, perhaps even those with theological training, might miss. He explores Christ in community--with his disciples, and with the rest of the Trinity.<br />
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On the whole, a person interested in developing a much deeper understanding of the farewell discourse could do worse than Carson. My criticisms are few and perhaps idiosyncratic. As I mentioned above, I wish the imagery presented in the prologue would have persisted with greater consistency, though that likely would have changed the nature of the book. Second, Carson's vocabulary may make this book inaccessible to many readers, unless they are willing to read with a dictionary at hand. Come to think of it, that is probably a wise practice to consider.<br />
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<i>I received a review copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for my review. The viewpoints presented above are my own. </i>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-87605793208171901382018-01-26T10:22:00.001-06:002019-11-26T09:44:41.696-06:00Book Review: Life Without Lack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On May 8th 2013, Dallas Willard died of cancer and the world lost a great thinker and writer. Although a philosophy professor at USC by profession, he was perhaps more widely known (and certainly in the evangelical subculture) for his published works regarding Christian spiritual formation. Interestingly, I once heard him say that he never set out to write a book; a remarkable statement for one whose books have been so influential.<br />
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Often, when the world loses a well-respected author, one grieves their death, but also laments the realization that there will likely be no more published works. Occasionally, a posthumous publication may appear; for example, Jerry Bridges' beneficial <i>The Blessing of Humility</i>. But in Dallas's case--due in large part to a large corpus of unpublished works and the perseverance of his family and friends to see his works come to light--new books continue to appear. I'm grateful.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thomasnelson.com/life-without-lack"><i>Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 </i></a>(2018) is the latest offering. In the book's preface, Larry Burtoft wrote, "Twenty-six years ago, I was introduced to the possibility of a life in which I was never in need. Of anything. At any time. From anyone. A life that knows no fear or fluster. No anxiety or angst. No perturbation of any sort. It was, in short, the offer of a life with lack" (p. vii). Burtoft goes on to talk about how this book was born out of an 8-week study of Psalm 23.<br />
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The book's 200 plus pages progress through eight chapters in addition to some supplementary material. Willard writes of the importance of renewing the mind to truly live into the reality of a glorious, all-sustaining God as an essential characteristic of the Christian life. One of the sentences that captured me early on was this: "One of our greatest needs today is for people to <i>really </i>see and <i>really </i>believe the things they already profess to see and believe." As I thought about the importance of renewing our minds, the truth of that sentence landed hard upon me. Do I merely give assent to the truths of God, or do I live my life, fully and completely, as though those truths matter? Willard unapologetically believed that what God said in His word could actually change our lives, not only that we could live a little less anxiously or angrily, but that we could live without anxiety, without anger. In other words, we could live a life without lack.<br />
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Through the book, he carefully explores what a Psalm 23 life could look like. There is no naivete here; he addresses the threats to this peaceable life. His discussion of "Satan's Three Weapons of Temptation" in chapter 4 was exceptional. I was particularly struck by the ways in which he connected these three weapons described in 1 John 2:16, with the temptations of Eve and Jesus. He made a three way connection that I had never even considered before, but seems clear and accurate.<br />
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However, Dallas did not stop with these three weapons, but went on in the latter chapters to describe "the three things that must be working in us before we can truly experience the sufficiency of God: faith, death to self, and agape love," devoting a chapter to each. In the final chapter, he lays out the practicalities of living this way. I was particularly appreciative of his plan for spending a day with Jesus where he identifies several particularities one may wish to consider as they put this life into place.<br />
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As I stopped to reflect upon what I had read, I felt challenged, hopeful, and invigorated. Challenged to consider whether I believe that a life without lack was really possible, hopeful in envisioning that it might be, and invigorated as I ponder how I might put this into practice.<br />
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Though Dallas's earthly life concluded nearly four years ago, his words remain as fresh as ever. If you get a chance, pick this book up and read it. Talk to others about it. And then begin to put it into practice. You never can tell what could happen.<br />
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<i>*I received a proof copy of this book in exchange for my review. All of the viewpoints expressed here are my own. </i>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-46997277491499881522018-01-08T11:52:00.000-06:002018-01-08T11:52:07.197-06:00Review: Called to CreateI was principally drawn to the title of Jordan Raynor's new book. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Called-Create-Biblical-Invitation-Innovate/dp/0801075181/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515433156&sr=8-1&keywords=called+to+create">Called to Create</a> (2017, Baker Books). I have thought a lot recently about the concept of creativity in the Christian life. About a year ago, I instituted something in our home, Family Create Nights, where we would practice expression. I am convinced that part of our nature as God's image bearers is that we are creative, whether that is through art, or some other medium. I was excited about reading more about those ideas in Raynor's book. <br />
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I admit, however, that right off the bat, I was disappointed. The opening chapter was entitled "the first entrepreneur." I was not interested in a book on business, which it appeared this was going to be. By definition, an entrepreneur is "a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risk in order to do so." This is not what I thought I had signed up for as I have almost no interest in business or entrepreneurship. <br />
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Once I moved past my initial confusion, though, I found that there is much to commend this book. Within, Raynor writes extensively about the fact that work is not merely a result of the fall, but that we were created to work. He then tells his readers about how they can work and create in such a way that it gives glory to God. I particularly appreciated his emphasis on keeping God in view. All in all, this was a good book and worth looking into, particularly if you are someone with that entrepreneurial spark.<br />
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<i>I received a review copy of this book from Baker Books in exchange for this review. The viewpoints presented above are my own. </i>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-78195086615903957942017-12-18T09:56:00.002-06:002017-12-18T09:56:54.196-06:00Results of the Unscientific Emotion & church surveyBack in October, I created a brief "Emotions" survey on Survey Monkey. I was trying to get a handle on how people viewed emotions, especially as it came to church life. Someone recently asked me about it, and I thought this would be the easiest way to share the results:<br />
<br />
There were 82 respondents (actually not bad) given where I shared it, etc.<br />
<br />
<b>1. Would you describe yourself as an emotional person? </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Yes definitely (44, 53.6%)</li>
<li>Yes, but only in certain circumstances (32, 39%)</li>
<li>No, I almost never become emotional (6, 7.3%)</li>
<li>I don't know (0, 0%)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>2. Were your parents emotional?</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Yes, they were both emotional (27, 33.3%)</li>
<li>My mother was emotional, but my father was not [or was absent] (25, 30.8%)</li>
<li>Neither of them were emotional (22, 27%)</li>
<li>My father was emotional, but my mother was not [or was absent] (7, 8.6%)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>3. Which of the following statements best describes your understanding of emotion? </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Emotional expression is a sign of healthy psychological functioning (74, 91.4%)</li>
<li>The world would be better off if fewer people expressed their emotions openly (5, 6.2%)</li>
<li>Emotions are a sign of weakness (2, 2.5%)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>4. When other people express strong emotion around me...</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I feel honored that they are willing to open up (54, 66.7%)</li>
<li>Other people's emotions make me mildly uncomfortable (17, 20.1%)</li>
<li>I don't feel any different than normal (7, 8.6%)</li>
<li>Other people's emotions make me extremely uncomfortable and I will escape the situation as soon as possible (3, 3.7%)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>5. When I begin to feel strong emotion...</b><br />
<ul>
<li>I am willing to share with those I trust (55, 68%)</li>
<li>I feel uncomfortable and try to set my mind on something else (16, 20%)</li>
<li>I am willing to share with anyone (9, 11.1%)</li>
<li>I don't experience strong emotion (1, 1.2%)</li>
</ul>
<b>6. The more emotional a person is, the less capable of clear thinking he/she is.</b><br />
<ul>
<li>False (56, 70%)</li>
<li>True (24, 30%)</li>
</ul>
<b>7. A willingness to experience and express strong emotion can improve one's overall psychological health.</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>True (72, 90%)</li>
<li>False (8, 10%)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>8. Which of the following statements do you think best described Jesus's earthly life? </b><br />
<ul>
<li>He experienced strong emotions that he paid attention to along with other psychological capacities (75, 92.6%)</li>
<li>He experienced some strong emotions, but mostly he paid little attention to his emotions (6, 7.4%)</li>
<li>He was never emotional (0, 0%)</li>
<li>He was overly emotional (0, 0%)</li>
</ul>
<b>9. When I think of emotions, I think of them as...</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Neither masculine nor feminine (66, 80.5%)</li>
<li>mostly feminine (16, 19.5%)</li>
<li>mostly masculine (0, 0%)</li>
</ul>
<b>10. Most Christian churches...</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Seem confused by emotions (32, 41%)</li>
<li>Don't pay enough attention to emotion (30, 38.5%)</li>
<li>Discourage emotional expression (10, 12.8%)</li>
<li>Pay too much attention to emotion (6, 7.7%)</li>
</ul>
Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-33124397829450031792017-12-14T12:30:00.001-06:002017-12-14T12:30:49.307-06:00Top Ten Books of 2017<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every December, since 2010, I have put out a list of what I consider to be the best books I read during the year (see the bottom of the page for each of those lists). I typically read between 100 and 150 books each year, some of which rise to the top as particular stand outs. Some books, frankly, sink to the bottom, though I have learned over the years that if I don't particularly like a book, no one will give me detention if I set it aside and don't bother to finish it. So without further ado, here is the 2017 list of best books. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10) <i>Whole Prayer</i> by Walter Wangerin</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am a little surprised that Whole Prayer, now 16 years old, has not been more widely read. Of course there are many books on prayer and it is hard to know where to begin. This one should be amongst those most readily considered. Although Wangerin provides a basic structure--we speak, God listens; God speaks, we listen--it isn't really a prayer manual. Rather, it is a series of reflections about prayer and how we relate to God. Additionally, Wangerin's writing is a delight to the senses. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9) <i>Union with Christ </i>by Rankin Wilbourne<br />In this book, the author explores the important, even essential, doctrine of how we are joined with Christ. Christ is in us, we are in Christ, if we are believers. That is not just an obscure theological maxim, but a living truth that has significant implications for how we live. In fact, there may be fewer things more important than understanding this concept. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">I particularly liked the third chapter, which explores "two songs playing in our heads". One song is the way of extravagant grace, the other the way of radical discipleship. I find myself drawn to both concepts. I love Brennan Manning and I love Dallas Willard. The author demonstrates that these are not mutually exclusive concepts. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8) <i>Recapturing the Wonder </i>by Mike Cosper</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found myself immediately engaged in this book. He writes of a modern faith that has somehow lost its sense of mystery and wonder, a supernatural faith stripped of the "super" and thus becoming mundane. He observes this trend and tells his readers "open your eyes!" I have been trying to communicate this message to fellow believers, and I don't know if the message ever lands. Often, I suspect I am regarded as either a religious nutjob, or simply as kooky. Honestly, I'm okay with those characterizations, but as someone has tasted supernatural wonder, I want to invite others to the same. God's kingdom is so much larger and more glorious than most people ever imagine, and I, like Mike Cosper, want to shout, "come and see! come and see!" </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7) <i>The Pastor's Justification</i> by Jared Wilson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Pastor's Justification is the first of two Wilson books on my list this year. In my review of this book, I noted that Wilson wields a twin blade of theological wisdom and a gift with words. Assuredly, his literary achievement is quite remarkable for anyone, much less someone of his age. If a person were interested in reading through all of an author's books, a worthwhile practice, Wilson would be a good person to consider. Although the title would suggest that this book is targeted to pastors, I think anyone who struggles with the burden of imperfection and who fails to recognize how amazing justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone really is would benefit from this book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6) <i>The Good and Beautiful</i> series by James Bryan Smith</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Smith wrote a series of three books--The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and the Good and Beautiful Community. Perhaps it is unfair to gather all of these together, but it's my list, so I won't apologize. As one might expect, the initial book in the series deals with the goodness and beauty of God, and then, through the other two, translates those ideas into the Christ life. Of the three, my favorite was The Good and Beautiful Life, which addresses character formation by exploring the Sermon on the Mount. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5) <i>Liturgy of the Ordinary</i> by Tish Harrison Warren</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The longer I live the Christian life, the more deeply I appreciate the ways in which some authors are able to connect real life with a life of worship on a deep level. As I look over my list of books for this year, this theme certainly presents itself. In this book, the author is able to connect things like eating meals and arguments with the church's liturgy, and does so with exceptional writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4) <i>As Kingfishers Catch Fire</i> by Eugene Peterson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For people who know me, it is no surprise that Eugene Peterson is one of my favorite authors. I think I have read almost every book he has written though assuredly there are some lesser known volumes that I have not yet encountered. It is a large book by Christian non-fiction standards, 372 pages, consisting of a collection of Peterson's sermons. Initially, this was a disappointment to me, though once I dug in, I was pleasantly surprised. The overarching theme of Kingfishers was the call to congruence, a way of living life that consistently reflects the "with God-life". This is certainly a book I will revisit often. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3) <i>The Jubilee</i> by John Blase</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am fairly certain The Jubilee by John Blase is the only book of poetry I have ever included in my top 10. Although most of my books are shelved in my library in the basement, this book remains out on a display shelf in our living room, with the hope that someone will pick it up and read it. In my longer review in April, I wrote, "An unfortunate truth is that many people avoid poetry, finding it confusing, boring, or perhaps overly sentimental. As a poetry lover, I am never sure where to direct those who might have a spark of interest in poetry. Mary Oliver is certainly good and so is Wendell Berry, yet if I am to be honest, this might well be the first book I recommend now. It is both accessible and fosters wonder." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2) <i>Love Big. Be Well.</i> by Winn Collier</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This book is unusual. It is a series of (fictional) letters written mostly by a pastor, Jonas McAnn, to his congregation. The skillful way in which Collier was able to map real life and real concerns onto a fictional church was remarkable. I found myself caring deeply about the folks in the letters. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1) <i>The Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act Together</i> by Jared Wilson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Undoubtedly, Jared Wilson is one of my favorite authors. Last year I commented that he was one of only two authors who had made my top 10 books list three times or more (the other was Jerry Bridges). As of this year, he stands alone as the author most featured, and with two books no less! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this book, Wilson explored discipleship, but it read differently than most books on the topic. Even when writing about things we may do to grow in Christ, Wilson did not fail to shine a spotlight on God's graciousness. Although the whole book was excellent, this bit from chapter 9 brought me to tears. "When you are in the pit of suffering--on the verge of death, even--Jesus isn't up in heaven simply blasting you down below with some ethereal values. He's not 'sending good thoughts'--or worse, 'good vibes'--your way. No, when you are laid low in the dark well of despair, when the whole world seems to be crashing down on you, when your next breath seems sure to be your last, Christ Jesus is down in the void with you, holding you. He keeps your hand between his own. He offers his breast for your weary head. He whispers the words of comfort a whisker's breath from your ear: 'and behold, I am with you always.' Grace is all-sufficient for weakness and for suffering because Jesus is all-sufficient." I cannot recommend this book highly enough. </span><br />
<br />
<u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2016</u><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">1) <i>The Wingfeather Saga</i> (technically 4 books) by Andrew Peterson</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">2) <i>Living in Christ's Presence </i>by Dallas Willard and John Ortberg</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">3) <i>A Different Kind of Happiness </i>by Larry Crabb</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">4) <i>Wholeheartedness </i>by Chuck DeGroat</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">5) <i>World Enough and Time</i> by Christian McEwen</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">6) <i>The Blessing of Humility</i> by Jerry Bridges</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">7)<i> The Voice Bible</i> by the Ecclesia Bible Society</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">8) <i>The Cry of the Soul</i> by Dan Allender and Tremper Longman</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">9)<i> You are What You Love</i> by James K.A. Smith</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;">10) <i>Letters to a Young Pastor</i> by Calvin Miller</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></span></span>
<u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2015</u><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">1) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Love Does </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Bob Goff</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Allure of Gentleness</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Dallas Willard</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">3) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Pastor</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Eugene Peterson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">A Grace Disguised</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Jerry Sittser</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">5) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">A Loving Life</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Paul Miller</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">6)</span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> Relational Sou</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">l by Rich Plass and Jim Cofield</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">7) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Reversed Thunder</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Eugene Peterson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">8) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Prodigal Church</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Jared Wilson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">9) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Solitary Tales</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Travis Thrasher</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">10) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">hand in Hand: The beauty of God's sovereignty and meaningful human choice</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Randy Alcorn</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2014</u><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">1) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Extravagant Grace</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Barbara Duguid</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by John Ortberg</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">3) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Nabeel Qureshi</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Gospel: How the Church Portrays the Beauty of Christ</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Ray Ortlund Jr.</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">5) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Joy for the World</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Greg Forster</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">6) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Why Sin Matters</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Mark McMinn</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">7) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">What's Best Next? </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Matt Perman</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">8) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Messy Spirituality </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Mike Yaconelli</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">9) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Delighting in the Trinity</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Michael Reeves</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">10) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Jesus Continued... </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by JD Greear</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2013*</u><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">1) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">One Way Love </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Tullian Tchvidjian</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Grace in Addiction</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by John Z</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">3) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Becoming a True Spiritual Community</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Larry Crabb</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Tale of the Toboggans</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Christian Schmidt</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">5) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Prodigal God </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Tim Keller</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">*I only listed 5 in 2013 for some reason.</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2012**</u><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">1) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Anatomy of the Soul </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Curt Thompson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Transforming Power of the Gospel</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Jerry Bridges</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">3) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Not the Way Its Supposed to Be</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Cornelius Plantinga</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Total Truth</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Nancy Pearcey</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">5) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Think Christianly</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Jonathan Morrow</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">6) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Gospel Wakenfulness </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Jared Wilson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">7)</span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> Gospel Deeps</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Jared Wilson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">8) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Explicit Gospel </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Matt Chandler</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">9) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Shame Interrupted </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Ed Welch</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">**Nine? Why nine? What a weird number.</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2011</u><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">***</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">1) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Commentary on Galatians</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Martin Luther</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Stand: A Call for the Endurance of the Saints</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by John Piper and Justin Taylor</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">3) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Give Them Grace</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">How People Change</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">5) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Donald Whitney</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">***Apparently in 2011, I didn't actually put out a list. Why? I am not sure. However, I went back through my list and here are some I would have recommended from that year. Luther on Galatians is an absolute must read for Christians, in my opinion. </span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><u style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2010</u><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">1) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Chosen by God </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by RC Sproul</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">2) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Pilgrim's Progress</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by John Bunyan</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">3) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Ashamed of the Gospel </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by John McArthur</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">4) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Surprised by Grace </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by Tullian Tchvidjian</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">5) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Confessions </i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">by St Augustine</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">6) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">The Pursuit of Holiness</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Jerry Bridges</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">7) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Spectacular Sins</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by John Piper</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">8)</span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> If God is Good</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Randy Alcorn</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">9) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by ND Wilson</span><br style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;" /><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">10) </span><i style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;">Family Driven Faith</i><span style="background-color: #fff6ec; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 17.6px;"> by Voddie Baucham</span>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-81568348230397936152017-11-16T12:23:00.001-06:002017-11-16T12:25:45.917-06:00Book Review: Love Big. Be Well. If it weren't for the high praise offered by John Blase, author of <u>The Jubilee</u>, one of my favorite collections of poetry, I am not sure I would have happened upon this remarkable book. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Love-Big-Be-Well-Small-Town/dp/0802874134/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510856353&sr=8-1&keywords=love+big+be+well&dpID=51zxriXcF5L&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch">Love Big Be Well </a>(2017) by Winn Collier is such a warm and welcome gift. About two-thirds of the way through it, I wrote inside the front cover, "this whole book is a benediction."<br />
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<u>Love Big Be Well</u> offers a unique premise. A disenchanted man, Jonas McAnn, responds to a handwritten letter from a pastoral search committee from Granby Presbyterian Church, ultimately becoming this small town church's pastor. The book is a collection of pastoral letters, which routinely conclude with "Love Big. Be Well. Jonas."<br />
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In these letters, Jonas addresses several aspects of the Christian life, identifying what he sees as marks of true faith and those that seem to be counterfeits of what Jesus actually said with a raw honesty. One of the advantages of using a fictional story like this is the ability to describe one's convictions without seeming self-important.<br />
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Collier also accomplished what I think was an impressive rhetorical feat: I came to care deeply about the members of the church, and especially Don, through the pastor's descriptions in his letters. Fictional letters about fictional characters, and yet I was moved.<br />
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Several times, I found myself longing to read more about Port William, Kentucky, Wendell Berry's fictional small town because in many ways, Collier's book was reminiscent of Berry.<br />
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I certainly see why John Blase endorsed this book. And Eugene Peterson. I am happy to add my unknown name to that list. I will be reading this book again, and likely purchasing copies for others, because I won't want to share mine.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-30714448702001421192017-11-14T12:19:00.001-06:002017-11-14T12:19:48.496-06:00Book Review: Recapturing the WonderI picked up Mike Cosper's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Recapturing-Wonder-Transcendent-Faith-Disenchanted/dp/0830845062/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1510683485&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=recapturing+the+wonder&psc=1">Recapturing the Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World</a> (2017) from the Intervarsity Press table at the AACC world convention along with a few other books. I tucked it in my briefcase and when I got home, shelved it. Thankfully, I didn't forget it was there because this book is excellent.<br />
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I found myself immediately engaged in this book. He writes of a modern faith that has somehow lost its sense of mystery and wonder, a supernatural faith stripped of the "super" and thus becoming mundane. He observes this trend and tells his readers "open your eyes!" I have been trying to communicate this message to fellow believers, and I don't know if the message ever lands. Often, I suspect I am regarded as either a religious nutjob, or simply as kooky. Honestly, I'm okay with those characterizations, but once one has tasted supernatural wonder, he wants to invite others to the same. When one recognizes that God's kingdom is so much larger and more glorious than most people ever imagine, he wants to shout, "come and see! come and see!" <br />
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I cannot commend this book strongly enough. If you find your faith boring, mundane, or disenchanted, please get this book and read it. I don't think you'll regret it. The last page and a half of the book proper (149-150) are alone worth its price.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-34466479288458827272017-10-21T08:15:00.000-05:002017-10-21T08:15:07.186-05:00Ten Statements about emotion <div class="_1dwg _1w_m" style="font-family: inherit; padding: 12px 12px 0px;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">Ten statements about emotion that one will have difficulty supporting biblically:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">1) Emotions are a sign of weakness. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">2) Life would be better if we learned to suppress our emotion.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">3) One cannot be logical and emotional at the same time. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">4) People who express emotion are not thinking clearly. </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><br />5) Emotions are unnecessary.<br />6) Emotions are dangerous.<br />7) Just like Spock, Jesus was unemotional.<br />8) God the Father is unemotional.<br />9) In the process of sanctification, we will become less emotionally expressive.<br />10) Church is not the place for emotion.</span></div>
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Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-23487964822756125842017-10-21T07:46:00.000-05:002017-10-21T07:46:09.441-05:00Soil of the Divine<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU55M5857rIh4XxTbNRsKHlXkYT8-a5506PX6571K9BZqpLlQb7hEgJ9K3-DhKDuBg5kI7GUaoA49ZJ5DVS0eh4oNgemdWKF1-APVFMRMlMeMdpInBQH30GymP21753YJWwKzsHZs060/s1600/IMG_5288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXU55M5857rIh4XxTbNRsKHlXkYT8-a5506PX6571K9BZqpLlQb7hEgJ9K3-DhKDuBg5kI7GUaoA49ZJ5DVS0eh4oNgemdWKF1-APVFMRMlMeMdpInBQH30GymP21753YJWwKzsHZs060/s320/IMG_5288.JPG" width="320" /></a>In late 2016, I began working on a book of poetry based upon the Psalms. Each weekday morning, I would read one of the Psalms, meditate upon it, and see what stirred in my heart, with the goal of writing a poem inspired by each Psalm. Some mornings, words flowed easily; on others, I felt blocked, but each day, I wrote. After finishing the draft, I spent a few months editing and tweaking the poems. Some friends graciously agreed to offer editorial assistance as I neared the end (thank you Briana and Cindy!). I formatted the interior, designed the cover, and ultimately sent it on to publication.<br /><br />Earlier in the week, I received my first case of books. They arrived while I was meeting with 7/8 of my life group. I gathered my children to the basement and subjected them to the grand unveiling. I am grateful they humored me. I sent copies along to a few people, but remained rather tight-lipped. I wanted my mom and my aunt Sandy to see it before I went public with it. They both have their copies, so I am glad to be able to tell you all about it.<br />
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I do hope you will consider reading it. Even if poetry "isn't your thing," my hope is that you might be edified by it. It's available on both Kindle and in paperback (if you know me, you are aware of my preference). You can purchase it directly through the <a href="https://www.createspace.com/7617147">CreateSpace e-store</a> or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Soil-Divine-Jason-Kanz-PhD/dp/1977642470/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1508514292&sr=1-3">Amazon</a>.<br /><br />
If you are looking for Christmas gifts for everyone you know, I would also be happy to recommend it. 😊<br />
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*At times, I will post some of my favorite poems at my new blog, <a href="http://jasonkanz.com/">jasonkanz.com</a>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-58944763388858538992017-10-11T15:15:00.000-05:002017-10-11T15:15:46.308-05:00Altruism, Neuroscience, and Christian Psychology<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was contacted by a magazine editor to offer thoughts on an article from the <a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/111/42/15036.full">Proceedings from the National Academy of Sciences</a> a few years ago. I ended up writing a treatise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I will try to offer
several thoughts, that I hope will be cogent. The PNAS study is an
interesting one.
Neuroscience, as you no doubt know, has advanced considerably over the last
several years. This seems especially true following the advent of functional
neuroimaging, such as fMRI, which allows researchers to get a glimpse of what
is happening in a functioning brain. This fMRI research has progressed from
understanding motor functioning (e.g., finger tapping) to cognitive tasks
(e.g., memory) and now to issues of relationship and morality. Researchers
continually push the edge in terms of figuring out how to administer tasks
inside the scanner to try to understand what is going on in the brain.
This emotion recognition paradigm is a fascinating one. It is unsurprising that
the amygdala shows increased responsiveness in those who are altruistic; the
amygdala is one of the brain structures most closely associated with emotional
expression, but also emotional memory. So, from a neuropsychological
perspective, these results confirm what one might predict. <u1:p class=""></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a Christian
neuropsychologist, the question of biological markers and altruism is an
important one to consider. As you might imagine, for a non-theistic
materialist, the assumption might be that the larger amygdala causes increased
altruism, but what if the direction is reversed? What if those who exhibit
consistently other-centered behaviors develop improved amygdala function? I
shared with someone the other day that I believe Jesus, in his humanity, had
the most exquisitely integrated brain of any person ever; there was no
malfunction, there was no disintegration. His brain functioned the way all of
our brains should function. But the New Testament also calls each of us to
wholeness. I am particularly fond of John 13 to 17 where Jesus practically
demonstrates other centered love and tells us to love one another like he loved
us. Then in his prayer, he prayed that “they would be one as he and the Father
were one.” Jesus was highly altruistic, the perfect picture of wholeness, and
calls us to relational integration or what my friend Larry Crabb might call
“relational holiness.” Neuroscientists are increasingly recognizing the brain
as not just as the organ to make our bodies move and think, but that it is a
relational organ. So when Jesus tells us to love one another like he loves, or
when Paul tells us to put on the new self, we are being called into a life not
only of greater other centeredness and greater love, but I would argue, deeper
neurological integration.<span class="apple-converted-space"> <u1:p class=""></u1:p></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of the
reconciling power of God’s grace and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, God
absolutely has the ability to change our hearts, but in so doing, he also
equips us for greater neuropsychological health and wholeness. Unfortunately,
it is all too common that Christians don’t live into that reality and we
continue to live disintegrated.<u1:p class=""></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u1:p class=""></u1:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I might also
anticipate another question: why is it then that non-believers might be more
altruistic, kind, charitable, etc. than non-believers. I would offer a couple
of thoughts: first, those one time snapshots fail to account for one’s
progressive sanctification. John Newton said once, “I am not what I ought to
be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world;
but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I
am.” God’s ongoing grace has a role in our sanctification, which I believe
includes other-centeredness. The second observation I would offer is that God’s
common grace allows remarkable may allow for compassion even amongst
non-believers. The question that falls to us as believers, though, is what do I
do with the gift that I have been given? Will I choose to live toward wholeness
in Christ or not? </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><u1:p class=""></u1:p></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-26733460641065299852017-10-10T05:59:00.000-05:002017-10-10T05:59:04.615-05:00Book Review: ImmeasurableA good friend of mine has often spoken fondly of Skye Jethani, though until now, I have not taken the opportunity to read anything he has written. When I saw <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Immeasurable-Reflections-Soul-Ministry-Church/dp/0802416195/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1507633118&sr=1-1&keywords=immeasurable+skye+jethani">Immeasurable: Reflections on the Soul of Ministry in the Age of Church, Inc. </a>(Moody, 2017) I decided to give it a go. Jethani does his readers a welcome service by providing a number of essays addressing the modern church, helping to reveal blind spots and suggesting ways forward. For example, he offered push back on the celebrity church culture, viewing church as transactional rather than relational, and, ironically, reading the latest Christian books. I especially liked his chapter, Illumination, in which he explored the differences between preaching and teaching. Another friend and I have been talking about the differences between these two things recently and after reading this chapter, I am going to work hard to call what I do on Sunday mornings preaching rather than teaching. I am there to proclaim.<br />
<br />
On the whole, this is a really good book full of welcome insight. The chapters vary considerably in length which tripped me up perhaps more than it should, but whether two pages or a dozen, each section contains something beneficial to ministers of the gospel.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-48574719243170468412017-10-09T07:53:00.001-05:002017-10-09T07:53:01.375-05:00jasonkanz.comI have opened up a new site over at jasonkanz.com I plan to use that blog to share original creations, especially around the ideas of goodness, truth, and beauty. Please consider following that blog if you are interested in my art, poetry, photoraphy, or essays.<br />
<br />
Thank you.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-81258052153902473522017-10-04T07:51:00.000-05:002017-10-04T07:51:38.497-05:00Poem: Rustling Leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsc-sipvZjuPSzfynep0rHeQmImFRWVZ-nT-9ZtI0yCj6Ml0RwRomV3IfR1wvsRLUYARJei7N305zfoVZRpCtCCifKq04Hm8ATVRP56gUeyiL1Y9jzNCFXOViwAA74myX4KwIZ2natLk/s1600/DSC_0351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsc-sipvZjuPSzfynep0rHeQmImFRWVZ-nT-9ZtI0yCj6Ml0RwRomV3IfR1wvsRLUYARJei7N305zfoVZRpCtCCifKq04Hm8ATVRP56gUeyiL1Y9jzNCFXOViwAA74myX4KwIZ2natLk/s320/DSC_0351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So many rustling leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">brittle and devoid of life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They congregate in piles </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">not long for the earth. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Their burial clothes--</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">crimson, yellow, and burnt umber--</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">are beautiful</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">but retain no power for life. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is those leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">who remain connected</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">to the Branch</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">in whom life dwells</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">and who, in return</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">breathe life into the world. </span>Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-64674818219687906332017-09-30T17:57:00.000-05:002017-09-30T17:57:43.864-05:00Poem: Pick the FlowersIn a world of LOLs and LMAOs<br />
of baes and YOLOs,<br />
we have not lost our vocabulary,<br />
we have bastardized it.<br />
Each of us<br />
has rolling fields from which<br />
we choose our words.<br />
Though some fields<br />
may be larger than others,<br />
all contain verbal blossoms<br />
ready to unfold in beauty<br />
and bless.<br />
Yet we choose weeds--<br />
thorns and thistles--<br />
who not only inhibit goodness<br />
but actively corrupt it.<br />
In a world<br />
of so many weeds<br />
pick the flowers.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-56035168014222243222017-09-26T07:13:00.001-05:002017-09-26T07:13:32.984-05:00Kindness, Not Controversy<b><i>Cease to do evil</i></b><br />
<b><i>learn to do good</i></b><br />
<b><i>seek justice</i></b><br />
<b><i>correct oppression.</i></b><br />
<b><i>Isaiah 1:16-17</i></b><br />
<br />
The world is filled with so much hate,<br />
anger is not what makes us great.<br />
We rant and rave, we disagree,<br />
forgetting God who sets us free.<br />
We look for ways to criticize,<br />
echo chambers providing lies.<br />
The New York Times or news from Fox,<br />
we all live in a slanted box.<br />
Closing our mouths, opening ears,<br />
a great idea unrealized here.<br />
But there is too much damnable pride,<br />
hubris abounds, humility's died.<br />
God hides His eyes from those who oppress,<br />
religious words fail to impress.<br />
Cease to do evil, learn to do right,<br />
seek after justice, for people denied.<br />
Here's an idea: get off your phone,<br />
battling strangers in angry tones<br />
will never amount to culture's improvement<br />
it only divides with negative movement.<br />
Look to your neighbor, say "tell me your story,"<br />
seek understanding, all for God's glory.<br />
You may disagree, you might even be right;<br />
but harming another, is not worth the fight.<br />
Also consider, you could be wrong;<br />
your skewed perspective, false all along.<br />
God honors those who live with mercy,<br />
pursue kindness and love, not controversy.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-88759552104217025282017-09-21T11:26:00.000-05:002017-09-21T11:26:07.236-05:00Do you listen to the rain?I awake with the rain.<br />
Still dark, the rain is at play<br />
I hear the drops landing gently<br />
upon the leaves.<br />
<br />
There is a crispness to the sound<br />
like wind-rustled paper<br />
and I immediately think, <i>autumn.</i><br />
<br />
Briefly, thunder grumbled<br />
admonishing the rainfall to keep silent.<br />
"People are sleeping!"<br />
<br />
I am grateful they persisted.<br />
<br />
<br />Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-20627216898383922242017-09-19T12:55:00.000-05:002017-09-19T12:55:10.637-05:00Frosty SeptemberPale canvas sky<br />
I wonder why<br />
I then remember.<br />
Morning’s greeting<br />
Colors meeting<br />
Frosty September.<br />
<br />
Spirit prepared<br />
With holy care<br />
To show masterpiece.<br />
God paints the sun<br />
I’m left undone<br />
Will beauty ever cease?<br />
<br />
No. It will shine<br />
Glory divine<br />
The radiance of Christ.<br />
Creation’s poem<br />
Life of shalom<br />
Not decay, but life.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-64170759320361041382017-09-18T10:49:00.001-05:002017-09-18T10:49:33.967-05:00Empowering GraceI try so hard<br />
To follow God<br />
Hoping He’ll approve;<br />
I fail and fail<br />
Day after day<br />
Condemned by this proof.<br />
<br />
“You are welcome.<br />
You are my child.”<br />
Jesus says to me.<br />
“You belong<br />
No matter what.<br />
I’m your identity.<br />
<br />
I choose to live<br />
For God above<br />
Not to gain His praise,<br />
I serve Him well<br />
As oft I can<br />
Because He’s given me grace.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-39574793991966297462017-09-14T16:55:00.003-05:002017-09-14T16:55:41.993-05:00Making Sense of the Syrophoenician WomanThe Gospel of Mark, chapter 7, tells the story of the Syrophoenician woman. I don't know about you, but every time I have read this story, it's almost like hitting an unexpected dip in the road. The kind that makes your car bottom out and you think to yourself, <i>I hope I didn't break anything</i>. Up until this point, Jesus is loving, serving, teaching, and healing. He's comforting the afflicted and confronting the Pharisees. Even a few chapters earlier, a conflict arises between Jesus and the religious leaders over the washing of hands and Jesus confronts them for putting tradition ahead of love. That makes sense. This is the Jesus we know and love.<br />
<br />
But then comes the passage beginning at verse 24. He and the disciples go to a house, hoping not to be found. Too many people around all the time gets to be exhausting. But in verse 25, we learn that a woman finds Jesus and falls at his feet. It seems her daughter has an unclean spirit. She came to Jesus to beg him to cast the demon out. Perfect. This is just what Jesus came for! But then there's this little detail. "Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth" (v. 26). We think to ourselves, <i>no big deal, Jesus can heal anyone he wishes</i>.<br />
<br />
So after she pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter, we come to verse 27 "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." <br />
<br />
K-LUNK! <br />
<br />
Wait what? Did Jesus just refuse a desperate woman because she was of the wrong birth? Did he just call her a dog, a mongrel? What are we supposed with that?<br />
<br />
Here's what I think. Jesus was always teaching his disciples; this time was no different. Taken at face value, Jesus' response was remarkably harsh. It doesn't fit his character. So how are we to take this? We could assume that he was being harsh, Pharisaical, and clinging to tradition...or he was using this woman as a living parable. I think it was the second. <br />
<br />
Trying to put myself in the scene, I envision Jesus and his disciples heading to Tyre and Sidon, trying to find rest. The small band of brothers no doubt talking about the recent interactions with the Pharisees. Along comes this woman, full of faith, but of the wrong tradition. She asks Jesus to free her daughter from a demon. <br />
<br />
Jesus looks first at the woman and then at his disciples. They've all be raised in this tradition. It flows through their bloodstreams. I suspect that for some of them at least, they looked upon this woman with disgust. Some probably physically distanced themselves from her. They were simply responding to their upbringing. So Jesus, seeing them, offers the response they're all thinking but not saying. "You're no Jew. Go away you dog." He kept watching the disciples. Judas subtly nods. Peter too.<br />
<br />
But she persists; she is desperate but faithful. She will take whatever he may offer her. Now, he looks at her, tears welling in her eyes, and in his. "For saying this, you may go. I have healed your daughter." Faith, not tradition; heart, not behavior.<br />
<br />
I wonder what shifted in the disciples. Jesus was using misdirection. He was leading them down one path, but then doubles back to his <br />
main message. Faith, not tradition; heart, not behavior. Jesus not only told them parables, in this case, he showed them.<br />
<br />
Jesus still surprises me. I read stories like this one that for years don't make any sense and then one day...clunk...the pieces fall into place. When you are reading and something is puzzling or doesn't seem to fit the narrative of the story or the character of God, it probably doesn't. Slow down and pay attention. Notice what is happening in the surrounding verses. This passage makes much more sense when set against the earlier story line in Mark 7.<br />
<br />
God is good. All the time.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-77131523791415090122017-09-09T07:41:00.000-05:002017-09-09T08:27:06.609-05:00A Virtuous Trio<span style="font-size: large;">We look for beauty</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> on a five inch screen,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">surfing the web</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> for the next cool scene.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But if we open our eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> and look all around,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">in creational beauty</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> God's glory abounds.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We search for truth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> on Wikipedia's pages,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">trusting what's current</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> not the wisdom of ages. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But if we open our Bibles</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> and read God's holy word,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">we'll find indelible ink</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> where *true Truth's conferred. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We seek after goodness</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> in the public square,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">pinning our hopes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> to politicians with flair.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But goodness resides</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> in God's perfect law,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">love one another</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> and God above all. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ancient philosophers</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> said these three transcend,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">all time and space</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> they will not end.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A virtuous trio</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> truth, goodness, and beauty,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">seen most fully </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> in blessed Trinity. </span><br />
<br />
*True truth was a concept put forward by Francis Schaeffer that what the Bible teaches is not just one among many truths, but truth that corresponds to reality.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-57809675842460704142017-09-08T09:35:00.000-05:002017-09-08T09:35:13.457-05:00Band of Brothers<b><i>A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.--Proverbs 17:17</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.--Proverbs 18:24</i></b><br />
<br />
True friendship is a rare gift, especially among men. In a culture that promotes rugged individualism on the one hand, and allows people to have thousands of "friends" through social media on the other, we have lost our way regarding what friendship means. We read stories in the Bible about friendships between men and the closeness they have may seem surreal to us because they are so different from our everyday experience.<br />
<br />
We may have buddies, but often we don't have brothers.<br />
<br />
We may have men that we like doing stuff with, but often we don't have men whom we love deeply.<br />
<br />
I am grateful that for me, at least, results have not been typical. I want to tell you about two of my friends.<br />
<br />
Several years ago, our church held a men's ministry event where "accountability groups" were encouraged. If you've never heard of an accountability group, it is essentially when a group of men get together and confess their sins to one another and pray for one another, usually guided by a list of questions (e.g., did you look at porn this week? Have you managed your money well?). My friend Brad was moved and reached out to a bunch of guys about starting a group. Eric and I, even though we didn't attend the men's ministry event, were the only two that responded. We didn't even really have relationship beforehand, other than a time when I offended Brad. The three of us began meeting at 6:00 on Thursday mornings at Randy's Family restaurant.<br />
<br />
We are an unlikely trio. Let me tell you why. Brad runs an office--several actually--that sells bearings and transmissions. He is a whiz at math, has great spatial skills, has administrative capabilities that most only long for, and is a neat freak (perhaps even obsessively so). Eric is a locksmith by profession, but also has an eye for beauty that many people lack in today's culture. Whether from resin or wood, he is able to craft things that amaze. Eric is also driven and visionary. I am a neuropsychologist and pastor. I love words more than anything requiring spatial skills, something both Eric and Brad would be quick to tell you. I am also decidedly <i>not </i>a neat freak.<br />
<br />
Brad likes bikes. Eric likes Dungeons and Dragons. I like books.<br />
<br />
As I said, we are an unlikely trio, yet these two men are my brothers. The love I have for them runs deep.<br />
<br />
When we began meeting, we used " the list." Each week we would walk through the questions. Some weeks, I would hope that we wouldn't get around to me because I didn't want to tell these guys what a mess I <strike>was </strike>am. Week after week we persisted, bonds of friendship forming. Eventually, we put away the list. We didn't need it to guide our conversations any longer because we had developed enough trust in one another to discuss whatever was pressing. We began to understand what it meant to encourage, admonish, help, and love one another. We were willing to dig down with one another and to allow the others to dig beneath our false veneer we put up.<br />
<br />
But don't get the wrong impression that deep friendship is always easy. It's not. Every one of us have said something stupid for which we have needed to apologize. Every one of us has been confronted and wounded by the others. We have repeatedly had to apologize and forgive. Every one of us has sinned against the others, often unknowingly.<br />
<br />
It would be so easy to live on the surface, to talk about the weather, but never get down to what is beneath. It would be so easy to walk away when conflict arises. It would be so easy to live behind our masks and never let one another see our true selves, but then we would never be truly known and honestly, then we would never grow. My friend Larry says "true growth happens when you look bad in the presence of love." I have that with these men and I regularly thank God for them. In a society that says when things get tough you are totally within your rights to walk away, a brother who sticks close by when things get messy is an unbelievable blessing. <br />
<br />
In John 17, perhaps my favorite chapter in the whole Bible, Jesus prays for his brothers. At the end of the prayer, Jesus tells the Father that his desire is that these men would love one another the way that He and the Father love one another and that we would be one in the way that the Trinity is one (verses 21-22). This is not love like the world defines love; it is a radical other-centeredness and commitment to one another's good. Jesus wasn't just praying that this might happen in heaven, but that we might manifest this in our relationships now. I am grateful for two brothers with whom I am able to strive for that goal.<br />
<br />
Perhaps as you read this, you are thinking to yourself "yeah, that's unrealistic," but what if it's not? How do you stretch toward this end? First, <b>pray</b>. Ask God to help this type of relationship develop. Second, <b>persist</b>. As I said above, when things get hard, our sinful predisposition is to cut and run rather than persevere in love for one another. Third, <b>patience</b>. Change happens slowly. In our instant society, we need to become people who take the long view, who trust the process of growth and relational sanctification.<br />
<br />
Brad, Eric, and I are far from perfect, but we are committed to loving one another over the long haul.Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1661261247291212378.post-44496537632687331692017-08-31T15:06:00.002-05:002017-08-31T15:06:35.419-05:00I'm looking for a book about...People often ask if I have recommendations for books about certain topics. I started putting together a list and came up with 50. Each of these books is relatively easy to understand and hits on important topics. I have included a number of topics. What did I miss?<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Addiction--Grace in Addiction, John Zahl</li>
<li>Adoption--Adopted for Life, Russell Moore</li>
<li>Anxiety--Running Scared, Ed Welch</li>
<li>Apologetics: Content--Christian Apologetics, Doug Groothuis </li>
<li>Apologetics: Method--Tactics, Greg Koukl</li>
<li>Beauty--Notes from the Tilt-a-Whirl, ND Wilson</li>
<li>Bible--ESV Legacy Bible</li>
<li>Biography--Confessions, Augustine of Hippo</li>
<li>Calvinism--Chosen by God, RC Sproul</li>
<li>Character--The Good and Beautiful Life, James Bryan Smith</li>
<li>Compassion--Generous Justice, Tim Keller</li>
<li>Counsel (providing)--Soul Talk, Larry Crabb</li>
<li>Creationism--More than a Theory, Hugh Ross</li>
<li>Creativity--World Enough and Time, Christian McEwen </li>
<li>Decision Making--Just Do Something, Kevin DeYoung</li>
<li>Depression--Christians Get Depressed Too, David Murray</li>
<li>Discipleship--Conformed to His Image, Ken Boa</li>
<li>Emotions--Cry of the Soul, Dan Allender and Tremper Longman</li>
<li>Fasting--Hunger for God, John Piper</li>
<li>Gender--Fully Alive, Larry Crabb</li>
<li>Gentleness--The Allure of Gentleness, Dallas Willard </li>
<li>Gospel--The Gospel, Ray Ortlund</li>
<li>Grace--Extravagant Grace, Barbara Duguid</li>
<li>Holiness--Holiness by Grace, Bryan Chapell</li>
<li>Holy Spirit--Jesus Continued..., JD Greear </li>
<li>Interpreting the Bible--Dig Deeper, Niles Benyon</li>
<li>Islam--Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Qureshi </li>
<li>Leadership--Heart of a Servant Leader, Jack Miller</li>
<li>Marriage--What Did You Expect?--Paul Tripp</li>
<li>Masculinity--Men of Courage, Larry Crabb</li>
<li>Mental Health--Grace for the Afflicted, Matthew Stanford</li>
<li>Neuroscience--Anatomy of the Soul, Curt Thompson</li>
<li>Other-Centeredness--A Different Kind of Happiness, Larry Crabb</li>
<li>Parenting--Give the Grace, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson</li>
<li>Pastoring--The Pastor's Justification, Jared Wilson</li>
<li>Poetry--The Jubilee, John Blase</li>
<li>Prayer--Whole Prayer, Walter Wangerin</li>
<li>Psalms--A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson</li>
<li>Preaching--Preaching, Tim Keller</li>
<li>Relationships--Everybody's Normal Until You Get to Know Them--John Ortberg</li>
<li>Relativism--Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Midair--Frank Turek and Greg Koukl</li>
<li>Revelation--Reversed Thunder, Eugene Peterson</li>
<li>Sexual Abuse--Rid of my Disgrace, Justin and Lindsey Holcomb</li>
<li>Shame--Shame, Interrupted, Ed Welch</li>
<li>Sin--Why Sin Matters, Mark McMinn</li>
<li>Spirituality--True Spirituality, Francis Schaeffer</li>
<li>Suffering--A Grace Disguised, Jerry Sittser</li>
<li>Trinity--Delighting in the Trinity, Michael Reeves</li>
<li>Union with Christ--Union with Christ, Rankin Wilbourne</li>
<li>Worldview--Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey</li>
</ol>
Jason Kanzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14156951203860604405noreply@blogger.com0