From Pastor G
I recently came across an article encouraging pastors to become “pastor-curators.” The rationale being that while pastors are often only with God’s people for about an hour and a half each week, we ought to “Strive to maximize the time [we] are not with them by pointing them to resources that will fuel their joy in Jesus.” In my estimation, this becomes all the more important in light of the fact that many church members are being daily inundated with social media algorithms, news platforms, and less than edifying tv shows and movies. Some of us, at times, might risk having more fellowship with Silicon Valley and Hollywood than the very people we covenant to follow Jesus with. Therefore, in an effort to fuel our joy in Jesus and cultivate a shared culture in our church, I’d like to take some time to share some resources that I’ve benefited from in the past year. My hope is that you’ll take up and read/listen, and that these resources are encouraging and edifying for you.
Additionally, these are just things I genuinely enjoyed and hope you do, as well. As Lewis has said, “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with..” Indeed. In addition to your encouragement and edification, I hope you enjoy what I have so enjoyed.
*Disclaimer: Although these are all things I’ve enjoyed in the last year, some of the resources that follow were from the past year and some were from years previous. Additionally, the amount of suggestions in each category varies. I didn’t follow too many rules here. I just wanted to share some helpful things to read and listen to.
BOOKS
(NON-FICTION)
Jesus, Lover Of My Soul: Fresh Pathways To Spiritual Passion by Julian Hardyman
This book is based on a sermon series through the Song of Songs that Hardyman preached at his church. Read it if you want to be refreshed by the fact that you are deeply loved by Jesus.
The Character of Christ: The Fruit of the Spirit in the Life of Our Savior by Jonathan Landry Cruse
This book is also based on a sermon series. Cruse preached a sermon series on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5—but particularly how we see the fruit of the Spirit in the character of Jesus. It helped me behold and more appreciate the loveliness of Jesus.
The Power of Revival: Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Baptism in the Spirit, and Preaching on Fire by Dongjin Park
This book is a little longer than the previous two and might be a more difficult book to read. Perhaps most would not be too interested in reading it. But for those interested in historical theology, particularly as it pertains to the role of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life, you might find this book as fascinating as I did. I did not come away agreeing with Lloyd-Jones’ beliefs on the subject at every point. But I did come away with a deep appreciation for his emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s ministry in the life of the church and with a deeper desire to experience the Spirit’s ministry in my own life.
Your Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World by Alan Noble
Noble takes the precious words of an old reformed catechism and brings them to bear on life in our cultural moment. Well researched, Noble shows something many of us feel to be true: Life in our time and place is uniquely inhumane. In contrast, Noble shows the sanity and humanity of living life as those created and redeemed by God.
BOOKS
(FICTION & POETRY)
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Gilead is one of my favorite books by one of my favorite living authors. It is not a new book, but it is a book I read every year. It is written from the perspective of an elderly congregationalist minister in a fictional town in Iowa, who is writing something of a long letter/memoir to his young son. Some of Robinson’s joyful descriptions of creational life and sobering reflections on death might bring you to tears. She is a walking celebration.
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
This is also one of my favorite books by one of my favorite living authors. I also read this book every year. The way Berry can describe the inner life, as well as the importance of place and community, is riveting. Reading about the town of Port William and it’s people, make me want to better love Dayton and Veritas.
A Year with George Herbert: A Guide to Fifty-Two of His Best Loved Poems ed. Jim Scott Orrick
Herbert is one of my favorite poets. But don’t just take my word for it. People like C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, and Richard Baxter all joyfully imbibed of Herbert. This year, the Veritas staff began our weekly staff meetings by reflecting on Herbert’s poetry together. Herbert’s poetry deeply devotional and beautifully cultivates affection for Christ. If you’re not really big on poetry, this book would serve as a great introduction, as Orrick includes the subjects, thesis statements, introductions, and footnotes for each poem.
ARTICLES
The American Church in the Fourth Republic by Jake Meador
Mere Orthodoxy is a great blog and resource. Meador is a clear and helpful thinker. In this article, he casts vision for how a church might live faithfully in this pivotal moment in American history. I still have some questions about what he means at certain points in the article. Yet, his application for reparenting the lost, overcoming distance, and overcoming distraction resonate deeply with me as great needs for this hour.
Make It Easy for Your Kids to Love God: Proverbs for a Happy Home by Ray Ortlund Jr.
This article was actually written years ago, but I didn’t discover it until this summer when we were preaching through Proverbs. In typical Ortlund fashion, the article is simultaneously convicting and filled with life-giving encouragement.
The Medium Is the Mania: Anxiety as a Feature, Not a Bug, of Digital Media by Caleb Wait
Echoing Marshall McLuhan’s famous quote, “The medium is the message,” Wait seeks to show how our current digital media diets are shaping us today. While many of us might be tempted to think that many of the digital mediums we use are neutral and can be used for good or ill, the reality is much more sinister.
Attentive Parenting in the AI Age by Scott Hurst
In light of the previously suggested article, this article approaches the subject of technology from the perspective of parenting. How can we wisely model and raise children toward attentiveness to ultimate things in an age wherein we’re constantly tempted toward distraction?
Do You Know Where Your Kids Go Everyday? by Jonathan Haidt & Rikki Schlott
This article is not written by Christians. However, I have found Haidt to be preeminently helpful in understanding our culture moment. Having read his books, blogs, and listened to him interviewed, I feel he has an unrivaled clarity concerning many of the issues facing us in this cultural moment.
PODCASTS
Life and Books and Everything with Kevin DeYoung
I’ve really enjoyed this podcast through the past couple of years. My favorite episodes are the ones in which he interviews someone about their life and ministry. Check out his interviews with H.B. Charles, Alistair Begg, and Sinclair Ferguson.
Truth Unites with Gavin Ortlund
Ortlund is an excellent, rigorous, and charitable apologist. Any episode is worth listening to. Yet, again, I always enjoy his interviews. Check out the episode titled, Talking With My Dad About Revival.
Help Me Teach the Bible with Nancy Guthrie
This podcast hasn’t actually had a new episode posted for a over a year. However, it’s one with episodes that I have come back to several times. Almost every time I am about to start preaching through a new series, I try to find an episode on whatever book we will be in. The Ortlund interview was extremely helpful for our time in Proverbs over the summer. Likewise, the interview with Derek Thomas on Mark was helpful to me for our journey through Mark’s Gospel. Give either of those two episodes a listen if you’re interested in a refresher on those books.
Eight Fights Worth Picking With Your Kids on The Anthony Bradley Show
Amy and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. In a stage of life wherein it’s so easy to get bogged down in the day to day, this article offered some useful perspective from a guy who’s been there.
MUSIC
Simple Songs For the Young and Old by City Alight
I understand that this is kind of an album for children. However, He Calls Me Friend and Jesus, Strong and Kind are songs any Christian can appreciate. How do the cool kids put it these days? They are bangers.
Vibes with Aquinas by Catholic LoFi
According to Spotify, this is one of my top albums listened to this year. It is often playing in our house, in my car, or during sermon prep. It is good to listen to while praying, studying, or working.
Hymns in High-Fidelity by sxxnt.
Pleasant instrumental lofi beats. Also good to listen to while praying, studying, or working.
What about you? What have you enjoyed this past year that you think might be edifying, encouraging, and enjoyable for others in the coming year? Please feel free to share with me and with others in the church.