1. What a Week!2. The Early Church and Plagues3. Julian the Apostate's Implicit Christianity4. On Belief and Action5. A Brief Tangent on Money6. What Does it Even Look Like to Live Like Jesus7. Conclusions8. Questions 1. What a Week!This has been quite an exciting few weeks. Two weeks ago I fired off a newsletter, sharing … Continue reading Thoughts on Christian Living During an Epidemic
My Top Reads for 2019
Here are my top 10 9 books. I went with 9 because I mention a bunch of other books that were also my favorite within my brief summaries. 1. Dominion by Tom Holland - This is my favorite book of the year, and also the final book I finished this year. Holland has been one … Continue reading My Top Reads for 2019
#10 – The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien (My 100 Favorite Books)
This book was Tolkien's life's work. It was not released until after his death, put together by his son Christopher. I call it the Old Testament of Middle Earth. While it is not as exciting as the Hobbit, or even as fast-paced as Lord of the Rings (which is itself a bit slow at times) … Continue reading #10 – The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien (My 100 Favorite Books)
#11 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (My 100 Favorite Books)
The Harry Potter series is a modern classic. There have been other books since that were incredibly popular (Twilight, The Hunger Games), but I'd argue that none of them will have the staying power that I predict Harry Potter will. The series is entertaining and imaginative. One of the best things is the way it … Continue reading #11 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (My 100 Favorite Books)
#12 – After Virtue by Alasdair Macintyre (My 100 Favorite Books)
“I can only answer the question “What am I to do?’ if I can answer the prior question ‘Of what story or stories do I find myself a part?” That quote is from Alasdair Macintyre's brilliant book on moral philosophy, After Virtue. Macintyre traces the attempts to create a universal moral ethic after the fall … Continue reading #12 – After Virtue by Alasdair Macintyre (My 100 Favorite Books)
#13 – The Crucified God by Jurgen Moltmann (My 100 Favorite Books)
Growing up, I was taught that Jesus had died for my sins so I could go to heaven when I died. As for what to do once you believed and were assured your spot on the other side of the pearly gates? Well, that was a bit more hazy beyond reading the Bible and praying … Continue reading #13 – The Crucified God by Jurgen Moltmann (My 100 Favorite Books)
#14 – The Beauty of the Infinite by David Bentley Hart (My 100 Favorite Books)
When I read this book, I described it to someone as a symphony where there is more going on then the average listener is getting. I recall asking my friend who recommended it if he understood what Hart was saying in the first 150 pages. In those pages, Hart is going deep into philosophy and … Continue reading #14 – The Beauty of the Infinite by David Bentley Hart (My 100 Favorite Books)
#15 – A Secular Age by Charles Taylor (My 100 Favorite Books)
Taylor's enormous book begins with a question: Why was belief in God taken for granted in the West in 1500 but highly questioned, if not even non-belief taken for granted, in 2000? What changed? In answering this question, Taylor argues that the common story does not provide a sufficient explanation. Usually, so it goes, as … Continue reading #15 – A Secular Age by Charles Taylor (My 100 Favorite Books)
#16 – The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (My 100 Favorite Books)
I've been thinking about spiritual practice a lot lately. Many of the recent books on my list have centered on spiritual disciplines. On campus, we are talking about (and hopefully engaging in) spiritual disciplines each week at our weekly gatherings. My small group is reading a book on spiritual disciplines together. I fully believe adding … Continue reading #16 – The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning (My 100 Favorite Books)
#17 – Confessions by Augustine (My 100 Favorite Books)
"Our hearts are restless till they find rest in you." If you're a Christian, or someone who has read Christian books, or even just spiritual books perhaps, you've probably heard this phrase. It is from Confessions, the autobiography of Augustine, the bishop of Hippo in North Africa in the 400s. Augustine was the most influential … Continue reading #17 – Confessions by Augustine (My 100 Favorite Books)
