2 Timothy 3

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Jason

Reading for Wednesday, Dec 26: 2 Timothy 3

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work,” (v16-17).

Paul has much to say about the Word of God here in this brief epistle. He writes of the enduring power of the Word in 2:9. Even though Paul himself is bound in chains, he boldly declares, “But the word of God is not bound!” Human effort cannot keep God’s Word from being spoken here on earth. Even the forces of darkness are incapable of thwarting God’s Kingdom as it forcibly advances through this sort of proclamation. In 2:15, Paul reminds us that the word of God is the “word of truth”, intended to be handled with great care and reverence. And now, in 3:16, we find one of the great declarations of God’s Word — it is breathed out from God Himself.

An interesting connection is found here as we study the languages of Scripture. In both Hebrew and Greek, the words for breath (“pneuma” in Greek; “ruach” in Hebrew) each carry the additional meaning of “wind” and “spirit”. We think of creation, formed as God’s Spirit moves over the waters of the deep, speaking everything into existence. We think of Adam, a lifeless lump of clay until God breathes into His nostrils. We think of the episode in John 20 where Jesus breathes His Holy Spirit out upon His disciples. And we think of Acts 2 as the Spirit appears with the sound of rushing wind to confer power upon the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. In each case, the Biblical languages are fluid and we see a deep connection between the Spirit of God and the breath / wind of God.

And now, we come to Paul’s landmark statement in 2 Timothy 3:16. When we read God’s Word, we open ourselves up to the same life-giving Spirit. We find this breath coming into us, animating us, reorienting our way of thinking. We find new worlds of divine possibility unfolding before our very eyes, new creation prompted by God’s powerful Word.

The great tragedy is that we rarely pause to think about the power God’s Word promises to us.

As we have been reading these texts this year, we have saturated our minds and hearts with inspiration — not mere human words, beautiful though they may be…but holy words, words breathed out by the same God who spoke our world into existence and breathed life into Adam and created a new covenant people to declare His goodness and glory even today.

This is the power of the Word of God.
Amen.

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2 Timothy 2

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Jason

Reading for Tuesday, Dec 25: 2 Timothy 2

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus…” (v1)

In our broken world, we often assume grace to be a posture of weakness. The one who forgives easily is derided as naive, a fool, easily duped by those who are more streetwise. But the gospel of Jesus inverts this notion. We find here a strength — first of all, granted to us by the One who is capable of forgiving us for our many transgressions. It is by His grace that we are empowered to truly live, to seek to embody goodness in the world through the liberating power of His mercy. But also, we become conduits of this same merciful power in the world, releasing others of the burden of their wrongdoing toward us. In so doing, we deploy the resources of heaven to bring life to those enslaved by reciprocal thinking. We find our strength in our identity as a forgiven people and in turn we “pay it forward” by passing on this same blessing to others.

Like Timothy, we need these reminders, that we are at our strongest when we are forgiven and forgiving. May this Word bear much fruit in our lives.

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2 Timothy 1

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Monday, Dec 24: 2 Timothy 1

The letters to Timothy and Titus are known as the Pastoral Letters of Paul, designated as such because rather than being written to specific churches (as with “Galatians” or the letters to the “Corinthians”), these letters are written to specific church leaders.

In this letter, Paul writes to Timothy, his “beloved child” (v2). Paul encourages Timothy to continue to unlock the treasure chest of blessing in his life: “I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” (v6-7). There is gift and there is grace; but there is also a responsibility to steward these gifts, to fan into flame the gift of God. God has uniquely gifted us with talents and attributes, but we are responsible for wielding these gifts in service to the Kingdom.

Paul’s tone is triumphant, even as he nears the end of his life. But here we find the depth of Paul’s faith, for his boasting has never been in his own works, but rather in the tremendous power of God to work redemption through broken vessels. It is by the power of God that Paul is able to stand up under suffering (v8). This God “saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (v9). In all of this, Paul reminds us to not be ashamed (v8). We have to remember that in Paul’s day, Christianity was not yet “respectable”. Jesus had died a criminal’s death on the cross, an enemy of the state. But Paul sees a future day of vindication for the people of God, a day that causes him to say, “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me,” (v12).

Until that Day comes, we have “the Holy Spirit who dwells within us” to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” May we not be ashamed.

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Best Albums of 2012

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Jason

Time for my annual list of the best albums of 2012. Unlike my book list, I limit myself solely to music released in the last 12 months. Thanks to the advent of Spotify, it’s never been easier to listen to good (free) music. And by watching the deals at the Amazon MP3 store and eMusic, I was able to score some really good deals. No illegal downloading here; all albums are purchased legally. But thanks to Spotify, you don’t even have to own any of these in order to enjoy them. Now, on to the list!

There was some really great music that was put out this year. Many of my selections tend toward the folk rock / country genre and 2012 will go down as a high water mark for the banjo / acoustic guitar / mandolin sound.

  1. Babel, Mumford & Sons.
    Most critics seem to have graded Babel out right around a B+ effort, expecting more of a departure from the freshman-album wonder, Sigh No More. But Marcus Mumford and his fellow bandmates have opted instead for the if-it-ain’t-broke philosophy, or so the criticism goes. But in my opinion, Babel is a natural extension of the musicianship and lyricism we were first introduced to on the Mumford debut. And, taken on its own terms, it’s a fine album.What separates Babel from Sigh No More is its much darker tone. For starters, there’s the album title, an allusion to that ancient biblical tale of pride, confusion, and displacement. By reaching into biblical pre-history, Mumford & Sons have found a pliable metaphor to provide the lyrical gravity found on these 12 tracks. The world is a messed up place, Babel preaches, and the reflection that follows is honest, personal and poignant. On the title track: “I know my weakness / Know my voice.” There’s an acknowledgement that we contribute to the problem of the world, that we, in fact, ARE the problem, consigned to crawl on our bellies in twilight (Broken Crown). Whispers In The Dark is even more forthright: “A brush with the Devil / Can clear your mind.”But such existential meandering is commonplace, especially in the alt / folk milieu. What I love about Mumford & Sons is that they make absolutely no apologies for brandishing a particular spiritual hope in spite of such brokenness and doubt. At the risk of being over-earnest, Babel is an unabashed recognition of deep faith. I’m a cad / But I’m not a fraud / I’d set out to serve the Lord.”, from Whispers in the Dark;  “This ain’t no sham / I am what I am” they sing on album closer Not With Haste. From start to finish, Babel is a heart-on-the-sleeve affair.Loneliness and brokenness emerge as primary themes on this record, but they never have the last word. Threads of hope are deeply woven through these tracks, even (or especially) in the darker songs. Days of darkness are blown away by the breaking dawn of a new sun in I Will Wait. The galvanizing force of loss recreates our desire to truly live in the present (Whispers In The Dark). One of my favorite tracks is Holland Road, which gives voice to the Prodigal moment so ingrained with Christian hope: So I hit my low / But little did I know / That would not be the end / From the Holland Road / Well I rose and I rose. And the refrain that lasts: But I’ll still believe / though there’s cracks you’ll see / When I’m on my knees I’ll still believe / And when I’ve hit the ground / neither lost nor found / If you’ll believe in me I’ll still believe. This is faith from the ground up, the heartfelt plea for another to see something in you that you cannot see in yourself. To believe in someone is to call them into a better version of themselves. Therein lies the power of hope.

    My favorite track is Below My Feet, a rich treasure-trove confessional. Twice in the opening stanzas Mumford sings the refrain: “Well, I was lost”. The cold blood of death courses through his veins, and his waking hours are spent tearfully. But this is the only sinner’s prayer to escape Mumford’s lips: “Keep the earth below my feet / From my sweat, my blood runs weak / Let me learn from where I have been / Keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn.” We pray to keep moving forward, to keep the earth below rather than above our feet, before our days of toil end and we return to the soil from whence we sprang. This is the human condition of lost-ness. By the time we reach the second stanza, our lost-ness is rightly termed as past tense and the name of Jesus is invoked: “When I was told my Jesus all was well / So all must be well.” Taken out of context, this is pithy, bumper sticker theology. But firmly entrenched near the end of the album playlist, particularly as a rejoinder to Broken Crown, the lyric brims with deep faith, an impulse to choose belief over all evidence to the contrary. To declare so boldly when brokenness so wholly engulfs is either the most faithful or the most foolish way to live. I can relate to that level of honesty.

    To focus solely on the lyrical depth of this album is to ignore the instrumental craftsmanship Mumford & Sons have honed to perfection in the five years they’ve been together. The critics who pan this album derisively refer to it as Sigh No More 2.0, claiming too much of a good thing is a bad thing. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no such thing as too much foot stompin’ banjo and guitar pickin’. Moreover, Babel is just beautiful, even in its darker moments. The sonic scale has been expanded as the band, much like that ancient monolith of inspiration, continues to reach for the stars.

    Keep reaching, fellas.

    Download This: Below My Feet, I Will Wait, Whispers In The Dark, Holland Road, Lover of the Light.

  2. Blunderbuss, Jack White. White’s first solo LP is a genre-bending oeuvre of sheer brilliance. Classic rock guitar riffs, shimmering cymbals, pedal steel, strings, even a church organ….they all show up here, played masterfully by a host of backing players. But the real scene-stealer here is the piano work. Most of these songs are melodically carried by the keys, not the guitars — and who saw that coming? Just listen to Missing Pieces and you’ll see what I mean.This album is solid from top to bottom. I’m not a big fan of Sixteen Saltines, but otherwise, the whole thing is very strong. Heartbreak is the prevailing theme; see Love Interruption and Take Me With You When You Go as Exhibits A and B. And although we might wish him better luck with the ladies in the future, the muse of heartbreak has produced one of 2012’s finest albums. Download This: Missing Pieces, Love Interruption, Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy, Weep Themselves to Sleep.
  3. Heaven, The Walkmen.“I was the Duke of Earl / But it couldn’t last / I was the Pony Express / But I ran out of gas”. So begins Heaven, the latest album from indie-rockers The Walkmen. This is self-conscious rock music, made by a band that has moved from post-punk angst into something resembling middle adulthood. The results are textured, vibrant, and simply gorgeous. Note the harmonies on We Can’t Be Beat, a rumination on shattered dreams and loneliness tethered by the line “We’ll never leave”. The Walkmen seem to be making music for people who have lived long enough to recognize the significance of resiliency and commitment.Such is the inspiration for Song For Leigh, sung from father to daughter: “And I sing myself sick / Sing myself sick about you.” What father hasn’t shared such feelings of pride? And how many of us have also possessed such self-awareness in the moment, knowing we’re becoming that Dad as we incessantly talk to others about our kids, yet we do it anyway? Call it stage of life, but I can relate to that.

    There’s also heartfelt desperation, as in the title track, a shimmering, unrelenting panoply of guitar and drum. “Don’t leave me / You’re my best friend / All of my life / You’ve always been.” As the gilded age draws to an end, our thoughts inevitably turn toward promise and hope, the image of something beyond. But in the present, we count ourselves blessed to share the moment with another.

    Heaven is a richly ambient record, a vintage-sounding and nearly perfect meditation on life, regret, pain, and the love we find as we muddle along. Download This: Heaven, Line By Line, We Can’t Be Beat, Heartbreaker, Song For Leigh.

  4. The Carpenter, The Avett Brothers.This album has been a bit polarizing for long time fans who want more front porch boot stomp and less adult contemporary polish. But this effort is very solid, if not spectacular. Upon first listen, I’ll admit, I was a bit underwhelmed, but The Carpenter simply gets better with each listen. (It’s also a testimony to the quality albums that were released this year that I could only rank this at #4.) Live and Die is the most immediately engaging up-tempo number, but it’s the quieter tunes that endure three months after the album release date. Winter In My Heart is a hauntingly beautiful ode to love grown cold; the title track reflects on the relational investments great and small that make us a work in progress; Through My Prayers is one of Seth’s finest recordings to date; and A Father’s First Spring hardly needs explanation — the title says it all.My favorite track, though, is February Seven, a beautiful melody sung by Scott and accompanied by acoustic guitar and swelling strings. The song is the perfect slice of life for a band rounding into mid-life form, trading what they know for how they feel. “I’m rested and I’m ready to begin,” they sing over and over with the conviction of men who believe the best is yet to come. Count me in. Download This: February Seven, Live and Die, Winter In My Heart.
  5. The Lumineers, The Lumineers.Top to bottom, this album is imminently listenable. Unlike a few of my top album selections, there’s simply not a bad song in the batch. That said, there’s also not really a great one, either. Sure, there’s the ubiquitous Ho Hey, a heartwarming little ditty with the most singable chorus of the year. The aptly-titled Slow It Down is more reflective; and Classy Girls leaves you wanting more. Overall, a very good — but not quite great — album. But this is one band to definitely keep your eye on. Download This: Ho Hey (if you haven’t already), Slow It Down, Classy Girls.
  6. My Head Is An Animal, Of Monsters and Men.This Icelandic indie band has drawn comparisons to Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons; if you know anything about my musical tastes, you know that’s a good thing. Their debut LP is chock full of grand aural landscapes, rich harmonies, and evocative lyricism. One of my favorite debuts of the year. Download This: Little Talks, King and Lionheart, Mountain Sound.
  7. Boys and Girls, Alabama Shakes.I love these guys for several reasons. One, they’re local; their home base, Athens, AL, is just down the highway. Moreover, their mix of Southern rock infused with soul brims with a vintage sound, making it yet another member of 2012’s strong freshman class. Lead singer Brittany Howard is an absolute powerhouse; she especially shines on Hold On, Be Mine and Heartbreaker your Download This tracks from this stellar debut.
  8. Bloom, Beach House.The aural landscapes created here are lush and sprawling, so much so that it’s easy to get lost listening. But there’s more here than just chamber-pop background music. Victoria Legrand’s voice balances with the layers of shimmering guitars to create a pleasing pop-tinged atmosphere. Comparisons to Arcade Fire and Grizzly Bear are appropriate. Download This: On The Sea, Myth, The Hours.
  9. Women and Work, Lucero.This Memphis-based band make brawny, working class guitar rock mixed with horns, piano / organ, and pedal steel. This is a sound honed to perfection after years on the road and in the studio. On Women & Work, they’ve never sounded better. Download this: On My Way Downtown, It May Be Too Late, Go Easy.
  10. Nothing Here Seems Strange, Buxton.This Houston-based band caught my eye with their unique blend of alt / folk / country. Lyrically, the first half of the album is stark and even sparse in places, creating a reflective atmosphere that permeates nearly every song. But the boys begin to flex at around the midway point, finishing out the album with a strong dose of energy and electric guitar. Download This: Lynchburg Ferry, Boy of Nine, Riverbed.
  11. The Lion’s Roar, First Aid Kit.Acoustic balladry and soaring harmonies are the hallmark of First Aid Kit, the Swedish sister-duo that crashed the Americana / folk party with a vengeance in 2012. Emmylou became an instant favorite the first time I heard it; give it a listen and you’ll see why. While you’re at it, you’d be hard pressed to find a more pleasant sounding song than Blue, a 60s era throwback folk rock song if you’ve ever heard one. Download This: Emmylou, Blue.
  12. Away From The World, Dave Matthews Band.New Dave sounds a lot like vintage 90s Dave. And that’s a great thing. I’m not a DMB junkie, but I’ve always appreciated them. On this latest LP, they sound better than they have in a decade. Download This: Mercy, Belly Belly Nice.
  13. A Wasteland Companion, M Ward.I was a little disappointed with this album, especially since 2009’s Hold Time was one of my favorites that year. But there are a few memorable moments here, mainly The First Time I Ran Away and Crawl After You.
  14. Wrecking Ball, Bruce Springsteen.Rolling Stone hailed this as the album of the year. Ehh, not quite. Personally, I thought The Boss sounded like an angry old man on this record. On Wrecking Ball, his angst is channeled into an arena-ready anthem of collective endurance; on his more preachy moments (particularly We Take Care Of Our Own and Death To My Hometown), the same sentiment falls flat. Download This: Wrecking Ball, Land of Hopes and Dreams.
  15. Give Us Rest,David Crowder Band. DMB gives us quite the swan song: a 34-song opus filled with banjo, rock opera, minor chords, and ruminations on endings and the uniquely Christian hope for resurrection life to come. I still say A Collision is the best CCM album of all time. So long, boys. We’ll miss you. Download This: Oh My God, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

So, folks, there you have it. My complete list for 2012. I’d love to read your thoughts on your favorite music from the past year.

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2 Thessalonians 3

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Friday, Dec. 21: 2 Thess. 3

As Paul closes this brief letter, he asks the Thessalonian brothers and sisters to pray for him (v1) and the work that he and Timothy and Silas have undertaken. Believers move as lambs in a world of wolves and Paul asks for this fellow Christians to pray for deliverance from the clutches of wickedness. Yet again, we see this played out in our own times. One week ago, we were all shocked by the senseless tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. Though we still struggle to understand these kinds of horrific nightmares, we need no further proof that our world is a hard place. “For not all have faith,” (v2).

As for the faithful, we have no excuse for idleness. Paul understands accountability to be a core tenet of the Christian experience. Here he warns to “keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness” (v6). He extends this teaching even more in v10: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Although the NT church is marked by radical generosity, especially toward the “least of these”, we should also encourage accountability, responsibility, and a strong work ethic. Paul holds up his own example among the Thessalonians, one who labored along with the church, not exacting from them the demands of apostleship. Paul seems to have little time for laziness: “Do not grow weary in doing good,” (v13).

Paul concludes with a blessing: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (v16)

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2 Thessalonians 2

Posted on December 21, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Thursday, Dec 20: 2 Thess. 2

Biblical interpreters have long struggled to identify the “man of lawlessness” Paul describes in this chapter. And many will seek contemporary application of this prophetic passage. If you’re interested in all the different views on this subject, I invite you to follow a more technical commentary. But we can say that Paul is writing to correct mistaken end-times expectations. I can’t help but note the irony that I’m writing this on Dec. 21, 2012 — the date the ancient Mayans predicted the world would come to an end. It seems some things never change.

But the real reason for Paul’s writing is found in 2:13 and following. Paul wants the Thessalonians (and present readers, too) to be reminded of their eternal position: “…God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,” (v13). We should not be tossed to and fro by the latest wind of cultural hysteria. Instead, Paul sees the Christian hope as a grounding hope, the basis for our standing firm and holding fast (v15).

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (v16-17)

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2 Thessalonians 1

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Wednesday, Dec. 19: 2 Thess. 1

One of things that really stands out to me from our readings this year is just how much the NT addresses the issue of suffering and adversity. The NT seems to teach this at nearly every turn: to be a follower of Jesus is to voluntarily put oneself at odds with the way of the world.

As he begins this short letter, this sort of thought permeates Paul’s writing. He tells the Thessalonian church of the pride he feels for them, boasting of their faithfulness amid their many persecutions (v4). Once again, the NT reminds us of our pilgrim status. In the end, our faithfulness will be rewarded.

But Paul adds an interesting point to our discussion in v5. Speaking of their sufferings, he says: “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of god, for which you are also suffering.” There seems to be a difference in “righteous suffering” — suffering for the sake of Christ — and the kind of suffering that we all experience in life, such as grief, loss, and heartache. I think this is an important point to make. When we suffer for our faith, Paul encourages us to see this as “suffering for the cause”, a way of being found worthy of this tremendous gift we have in Christ (who also suffered in this manner, by the way). Think of Peter’s comments about this kind of suffering refining our faith like gold passing through fire (1 Peter 1). But we must be careful to differentiate between this kind of biblical persecution and the grief we feel as we bury a loved one, lest we make God out to be a cosmic chess player, moving and removing pieces from the board of life as in some sort of game. There is much more to be said here, but Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to hold the faith, to stand up under the barrage of ridicule and scorn they are presently enduring.

Paul closes this chapter by describing the future that awaits all of God’s adversaries, which we discussed at length during our study of Revelation. Ever the pastoral voice, Paul concludes with an exhortation:

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (v11-12)

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1 Thessalonians 5

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Tuesday, Dec. 18: 1 Thess. 5

This is either the end of the Earth as predicted by the ancient Mayans or the destruction of the Death Star from Star Wars. I can't tell.

This is either the end of the Earth as predicted by the ancient Mayans or the destruction of the Death Star from Star Wars. I can’t tell.

So, I’m sure you’re aware of this: the world is supposed to end this week.

Just think of all that time you wasted wrapping Christmas presents this year!

We’re approaching Dec. 21, the date the ancient Mayans predicted the world would come to an end. What’s interesting — given our recent readings of Revelation and now 1 Thessalonians — is that the earliest Christians seemed to have lived with this same sort of conviction. Not a conviction tied to a specific date, mind you, but there is this awareness of the Lord’s imminent return that is found repeatedly in the NT. I think this sort of awareness is good, even healthy. It reminds us of our temporal nature. It reminds us that this present world of evil does not get the last word. It reminds us of One who resides outside the realm of time and space — One who promises to re-enter those spheres one final time in order to bring all things to completion.

We need not dread this day, though it will surely come like a thief in the night (v2). This means that all human prognostications regarding the end will fail. Only God can see the great “countdown clock” in the sky. He alone knows the days that are left to be lived. In the fullness of time, He will draw history to an end in a scene of judgment. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to stay sober-minded (v6-8), alert and ready for this day’s arrival. But he also calls for courage: “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him,” (v9-10).

Therefore, we live in readiness. Look at the words Paul uses in the closing verses of his letter, words that give us insight into the Christian life:

  • Respect (v12)
  • Esteem (v13)
  • Peace (v13)
  • Admonish, encourage, help (v14)
  • Rejoice (v16)
  • Pray without ceasing (v17)
  • Give thanks (v18)
  • Hold fast to the good (v21)
  • Abstain from evil (v22)

May we likewise commit ourselves to such ideals as we live in readiness for the Great Coming Day.

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Best Books of 2012

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Jason

Every year, I set a goal to read at least 52 books — one per week for an entire calendar year. 2011 marked the first year I’d ever completed that goal. This year, I fell a bit short. By the time I finish the book I’m currently reading, I’ll only be at 42 for the year. Yes, I know…I am a colossal failure. In my defense, I read several books that were super long this year. But that probably sounds like an excuse. Whatever.

Still, I came across some great books in 2012. This list comprises the best of the best. Of course, very few of these are 2012 releases. Rather, these are books I’ve read this year that have really impacted me. As you can tell from the list, I don’t read very much fiction; I’m more of a non-fiction guy. Since I’m always looking for book suggestions, I’d love to hear your reading suggestions. Now, on to the list:

  1. The Drama of Scripture by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen.

    This is far and away the best, most important book I’ve read this year. Narrative theology has greatly interested me for the past several years. Recommended by a trusted professor, Bartholomew & Goheen’s text proved to be a foundational read. I’ve not come across a more accessibly thorough (or thoroughly accessible!) account of the narrative arc of scripture. This one is worthy of a slow, measured read. You’ll want to take notes you can pour over later.

    The gift of this book is a priceless one: a presentation of the biblical story of redemption as a unified, coherent narrative of God’s ongoing work within his kingdom. In the end, this is the only story that matters.

    (For more information, visit the website.)

  2. A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller. I’m a huge fan of Miller and this, I believe, is his finest work. Written as he works to edit his life’s story into a screenplay, A Million Miles brims with wisdom, joy, heartache, and — like any good story does — transformative relationship. Given how much I’ve been reading on story lately, this one was probably a no-brainer for this list. I love this book.
  3. Culture Making by Andy Crouch.

    I grew up in the swirl of the “culture wars” of the 1980s and 90s. As a result, I love a love / hate relationship with culture. I was simultaneously influenced by it while learning to be wary of its siren song. In particular, the adversarial relationship between culture and faith that was presented to me continues to haunt me, even now.

    Crouch’s seminal work is an exercise in biblical theology predicated on the impulse to reclaim the cultural mandate to be the creative cultivators that God designed us to be. Rather than condemning culture or merely consuming it, Crouch recovers the deeply biblical call for God’s people to be creators of culture. In so doing, we offer a redemptive word to a long misguided discussion. A great, engaging work.

    (For more information, visit the website.)

  4. The Stand by Stephen King.I’m not a big fiction reader. Mainly because I find most fiction to be poorly written and really boring. Nonfiction is just so much more compelling. That being said, I’ll occasionally find a piece of fiction that grabs me. (Like Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”, my favorite piece of fiction.) I’d heard the producers of LOST rave about King’s “The Stand” for years and I decided to tackle it. All 900+ pages. I have to say, it was a bit slow-going in the beginning, but at the 150 page mark, the book just took off. As with most of King’s work, there are a few places where the content gets a bit graphic for my tastes. But this post-apocalyptic tale of survival just drew me in. And I’m convinced Josh Holloway would make a great Stu Redman. A great read.
  5. Dream Team by Jack McCallumI picked up a copy of this after reading an excerpt in Sports Illustrated this summer. McCallum’s chronicle of the ’92 Dream Team is absolutely engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable. And I’m not even that much of an NBA fan.
  6. I Am A Follower by Leonard Sweet.“Following is the most underrated form of leadership in existence.” As a doctoral student in a program that focuses on “ministerial leadership in congregational settings”, I have been exposed to plenty of leadership literature in the last year or two. And I would have to agree with Sweet’s assessment. But this little treatise reconfigures the conversation with an essential turn: How can we become better followers? After all, Jesus isn’t looking for leaders; He’s looking for followers. This is one of the more intriguing and challenging reads I’ve come across this year.
  7. Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.
    A fascinating read of the intricacies of the 2008 Presidential election: the surprising rise of Barack Obama and his bitter fight with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic ticket; the scandal of John Edwards’ campaign; John McCain’s “maverick” selection of a relatively unknown governor as his running mate. Even handed, insightful, and most of all, just downright entertaining.
  8. Being As Communion by John Zizoulas. Communion — the hallmark of God’s inter-Trinitarian nature — grounds our being. In fact, we are beings created for communion. Zizoulas’ work is probably the most dense of any of the other books on this list, but the rewards make the tough plowing worthwhile. This work helped build on the theological framework that was put in place for me when I read Stanley Grenz a few years ago.
  9. The Beginning and the End by Michael W. Pahl. A short little exercise in narrative theology, specifically focusing on the opening chapters of Genesis and the concluding chapters of Revelation. Simply fascinating.
  10. You Lost Me by Dave Kinnaman
  11. The Next Christians by Gabe LyonsI pair Kinnaman and Lyons together because they are twin voices in an ongoing discussion. If you’re interested in what an emerging generation is saying and thinking with regard to their faith, I encourage you to read these books. But a word of warning is in order: you may not like what you find, at least not at first. The portrayal of the church isn’t very flattering here, but I believe there is much truth to what is written here. Whereas Kinnaman is interested in why our young people are leaving the institutional church in droves, Lyons helps us understand that they have not abandoned the faith…at least not yet.
  12. Practicing the Way of Jesus by Mark Scandrette Scandrette’s commitment to the words of Christ as rule of life is both inspiring and challenging. I’m most excited that some of our life groups at church are using this text as a spring board for their own “experiments in following Jesus, the Master Dojo”.
  13. The Living Word of God by Ben Witherington III.Witherington is the rare scholar with a gift for making academia accessible to the masses. This work gives me an even greater appreciation for our sacred texts.
  14. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.It’s passé to hate the ending to Collins’ Hunger Games series, but this one was actually my favorite. I read the entire series this year and I don’t understand the phenomenon. I don’t think this series is nearly as compelling as everyone wants to believe. But I think Collins IS trying to make a statement about the consequences of our cultural obsession with violence, which is important.
  15. Sandy Koufax by Jane Leavy
    This year’s baseball read, a biography of the greatest left-handed pitcher of all-time. Even now, years later, he remains an enigma, a poetic, mythical creature. We’re left to wonder what might have been, which only fuels this story’s allure. Leavy is one of the best. I hope to find time to read through her bio of the Mick next.

So there you have my list. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading this year that’s been interesting to you.

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1 Thessalonians 4

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Jason

Reading for Monday, Dec. 17: 1 Thess. 4

This chapter can be subdivided into two major sections: v1-12 dealing with living a God-honoring life in the flesh; and v13-18 addressing the hope of life eternal with Christ.

“For this is the will of God, your sanctification,” (v3). Specifically, Paul addresses the sin of sexual immorality. Paul follows the ancient Jewish understanding of religious commitment and responsible sexual behavior. Sensual living seems to be a constant temptation for the churches of the NT, and we quickly realize that little has changed in this regard in the nearly 2,000 years since Paul wrote his letter. “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness,” (v7). Rather than being dominated by lust and sexual immorality, the follower of Christ submits his body to the will of God — a will focused on sanctifying holiness, not sensual lawlessness.

Paul encourages the Thessalonians “to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,” (v11). In light of the coming of the Lord, some may inevitably choose to abandon their everyday concerns — think of those who sell everything and wait atop some mountain, awaiting the end of humanity (i.e., this week’s Aztec calendar foolishness!). Paul refutes this by teaching this church to follow through on their commitments in quietness, not to be religious busybodies.

Finally, Paul addresses the return of the Lord. Christians do not grieve as those without hope (v13). Rather, we have a concrete hope — resurrection, hope made alive and tangible in the raised body of Christ. The bodily resurrection of Jesus stands as God’s promise to the living, a promise that extends beyond the grave, even beyond the scope of human history and into eternity. I can think of no better words of comfort for a nation grieving the loss of so many children in Connecticut this week.

“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

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