- Bible Related
1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, John Woodhouse in the Preaching the Word series (Crossway)
These commentaries got me through the long dark COVID months.
I love this series. These commentaries got me through the long dark COVID months. There was considerable nostalgia value in ‘hearing’ from my old boss but it was great to revisit these books and be encouraged and challenged by the word of God expounded. The constant application to questions of God’s sovereignty, trust, and questions of power and leadership seemed especially relevant in 2020. I was reminded again of what a Christ-centred reading of the Old Testament can look like.
Fun related
Jane Harper, Gary Disher, Chris Hammer: still working through Australian crime fiction; still enjoying these writers’ latest output. All evoke various aspects of the lived Australian experience: Harper: the Tasmanian coast (The Survivors), Disher: a regional town in South Australia (Consolation), Hammer: Sydney (Trust). All are good observers of contemporary Australians.
Damascus, Christos Tsiolkas
Glad to see I was not alone in reading this one, Al. It was outrageous, repellent, and provocative as expected. It was also illuminating in a way that was unexpected. One reviewer said they learnt more about Christianity from this book than anything else they had read. Which is revealing, terrifying, and possibly a little comforting if the way that Tsiolkas portrays the radical difference the Christian faith made in a first-century world that was nasty, brutish, and short was in any way perceived. This deserves a longer review but maybe another time.
A Gentleman in Moscow, Amor Towles
Perfect holiday reading as a Russian aristocrat is placed under house arrest in a grand hotel in Moscow. Beautifully written, a compelling central character, and a great tale that has the profound changes sweeping through Russia in the twentieth century as its backdrop.
Ministry Related
How to Talk about Jesus and not be that Guy, Sam Chan.
This follow up to Sam’s first book on evangelism is full of wit, wisdom, and helpful biblical reflection and application.
This is the follow up to Sam’s first book on evangelism in a skeptical world and carries on the general thrust of encouraging and equipping us to bear testimony to Jesus. Full of wit, wisdom, and helpful biblical reflection and application. This would be a great read with a small group keen on thinking through how to get better at the ‘talking about Jesus’ thing.
The End of Youth Ministry, Andrew Root.
This won’t be everyone’s cup of tea and is more or less the culmination of a series of books and the trajectory of Root’s thinking about youth ministry and its practice/goal. But it is worth reading for the analysis of Christian parents and the desire for their children to find ‘their thing’, but looking anywhere but a relationship with Jesus for this.
Our Secular Age. Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor, Collin Hansen (ed).
This is a series of highly accessible (and short) essays that reflect on various aspects of the thought of Charles Taylor of A Secular Age fame. This is at once a short introduction, appreciation, and gentle (mostly) critique that help you to get to know Taylor’s thought a little better and think about its application in our contemporary world.
Podcasts
Inspired by Brianna, let me suggest three podcasts I have been following while walking the dog, realising I am late to the party on all three. “The Rugby League Digest” is blokey, parochial, and passionate as it takes its time dissecting the Super League Wars of the 1990’s. Like all good Rugby League stories this is really all about life. Malcolm Gladwell’s “Revisionist History” is a fascinating look at whatever catches Malcolm Gladwell’s attention, and he always makes it interesting. “Kermode and Mayo Film Reviews” is a broadcast from BBC 5 Live of two English guys “wittering away” with beautiful accents, understated humour, and the occasional film review intruding on the general fun.
