Biblical/Theological

1. Psalms as Torah: Reading Biblical Song Ethically by Gordon J. Wenham
   Excellent book that opened my eyes to the power of biblical song for shaping Christian ethics. I will likely write more about this book later.
   Recommend? Yes, especially if you are interested in Psalms scholarship.
   
2. The Catholic Companion to the Psalms by Mary Kathleen Glavich
   Recommend? Probably not, see Peterson book below.
   (Review forthcoming)
   
3. Praying the Psalms by Thomas Merton
   This is a short little booklet. There are a few nuggets in here but not worth the price of the book. In short, it is an encouragement to Catholics to make the psalms their prayers. Those who pray the psalms are praying with Christ and his Church. The Psalms at their heart are about praise. (This is a slightly different view from those who say that they are primarily about lament.)
   Recommend? No, surprisingly disappointing given how much I enjoyed Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain.
   
4. Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer by Eugene Peterson
   An excellent introduction to learning to pray the Psalms. Peterson is not writing for an academic audience, but he is very aware of and conversant with some of the best scholarship available at the time he wrote it. As with pretty much every Eugene Peterson book I’ve ever read, I thought this one could have been shorter, but the content was excellent. If you’re not already praying the Psalms, start. Then after some time, read this book.
   Recommend? Yes.
   
5. God of All Things: Rediscovering the Sacred in an Everyday World by Andrew Wilson
   This book was a pleasant surprise. Wilson basically traces various “things” through the Bible revealing fascinating connections and gospel implications. His chapter on horns, water, and viruses were particularly interesting. Wilson has an incredible gift at helping us see familiar passages in a new way.
   Recommend? Yes.
   
6. Ephesians (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Clinton E. Arnold
   I don’t usually make reference to biblical commentaries. Having said that, this is hands down the best all-around commentary on Ephesians at present.
   Recommend? Yes, for those preaching or teaching Ephesians.

Christian Life

1. Gratitude: Why Giving Thanks is the Key to Our Well-Being by Cornelius Plantinga
   I had high expectations for this book based on other things I’ve read by Plantinga and by how much I care about the subject of gratitude. But I thought the book was just okay. It may have been an unfortunate victim of my high expectations.
   Recommend? Eh, it’s fine but if you’re only reading one book on gratitude, I’d recommend Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts first. Voskamp’s writing style sometimes feels over-the-top, but still, her book is gold.
   
2. How to Memorize Scripture for Life by Andrew Davis
   A good short little guide to memorizing scripture. But if you think there’s any shortcut besides repetition, think again.
   Recommend? If you are looking for a plan to memorize Scripture. Honestly, you’re probably better off just using the time to start memorizing.
   
3. The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes
   A classic puritan work that helped me appreciate the good news of the gospel in a fresh way. I am thinking that I probably should re-read the first 75 pages or so of this book a couple of times a year just to remember the depths of God’s love and mercy toward people like me who do not deserve it, but desperately need it.
   Recommend? Yes, especially to pastors
   
4. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
   A spiritual classic consisting of a series of fictional letters from a senior devil (Screwtape) to his nephew (Wormwood). C.S. Lewis was an absolute genius. I read this book for the first time years ago and re-read it again this year. It was even better than I remembered. The book is insightful, thought-provoking, challenging, and at times, hilarious.
   Recommend? Yes
   
5. The Gospel-Shaped Marriage: Grace for Sinners to Love Like Saints by Chad and Emily Van Dixhoorn
   There are a lot of books in the gospel-shaped marriage category, but I appreciated that this book read differently from the others. I thought it was a good apologetic for marriage generally.
   Recommend? Yes
   
6. Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
   This author has been incredibly influential among younger generations of Christians over the last several years. His approach is not my style, but I liked this book more than I thought I would. It’s a fresh introduction to the concept of discipleship with a heavy emphasis on returning to ancient Christian practices by way of a Rule of Life. I think Justin Whitmel Earle’s book and Stephen Macchia’s book are both more helpful in terms of developing a rule of life, but I appreciated the freshness of the approach to discipleship, or what he calls, apprenticeship.
   Recommend? Mostly
   
7. The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character by Jon Tyson
   This is not a very long book; nevertheless, I didn’t get all the way through it before I had to return it. Having said that, it is a great book to freshly inspire fathers to take a more active role in raising their children and is filled with interesting research from the Barna group.
   Recommend? Yes

Biography/History

1. Behind the Ranges: The Story of J.O. Fraser by Geraldine Taylor
   I have always loved missionary biographies. This one was no exception. After having heard people reference it for years, I finally got my hands on a copy. An inspiring story of faith and prayer on the mission field of Western China.
   Recommend? Yes
   
2. The Unquenchable Flame by Michael Reeves
   Absolutely fantastic, see review here.
   Recommend? Definitely
   
3. Calvin’s Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609 by Scott M. Manetsch
   I wish I had taken better notes on this book. All I can remember is that as I read it, I consistently found it fascinating. If you’re looking for a well-researched book on Calvin that reads like a popular-level book, this one is amazing.
   Recommend? Yes, mostly for pastors
   
4. Flight Path: A Biography of Frank Barker Jr by Janie Buck & Mary Lou Davis
   A great biography of one of the fathers of the PCA. Having visited Briarwood this year, it was a great encouragement to see what God can do through those who trust him wholly. There are many things I could comment on from this biography, but one of the aspects of this story that is particularly moving was Frank and Barbara’s commitment to increasing their giving through the years. Powerful testimony.
   Recommend? Yes
   
5. The Way of the Hermit: My Incredible 40 Years Living in the Wilderness by Ken Smith
   The book was moderately interesting. One of the things that occurred to me is that a so much of what makes a life interesting has to do with people. Stories about encounters with wildlife just aren’t the same. If you’ve dreamed of living totally off the grid in the Scottish Highlands, this may be the book for you. It ends with some vague spiritualistic reduction of Christianity into something that is not Christianity, a version of “be kind and live your truth.”
   Recommend? No, not worth it
   
6. Surprised by Oxford: A Memoir by Carolyn Weber
   This book is part love story, part coming to faith testimony, and part glimpse behind the scenes of one of the world’s most fascinating universities. I enjoyed all parts of it. Apparently there is a movie, though I have not seen it. I can certainly recommend the book though, particularly if you share my fascination with old British universities.
   Recommend? Yes, I was pleasantly surprised by Surprised by Oxford
   
7. The Bomber Mafia by Malcolm Gladwell
   An incredibly fascinating book about the B-29 bomber, a group of forward thinking airmen, the development of the Norden bombsight and napalm. A fascinating audio book with interviews and original clips from the characters that was later turned into a book. As with every Gladwell book I’ve read, it was interesting from beginning to end and came up in many conversations while I was listening to it. I did not appreciate the fact that in WWII, bombing the daylights out of the enemy’s citizens was still the preferred method of bringing about surrender. Germany did it to Britain, and Britain wanted to do it to Germany…despite the fact that it didn’t work. However, Curtis LeMay was successful with the approach in Japan by utilizing napalm. I highly recommend the audiobook as Gladwell designed this book for the ear.
   Recommend? Yes
   
8. Charles H. Spurgeon: London’s Most Popular Preacher by W.Y. Fullerton
   A short but excellent little book on Charles Spurgeon. If I were looking for a book on Spurgeon, this is probably not the one I would’ve chosen. It just so happened that I already owned this book and decided to finally read it. The more I read about the man, the more impressed by him I become.
   Recommend? Yes, though there are probably other better books out there
   
9. The Vision That Changed a Nation: The Legacy of William Tennent by John F. Hansen
   This book was given to me by a friend who was inspired by Tennent’s vision. After reading the book, I can see why. The Tennent family had a tremendous impact not only on the formation of the Presbyterian church, but on the United States.
   Recommend? Yes, though again, there are probably better books out there
   
10. The Mighty Weakness of John Knox by Douglas Bond
    This is one of the books I was reading in preparation for our Reformation Tour this fall. It’s part of the Long Line of Godly Men series. It was very interesting reading this book and then watching the Mary Queen of Scots movie while en route to Scotland. In short, Hollywood is not a big fan of John Knox.
    Recommend? Mostly.

Leadership/Productivity/Ministry

1. Slow Productivity:The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
   See my review here.
   Recommend? Yes
   
2. The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel
   I have a draft of a reflection on this book and at some point I’m going to publish it on the blog. I just don’t know when.
   Recommend? Eh, not really. Some great quotes but there are better sabbath books out there, and the first I’d recommend is Mark Buchanan’s “The Rest of God.”
   
3. Leading with a Limp: Take Full Advantage of Your Most Powerful Weakness by Dan Allender
   This is another book that I have drafted a review for but haven’t gotten around to final editing. In short, I thought it was excellent.
   Recommend? Yes, for any leaders but especially pastors
   
4. Spirit Empowered Preaching: Involving the Holy Spirit in Your Ministry by Arturo Azurdia
   Yet another book that I have written a review for but needs editing before publishing. This is starting to get embarrassing.
   Recommend? Eh, it was okay, but there are many other books on preaching I’d direct you to first, such as John Piper’s below.
   
5. Expository Exultation: Christian Preaching as Worship by John Piper
   I was given this book as a gift several years ago but just got around to reading it this year. Piper did a superb job on this book. It’s not the first book I would give to someone on preaching, or the only book, but it’s a great book. The first book I would give them is Bryan Chapell’s “Christ-Centered Preaching.”
   Recommend? Yes, for pastors
   
6. Problems of Christian Leadership by John Stott (audiobook)
   A very short book containing some of John Stott’s wisdom for those in Christian leadership with helpful messages on self-discipline and managing relationships. Contains the simple but powerful reminder to treat others as though they are Jesus and treat others as Jesus would treat them. Also offers the advice to those who minister to give one hour a day to reading, and one four hour block of time each week. I love this idea but implementing it would require tremendous discipline. Also, his suggestion to take one quiet day a month away and out of the office for deeper thinking, reflecting, and planning. There is an interesting anecdote about how when John Stott’s assistant would bring him tea, Stott would always mumble, “I’m not worthy.” Once his assistant teasingly responded, “yes you are.” At that, Stott got very serious and said his assistant didn’t yet understand grace. Then as Stott resumed his work, he murmured, “It’s just the narrow end of the wedge.” (By that I think he meant that if we start to think we’re worthy of small and insignificant things like a cup of tea served to us, it is the narrow end of the wedge to opening us up to thinking we’re worthy of much more.)
   Recommend? Yes
   
7. Integrity: The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality by Henry Cloud
   This was an excellent book on leadership. You may think you don’t need to read a book on integrity, but there’s more to it than you think. This is a book I will return to again.
   Recommend? Definitely for anyone in a leadership role
   
8. The Pastor as Leader: Principles and Practices for Connecting Preaching and Leadership by John Currie
   I loved this book. Pastors are sometimes tempted to “just preach” and leave the leadership to someone else, but this cannot done. The preacher is a leader, and in the church, the leader leads through preaching. I also love that the book uses footnotes rather than endnotes. Endnotes should forever be banned from publishing.
   Recommend? Definitely, a fantastic book for pastors
   
9. Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and the Surprising Science of Real Toughness by Steve Magness
   I love reading research about resilience, grit, mental toughness, and the like. Magness argues that we have largely misunderstood mental toughness and where it comes from. In this book, he directs us to more helpful ways of thinking about how to develop true mental toughness. Spoiler alert: it’s not the Bear Bryant “Junction Boys” approach.
   Recommend? Yes
   
10. The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma
    I typically like books that encourage people to get up early. This book was a glaring exception. Not interesting writing, not a compelling story, and not inspiring. I believe getting up early is probably the most important discipline a person can develop because it is a foundational discipline that so many other good disciplines can be built upon. Rising early means so much to me that I’m offended by this book’s attempt to make it attractive. I’m also offended that it has sold so many copies.
    Recommend? No, but I do recommend going to bed earlier, waking up earlier, and being intentional to protect your early mornings for your most important spiritual and personal development practices.
    
11. From Embers to a Flame: How God Can Revitalize Your Church by Harry L. Reeder III
    I read this book after visiting Briarwood Presbyterian Church this fall. Church revitalization is needed all over the US. Dr. Reeder had a vision for that which continues at Briarwood. This book is a great introduction to that theme, but also contains many helpful reminders of best practices for those who are pastoring thriving churches.
    Recommend? Yes for pastors

Contemporary Issues

1. The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
   Jonathan Haidt writes interesting books. This is one of the most important books I read this year. Haidt’s analysis of the impact of smartphone usage and social media on the mental health of young people is tremendous and compelling. Do not give a smartphone to a child or teenager under your care without first working through the implications of this book.
   Recommend? Definitely, my strongest recommendation of 2024.
   
2. The Life You’ve Always Wanted by Andy Crouch
   I loved this book. I have written a review of it. Guess where it is? Sitting in a file unedited and unpublished. *Sigh*
   Recommend? Yes
   
3. The Wisdom Pyramid by Brett McCracken
   This is a great read. See my review here.
   Recommend? Yes
   
4. The Great Dechurching by Jim Davis and Michael Graham
   This book was fantastic. I have a draft of a review that will hopefully see the light of day in the future.
   Recommend? Yes, especially for pastors and elders
   
5. The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Jonathan Haidt
   I am a fan of Jonathan Haidt’s work. I don’t agree with Haidt’s approach to the big questions of life, but I always find him thought-provoking. This book is an attempt to gather wisdom from the great faith traditions of human history and evaluate them in light of modern social psychology to discover tried and true paths to happiness. Any venture to happiness that does not include Jesus Christ at the center is doomed to failure from the beginning, but the research Haidt puts into this book still yields some very interesting insights.
   Recommend? Yes, if you don’t mind wading through a lot of evolutionary psychology to get a few golden nuggets
   
6. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
   Lots of interesting ideas in the book, an easy read. Her suggestions on decluttering your space were on the mark. I have found a tremendous amount of correlation between clutter around me and the clutter in my soul. This book differs from the Haidt book in that it’s filled with practical suggestions and more broadly accessible.
   Recommend? Mostly

Fiction, Sports, and Other

1. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
   Definitely my longest book read this year, but well worth the effort. Undoubtedly, this book could be abridged to make it available to more readers. The social commentary, while at times interesting, is pretty difficult to appreciate for most of us 21st century North American readers. But the story is so compelling and well told it is more than worth it to wade through the slower portions. I came away from this book deeply moved and freshly impressed by both Victor Hugo and the men who adapted this book into a musical. The musical actually captures the spirit of the book in song; truly a masterpiece.
   Recommend? Definitely. If you were thinking about tackling War and Peace or Les Mis, I liked War and Peace, but I’d re-read Les Mis three more times before I revisited War and Peace.
   
2. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
   I love this book. See my reflection here.
   Recommend? Definitely
   
3. True Grit by Charles Portis
   A delightful story featuring a 14-year-old female Presbyterian protagonist. You don’t find many of those in literature. She’s a fantastic character. The book was a real pleasure, well-told, suitable for most ages.
   Recommend? Yes
   
4. Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (Adaptation by LA Theatre Works)
   I listened to quite a few LA Theatre Works productions last year and loved them all. This was was also excellent.
   Recommend? Yes
   
5. Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training With the Toughest Man on the Planet by Jesse Itzler
   I loved the concept, but I can’t recommend this book. The language was so gratuitously bad that it ruined an otherwise cool story.
   Recommend? No
   
6. Once a Runner by John L. Parker Jr.
   This is the classic novel about running and frequently hailed as the best one ever written. (To be fair, it’s a pretty small category.) I’d been wanting to read it for years and finally did. If you’ve ever been a competitive distance or middle-distance runner at the high school or college level, you will enjoy this book. If you haven’t, you may still enjoy the book. The book is part of a trilogy and I look forward to reading the other two books in the series. 
   Recommend? Yes, if you have ever been a competitive runner
   
7. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
   A New York Times best-selling novel that uses quantum mechanics to explore how our lives may have been different if we had taken another path somewhere along the way. This book reads quickly and was very entertaining. A work of fiction that caused me to pause and appreciate the life I have and to see it with fresh eyes. I read very few works of modern fiction, let alone science fiction, but this one was fascinating. As a heads up, this book is probably the equivalent of a barely R-rated movie. 
   Recommend? Yes, regardless of the speculative scientific premise underlying the book, there’s a worthwhile message for consideration in here
   
8. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
   A classic from the 1970’s depicting the decline of a young woman into the world of drug addiction and all that goes with it. The ending was a bit surprising. It’s pretty contemporary, but it would be interesting to see this book rewritten in the age of meth and opioids rather than LSD and marijuana.  
   Recommend? No
   
9. The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
   A strange, dystopian feminist trope railing against the patriarchy. I wouldn’t read it again and barely got through it the first time. Having said that, the book may be a bit eye-opening for those wanting to better understand the challenges of being a woman. But I would guess there are lots of other books far better at that. 
   Recommend? No
   
10. Running the Dream: One Summer Living, Training, and Racing with a Team of World-Class Runners Half My Age by Matt Fitzgerald
    I really enjoyed this book, as I suspect many lifelong runners my age would. It is the autobiographical story of a man who, at 46 years of age, went to Flagstaff, Arizona to train with the Northern Arizona Elite running club. Fitzgerald was an excellent runner already, having completed some forty marathons with a personal best around 2:41 (if I remember correctly). But, as he mentions in the book, it’s almost unheard of for a lifelong runner to set a new personal best at 46. I won’t spoil the surprise, but the book is an inspiration to runners as to what can be accomplished, even at a later stage of life, if you’re willing to put in the time and effort to go for it. Quite apart from that, it was a nice story and getting to know the professional runners through Matt’s eyes was a pleasure. If you are not a runner, I highly doubt you would enjoy this book. He spends a great deal of time talking about specific workouts and times; the kinds of things that are the primary reasons non-runners don’t run. Recommend? Yes, if you have been a competitive runner and are still trying to compete at the master’s level

That’s it for this year’s list. I’d be interested to hear from you if you share my opinion or disagree on any of the titles above. Happy reading in 2025!

The post My 2024 Reading List: Top Book Recommendations first appeared on Trent Casto.

For some, this may be the first time you’ve heard of it. Here is the full text of the amendment:

“Limiting government interference with abortion.— Except as provided in Article X, Section 22, no law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”

This amendment, while brief, carries weighty implications. Its simplicity belies its potential to drastically alter our state’s approach to the protection of unborn life. If passed, Amendment 4 would create a constitutional right to abortion before viability. But here’s the catch: viability is not defined. Without definition, it leaves the door open to subjective interpretation, allowing abortions at any point during pregnancy. In essence, the amendment opens the door to abortions up until the moment of birth. Can we, in good conscience, allow such a possibility to be etched into the highest legal document of our state?

Eroding the Safeguards We Already Have

What many voters may not realize is that we already have important protections in place that balance the difficult realities surrounding abortion with the need to protect life. Amendment 4 would obliterate those safeguards.

Here are some of the current protections surrounding abortion in Florida:

• Parental consent is required before a minor can have an abortion, ensuring that parents are involved in such a major decision.
• Only a licensed physician is authorized to perform abortions, ensuring a level of medical professionalism and oversight.
• Physicians are required to report known or suspected cases of human trafficking of adults.
• Physicians must report known or suspected cases of rape, incest, or human trafficking of minors, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the protection they need.
• Telehealth is not allowed for abortions, meaning physicians cannot mail abortion-inducing medications. They must see their patients in person, ensuring proper care.
• The Agency for Health Care Administration ensures that abortion clinics operate under strict regulations to provide for the safety of women and children.

These protections were put in place to safeguard women and children while recognizing the gravity of the decision to terminate a pregnancy. Amendment 4 would remove these critical protections, turning a blind eye to the need for parental involvement, licensed medical professionals, and protections for victims of trafficking. I believe many who support abortion would agree that the removal of these protections is not in the best interest of women or children. That’s why I’m making this appeal to all Floridians, not simply to Christians.

Life-Saving Exceptions Already Exist

Furthermore, under current Florida law, there are exceptions to abortion restrictions that recognize the tragic and difficult circumstances some women face. These exceptions include:

• When a physician determines that termination of pregnancy is necessary to save the woman’s life.
• When there is a serious risk of physical impairment or damage to a major bodily function.
• For victims of rape, incest, or human trafficking, ensuring that those who have suffered unimaginable trauma have options.

These exceptions account for the fact that not all pregnancies are the same and that some circumstances are tragic and require medical intervention. But Amendment 4 does not offer this level of nuance or compassion and eliminates important distinctions that ensure care for both mother and child.

The Risks Hidden Behind Undefined Terms

Another troubling aspect is the amendment’s allowance for abortion “to protect the patient’s health.” The term “health” remains ambiguous. Would this only apply to life-threatening circumstances, or could it extend to emotional distress, anxiety, or other non-physical factors? While mental health is a serious concern, it should not become a vague and convenient justification for ending a child’s life. 

Who Decides?

Perhaps most alarming is the amendment’s reliance on the opinion of a “healthcare provider” to make these critical decisions. The amendment lacks any stipulation as to what kind of healthcare provider qualifies. Does this need to be a licensed physician, or could the determination be left to someone less qualified? How much less qualified? Worse still, would this amendment create an incentive for unscrupulous providers to profit from rubber-stamping abortion requests for financial gain? The risk is real, and we cannot afford to ignore it.

A Stark Reality

Organizations like Planned Parenthood are pouring millions of dollars into promoting this amendment because their bottom line depends on it. Abortion is not a side service for them; it is a major revenue stream. If Amendment 4 passes, Florida would become a prime destination for those seeking abortions, turning our state into a hub for an industry built on the destruction of innocent life.¹

Florida Must Stand for Life

Floridians, we have an opportunity to take a stand—not just against this amendment, but for something far greater. We can stand for the dignity of both women and unborn children. Instead of allowing Florida to become a place where women’s health needs are ignored and unborn life is discarded for corporate profit, we can make our state a welcoming refuge for women and girls facing difficult circumstances. 

What Can We Do?

We can support pregnancy centers that provide holistic care for women in crisis—centers that offer not only medical care but also counseling, support, and assistance with navigating the challenges of pregnancy and parenthood. These centers provide a lifeline for women abandoned by partners or family and help ensure that no woman walks through this difficult journey alone.

But none of this will matter if we allow the floodgates to open by passing Amendment 4. Once enshrined in our constitution, it will be nearly impossible to reverse. This is why I am urging you to vote NO on Amendment 4. Together, we can protect the most vulnerable among us—both mother and child—and work toward a future where all human life is cherished and protected.

For more see www.informedchurch.org

1. Planned Parenthood’s 2022-2023 annual report shows 392,715 abortions performed compared to 1,721 adoption referrals. ︎

The post Why I Am Urging Floridians to Vote No on Amendment 4 first appeared on Trent Casto.

Lennie was delighted. “That’s it—that’s it. Now tell how it is with us.”

George went on. “With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place else to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us.”

Lennie broke in. “But not us! An’ why? Because…because I got you to look after me, and you got me to look after you, and that’s why.” He laughed delightedly. “Go on now, George!”

John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men is a powerful depiction of the human need for a hope and a future. When I first read the novel in high school, it left me feeling sad, but I couldn’t remember the details. Reading it again on a recent flight, I was unprepared for the flood of emotions.

What struck me as I read the book this time was the human need for a hope and a future. Without hope, life becomes unendurable. Over and over again, Lennie asks George to tell him how their future will be. Patiently, George describes the dream: a small piece of land where they can live off the “fatta the lan’,” work a reasonable amount, and enjoy simple pleasures. They’ll have cows, pigs, chickens, and rabbits—Lennie’s favorite part. They’ll be free to do as they please, without asking anyone for permission.

Lennie knows this dream by heart, yet he insists that George tell it again and again, like a child wanting to hear their favorite bedtime story. What’s remarkable is that each time George shares the vision, he becomes animated too. Though he starts reluctantly, he ends up swept up in the dream’s power. Without that shared hope, what else did they have? As George reminds Lennie, they’re not like other ranch workers who earn their $50 a month and squander it just as quickly. Unlike the others, they have each other, and that makes all the difference.

The alternative is bleakly depicted through Candy’s old dog. In the language of the book, “the dog weren’t no good no more.” It was shot to spare it from a miserable life. Candy, lying on his bed, knows all too well that he will soon share the same fate. After losing his hand in a ranch accident, his usefulness is dwindling. When he overhears George and Lennie talking about their dream, a spark of hope ignites within him. He has some savings and offers to help make their dream a reality. Suddenly, like George and Lennie, he finds purpose in the vision of a shared future.

Later, Lennie wanders into the room of Crooks, the Black stable hand. Crooks is excluded from the bunkhouse due to his race, suffering an intense loneliness. For a brief moment, Lennie’s company allows him to open up. Lennie and Candy share the dream with Crooks, who dares to ask if there would be room for someone like him on their farm. But the harsh reality of his status soon crushes his hope, and he withdraws his request to protect himself from the inevitable disappointment.

Curley’s wife is another tragic figure in the story. She remains unnamed throughout the novel, a reflection of her isolation and lack of identity. She tells the men she could have been something, but marriage to the abusive Curley has trapped her in a lonely existence on the ranch. Her desperate desire for connection ultimately leads her to a fatal encounter with Lennie. It is clear that her need for companionship would have driven her to take risks with other men, possibly leading to the same tragic outcome. Her story is one without hope or a future.

Once Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife, his future ends too. George meets him by the river, where Lennie had been told to hide if he got into trouble. As the lynch mob approaches, George tells Lennie the dream one last time. It is the final thing Lennie hears. Although his future is gone, he dies with hope in his heart.

I haven’t read literary criticisms of Of Mice and Men, so I don’t know exactly what Steinbeck intended, but I came away with a profound sense of our need for hope and a future, as well as a companion to share that hope with. Without these, we are as good as dead. Considering the epidemic of loneliness and despair in today’s world, it’s a wonder the suicide rates aren’t even higher. How do people survive without hope or a friend to share it with?

This brings to mind the promise of the gospel and the mission of the church. When God’s people were in exile in Babylon, they had every reason to lose hope. Their temple was destroyed, and they were under the rule of a powerful empire. Yet God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11). Shortly after, he continues, “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country” (Jer. 29:16-17). God assured them that Babylon was not the end, and that a restored future awaited them.

In the New Testament, we see that it’s not just the people of Judah living in exile; in a sense, we are too. This world, as it is now, is not our true home. Sin separates us from God, each other, and the world as it was meant to be. But God has set a vision before us—a world where sin is no more, where people do not mistreat one another, where we all have a plot of ground to work and a fig tree to sit under. It’s a vision much like George’s for Lennie. It’s a promise we share with all who trust in Christ, who has rescued us from sin’s grip and will one day eradicate it entirely.

Like Lennie, we need to hear this story again and again, even if we know it by heart. When we remind one another of the hope that awaits us, our hearts are reignited, just as George’s was. As we journey through this life, we are not like others who labor only to waste what they earn. We are storing up treasure in heaven. Unlike George and Lennie, who relied on Candy’s contribution to make their dream possible, our future has been fully secured by Christ’s generosity. We cannot add to it; we can only live in gratitude for what he has accomplished, sharing the vision with all who will listen.

Brothers and sisters, let’s hold tightly to the hope and future set before us. To do so, we must remind each other often of the vision that will one day be reality. But let’s not keep this good news a secret. There are many like Candy, Crooks, and Curley’s wife—dying for a reason to live and desperate for a friend to share it with. Let’s offer them the hope we have found.

The post A Hope and a Future: Reflections on John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men first appeared on Trent Casto.

I’m not going to offer a comprehensive review of this work. Instead, I want to share a few quick thoughts on why this book stood out to me and why I think it’s worth your time, whether you’re new to the subject or have spent years studying church history.

A Fast-Paced, Focused Narrative

First, Reeves does a phenomenal job of keeping the story moving. Much of the church history I’ve read has a tendency to get bogged down in the minutiae. Sometimes those details are necessary, and sometimes they’re interesting, but they can often cause us to lose sight of the larger story. The Unquenchable Flame manages to avoid that pitfall.

Reeves gives us a high-level overview without sacrificing the heart of the story. When I finished the book, I had a clearer grasp than ever of the causes of the Reformation, the key players involved, and the monumental stakes at hand. Reeves masterfully balances depth with brevity, inserting loads of fascinating tidbits along the way that might provoke you to dig deeper elsewhere. But what he never does is lose sight of the overall narrative.

Humor and Absurdity in History

Another thing I loved about the book was Reeves’ use of humor. The fact is, much of church history is ridiculous! From our vantage point 500 years removed, things that were deadly serious at the time can now be seen with a bit of levity. Reeves handles this balance well, bringing out the absurdity of certain situations without being irreverent.

For example, his description of the Archbishop of Canterbury William Laud, made me laugh out loud:

“Laud was never a man much able to win people over; he seemed to reserve all displays of warmth for his pet cats and giant tortoise. The thing was, he didn’t even seem to try. When Charles re-issued his father’s Book of Sports, Laud merrily suspended all clergy who refused to play ball and read it from the pulpit. But it was Laud’s love of liturgy and orderliness (his liturgy and orderliness) that really got people’s backs up. For example, he installed communion rails in the churches; and that, people reckoned, was either the attempt of a cat-lover to curb the freedom of the average Englishman’s beloved dog (people were quite used to bringing their dogs to church), or it was popish. Given that Laud insisted people kneel at the rail for communion, it looked like the latter” (The Unquenchable Flame, p. 166-167).

That’s just one example, but there are many more moments like it that make this book a joy to read.

A Push Toward Further Study

One of the best things a book like this can do is inspire you to read more, and Reeves did that for me. His description of Richard Sibbes and his famous work The Bruised Reed intrigued me so much that I bought it and read it also. He also deepened my love and appreciation for John Calvin, which already ran very deep. Reeves includes a jaw-dropping report from Calvin to his doctors detailing his health issues. I won’t reprint it here, but after reading it I resolved to eliminate complaining from my mouth. Despite his tremendous suffering, Calvin faithfully preached the Word day in and day out. Books like this remind us that our heroes carried out their ministries amid the trials and challenges of real life.

Appreciating The Greek New Testament as an Essential Catalyst

Another insight from the book that left a strong impression on me was Reeves’ treatment of Erasmus’ Greek New Testament. While we often hear about Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other well-known Reformers, it’s clear to me now that without Erasmus’ critical edition of the Greek New Testament, the Reformation might not have happened at all. Reeves helped me appreciate how the publication of that Greek New Testament became an essential piece of God’s plan to ignite the Reformation.

Pouring Fuel on the Fire of My Passion for Ministry

Finally, The Unquenchable Flame did something that I did not anticipate: it poured fuel on the fire of my passion for the gospel ministry. It’s not that I’ve been wavering in my calling, but reading this captivating portrayal of the Reformers filled me with a renewed sense of purpose. These were men and women who endured tremendous opposition and personal suffering to ensure that the gospel of grace was proclaimed clearly and powerfully. Their example reminded me of what a privilege it is to be called to preach and live out the same message. As the Reformers themselves knew, this is a message worth living for—and worth dying for.

Highly Recommended

I highly recommend The Unquenchable Flame to every Christian, whether you’re a novice in church history or an expert. For the novice, it’s a very accessible and easy to read introduction to one of the most exciting and pivotal eras in the history of the church. For the expert, it’s a fun, compelling, and refreshing example of how we can introduce more people to the amazing history of Christ’s church. The Unquenchable Flame is a powerful reminder of the beauty and truth of the gospel message that was reignited during the Reformation. It’s a flame that still burns today, and it’s one we must never allow to be quenched.

The post The Heart of the Reformation: A Reflection on Michael Reeves’ “The Unquenchable Flame” first appeared on Trent Casto.

In the introduction and first three chapters, McCracken diagnoses the core problems contributing to our current societal malaise—information gluttony, the constant pursuit of novelty, and the dangerous allure of self-centered autonomy. He then devotes the next six chapters to laying out the foundations for a life of wisdom, which include in this order: the Bible, the church, nature, books, beauty, and the internet and social media. His point is not to vilify the internet or social media but to highlight how our consumption patterns have become the inverse of what they should be if we would be wise.

McCracken’s insights are timely and convicting. He captures the essence of our unhealthy media habits, which have left us more anxious and less wise. Many of us have felt this unease. Personally, I’ve been tempted to abandon the digital world entirely, to retreat to an analog existence, leaving the digital disciples to their own devices. But McCracken reminds us from church history that, as Christians, our calling is not to run from the sick but to run toward them with healing. Despite my desire to disengage from the online world, there are countless souls who need to be ministered to, even in the digital sphere. I won’t live there anymore, but I’m willing to visit. As McCracken wisely points out, we must first attend to our own digital health before we can effectively help others.

Curiously, McCracken describes “digital detoxes,” as largely an “activity of the privileged” (p. 146). Perhaps he’s right, but I’m not okay with that. Everyone, regardless of age or circumstance, should have the freedom to disconnect from the digital world for days, if not a week or more at a time. The benefits of such a practice are immeasurable, especially in helping us recognize just how unhealthy our information consumption habits have been.  

I won’t take time to go into the specifics of the digital sickness that McCracken describes—we see its symptoms daily: the erosion of critical thinking, the inability to focus, the constant noise that drowns out reflection and discernment. Instead, I urge you to read The Wisdom Pyramid. It’s a quick read, but the insights it offers punch well-above the weight of the book. A person could simply look up the basics of McCracken’s wisdom pyramid online, adopt the model, and immediately experience positive benefit. But actually reading the book will equip you with the conviction needed to resist the relentless forces that will seek to turn your pyramid back upside down.

The post Pursuing Wisdom in a World of Digital Overload: Reflections on Brett McCracken’s Wisdom Pyramid first appeared on Trent Casto.

One of the most pervasive ways we fuel this anxiety is through our consumption of media. Whether it’s the news, social media, or talk radio, we have developed a habit of immersing ourselves in a constant stream of information, much of which is designed to provoke a reaction—often one of fear, anger, or outrage. But there is another way to live. 

I was recently blessed with the gift of a sabbatical during which I experienced a profound shift in my own life by stepping away from this media-driven frenzy. For about two of the three months, I had almost no access to the internet, and during that time, I was largely disconnected from the world of news and social media.

The result? I felt more connected to the people I was actually with, and even more importantly, to the Lord. The absence of the incessant noise of media did more good for my soul than I could have imagined. I wasn’t completely cut off from the world—big newsworthy events still reached me—but I didn’t have to wade through hours of click-bait and fearmongering to get to the information that mattered. Instead, I had time and mental space to feed my mind and heart with good food—Scripture, prayer, and thoughtful books. It was transformative.

This experience has led me to a conviction that I want to share with you. As we approach the upcoming election, I want to invite you to consider fasting. Not a fast from food, but a fast from the news and social media that have become entrenched in our daily lives. This could be a total fast or a partial fast, however the Lord leads you. Personally, I’m giving myself about 15 minutes every few days to scan headlines and check my Facebook page. You may take a more or less aggressive approach. But before you reject the idea, here’s why I think this fast could be beneficial for you—and for the entire church community:

1. You Already Know How You’re Going to Vote

For most of us, our minds are made up. We know which candidates we support, if we support any candidate, and nothing is likely to change that between now and election day. So why continue to immerse ourselves in the constant barrage of political news? The media thrives on keeping us anxious and engaged, but if your decision is already made, there’s little to gain from staying glued to the latest developments. Instead, consider redirecting that time and energy toward something that will nourish your soul.

2. Media Consumption Fuels Division

The news and social media are designed to provoke reactions, and often, those reactions are divisive. Take the recent controversy at Arlington National Cemetery, for example. If you don’t like Donald Trump, this episode will reinforce your negative view of him. If you support him, you’re likely to feel anger and frustration at the way he’s being portrayed. In either case, your position is unlikely to change—but the division between people who hold different views grows wider. By stepping away from the media, we can break this cycle of division and instead focus on what unites us as believers.

3. It’s Better to Focus on What You Can Control

We often worry about things we have little to no power to change. The outcome of the election, the actions of politicians, the latest scandal—these are all (largely) beyond our control once we cast the one vote we are given. But what is within our control is how we spend our time and where we direct our focus. Instead of allowing the media to consume our thoughts, let’s turn our attention to what we can control: our pursuit of God, our family’s discipleship, our ministry in our local church, and our service to our neighbors and community, not least of which is prayer. These are the areas where we can make a real difference, and they deserve our best effort.

4. You Can Help Create a More Civil, Reasonable, and Kind Dialogue

Imagine what might happen if enough people decided to disconnect from the negativity of modern media. The overall tenor of the conversation in our world could become more civil, more reasonable, more kind. We could begin to see each other not primarily as political opponents, but as fellow human beings created in the image of God. By fasting from the media, we take a small but significant step toward creating a more humane society. I believe we will also give ourselves the space to re-learn how to hold to our convictions, while also still bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit. 

5. You Can Protect Yourself and Others from Manipulation

We know that foreign governments have used social media to target US voters in past elections, and it’s happening again. As one expert recently said, “A lot of the reporting around China’s efforts to influence U.S. elections, isn’t to favor one candidate over another, but to engender conflict in the United States between the two parties, deepen the partisan divide, and decrease faith in the U.S. election system.” Why do we want to help them? By stepping away from social media, we reduce the likelihood of becoming unwitting accomplices in these efforts to destabilize our nation. Instead of being manipulated by outside forces, we can remain focused on cultivating personal relationships, as well as our relationship with God, while we faithfully represent the hope of his kingdom here on earth.

A Call to Action

So, here’s my invitation to you: if your mind is made up about how you’re going to vote on the issues in November, then join me in a media fast over the next two months. Let’s commit to stepping away from the noise of the media and turning our attention to the voice of truth. I am confident that you will not be significantly less aware about what is happening in the world, but you will be significantly more aware of what God is doing in the world—and that makes all the difference. The more accurate your view of God, the less anxious you will be. But be sure that you don’t simply remove media; replace it with good food for your soul such as Scripture reading, prayer, and thoughtful Christian books. And as you meditate on truth, you’ll find that the things of this world—its politics, its scandals, its fears—begin to fade in importance. Simultaneously, God’s beauty and power will come into sharper focus, better equipping you to serve him, as well as the people and nation you love. Why not give it a try?

The post Why Christians Should Consider a Media Fast This Election Season first appeared on Trent Casto.

I have been a fan of Cal Newport for years through his blog and articles, though I’ve never read any of his books until now. He has done more for me than anyone else to highlight the importance of “deep work” and the necessity of time blocking for the purpose of deep work. Additionally, his commitment to “digital minimalism” is something I have aspired to for years precisely because of my convictions regarding deep work.

For those unfamiliar with Newport, he is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University. Though he is only slightly older than me, has published eight books (in addition to a PhD from MIT) that have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. His last several books, including Slow Productivity, have focused on the intersection of technology, productivity, and culture (A World Without Email, Digital Minimalism, and Deep Work).

Overview of Slow Productivity

Slow Productivity is a quick read that I worked through in about four sittings (219 pages with plenty of white space). I would have read it faster except so many of his points led me into reflection and jotting down ideas, which for me is the sign of a great book.

In the introduction, he tells the compelling story of John McPhee’s process for writing a long-form article for The New Yorker back in 1966. A significant part of that process involved McPhee lying on his back on a picnic table under an ash tree for nearly two weeks, staring up into the branches, thinking. In today’s hurried world focused on productivity, it’s difficult to imagine someone taking so much time to simply ponder a problem. It seems so unproductive. But Newport’s point is that McPhee was incredibly productive as a writer, even though nothing about his work habits were frantic, busy, or overwhelming. It turns out that the relentless overload many knowledge workers face today is premised on the idea that good work requires increasing busyness. In Slow Productivity, he disabuses us of this unproved notion and sets forth a slower—and more productive—path.

Defining Slow Productivity

Newport defines Slow Productivity as a philosophy for organizing knowledge work efforts in a sustainable and meaningful manner, based on the following three principles:

1. Do fewer things

2. Work at a natural pace

3. Obsess over quality.

The Challenge of Measuring Knowledge Work

For years now, management experts have struggled to measure the productivity of knowledge workers. As a pastor, I would put myself in that category. The lack of a clear metric has resulted in falling back on a more industrial-era type of measurement of productivity: “using visible activity as a crude proxy for actual productivity” (p.20). The effect is that knowledge workers gravitate away from deeper efforts that take more time to accomplish and drift toward easier tasks that we can check off the to-do list. In short, it’s easier to knock out a few emails talking about work than to barricade yourself against distraction in order to dream up a bold new strategy. Yet, which activity will make the most difference for the company or organization? Clearly the latter.

The Trap of Pseudo-Productivity

In order to start being truly productive (rather than simply busy), we need to expose pseudo-productivity for what it is: “The use of visible activity as the primary means of approximating actual productive effort” (p.22). In one of the most insightful passages in the book, Newport writes: “In a setting where activity provides a proxy for productivity, the introduction of tools like email (and, later, Slack) that make it possible to visibly signal your busyness with minimal effort inevitably led to more and more of the average knowledge worker’s day being dedicated to talking about work, as fast and frantically as possible, through incessant electronic messaging” (p.23). This would include knowledge workers checking their email an average of once every six minutes. In my own experience, I have found that doing this does not lead to meaningful or thoughtful production of any sort whatsoever. But through our constant connectedness through phone and laptop, this pseudo-productivity now spreads to our children’s sporting events, our bedrooms in the evening, and our vacations. No wonder people are feeling burned out. The rest of the book is filled with examples and practical ideas to forge a better way forward via Slow Productivity.

The Three Principles of Slow Productivity

1. Do Fewer Things

The first principle of Slow Productivity is to do fewer things. He defines the principle this way: “Strive to reduce your obligations to the point where you can easily imagine accomplishing them with time to spare. Leverage this reduced load to more fully embrace and advance the small number of projects that matter most” (p.53). It’s a beautiful principle on paper, but I found myself wondering two things: 1) How do you do that practically, and 2) What are the small number of projects that matter most?

The Overhead Tax

With regard to the first principle of doing fewer things, he gives multiple examples of people reducing their obligations in various lines of work, along with some suggested approaches to try. But the most insightful piece of this section for me was his description of the overhead tax (p.56). Essentially, every time we agree to a new commitment (large or small), it brings with it a certain amount of administrative overhead such as emails, meetings, and phone calls. With enough of this administrative overhead, we end up spending all our working hours paying the overhead tax leaving ourselves little to no time to do the actual work. Consequently, when we want to get the real work done, we are forced to do it in the early mornings, evenings or on the weekend. We feel as busy as we have ever been, but we hardly ever feel like we are getting anything done. This not only leads us to burnout, but it also tends to produce lower quality output. He gives several good ideas for how to reduce the number of things that we are doing so that we can do the most important things better.

Accomplishing More by Doing Less

It’s important to understand that when Newport advocates for doing fewer things, he is not advocating for “accomplish fewer things.” Rather, by narrowing our focus to the things that matter most and doing them better, we will accomplish more. It is precisely here that we have failed to make the shift from “factory work thinking” to “knowledge work thinking” about productivity. In a factory, simply pushing employees to work longer shifts making widgets will positively impact the bottom-line. In knowledge work, pushing employees into larger workloads will likely reduce both the quantity and quality of their work (p.62).

Identifying Key Projects

The second major question I had when reading his definition of the first principle was, “what are the small number of projects that matter most?” Most knowledge workers can probably figure this out with a minimal amount of reflection. In my case, as the primary preaching pastor in a church with multiple pastors and staff, the most important task for me each week is the Sunday sermon and the life of prayer that must accompany it. After that, it is helping provide directional leadership to our elders and staff as we carry out our ministry. I have to be ruthless in keeping other things from crowding into my calendar that keep me from giving my best in these two essential areas. Each of us must figure out what those key areas are.

Trading Money for Time

One of the other key insights from this chapter for me was the importance of trading money for time to do more meaningful projects. I think this is a difficult lesson for people like me to learn. After college, my wife and I spent a year on the mission field with very few financial resources. From there we spent four years in seminary where we continued to have very few financial resources and learned to stretch dollars to new levels. Then we spent a year in an internship position with slightly more financial resource, but not much. So, from college until the time I received my first full-time call to ministry, we had spent 10 years learning to how to live on a dime. It would still be quite a few years into my ministry before we started to feel anything resembling financial comfort. The habits of frugality learned during those years are not easily set aside, even when they’re now working against more important priorities. But I am at a point in my career now where I have some disposal income that could be leveraged to give me time to focus on more important things. While we want to remain appropriately frugal for the Kingdom’s sake, we need to learn how to use money in ways that give us time for other things that matter more than money.

Putting Tasks on Autopilot

Another key takeaway from this chapter is the importance of putting tasks on autopilot. Basically, assign regularly occurring tasks or activities to particular days, times, and locations. The point is to reduce the amount of overhead required to accomplish these necessary tasks. I developed a couple of interesting ideas for how to handle my email after reflecting on this section.

2. Work at a Natural Pace

The second principle in the book is to work at a natural pace. He defines the principle as follows: “Don’t rush your most important work. Allow it instead to unfold along a sustainable timeline, with variations in intensity, in settings conducive to brilliance” (p.116). Newport argues that we suffer from overly ambitious timelines and poorly managed workloads because we’re uncomfortable ever stepping back from our jittery busyness (p.115). But this is not how work has always been.

Historical Perspective on Work Rhythms

For many years, our ancestors were hunters and gatherers. That type of work was not easy, but it had clearly defined periods of work and rest. After that, our ancestors were farmers. No one would argue that farming is easy work, but there was a clear rhythm of work and rest that varied throughout the year depending on the weather and season. Then the industrial revolution changed all that. The powered mill and the factory made every day a harvest day (p.123). Of course, this resulted in legislation and trade unions to help protect workers from being exploited endlessly. On the heels of that came the rise of knowledge work.

As we saw earlier, not knowing how to measure the productivity of the knowledge worker, managers fell back on visible activity as a proxy for usefulness. But whereas workers in a factory had legislation to protect them from working all day every day without any seasonal change, in the invisible factory of knowledge work, there were no such protections. Newport writes, “Knowledge work was free to totalize our existence: colonizing as much of our time, from evenings to weekends to vacations, as we could bear, and leaving little recourse beyond burnout or demotion or quitting when it became too much” (pp.123-124). Rather than this approach, slow productivity recognizes that a more natural, slower, varied pace to work is the foundation for true productivity in the long term (p.125). He fills the rest of the chapter with very practical ideas and examples of how to change the pace of your work. If I began to interact with all of his suggestions, this blog post would become a book.

3. Obsess Over Quality

The third principle of slow productivity is to obsess over quality. (He tells a fascinating story about the early career of the singer-songwriter Jewell that I had never heard before to make his point.) He defines the third principle this way: “Obsess over the quality of what you produce, even if this means missing opportunities in the short term. Leverage the value of these results to gain more and more freedom in your efforts over the long term” (p.173). On the whole, I found this principle to be the least impactful for me in producing new ideas. However, it’s important to see how the third principle ties all three principles together. He writes, “The first principle of slow productivity argues that you should do fewer things because overload is neither a humane nor pragmatic approach to organizing your work. This third principle’s focus on quality, however, transforms professional simplicity from an option to an imperative. Once you commit to doing something very well, busyness becomes intolerable. In other words, this third principle helps you stick with the first” (p.177).

Rethinking Rewards

One of the most thought-provoking lines in the book came in this section. Newport writes, “We’ve become so used to the idea that the only reward for getting better is moving toward higher income and increased responsibilities that we forget that the fruits of pursuing quality can also be harvested in the form of a more sustainable lifestyle” (p.182). Obviously accepting increased responsibilities (and the remuneration that typically goes with it) is often the right move as we grow into our vocations. But there may come a point where we realize the additional responsibilities and income are not significant enough to warrant the negative effects on our well-being. We may be more effective servants of our organizations if we intentionally turn down some opportunities in order to sustain our service for the long-haul.

Conclusion

I believe Cal Newport has done a great service to knowledge workers with this book. Those will benefit most who read it thoughtfully, intentionally writing out how to put the principles in practice in their own workplaces. I highly recommend the book and I hope my own work and ministry will begin to bear the fruit of its wisdom.

The post How Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity Can Transform Your Life and Work first appeared on Trent Casto.

We are shaped by our habits and rhythms. It is the small decisions we make hour after hour, day after day, week after week and year after year that determine who we are. In college, I started a daily pattern of Bible reading that I have continued to the present day. Many days, that particular habit does not “feel” very significant. But repeated daily for many years, that habit, like water dripping slowly on a rock, has steadily worn away some of the rougher edges of my heart. Similarly, I have had seasons of life where I was very intentional about keeping a weekly sabbath or disconnecting from technology for periods of time. Upon reflection, I can see that those habits (or the neglect of them) have had a tremendous impact upon the health of my soul and my relationships. Seeing the effects of my habits and rhythm of life over the course of years is what has me so excited about Justin Whitmel Earley’s book, “The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction.” 

Background on the Rule of Life Concept

I first became aware of the concept of a Rule of Life through my doctoral studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary under the tutelage of Dr. Stephen Macchia who wrote a book called “Crafting a Rule of Life.” He did not come up with the idea—its roots date back to Benedictine monasteries and beyond—but Dr. Macchia authored a workbook of intentional questions to help anyone develop their own rule of life. I found the process very helpful and about ten years ago taught a class at our church helping others develop their own rule. (I recommend his book and also a visit to his website.)

For those who are less convinced of the need for such a rule, Earley’s book is an excellent introduction. Perhaps just as importantly, he provides a simple rule of life that readers can adopt (or adapt) as their own. The practices and rhythms he recommends are within reach of anyone, and the book closes with an extensive section of suggestions for how the rule can be incorporated into the life of skeptics, parents, employees, creatives, entrepreneurs, addicts, and the mentally ill. Earley also provides direction as to how a church or small group might intentionally embrace the common rule together.

Contents of The Common Rule

The book itself is divided into two parts: “Part One: How to Practice the Common Rule” which gives a brief introduction to the concept of a rule of life as well as an introduction to the eight habits which comprise “The Common Rule.” And then “Part Two: The Daily and Weekly Habits.” This section devotes a chapter to each of the eight habits, four of which are daily habits and four of which are weekly. The book is written so that each chapter is capable of standing alone and it does not need to be read in any particular order. Some readers may just want to skip ahead to a chapter that personally interests them. 

The four daily habits:

1. Kneeling prayer at morning, midday, and bedtime
2. One meal with others
3. One hour with phone off, and
4. Scripture before phone each morning

The four weekly habits:

1. One hour of conversation with a friend
2. Curate media to four hours
3. Fast from something for twenty-four hours, and 
4. Sabbath

These eight habits also correspond to two different spectrums. The first spectrum has to do with love of God and neighbor: 

–>love of God (sabbath, fasting, prayer, scripture before phone) and 

–>love of neighbor (meals, conversation, phone off, and curate media). 

The second spectrum divides between disciplines of embrace and resistance.

–>Embrace (sabbath, prayer, meals, conversation) and 

–>Resistance (fasting, Scripture before phone, phone off, and curate media). 

I appreciate the way he has helped us see that living by a common rule of life is not simply God-ward, but man-ward. Furthermore, a good rule of life is not simply about resisting, but also embracing. Realistically, embracing some things requires resisting other things, even good things. Before concluding, I want to take a look more closely at just one of the daily habits he recommends.

A Closer Look at the Daily Habit of Kneeling Prayer

Daily Habit 1: Kneeling prayer at morning, midday, and bedtime.

The point of this habit is to pause and intentionally pray at three different points in the day: upon rising, in the middle of the day, and at the close of the day. There is no magic formula to these three times of day and a person could certainly choose other times to intentionally remember God. There is no set prescription for what these prayers must contain or how long these times of prayer should be. It would be advisable for those newer to the practice to start with less. Additionally, kneeling is not a necessity, but something about the act of kneeling creates an intentionality that sets the moment apart from other moments throughout the day. 

From time to time, I have embraced a version of this habit by marking off five different times of prayer throughout the day and incorporating the psalms into my prayers. I pray upon rising, before breakfast, at lunch, before dinner, and before bed. At each of these times, I pray a psalm that corresponds to the day. So on December 1, I pray Psalm 1 upon rising, Psalm 31 at breakfast, Psalm 61 at lunch, Psalm 91 at dinner, and Psalm 121 before bed. On December 2, it is Psalm 2 upon rising, Psalm 32 at breakfast, Psalm 62 at lunch, Psalm 92 at dinner, and Psalm 122 before bed. In this way, each day is saturated with prayer and so is my mind. In the course of the month, I cover the entire Psalter. It’s a wonderful discipline, though I find it hard to maintain every month and tend to reserve it for special seasons. Earley’s three times of daily prayer may be a nice and easy alternative on those months when I lack the motivation to work through the Psalms each day. Readers may also want to consider incorporating a devotional aid such as Jonathan Gibson’s “Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship.“

Conclusion and Recommendation

As a reader, I appreciated his use of language, his conciseness, and his humility, as well as his emphasis on community. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. Each of the daily and weekly habits he covers in the book is practical and attainable.

If you are lacking intentionality in your walk with Jesus, or you would simply like to incorporate some meaningful disciplines to aid you in the journey, I highly recommend “The Common Rule.” Justin Whitmel Earley has done a tremendous service to the church in writing this work and I look forward to seeing how God uses it to shape my own life and the lives of those around me.

The post Review of “The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction” by Justin Whitmel Earley (IVP, 2019) first appeared on Trent Casto.

Questions:

1. Do you believe God loves you and sent Jesus to die for you personally? Why or why not?
2. How can you receive His love today if you have not already? Will you accept by faith His free gift of grace and forgiveness?

The post Love for the Least first appeared on Trent Casto.

Questions:

1. Are you motivated by guilt, duty or fear? Or by grace, love and gratitude? How can you grow in grace-motivated obedience?
2. How can you let God’s amazing grace be the fuel for your work today? Take time to remember and give thanks.

The post Motivated by Grace first appeared on Trent Casto.