Favorite Books of 2017

Here are my five favorite books from 2017.  After those, 10 others that I found compelling.


1.  The Crucifixion, Fleming Rutledge

2. God & Soul Care, Eric Johnson

3. Martin Luther:  A Spiritual Biography, Herman Selderhuis

4. Essentialism, Greg McKeown

5. The Benedict Option, Rod Dreher

10 more that were compelling...

• A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman
• The Day the Revolution Began, N. T. Wright
• Outlaws of Time:  The Legend of Sam Miracle, N. D. Wilson & Outlaws of Time:  The Song of Glory and Ghost, N. D. Wilson
• Martin Luther, Eric Metaxas
• How to Think, Alan Jacobs
• The Emotionally Healthy Leader, Peter Scazzero
• Gospel Fluency, Jeff Vanderstelt
• Uncomfortable, Brett McCracken
• Recapturing the Wonder, Mike Cosper
• The Life You've Always Wanted, John Ortberg

What were your favorite books of 2017?  What do you hope to read in 2018?

Patience

Patience is extremely difficult for most of us.  We like to move at our own pace and are quickly frustrated at the pace of others...especially when they slow us down!

We like our pace and flow and often fall apart when faced with detours and interruptions.

Why is exhibiting patience so difficult?

One old saying describes patience as a "virtue."  In the Bible, the Apostle Paul uses it as a descriptor of love (Galatians 5:22).  But what is patience exactly?  One dictionary defines it as "the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset."  If that is true, it is easy to see why it is so difficult!

Bryan Loritts recently tweeted that "Patience is choosing to move at someone else's pace instead of pressuring them to move at yours."  Are you willing to consider extending that kind of patience?  In a similar vein one pastor asks:  "Do you love them more than you hate where they are at?"  He asks this question in the context of making disciples.   The person in front of you may not be where you want them to be or moving at the pace that you want them to, but can you love them patiently where they are at?

In addition to showing patience towards others, it is also often required toward God and even ourselves.  Consider Psalm 40:1.  Are you patient with God when He is not moving at your speed?  What about patience towards yourself?  Can you allow yourself room to grow when you are not performing up to your own expectations?

We would be wise to remember the encouragement of both Peter and Paul.  Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."  Paul encourages his readers in Romans 12:12, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulations, be constant in prayer."

Be patient with others, God, and yourself.

Don't give up.  Press on...even if it is not at your pace!

National Day of Prayer 2017: A Prayer For The Church

A Prayer for the Church:

Gracious Heavenly Father,

We thank you for sending your Son who suffered and sacrificed Himself for His Bride the Church.

In serving selflessly and sacrificially beyond the level of convenience we have not only been redeemed, but also given an example to follow and emulate.

While the church is flawed and far from perfect, it is the hope of the world, and it is for that church I pray…for its effectiveness in being the salt and the light in this community and the world.

Lord, make Your Church an effective and faithful preservative agent, that it would slow the moral decay in our society.

Lord, make Your Church a bold light, pointing out dangers and pitfalls that will only result in disaster.

Lord, make Your Church resilient and steadfast, never losing heart, but always prevailing and striving to push back the darkness.

Lord, make Your Church holy and healthy.  May it be unified and Christ-Centered, always remembering and focusing on You and the mission You commissioned it to accomplish.

Lord, may Your Church be faithful stewards of your Word, may its behavior and priorities be in line with Scripture, may it submit willing to its authority.

Overflowing from a commitment to Your Word, may the church Worship you in Spirit and in Truth.

Lord, may the Church’s faithfulness to Your Word and its resulting response in Worship be a powerful Witness to the watching world that results in a positive impact and much spiritual fruit.

May your church love its community and be motivated to action by Your loving example to us.

May Your church not be passive and indifferent to social injustice but be moved to stand up.

May Your church not remain silent and apathetic to the violence or lostness or pain or difficulty that surrounds us, but be available and willing to move toward messes and get involved to bring positive Gospel-Centered results.

Lord, protect and keep Your Church as it strives to push back the darkness.

Lord protect and keep Your Church as it does good deeds.  May they result in good will and will open doors for the Good News!

Lord, allow our local churches to work together in collaboration for the good of our town.

May our town be grateful that we are here.

Allow us to be a part of a movement…a part of something that can only be explained as of God.

Your will be done.

It is in the matchless name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

Jesus Is Better

Happy New Year!