Sunday, December 31, 2023

Reading List 2023

I read less this year. Blame it on busyness. But it's also because I discovered a Bible Memory app that kind of became a hobby for me, if it's not wrong to call it that. The number of books I read in 2023 is actually nearly the same as last year, but the average length was less, so it amounts to fewer pages read, but it's all about quality, not quantity, right? 

In fact, this will be the first year since I began publishing my reading lists that my list will not include every book I read. It's not that the books I omitted were bad books -- quite the opposite. A couple of them were just too personal.

Apart from the books listed here, I consistently read my Bible throughout the year. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word to us, and of all the things I read, I see the Bible as the most important book to be continually reading. 

Here is a list that includes most of the books I read in 2023...

1. John Wesley: The Man and his Mission by Godfrey Holden Pike.
It's hard not to be inspired by John Wesley. This 1904 biography provides plenty of detail without going into too many details about a highly exceptional man. I appreciated the care taken in the selection of various personal stories in the midst of explaining the bigger picture of what John Wesley accomplished. The overall impression I was left with was of a man who so obviously depended on the Lord to live a highly generous and sacrificial life for the sake of others, and who as such a disciplined and scholarly man, made the gospel message so hugely accessible and understandable to so many worldly and uneducated masses.

2. Gettysburg: The Final Fury by Bruce Catton.
This is Catton in all his descriptive powers. I find that Catton's prose helps me to feel what happened as much as to understand it. Something as simple as describing General Lee as appearing "to be on the crest of the wave" after his successes on the first day of fighting provides more than a simple historical account. It's a graphic image of Lee's perspective that helps me to feel the momentum of his emotions rather than simply understand the outcome of a day's events. And that's why I find Catton's writing so compelling. Couple that with the succinctness of this book, and you have a very readable and enjoyable introduction to an extremely significant battle.

3. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni.
I'm a little uncomfortable saying, and more than a little surprised, that I actually found this book to be emotionally moving. I'm the leader of what I'd consider a fairly healthy team, but this book inspired me to believe we could be even more healthy and effective. At the same time, this book sobered me as I saw how much courage and persistence will be required to increase our sense of teamwork. Growth doesn't happen overnight, and even what's achieved requires discipline to keep what's been gained. That's what makes the simplicity of this book's five principles so appealing: keeping it simple is what makes it achievable. I'm looking forward to trying some of the very practical exercises Lencioni has provided.

4. Between God and Satan by Helmut Thielicke.
An interesting mix of theological exploration and of well-written creative expression as Helmut Thielicke examines Christ's temptation in the wilderness. Again and again, Thielicke made observations I had never considered before, and offered applications that both challenged and encouraged me. And he not only thoroughly honoured Jesus in this book, but he also made it plain just how much what Jesus endured in the wilderness was for the sake of us being able to experience true communion and companionship with him.

5. Five Secrets of Living by Warren W. Wiersbe.
I love John 15, and though I found some valuable nuggets about that passage in this little book, I had hoped for more. Too many of Wiersbe's statements felt overly sweeping or too simplistic, and too many of his conclusions felt overly hurried. Sometimes that left me feeling like I was reading a condensed version of a longer book. I appreciated Wiersbe's outline of the passage, as well as his personal applications to do with abiding in the Vine. And I hope what I read will help me grow in the area of abiding as knowing Jesus leads to loving him more, which will lead me to obeying him more, which will lead me to abiding in him, and then to bearing fruit for him, which all leads to that abundant life Jesus has promised us. That's a great sequence of thought. But too often this book made me feel like we were paddling in the shallows of those thoughts rather than going deeper.

This book is immensely practical, and is simple enough to not be overwhelming in what it suggests, while also detailed enough to feel like it's more than just a pep talk. Groeschel is incredibly honest, as well as very well acquainted with his topic. Each chapter follows very naturally after the other as Groeschel lays out a very accessible and hope-inspiring strategy. I did every exercise, and will need to review my answers to properly follow through on what I wrote down, but I found the exercises helpful. And it was worth persevering to the end, as the main points in the second-last chapter felt to me the most encouraging. That chapter clearly emphasizes what sets this book apart from any better known secular books on this topic. He could've ended with it, as I found the last chapter more than a bit anticlimactic.

I found this book incredibly helpful! In fact, so much so that I kept a journal of the valuable things I was learning. After all, George Muller made it clear that he wanted his life to be a lesson for people. He specifically said that he wanted observers of his life to grow in their understanding of the things of God, and so he did what he did with his life for the express purpose of strengthening people's faith in the prayer-hearing, prayer-answering God of the Bible. What a privilege it was to be taught in such a way by a hero of the faith like George Muller, who never actually wanted to be seen as exceptional, but only as an example of what any Christ-follower can be and do. That's why I wanted to record and remember the lessons Muller sought to illustrate -- to help me to grow in my own experiences with God in life and ministry.

Steer described Muller's detailed thoughts about what successful prayer depends on, and about why prayer may not be answered immediately, and about how to persist in prayer and grow in faith. And I relished the experience of learning such valuable things from such a proven prayer warrior.

Perhaps it felt so helpful because so many of Muller's life-lessons were so relevant to my own personal struggles in prayer. He expanded on the importance of believing as we pray, on the value of facing trials to pray through, and on the benefits of having to wait for answers as we trust God's timing. I personally hate delayed answers, and can become easily discouraged, but Muller spoke of delays as precious opportunities to continue waiting on God, and of communing with God being the real work we do for God as we seek to do his will in this world.

Amidst all my ups and downs in prayer, I needed to be reminded of such things. I found this whole book -- George Muller's whole story -- a wonderful collection of invaluable reminders, lessons, and quotes that I want to long remember, and by God's grace, put into practice.

8. Waiting for a Angel by Helon Habila.
How would one best write about a volatile time period in a nation's history in which uncertainty, loss, and grief were persistently prevalent themes? Helon Habila does a masterful job of it by writing a story about Nigeria's past in which he creates an amazing tapestry of intersecting plotlines that steer the reader between time frames and characters to build a palpable sense of uncertainty and suspense. As the story abruptly zigzags back-and-forth between what-happened and what-led-to-what-happened, characters are introduced and then disappear, usually tragically, and often with scant explanation, leaving the reader guessing ...A little like people must have felt in the time period Habila was writing about. But the over-arcing story of one character, Lomba, ties it all together so that there is someone the reader can feel engaged with, and invested in, and for whom one wants a good outcome. But true to the days Lomba lived in, one can only wonder what came of him in the end, as well as of various people around him. In this way, I loved how Habila's story-writing style mimicked the unstable context he has written about. And while I've read some authors who've attempted this style of writing quite clumsily, I found this story both compelling and illuminating as I caught a glimpse of Nigeria's history.

This is a book on grace that's heavy on the application side of the subject, which I greatly appreciated. Over the years, I've felt motivated to read a number of books on God's grace, because if I'm honest, deep down, I don't fully grasp it. But the books I've read are typically about receiving grace, while this book emphasized the importance of personally passing it on to others. That's what attracted me to this book. The act of practicing grace in more intentional ways seemed to make God's grace more real for me. And Blackaby's specific examples of how to express grace more generously with people around me helped me to grow more comfortable with my own need for grace, even as he took my eyes off of myself and onto others. (Perhaps that's the secret!) I didn't mind that the content of some chapters was fairly similar to the content in other chapters -- in fact I valued the repetition. I wanted to soak in the truths that kept getting repeated so that I could increasingly become a face of grace to people around me. As I read the book, opportunities abounded to put it into practice, and I appreciated the coaching it felt like Richard Blackaby was providing me. And by what he included in this book, Blackaby has shown himself to be a very patient and able coach.

Carey Nieuwhof consistently finds a way to distill complex issues down to what intuitively feel like their core elements, and then to somehow consistently come up with a list of compelling applications for every insightful observation he makes. In fact, almost overwhelmingly so, on page after page. And I was amazed by how much his thoughts on cultural trends, written before all the upheaval caused by the pandemic, still felt so incredibly relevant. That's why I found it helpful to have Carey's thoughts in book form rather than his usual blog posts, so that I could underline and make notes in the margins for easy recall later. This is an immensely practical book with loads of thought-provoking, discussion-starting content that's worth pondering well after reading it through.

Jon Meacham is a fan. He clearly admires Abraham Lincoln, and perhaps that's the only reason he wrote this book. It was sometimes difficult to tell how his angle on Lincoln's life offered anything new enough to warrant yet another Lincoln biography. Though he certainly went out of his way to try to clarify and discern Lincoln's spiritual perspectives, which may have been Meacham's primary concern. Sometimes that felt forced, and sometimes unclear, though sometimes illuminating.

But the Prologue alone inspired me to want to read this book to the end. I was stirred as Meacham set the stage for this biography as he wrote, "A president who led a divided country in which an implacable minority gave no quarter in a clash over power, race, identity, money, and faith has much to teach us in a twenty-first century moment of polarization, passionate disagreement, and differing understandings of reality... This is why his story is neither too old nor too familiar... It is a fact of American history that we are not always good, but that goodness is possible. Not universal, not ubiquitous, not inevitable -- but possible."

Meacham revisited that theme in his Epilogue as he wrote that "Lincoln's life shows us that progress can be made by fallible and fallen presidents and peoples -- which, in a fallible and fallen world, should give us hope."

I found much of Meacham's research helpful, especially what he wrote about the little that's known of Lincoln's views on Reconstruction. But I often found his writing style awkward -- especially his frustrating tendency to wait until the very end of long quotes to finally tell you whose words you're actually reading. I'd often choose to peek ahead in frustration.

One of the voices Meacham often quoted, and from whom he seems to have derived the title of his book, is the freed slave turned statesman, Frederick Douglass. Meacham included one of those quotes in the Prologue, as he wrote, "'I do not despair of this country,' Frederick Douglass said. 'The fiat of the Almighty, "Let there be light," has not yet spent its force.' And it fell to Abraham Lincoln to shed that light in the darkest of hours."

I happened upon this book. I wasn't looking for it, as I didn't even know it existed, but I happened to walk into a place where I was unexpectedly offered a free copy. And the timing was perfect, because my soul was not doing well. I thought, I think I need to read that. But I was taken aback when I realized that the author had only been 38 years old when he wrote this book on soul-care. I then thought, what does a youthful guy in his 30s know about the troubles of the soul? I'm nearly 60, and is this 38 year old going to help me with my internal struggles? Well, it turns out that, yes he is! Judah Smith wrote this book with genuine wisdom and insight, and I found it tremendously helpful. He gently and humourously invited me to a place of greater surrender to God and of trust in an amazing Saviour amidst the messiness of life. Again and again, he hit the bullseye in my heart, and left me both challenged and encouraged. I'm so glad God put this book in my hands, and I'm so grateful that I read it!

I got this book with high hopes, both because of the topic and the author. But in order to now commend this book, I'd have to use that drab adjective in saying that it was... interesting.

To be fair, it was extremely interesting at times. I learned a lot of interesting details about "backgrounds and the linguistics, [and] the biblical passages" (as Michael Card summarizes in his Afterword). But a book all about something as significant as hesed ought to be far more inspiring than interesting. That's why I was disappointed that this book too often felt educational rather than devotional. My desire to read about hesed was so I'd grow in my affection for God, and yet all I felt I grew in was my education about God. Too many chapters were so heavy on background and context that I felt like I was in a lecture hall, or reading a term paper, and then just when something heartfelt was being said -- the chapter suddenly ended.

It's not that I never read longer and more scholarly books. I do, and I enjoy them. I see great value in having a thorough understanding of biblical truths. But I picked this book up about the infinitely heartfelt lovingkindness of God because I wanted more heart than head in my longing to better grasp what "hesed" is. The content in the very last couple paragraphs of the Afterword is what I actually longed for more of throughout the many interesting chapters of this book. But then, yet again, just after reading those heartfelt paragraphs -- the book suddenly ended.

What I really appreciated about this book is that it revived a whole bunch of passions and convictions that have previously been at the forefront of my heart and mind, but had cooled a bit over time. It wasn't even all that long ago that I was preaching some of the themes in this book, but as I got too busy and as time went by, I feel like I've gotten distracted from them. There really wasn't a lot written here that I hadn't previously been a passionate proponent and pursuer of, but as I read each chapter, it was clear to me that I really needed to be reminded of them. Life gets full. And the demands of ministry can pull a person in many directions. But reading this book helped me to focus again on the main things that I need to remember as I pastor a relatively new church.

15. Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Time Memoirs of Major Dick Winters by Major Dick Winters, Commander, Easy Company.
Some years ago, I really enjoyed reading Stephen Ambrose's book, Band of Brothers, and so I thought there'd be value in hearing the story again, but this time from the leadership perspective of Easy Company's commanding officer, Dick Winters. Major Dick Winters truly was an amazing leader, and his book certainly does add some interesting stories to Ambrose's historical account. But too often, I found Winters' wartime recollections substantially lacking in details, leaving me wanting more, and wondering if he wasn't allowed to go into much detail regarding the best of Easy Company's stories that Ambrose had already told.

But part of my motivation in reading this book was to imbibe some leadership principles from an example of good leadership in extreme circumstances. And while there are some worthwhile leadership insights to glean from Winters' reflections, it felt like even when he focused on the subject, his thoughts seemed cursory, and mostly shared in a summary manner, which left less of an impression than I'd hoped they would.

Though this book was published in 1913, it couldn't be more relevant today! And though it's formatted like a textbook, it couldn't be more devotional in its content! I was both inspired and challenged by this book as Roland Allen persuasively turned my attention from material focuses in ministry to a reliance on the Holy Spirit in all missional pursuits. Allen's emphasis was that the Life we have in the Spirit is far more compelling to people we reach out to than our latest strategies. He acknowledges that the Spirit can certainly use material strategies and means in missions, but that if we want spiritual outcomes in people being saved, we need to depend on the Spirit as we set our strategies. This book left me as a new church planter in Canada with a strong desire to seek more of the Spirit, and to abide more in Jesus, than to simply sharpen up my methods.

Thursday, December 7, 2023

The Most Obscure Christmas Character

There’s a significant character in the Christmas story who is quite hidden from view. As the Bible begins telling us about Mary and Joseph and the others who celebrated Christ’s birth, there’s a unique character mentioned in two verses, but not by name. And though I’ve rarely heard much made of the way this character reacted to the baby Jesus, I’m sure there's something we're meant to learn from him. 

No, I’m not talking about the little drummer boy. We read in Luke 2:41 that “when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.” Then in Luke 2:44, Elizabeth says, “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

That baby in Elizabeth’s womb was John the Baptist. He was a baby in a womb, unable to see the world, but able to hear and sense the world around him. And when he heard Mary's voice, he sensed the presence of Jesus in Mary’s womb. 


In the past, as I’ve read that, I’ve simply chalked it up to John being a prophet, and so even as a baby, he recognized the things of God. Cool stuff. But is it possible that there’s more to it than that?


I'd like to suggest that there is. We may think it remarkable that an unborn baby actually leaped for joy because he sensed the presence of the Son of God. And it is. But as readers of this story today, it’s worth recognizing that we aren't restricted by the confines of a womb, and so we don't need a prophetic gift to know that Jesus is not only near us – as he was to John – but is actually with us, right now, by the Holy Spirit.


John's joy-filled response as a baby reminds us of how incredibly exciting it is that God is literally here among us – God with us. We can now live in a personal and spiritual union with Jesus that makes him more accessible to us than he was to John the Baby Baptist. And yet, we don't tend to overflow with the same exuberant joy that John felt! We certainly don’t go around leaping for joy at Christmastime. That’d be a sight! Perhaps it's because the message of Christmas has become so familiar to us that it ceases to excite us that much. Or perhaps we've become too grown up (so to speak) in our theological understanding of the Christmas story to leap for joy. If so, I'm sure that God wants the story to become fresh in our hearts again.


But let’s be real. I don’t plan to start leaping around with joy this Christmas. I just want to be amazed again at the amazingness of it all! I want to feel excited about Jesus coming to Earth to be my Saviour and my Friend and my God, who offers me a new life with him. But I recognize that sometimes we can struggle to feel joy at Christmas because we’re going through a really tough time. How can we leap for joy when life’s circumstances are weighing us down? That’s understandable. But even in such times, I hope the story of an unborn baby leaping for joy at God’s nearness will remind us that Jesus is closer to us now than he was to John the Baptist then. And Jesus wants to bring you joy by drawing ever closer to you in the midst of the struggles of life.


The sound of his greeting is in our ears as we read the Christmas story. The God of all comfort, who came near to save us, is truly still here with us now.


© 2023 Ken Peters

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Life's Test Questions 101

Ever get confused when circumstances don't seem to line up with God's promises? I do. In fact, I not only get confused, but I can get discouraged too.

Like when Psalm 105 says to "seek the Lord and his strength" (v.4) because he promises to be "the Lord our God" (v.7) who "remembers his covenant forever" (v.8). That's a big deal. The psalmist is referring to an "everlasting covenant" God made with Abraham and his descendants (vv.8-11). It sounds pretty encouraging! And I'm super grateful that God has welcomed me into an everlasting covenant with him through the faith I have in Jesus.

But wait a minute... The psalmist then suddenly starts talking about God summoning "a famine on the land" in which Abraham's descendants were living (v.17). A famine summoned by God? What's up with that? What happened to that blissful "everlasting covenant"?

Questions like these pop into my mind when things go wrong – when things go sideways – or when I just can't reconcile my circumstances with what God promised me. Maybe you wonder the same. 

Oh, but it gets worse! ...Or so it seems. One of Abraham's descendants (Joseph) is betrayed and sold into slavery as "the Lord tested him" (vv.17-19). Wow. God's wonderful covenant is followed by famine, slavery, and testing. That's not what I thought I signed up for in my covenant-relationship with Jesus.

But the truth is that being in a covenant with God doesn't mean there'll be no troubles, because it seems that God sends troubles as tests. And testing isn't a sign of God's disapproval, but a means to growth in the midst of God's covenant promises. 

In other words, God tests his children in the context of covenant. That's why troubles don't mean God is distant, but can actually be a sign of God's love as he helps us to grow.

I'm personally experiencing a time of testing right now, and I can feel tempted to get discouraged. But the tests that Joseph went through were meant to make him ready for God's purposes to be fulfilled in his life. The famine and the slavery were ordained by God to further the will of God in Joseph's life and in the lives of people around him. 

So when we face troubles in life, rather than doubting God's love and promises, this psalm encourages us to embrace such circumstances as tests to help us to grow in our trust and dependence on God. Nobody grows without testing. And testing happens in the context of an eternal covenant – like being in the arms of God as he gives us a difficult exam to write.

So exam Question #1 is: What circumstance are you facing right now that seems contrary to God's promises? Whatever the answer, Question #2 is: What character trait is God trying to help me to grow in right now. Bingo. Now it's our turn to ask our loving Father to help us to grow in that area by his great grace in our lives!

© 2023 Ken Peters

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

The Battle of the Very Great vs. Nothing

There's an epic battle going on in many people's lives. Maybe that includes you. It's the Battle of the "Very Great" vs. "Nothing."

You know, like when a problem is "very great," and you've got nuthin. You feel like there's nothing you can do. It's overwhelming. It seems insurmountable. The "very great" always overpowers "nothing." Not much of a battle, it would seem. 

That is, until Jesus shows up. In Mark 8:1, we're told that "In those days..." ...Wait a minute... What days? Well, how about the days Mark was just writing about in Mark 7 where he wrote, "And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, 'He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak'" (Mark 7:37). "Those" days! "In those days," there was a battle raging: the Battle of the "Very Great" vs. "Nothing." Mark described "the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat..." (Mark 8:1). There's the battle! The multitude was very great in number, and the food was scarce. Worse than scarce. There was "nothing to eat."

Perhaps you're facing a situation where a huge expense is worrying you, or a major health issue has caught you by surprise, or a relational difficulty feels hopeless. Whatever the challenge is that you're facing, it can feel "very great." I know because I've had that feeling.

But then Mark continues: ""In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 'I have compassion on the multitude, because they have... nothing to eat" (Mark 8:1-2).

If you're in the Battle of the "Very Great" vs. "Nothing," you need Jesus. He makes all the difference. He clearly sees the situation, and he knows how overwhelming the challenges feel to us. He also sees how small our resources are, and he lovingly longs to intervene.

But we might look at Jesus and say, "How can anything be done?!" That's what the disciples asked. They asked, "How can one satisfy these people [4,000 people!] with bread here in the wilderness?" (8:4). And you might be asking, "How can I cover these huge expenses, or solve this health issue, or resolve this relational difficulty with the nuthin that I've got?"

Jesus is calm through it all. He simply asks, "What do you have, however little it may seem?" As a bustling multitude of 4,000 people crowded around him, Jesus calmly asked his disciples, "'How many loaves do you have?' And they said, 'Seven.'" (8:5). In other words, Nuthin. Not enough to feed four thousand people! But Jesus still told those 4,000 people to have a seat – it's chow time. It's time to show all these people how much God loves them.  

Perhaps Jesus is asking you what you have. It seem as small as seven loaves for 4,000 people. It may be a shrunken bank account. It may be an empty parking space that comes with your apartment but doesn't come with a car! It may be nothing more than a small act of kindness you can offer to an estranged family member. Even your prayers may feel like a weakened cry to a God who seems far away. 

Jesus can do something big with anything small that's offered in faith. When Jesus arrives on the scene in the Battle of the "Very Great" vs. "Nothing," he can multiply your "nothing" until "they ate and were filled" and there was much "leftover" (8:8). So in fact, the "very great" does not always overpower "nothing" – not when Jesus shows up.

So bring Jesus your seven fish today. Bring him what seems like nothing. And even if your faith feels weak, bring that and ask him to multiply that too! He doesn't reject us for having our doubts. The disciples had their doubts as they objected to Jesus' desire to feed a multitude with nothing. But that didn't sway Jesus. He loves us too much for that. Bring him your nothing, and let him leave you "astonished beyond measure" in these days as well.

© 2023 Ken Peters

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Two Questions Worth Asking...

"Then He rose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace, be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:39). 

What a sight that must have been! The spray of the waves still on their faces, the disciples must have been stunned by the sight of those suddenly placid waters. But then we're told that Jesus asked his disciples, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:40). 

Amidst all the challenges that each of us face – challenges that may feel like stormy winds and waves – Jesus' questions feels very appropriate in our day as well. It's worth imagining Jesus turning to us and asking, "Why are you so fearful?" 

It's a relevant question. It's relevant because all of us as people can be prone to feeling fear in stormy times. But Jesus' response is to ask, "How is it that you have no faith?" 

I need those two questions to be ringing in my ears DAILY. I have good reason to have faith in Jesus. As I've gotten to know him, and as I've seen what he can do, I have no reason to fear when I know that he is with me. He might as well be saying "Peace, be still" to my own heart.

So it's really worth remembering Jesus' questions whenever we feel anxious or afraid...

"Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

© 2023 Ken Peters

Friday, September 29, 2023

Seeking God Every Which Way

Is seeking God best achieved by actions or by words? Perhaps the best answer to that is, Yes.

Nearly every English translation uses one English word for two Hebrew words in Psalm 105:4. For example, the publishers of the New American Standard Bible (NASB) boldly describe it as "the most literal" English translation of the Bible. It translates Psalm 105:4 as, 

"Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually." 

But when the psalmist wrote that, he used two different Hebrew words that we translate "seek." Only the recently translated Common English Bible (CEB) seems to note this, as it translates Psalm 105:4 as,

"Pursue the LORD and his strength; seek his face always."

In the first half of the verse, the Hebrew word is daras, which means to tread or to beat a path; to frequent or to follow; to "pursue" (CEB). In the second half of the verse, the Hebrew word is baqas, which means to search out or to strive after; to ask or inquire; to "seek."  

Perhaps the psalmist chose two different words on purpose. Imagine that! A writer actually caring about the words chosen to express what he or she is thinking. The two words put together in this verse give us a picture of running after God as we cry out to God; of exerting ourselves to get to the place of prayer while expressing ourselves in the practice of prayer. 

As the psalmist urged his readers to "Seek the LORD and His strength," perhaps he was thinking of an ongoing pursuit. To "beat a path," or to "frequent" a favourite place speaks of an action that's repeated and persistent. For example, there's a used bookstore that I have frequented so often that the owner greets me by name, and knows the kind of books I look for. And in my life with Jesus, I want my relationship with him to be defined as an ongoing pursuit, not an occasional visit. If I really want to walk closely with Jesus, and truly want to live by his strength, I'll be sure to beat a path to his door every day!

But as the psalmist urged his readers to "Seek His face continually," it seems he was thinking of a search that may not be so easy. To "search out or to strive after" or to "ask or inquire" suggests that sometimes God is not so easy to find amidst our circumstances. Sometimes God seems hidden. Sometimes his face seems behind a cloud of troubles we're struggling with. That's not rare, and the psalmist goes on in Psalm 105 to share examples of instances in Israel's history when God may not have been so easy to find. He writes of famine (v.16) and of oppression (v. 25), and gives God the credit for causing those troubles. Anybody who says that God only calms storms, but never causes them hasn't read of the God who "called for a famine upon the land" (v.16), or elsewhere, where we're told that "He spoke and raised up a stormy wind, Which lifted the waves of the sea" (Ps. 107:25). But in Psalm 105, before the writer mentions any such troubles, he urged his readers to search hard for the face of God, and to ask him to reveal himself. 

Both of these words are a help to me. I want my life to be characterized by a running after God, beating a trail to be in his presence, and to be frequently found waiting in his presence, eager to receive the strength he gives to those who wait for him (Isaiah 40:31). And I don't want troubles in my life to hinder me from calling out to him as I strive to find him in such circumstances. I want to urgently inquire after him in prayer and Bible study as I search for him until we're face to face amidst life's challenges, so that I can learn what he wants to teach me in those times.

That's why I think both Hebrew words are truly important in this psalm. And it's why seeking God is best achieved by both our actions and our words.

© 2023 Ken Peters

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Reading List 2022


I managed to read books from a dozen genres this year, according to how I'd categorize this list of 20 books. 

Apart from the books listed here, I consistently read my Bible throughout the year. I believe the Bible is God's inspired Word to us, and of all the things I read, I see the Bible as the most important book to be continually reading. 

Here are the books I've read in 2022...

  1. Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? by Roland Allen. Even though this book was written in 1912, it’s so ahead-of-its-time insightful that it feels prophetic. What Roland Allen wrote 110 years ago feels like a clear call to attention for any church planter today in 2022. I’ve been a pastor for 30 years, and I’m about to embark on leading a new church plant, and I found much of what I read here highly relevant to my situation. If you can set aside the Anglican particulars and the outdated vocabulary, there are many invaluable principles to be gleaned here from Roland Allen’s incisive and prescient observations. For example, because I’m not working cross-culturally in a faraway place, I often found it helpful to think “young adults” on pages where Allen used the word “natives” or “local peoples,” and to think “older generations” on pages where Allen used words like “foreigners” or “missionaries.” The lessons I learned by doing that were amazing. I consider this book a timeless classic on church planting.
  2. The Army of the Potomac: Mr. Lincoln's Army by Bruce Catton. There were evenings when I’d put this book down, unable to read any further after reading only 5-10 pages, because the angst I felt was too great. It just seemed like too much pain and suffering due to too much pride and stupidity. And yet Catton’s reflective and perceptive narration kept drawing me back again and again to learn more from his helpful interpretations of these early battles of the Civil War.

    The climax of the book is the Battle of Antietam, said by many to be “the worst single day of the entire war.” The many heart-rending “what ifs” in a battle that could have truly resulted in a war-ending victory for the Union have long left me inexpressibly exasperated with General McClellan’s inept leadership of so many thousands of men whose lives seemed lost for absolutely no reason.

    But then Bruce Catton suddenly opened my eyes at the end of the book to what I’d never seen before. He explains that a decisive and complete war-ending Union victory at Antietam would not have been “an abolitionist’s peace” — the kind that was eventually achieved at the end of the war. The very fact that Antietam was only a “tactical” Union victory — and an incomplete victory — allowed Lincoln to immediately follow it up with his Emancipation Proclamation, making this bloody, horrific battle actually the most decisive battle of the war, “affecting the whole course of American history ever since.” Which meant the lives lost in it did have meaning, however horrible the battle truly was.

    Mr. Catton, you have my attention, and I certainly want to continue reading this trilogy.
  3. Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund. As someone who has too often felt a sense of futility in my halting progress as a Christian over many years, I found this book refreshing. Dane Ortlund revived my hope by tossing out the typical performance-based approach to sanctification, and by inviting me into deeper intimacy with Jesus. I was drawn to his clear and simple message that my growth as a Christian is not about measuring my outward behaviours as much as about pursuing a genuine relationship with Jesus so that he can accomplish his good work in me. Ortlund developed this unapologetically simple theme by treating it much like a diamond that’s worthy of examination from many different angles. And as he did so, he often made profound truths accessible by his excellent quotes and analogies.

    My only reservation as I finished reading this book was an overall feeling that it all just sounded too easy — too unresisted — too much like the inevitability of falling dominos. It’s unfortunate that a book this profound (which it is) felt at times on the verge of being glib. For though I felt helped with the feelings of futility that I’d felt before I began this book, I also completed it with a sense of having been skillfully reminded of fundamental things that I already knew, but that I still struggled to do.
  4. The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church and the Causes Which Hinder It by Roland Allen. This was not an easy book to read, but I considered it an extremely important book for me to read as I prepare to launch an evangelistic church plant. Much like Allen’s previous book, “Missionary Methods” (which this book was written to defend and reinforce), this book is full of timeless insights. To transfer the application of those insights into my 21st century North American context, I regularly thought about traditional church methodologies whenever Allen addressed traditional Anglican missionary methodologies. The parallels abounded. There were quite a few times when I felt truly wowed by Allen’s wisdom, and amazed at the obvious present-day applicability of his observations.
  5. The Army of the Potomac: Glory Road by Bruce Catton. Catton is clearly both an able historian as well as an expressive storyteller. As the latter, he often waxes eloquent, like an orator of old, conveying the heart of the story rather than just the facts; focusing on the humanity of the characters rather than just their roles. There were times I found this riveting, though at other times a tad tedious. But what I appreciated about Catton’s storytelling was his attention to the details that weren’t tactically significant, but that filled in scenes of enormous scale with little bits of knowledge that made the story more lifelike. Certainly there were times when I’d have preferred a few more details about the battles, but I can find that information in the more technical books out there. What Catton provides here is a heartfelt and fascinating telling of a tale that explains some of the dramatic transitions that both an army and a nation experienced amidst a very cruel war.
  6. Ignite Your Life: Living for Significance by David A. Macfarlane. This is an extremely practical book written by a man who has truly lived and modelled all that he describes in it. Having personally met David Macfarlane, I could see his winsome smile as he told his cheesy jokes, and I could hear his voice as he good-naturedly created conversations between nameless biblical characters as if they were just like ourselves, with all our usual biases and excuses. His subtitle is “Living for Significance,” but what made this book worthwhile for me was his emphasis on how to make the most of the opportunities God gives us to make a difference in this world. I needed to hear his words of confident faith on that theme as I prepare to embark on a new untried ministry initiative. There were a couple times when what David wrote felt so appropriate and applicable that I immediately began to put his points into practice. I’m grateful for his wisdom and encouragement.
  7. What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert. This book clarifies the essential elements of the gospel, and I personally found that abundantly reassuring. Amidst the many muddy and distorted versions of the gospel that I’ve been exposed to in recent years, I found it encouraging to hear the gospel explained so clearly and so compellingly. And I also didn’t feel the need to agree with every line or nuance of Greg Gilbert’s explanations to feel inspired by his description of the gospel. I simply appreciated his many great reminders in this brief book of what really matters as I consider and communicate the gospel of Jesus.
  8. Arminius and His Declaration of Sentiments: An Annotated Translation with Introduction and Theological Commentary by W. Stephen Gunter. I found it enormously helpful to finally read Arminius rather than just what others have written about him. Gunter has provided a long overdue and extremely valuable service by translating Arminius’ “Declaration of Sentiments,” which is surely Arminius’ most complete and coherent explanation of where he stood on key theological issues. Not only did this clarify much of what Arminius actually believed (in contrast to what many people say he believed, or in contrast to what many of his theological “followers” currently believe), but I also found it encouraging to hear the spirit with which he stated his beliefs (in contrast to the vehemence of his adversaries). Arminius wrote that “I have no doubt that if they [his adversaries] had consented to the private conversation… We would have arrived at a mutually satisfactory conclusion, or we would have concluded at the very least that our disagreement presented no immediate danger to the truth necessary for salvation and piety, or to Christian peace and unity” (p.100-101). That statement comes not only from the mind of a great theologian, but also from the heart of a pastor who wanted to walk in unity with those who contended with him. That’s a posture we could use more of these days. So whether I applaud Arminius’ “Declaration of Sentiments” (which I enthusiastically do), or find some of his views confusing (which I also do), I hope I can carry my heartfelt beliefs with the same gracious spirit with which Arminius carried his.
  9. The Army of the Potomac: A Stillness at Appomattox by Bruce Catton. Reading the 1,049 pages of this amazing trilogy in my comfortable chair is obviously a vastly different universe than the 1,488 bloody, death-filled days of this war. But as I read Catton’s descriptive conclusion of this third volume, I found myself feeling what might’ve been a hint of what the Army of the Potomac likely felt as they silently stared across an unfought battlefield at a Confederate flag of truce. This final volume introduces the highly capable Union generals who were relentless enough to finally bring this war to a close, which felt such a relief after enduring the incompetencies of so many previous Union generals.

    And if you want to read just one paragraph that epitomizes Catton’s approach to writing these 1,000-plus pages, check out the first paragraph of the last numbered section of the last chapter. It’s classic Catton. And I found it irresistible prose that even got me reflecting on the course of my own life. This trilogy is an epic saga well worth the read.
  10. The Epistle to the Hebrews by F. F. Bruce. Long ago, the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews invited his readers to rest in the wonders of the finished work of Christ. Unfortunately, my own personal struggles with drivenness have long made that message very difficult for me to embrace. So this year, I decided to read through Hebrews very slowly, while also reading through F.F. Bruce’s commentary parallel to my reading of the epistle. And what an incredibly rewarding experience it’s been. This commentary is not only a valuable reference book for carefully studying Hebrews, but F.F. Bruce has also provided a wealth of faith-strengthening insights that have truly deepened my relationship with Jesus. This commentary is well worth reading devotionally, and as I’ve done so, F.F. Bruce has helped me to grow in my understanding of the truths in this amazing epistle.
  11. Relentless: The Power You Need to Never Give Up by John Bevere. I really struggled with this book, but I kept reading because I know I have trouble persevering amidst adversity, and I truly hoped there were important things I could learn. And I certainly benefited from portions of this book that felt like they hit some bullseyes in my life. I appreciated John Bevere’s emphasis on how God has given us authority to rule with Christ in our circumstances rather than letting our circumstances rule us. And I was helped by his clear reminders of why we can confidently believe God even amidst the troubles we face in a spiritual war, and of how we can more effectively fight in that war. It was also good to be assured that when we’re doing God’s will, we can be certain that any adversity we face is not only conquerable in Christ, but will also train us for future challenges.

    But unfortunately, my frustrations with this book were many. I was troubled with some of Bevere’s reckless theological overstatements (the worst being when he heretically and repeatedly insisted that “we are Christ” rather than more carefully explaining our union with Christ). I was also annoyed when he would carelessly base his points on fragments of verses from Bible paraphrases (and in one case, on the punctuation of a paraphrase) even if the wider context of a passage in a more literal translation emphasized something different. And I also grew weary of how insubstantial his quoted reference material was, especially as he repeatedly felt the need to emphasize how scholarly it was. And yet in the midst of all that, I relentlessly persisted, and I managed to learn some worthwhile things by chewing the meat and spitting out the bones.
  12. The Mount of Olives: 11 Declarations to an Extraordinary Life by Michael V. Ivanov. This book took me by surprise. Given to me as a gift, I didn’t know what to expect, but quickly found the principles shared in the context of its story quite relevant to my life. It wasn’t just the fact that I felt struck by how much some of the book’s 11 declarations felt worthy of remembrance and of applying to my life. What really got my attention was the pointed applicability that a few of the declarations had in my current context. I just know that it’s going to be important for me to put some of them into practice.

    However, I was distracted by how the author unrealistically inserted too many 21st century sensibilities into the book’s first century characters, and I was also particularly disappointed by the manner in which the author included Jesus in the story. Jesus is portrayed as powerful enough to miraculously heal, but then he merely points to the boy’s principles as if knowing them is more valuable than actually knowing Jesus. The book thereby presents the principles as the truths we need for a changed life, rather than more accurately portraying a miracle-working Jesus as the only one who can work the most important change that is needed in our lives. I was also troubled by how the author described conversations with Jesus — as well as a heavily-modified account of his crucifixion — in ways that missed the whole point of his incarnation and crucifixion. The scene at the cross could have been the moment when the boy heard the most important declaration of all: “It is finished.” But instead, the book’s final declaration is vaguely about believing, with a painful lack of clarity about precisely what it’s so important to believe. That leaves the book’s concluding focus merely on a boy and his new-found principles rather than on the power of the resurrected Jesus, who is briefly alluded to near the end.
  13. The Immeasurable World: Journeys in Desert Places by William Atkins. This book wore me out. It should’ve been entitled, “The Immeasurable Wordcount.” And Atkins’ writing style seemed so disjointed that I feel like a passenger in need of a chiropractor after all the unannounced thematic zig-zagging he did. It not only happened throughout every chapter, but even within paragraphs, and even in single sentences, leaving me too often wondering, “What’s he talking about now?” But the weariness is also due to the lengthy descriptions of so many peripheral details. It seemed like Atkins just didn’t know when enough was enough. Near the end of his second last chapter, Atkins described being at a lecture where he wanted to tell the speaker to “put a sock in it,” and then wondered why we couldn’t all just do that. At that point, I wanted Atkins to do so, but with just one chapter left, I figured I’d read to the end.

    But what made the book so overly long was also because it wasn’t actually a book about different deserts of the world (as the subtitle suggests). It was far more about various social issues being faced by people living near deserts. And yes, it was interesting to read about the Anangu people of Australia, and the Uighur people of China, and the fishermen of the failing Aral Sea, and about the Central American refugees in America. But amidst all that, there was just no need to include chapters about the excesses of the Burning Man event, and about why an Eritrean man named Peter chose not to join a monastery in Egypt. In other words, too often, Atkins’ social commentary just had too little to do with deserts or with people indigenous to deserts — there just happened to be a desert in the background as he included us in his personal travels. So overall, not a very satisfying read.
  14. Covenant: The Framework of God's Grand Plan of Redemption by Daniel I. Block. Wow, what a feast! My biblical worldview has certainly been expanded. Daniel Block has provided an extremely comprehensive explanation of how the entire biblical narrative, from beginning to end, is tied together by God’s persistent commitment to covenant relationships with his creation. I guess I kind of knew that, but this book helped me to see how each covenantal stage not only builds upon the previous stage, but also how each progressive stage clearly echoes the others. Grace is evident at every stage, from the rainbow to Sinai to David’s throne, and to the cross! What an encouragement to see how God’s love and grace are as clearly evident in the covenants of the First Testament as in what’s been fulfilled in the New Testament. And what a helpful challenge to see how grace was even being expressed in the giving of laws, and in the commands of our Saviour, so that we know how we can live for God by his grace!

    I also found it helpful to see how Dr. Block clearly emphasized Israel’s ongoing relevance in God’s covenantal relationships. He also described the missional aspect of the Israelite covenant for the rest of the world, though I had hoped to hear more emphasis on that given how it was first mentioned to Abraham and then expanded on by prophets and by Jesus and by most New Testament writers.
  15. Friend of God: The Legacy of Abraham, Man of Faith by Ray C. Stedman. It had its moments. Here and there, I found some faith-building encouragements in this book. But too often, I felt a little bit bored, or a little bit annoyed at Ray Stedman’s penchant for finding unlikely symbolism throughout the story of Abraham. I guess I approach these stories with a bit of a different hermeneutic, seeing its characters more as examples to learn from than as rigid symbols to interpret. Overall, Stedman certainly has a warm and heartfelt approach, but too often that made the book feel like nothing more than a living room chat, and too lightweight for what I’d prefer in a study of a story of such significance.
  16. Everest: The West Ridge, 50th Anniversary Edition by Thomas F. Hornbein. Tom Hornbein was an intense young man, and as terrific a writer as a climber. I was fascinated by Hornbein’s account of the team dynamics, the preparations for the climb, and the rigours of climbing a previously unclimbed ridge of Everest. His creative and contemplative descriptions continually drew me in to the story he told. And the quality of this 50th anniversary edition of the book is superb with its multiple prefaces from previous editions, and its many large and beautiful photographs helping the reader to imagine what Hornbein so capably described. Many times I found myself pausing to re-read a sentence that just seemed far too thoughtful to be passed over too quickly.

    That happened as I read Hornbein’s stirring description of his and Willi Unsoeld’s brief time at the top of the world: “We felt the lonely beauty of the evening, the immense roaring silence of the wind, the tenuousness of our tie to all below. There was a hint of fear, but not for our lives, but of a vast unknown which pressed in upon us. A fleeting feeling of disappointment — that after all those dreams and questions this was only a mountain top — gave way to the suspicion that maybe there was something more, something beyond the three-dimensional form of the moment. If only it could be perceived… The question of why we had come was not now to be answered, yet something up here must yield an answer, something only dimly felt, comprehended by senses reaching farther yet than the point on which we stood; reaching for understanding, which hovered but a few steps higher.”
  17. God's Plan for Your Wellbeing: 50-Day Guide by Dave Smith. This book explores six specific areas of personal wellbeing, all of them well worth addressing, but in my own life, some clearly more so than others. In a few sections of this book, I was already conscious of how little wellbeing I was experiencing, and Dave Smith’s encouragements and challenges were helpful. For that reason alone, I’m glad I read and interacted with the material in this book. But that said, I found the contents of this book a bit uneven. Perhaps that’s related to the fact that some sections felt more personally relevant than others, but not entirely. Some pages just didn’t seem to delve that deep, offering little to chew on. But I got enough out of what I read on other pages to make reading this book worthwhile.
  18. Lead Like it Matters: 7 Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts by Craig Groeschel. Craig Groeschel managed to set my sights on some lofty, spiritual heights, while also offering me some extremely accessible helps that gave me hope to get there. As a pastor in the early months of a new church plant, I felt my faith grow as I read this. I felt challenged to believe God for more. But I also feel as though I now have some new tools in my hands to work with, some of which I’ve already used. This extremely practical book reminded me in compelling ways that I have permission to risk, and I have permission to fail. But most importantly, Craig pointed me to Jesus and reminded me that all the helps and tips and tools he’s recommending aren’t worth a hill of beans if I’m not pursuing a genuine walk with Jesus. This book raised my perspective to something much higher than merely vibrant church growth and fruitfulness — it raised my perspective to want more of Jesus, for myself as well as for anyone around me.
  19. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Ulysses S. Grant said that Lincoln “was incontestably the greatest man I ever knew.” Abraham Lincoln began as a little-known wanna-be politician, and when he was unexpectedly nominated as the Republican candidate for the 1860 election, his powerful rivals were stunned. Then upon being elected president, Lincoln did what no one expected — he invited his rivals (who were also rivals of each other) to be in his cabinet. That resulted in a fair bit of drama behind the extraordinary drama of the Civil War. And though I didn’t find every episode of this behind-the-scenes political drama riveting, one thing held my attention throughout it all: the political genius and exemplary character of Abraham Lincoln. Not once in 754 pages did I feel that Goodwin glamourized Lincoln. And yet, like Grant’s quote above, it’s difficult to overstate his greatness. Lincoln’s magnanimity, his humility, and his integrity shine through on page after page. His leadership and his statesmanship seem unbounded as he capably led the rivals in his cabinet through a war within his borders. I was inspired by Lincoln’s wisdom and tenacity and kindness in the midst of such turbulent times. We need such leaders today, and I’d be encouraged if what I read in this book helps me to grow as a leader.
  20. Surprised by Jesus: Subversive Grace in the Four Gospels by Dane Ortlund. This book is essentially a celebration of God’s grace as expressed in the gospel! It reminded me of how vital it is that I continually keep the gospel at the front and center of my life and thoughts. As Dane Ortlund explores each of the four biblical accounts of Jesus’ life on this earth, he provides plenty of outstanding insights while identifying a unique and vital aspect of the gospel in each of them. I found myself feeling both convicted as well as comforted by what I learned. Some portions felt more personally helpful to me than others, but the parts that were helpful felt profoundly so. And it left me grateful to be reminded of the importance of continually meditating on and embracing the gospel as I pursue a life with Jesus. It’s not just the door through which we enter the Christian life — it’s the whole house in which we live that life!

Thursday, January 6, 2022

How to be Steadfast in an Unstable World

I want to know how King David was able to so confidently declare that, "My heart is steadfast, O God!" (Ps. 108:1). As I read Psalm 108, that declaration comes as a surprise to me, given how David later describes the circumstances. Toward the end of the psalm, David lets us see more of his heart as he asks, "Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies" (108:11). How could David's heart be steadfast despite the warfare he was in that seemed to be going so badly? Perhaps some of us are facing difficulties that leave us wanting to ask the same question. 

Personally, I don't consider myself all that "steadfast." It doesn't take major warfare to leave me feeling moody, or easily discouraged, or with a quitting attitude when I feel I've failed at something. That's not steadfast. But David knew something vital that helped him to counter such struggles. Immediately after describing his own human heart as "steadfast," David gave thanks to God, saying that "your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." (Ps. 108:4).

Those words "steadfast love" are an English translation of a Hebrew word for which there is no truly equivalent word in the English language. It's the Hebrew word hesed, which means far more than simply a combination of a collection of words like loving and merciful and kind and compassionate. The definition of hesed must also include words like steadfast and unfailing and faithful and loyal to be accurateIt’s the love of a God who doesn’t give up on us  it's God’s faithful affection for his people  it’s his commitment to covenant – it’s a promise to us that God won't break. It's steadfast love.

So it gets my attention when I see David declaring God's steadfast love in the context of big-time warfare that seemed to be going badly. David was obviously feeling rejected and needing God to "grant us help against the foe" (108:12). But well before he ever mentions that, David makes important choices to give God his proper place. He boldly says that he will give thanks and sing praises to God (108:2-3). Then he declares, "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be all over the earth!" (108:5) And only then does he plead with God for deliverance: "That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer me!" (108:6). All this from a man who felt rejected by God in terrible circumstances!

This was only possible because David was convinced that the God of steadfast love who is exalted above the heavens, is also well above the circumstances David was facing. David made it clear how he knew this by how he made a point of recounting God's promises. He wrote that "God has promised in his holiness..." (108:7) and then listed what God has declared his plans to be for Israel. 

So amidst the feelings of rejection that David finally admits near the very end of the psalm  "Have you not rejected us, O God?" (108:11)  what does David choose to focus on despite having feelings to the contrary? Does he focus on the warfare and the circumstances? Or on God’s promises and unfailing love? David's final statement gives us the answer: "With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes" (108:13).

David's heart remained steadfast because he knew that God's steadfast love for him was greater than all he was facing.

© 2022 Ken Peters