Please keep reminding me!

I continually forget how radical God’s grace is. It’s like the thick haze of my own regrets makes it difficult to see clearly as I squint amidst the clutter of my own bad attitudes and blunders. God’s grace just doesn’t compute in such circumstances. That’s why I need regular reminders of how amazing it is!

So consider this… When writing to the believers in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul prayed that Jesus would establish their hearts as “blameless in holiness before our God and Father” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Literally “blameless in holiness”! Remember, Paul is writing about the human species here – about people much like you and I, who fail daily, or even hourly, or even… I actually have no idea how prevalent some of my most stubborn sinful thought-patterns are! The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). But Paul wrote that when we come before God, he wants us to be assured that because of what the Lord Jesus has done for us on the cross, an infinitely Pure and Holy God will see us as blameless rather than as sinful – and as holy (meaning, set apart for Him) rather than as tainted by this world!

And because I’ve accepted by faith what Jesus did for me on the cross, when God now looks at me, He isn’t staring at my sin, because He literally took away my sin, and the righteousness of Jesus is now credited to me (check out Romans 4:22-25)! He’s not frowning at my flaws, but is smiling at my sinlessness after having nailed to the cross that “certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us” (Colossians 2:14). Paul takes his terminology even further in his letter to the Colossians as he explains how Jesus presents us before God as “holy and blameless and beyond reproach” (Colossians 1:22). Imagine that... Whatever we’re struggling with in our walk with God, we should consider ourselves totally out of reach from the clutching claws of reproach (which includes self-reproach!).

Thank you, Lord Jesus! That is what I continually need reminding of, and is why we have reason to be confident and joyful every time we approach God’s Glorious Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16)!

© 2019 by Ken Peters

Enjoy the View!

As I began reading Psalm 125 this morning, the first verse gave me the impression that my life is only as stable as my capacity to trust in the Lord. In other words, it sounds like it’s all up to me: “Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.” (verse 1). If my security is based on my capacity to trust God, then — knowing my fickle heart — I'm definitely not going to feel like I cannot be moved.

But then — suddenly — it’s like an awe-inspiring panoramic view opens up before me as I continue reading — “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever!”

The psalmist isn’t saying that my stability depends on my capacity to trust the Lord, but rather, on the One who forever surrounds me, in whom I’m invited to put my trust!

He’s saying look up — look around — the Lord is like a mountain range all around you! Mountains that cannot be moved, and that will not be moved — and THAT is why you can trust Him so much that you’ll feel like a mountain in His midst that cannot be moved. To move you means an enemy would need to move the Lord who surrounds you with immovable strength.

So it turns out that my stability depends on God’s ability to surround me today, and forever! And as I consider such a panoramic view, I imagine that an impressive Himalayan mountain range must be quite small in comparison!

© 2019 by Ken Peters

A Hope that defies the storm

Imagine this with me... 

A great galleon has battened down and stowed its sails amidst the tearing winds and driving rain of a raging storm. As the winds roar and the ship rises and falls upon the heavy seas, a stout chain of impressive length glimmers in the spray as it vanishes beneath the angry waves. Deep below, in the dark and muted waters, at the other end of that massive chain is an ancient sea anchor, a mass of tempered steel, that firmly grips the ocean floor. Back at the tumultuous surface of the sea, the boat’s crew is safely below deck, eager for the abatement of the storm, though confident that their anchor in the depths below will keep them safely parted from where the rushing waves loudly crash upon a rocky shore.

It’s a scene of great noise and upheaval. Furious winds, heaving waves, and creaking masts. But in the depths beneath the waves, amidst a reassuring stillness, that long slowly swaying chain of steel leads to an immense unflinching hook, steadfast in its tireless hold despite the storm above. This immovable anchor represents the life-sustaining hope that we can have in a covenant-keeping God who has shown us through Jesus how far He will go to keep His promises to a rebellious human race. It is a hope “both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19a).

But look back with me again to that great galleon in the storm. Every sailor on that ship, however certain they may be of their trusty anchor, will still be feeling rattled and storm-tossed by the heaving waves (and maybe even a little sea-sick). So I’m thankful that the writer of Hebrews provides an additional metaphor of the hope we have in God.

Imagine being aboard that ship amidst such stormy winds and rain, enduring the constant turbulence and tumult, and then suddenly!... All the noise and motion abruptly cease even as the storm outside continues to roar. It’s as if all disruption aboard the ship has suddenly been forcefully evicted from your cabin by an overpowering Presence of peace and awe while at that same moment, you sense you’re not alone. Someone Great but quite unseen feels very near. You also see that you’re now standing inside a curtain that stretches from floor to roof creating a small private chamber with just enough room for you and the wonderful Presence that has suddenly given you complete peace and stability amidst the storm.

Welcome to the “inner place behind the curtain” (Hebrews 6:19b, ESV) — the holiest place of all the holy places in the Old Testament tabernacle — where only the high priest could enter, and only after great sacrifice and ceremony. It was the place of God’s presence — a place of intimate communion with the living God, but also a place of fear and dread as sinner-priests drew near to a holy God. But with Jesus having taken the penalty for all our sins upon Himself, God now invites us to find a reassuring hope in our loving communion with Him behind that veil, whatever storms may rage all around it.

So anchor your soul in what Jesus did for us on the cross, and then pass through the curtain to fellowship with Jesus in the Holy of Holies, where waves and wind cease; and where we find hope amidst the upheaval of this world.

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil” 

Hebrews 6:19

© 2019 by Ken Peters

Lacking in Nothing

What would it be like to lack nothing at all? I’m not talking about possessions you can buy, but about what’s on the inside – our character. What would it be like to lack absolutely nothing in terms of character and maturity? It sounds like a ridiculous question, but the Apostle James actually points us in that exact direction. Simply put, he appears to say that if we want to lack nothing, we have to be willing to give up everything!

He begins by saying, "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials...” (James 1:2). Trials. By that, he means troubles – difficulties and dangers – hard times. He’s talking about having JOY in the face of BIG problems. Seriously. Remember, the people he was writing to were experiencing a measure of persecution for their faith. The trials they were going through may have included prison and the loss of property such as what the writer of Hebrews describes in Hebrews chapter 10. And James suggests that they “consider it all joy” to go through such trials, just as the writer of Hebrews says that his readers “joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property” (Hebrews 10:34)! Wow. There’s an picture of a people prepared to give up everything.

In our 21st century North American lives, trials are more likely to be a health issue, a fractured relationship, or crisis situation at work, which can leave us feeling like we’re giving up a sense of security or stability or certainty.

James then goes on to write “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” Here we begin to see the connection between giving things up and yet lacking nothing. James reminds us that external troubles can actually strengthen us internally. When our physical muscles are tested with the resistance of heavy weights, we get stronger. And when our faith is tested by heavy trials, we grow in character – endurance being an expression of our character. And that’s the reason to “consider it all joy.” Trials may result in a loss of things – such as security, stability, or certainty, or even property – but they can also result in the development of character – such as, growth in endurance.

James continues: “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:3-4). That last phrase gets my attention every time! What would it be like to truly be “lacking in nothing” in terms of my character development? It seems so lofty to even aim for that I find it jarring to see James suggesting it. But I think it’s the very same thing that the Apostle Peter was talking about when he wrote, “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Yes, trials can lead to the loss of earthly things, but trials can also produce spiritual formation in us that leave us with a faith that’s more precious than any of those things – a faith that allows us to praise and glorify and honour Jesus even as we endure significant trials!

And when our faith in God, our hearts being fully assured of His love and faithfulness, we’re expressing what I think James meant when he said we’d be lacking “nothing.” If I know God is truly for me, I will endure – and not with gritted teeth, but with an abundance of the hope, joy, and peace that all come from believing God (Romans 15:13). Though it’s never easy, the challenges of trials don’t need to feel a threat – because the losses we incur can be far surpassed by the work God wants to do in us, causing a growth in us to believe God for so much more!

© 2019 by Ken Peters

Never too messy for Him

Genesis chapter 4 is such a mess. Cain murdered Abel, and then he's exiled, the First Family of Creation so soon divided — fractured — followed by Cain’s offspring, Lamech, murdering a man and a boy, and then boasting of it to his wives. We're told that Eve found some solace in the birth of Seth, but the mess had been made, beginning with Adam and Eve’s initial disobedience in the Garden, all so very quickly after God had previously called His spotless creation “very good." Three chapters and a few generations later, all I can see is very messy.

Then, surprisingly amidst the prolonged focus on the growing mess of mankind, Genesis, chapter four, ends with, “Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD.” So that too had been part of the mess — God’s creation had forgotten Him and had stopped calling out to Him. But amidst all that, we're told that God drew them back to Himself once again, to call out to Him. God drew near to them, amidst the mess. 

And the same is true today. Today's world is a mass reflection of Genesis chapter four, and yet God is continually drawing near to people in every dark corner and on every lonely road. No matter how messy it gets, and no matter how far a person has drifted away, God is truly among us. He is Emmanuel, God with us — even amidst the mess. And He wants to save us from our messes. 

Maybe you're praying for someone who has gotten lost in the messiness of this world. Or maybe you feel that you've contributed a little to the mess that began in Genesis. Whatever the case, whatever pigpen that anyone is in, we can be certain that God is still causing sin-stained people today to "call upon the name of the LORD." Praise God for His infinite grace!

© 2019 by Ken Peters

Reading List 2018

I didn't read as many books as usual this year, but I did read several books quite unlike anything I'd ever read before. Some of the firsts this year included space travel, north pole exploration, character studies of women in the Bible, and theological studies in Arminianism, not to mention a full blown 613-page book on the history of Christian theology. Other obscure genres included a book on hermeneutics, a book on grief-support, a biography of an little-known (by most) 19th century missionary, and a terrific book that I still struggle to explain the theme of despite how helpful it was (see the third book below!). 

This year, I decided to become much more intentional about the kinds of books I included in my reading. I resolved to regularly include the following genres in my reading list (some of which will overlap, depending on the book):

• Theology
• Devotional / Christian Living
• Missions / Evangelism
• Biography / History
• Leadership / Pastoral Development
• Classics / Pre-20th Century books

All these genres can be found in my 2018 reading list, and all of them will be found in my 2019 reading list as well. And as usual, just for the record, here are my reading lists from 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011 and 2010 (this blog was dormant for 2012 and 2013).

Apart from the books listed here, I 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 what is most essential for me to be feeding on. Most of the postings I add to my blog are a result of my time spent reading God's Word.

Here are the books that I've read this past year...

1. How to Forgive Ourselves – Totally: Begin Again by Breaking Free from Past Mistakes by R.T. Kendall. I needed to read this book. It’s not a theologically dense book, or a book that explains profound mysteries. But it is a book that has potential to have a profound impact on its readers. And it does so by speaking plain truth in plain language in order to get an important point across as clearly as possible. And I needed to hear that message without the distraction of a bunch of philosophical mumbo-jumbo. R.T. Kendall has the unique gift of writing as a teacher who is also very pastoral. And that may be why I found this book so challenging as well as so reassuring. Like I said, I knew that I needed this book because of my own struggles in the area of forgiving myself, and I found it to be immediately relevant and immensely practical.
2. Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery by Scott Kelly. I was fascinated by many details of this book, some having nothing to do with outer space. In fact, I think what impacted me most was Scott Kelly’s description of his growing up years and of his university years. The challenges he faced (some self-inflicted), the crucial and timely influence of his twin brother, and the tenacity Scott showed once he had the bit between his teeth were all inspiring to me. The part about going into orbit was simply bonus material for me. But I enjoyed learning about the space station and about the incredible challenges of prepping for and participating in spacewalks. Clearly Scott Kelly is an exceptional man, and a very capable writer.
3. Upended: How following Jesus Remakes your Words and World by Jedd Medefind and Erik Lokkesmoe. As I began reading the early chapters of this book, I had no idea what it was about, and yet I felt hooked. The reason I knew it was good was that I found myself recalling everyday situations to which the content of the book clearly applied and then found myself changing my behaviour. It was immediately influencing my everyday life. And then the more I read, the more compelling the book became! This book is (in my words) all about how we go about *being* an apprentice of Jesus, expressing Jesus’s heart to this world more effectively, as opposed to simply busying ourselves with the myriad demands that try to jostle us into just *doing* more for Jesus. But lest this sound like it lacks relevance for those of us wanting to live in a way that makes a definite difference in this world for Jesus, the alternatives offered to the incessant *doing* were extremely practical, applying to our everyday interactions with the people and situations around us, and were so refreshingly purposeful that I have great hope that what I put my hand to from the lessons of this book will help me to be far more fruitful than any of the me-centred alternatives that I can be prone to. This book left me inspired and encouraged because the lessons of this book are both accessible and well worth pursuing. Filled with many real life illustrations, and extremely well written, I highly recommend this book.
4. Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life by Henri Nouwen. Henri Nouwen understands people. He understands the human condition. He recognizes that if left alone, we’re prone to “become low-hearted because of constant self-rejection.” And so he understands the need for coming out of solitude. But he also understands the need for solitude — a “quiet center” in which we commune with God, and that we then come out from. And when we come out of solitude, Nouwen rightly encourages us to look for ways to share what we received — to care for others. This book ministered to me like a warm hug from a loving father.
5. True North: Peary, Cook, and the Race to the Pole by Bruce Henderson. I really wanted to like this book more. I really did. It’s an engaging tale. But it began to feel just a bit too personal — personal as in the author just having an axe to grind. I’m prepared to believe he might be right in his conclusions, but I’m not prepared to say he did an adequate job in proving them. This book contradicts the generally accepted historical narratives, so you’d think Henderson would at least say something about people’s many objections to his counter-narrative. But no. All Henderson does is state alternate-facts as if the many documented objections to them deserve absolutely no attention. Sorry. I need more than that. I need more than his vilifying of Peary, and his adoration of Cook. I need some concrete responses to the many objections to his premise. Otherwise this book ends up being a personal vendetta rather than an historical account.
6. Gospel Fluency: Speaking the Truths of Jesus into the Everyday Stuff of Life by Jeff Vanderstelt. There are portions of this book that I actually saved on my smartphone so that I’d be able to prayerfully review them as needed. In fact, nearly every day in my devotions, I prayerfully review the five brief points that Vanderstelt provides for preaching the gospel to ourselves! I’ve taken his advice in daily rehearsing these gospel truths. And his emphasis on “the war of the mind” is fantastic! He stirred me to be less passive in this battle, more alert to gospel-contradicting lies, and more intentional about refuting them. This book has been a wonderful resource to me.
7. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I found many wonderful insights in this book. Bonhoeffer had an anointing to cut deep into the truths of the Christian life, but I must admit, there were times when I wondered if either he or I were missing the point on some pages. But then I’d suddenly find one sentence after another hitting home, feeling relevant, and offering me light for my Christian walk. I’m grateful for the friend who persistently recommended this book to me.
8. The Guns of August by Barbara W Tuchman. Wow. A stunning work that left me aghast, and yet filled with wonder at the huge implications of all the intricate ifs and becauses that Tuchman explores. There’s an inescapable grief woven throughout this entire narrative so that the historical facts are continually mingling with a sense of mourning, until finally, in the Afterword, Tuchman almost becomes poetic in her lament of what the world became because of the events of August 1914.
9. The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun by Paul Hattaway. As I read this book, I felt more challenged than informed, and more adjusted in my attitudes than entertained by a story. But what a story it is! I found it riveting to see how Brother Yun went from one great trial to another, always finding the grace to truly trust God in the midst of them. It caused me to frequently pause as I read his story as I considered how poorly I’ve often responded to much smaller adversities. But rather than feeling discouraged, I found Brother Yun’s faith so infectious that I felt hope that I too could find the grace to trust God in whatever circumstances He allows in my life! This book is quite inspiring in that way.
10. Jesus the King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God by Timothy Keller. This was, for me, a fresh look at what have become to me very familiar passages. There were a couple chapters in this book that personally felt well worth the price of admission! I even photographed one paragraph so that I could more easily refer to it and reread it back to myself again and again in days to come. Keller has a way of discovering head-turning insights that make me wonder anew at many of these Gospel stories, and that’s the primary reason I would recommend this book.
11. Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities by Roger E. Olson. I found this a very helpful book, clarifying many significant misconceptions I had about Arminianism. Drawing heavily and directly from many Arminian (as well as Calvinist) sources, Olson persuasively argues for a more charitable consideration of Arminianism. I for one was persuaded, and have found this book to be both very timely and hugely influential in my spiritual journey.
12. Shackleton's Boat Journey by Frank A. Worsley. I’m in awe of the tenacity of the men who survived the adventure this book describes. Their irrepressible hopefulness and the determined resourcefulness is an incredible example to me. It’s truly amazing that they survived such a journey, and the suspense in Worsley’s telling of the tale never lets up until the very last page. I’ve read Shackleton’s own account of this same journey, but I loved this book even more!
13. Lost Women of the Bible: The Women we Thought we Knew by Carolyn Custis James. I was encouraged to read this book that my wife had bought and read, and I am so glad I did. It is delightfully well-written, and is packed with well-researched insights that make the messages of ten biblical women’s lives incredibly relevant today. I found this book not only encouraged me in my own walk with God, but it was also something I could easily see abundant application for in my own marriage and in pastoral ministry. This is not just a book about women for women, but is also a great book for men who want to grow in their understanding of God and in their appreciation of women!
14. Henry Martyn of Persia by Jesse Page. For many years, I’ve had a vague notion about who this man was: an early pioneer missionary to Muslims who was especially remembered for his zeal and for the impact that he had. But what I didn’t know was that his fame is based on a mere 6 1/2 years of overseas service (from 1806 to 1812) before he died at 31 years of age, and that his short time overseas was split between time in India and Persia. But because Henry Martyn was so godly in his character and so determined in his translation work, he has been an inspiration to many and has had a long-term impact. While I expected this 1895 biography to be admiring in its portrayal of Martyn’s devotion and zeal, I found that it also provided a very warm view of his flawed humanity as an extremely introspective self-deprecating man who was also known for his personal warmth and cheerfulness despite going through great hardships.
15. Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness by Richard B. Hays. This is a book like no other book I’ve ever read. Hays is enthusiastically endorsing a hermeneutic that is brazenly contrary to principles of hermeneutics that I’ve long considered to be inviolable. And yet he does so with such scholarly persuasiveness that he’s won me over. It’s probably because in his meticulousness, it’s also clear that he has a love for God’s Word that recognizes its poetic artistry and its strong sense of story. This is a book about recognizing the “story, metaphor, prefiguration, allusion, echo, reversal, and irony” in our reading of Scripture. I doubt I’ll ever read God’s Word in quite the same way again.
16. Don't Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart: How to Relate to Those who are Suffering by Kenneth C. Haugk. As a pastor, I feel that I’m ever learning how to be helpful to people who are experiencing difficult times, and even though I feel I’ve grown in this area over the years, I know I have so much more I could learn. It seems that with every crisis that comes up, I get in touch with how important it is to be gentle and sensitive and attentive in how I care for people, but also with how easy it is to cause hurt while trying to help. That’s why I appreciated this extremely practical book. It doesn’t try to say too much in the theoretical realm, but keeps things in real-life situations, providing many helpful tips and steps in each brief chapter. There’s a lot here worth remembering, and I appreciated the sensitivity with which it was written.
17. The Story of Christian Theology: Twenty Centuries of Tradition and Reform by Roger E. Olson. Before reading this lengthy book, I had felt a growing desire to reacquaint myself with some of the significant historical moments of church history. I chose this book for several reasons: it focuses on church theology rather than church events, it’s written as a story rather than as systematic theology, and it’s written by an historian with an Arminian background rather than a Calvinistic background (something I’d never encountered before). I enjoyed the book, sometimes finding it difficult to put down, probably because I felt I was learning so much about things I’d only been vaguely aware of previously. It connected a lot of dots for me in regards to how one thing led to another, and I think that’s why I liked the story-approach. But like any historical account, it’s affected by a writer’s biases, and is forced to be selective in what it covers. But because I assume that will be true of any history book, I felt quite satisfied with reading this one.

I want a new meme

I’ve heard it said that courage is not a lack of fear, but is carrying on despite our fears. Many variations of this quote have been attributed to Mark Twain, Nelson Mandela, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Bruce Lee (among others). I particularly like the version attributed to John Wayne: “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”

There’s a good deal of truth to this idea that it’s courageous to press on despite being afraid. A Christian might even be tempted to think that God wrote the original version of that quote. But if God made a meme of what He had to say about fear, is that what He’d write? I wondered that today as I read a verse that said, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). Notice it doesn't say, Be courageous even though you're frightened and dismayed. No, it simply says: Don't fear!

Another verse came to mind as I considered that. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). Is God actually defining courage in these verses as the absence of fear, contrary to the definitions that our culture provides in various memes out there? Does God actually want us to have a courage that's fearless because of how big and how strong and how faithful we believe our God to be?

What these two verses (and many other Bible verses) have in common is that they literally command us to have no fear and then they change the focus from fear (or from what we're afraid of) to a focus on God. In other words, by focusing entirely on God instead of on circumstances, it's possible for fear to vanish and for us to be left standing there with Almighty God, facing the same situation that we'd previosly been so frightened of, but no longer afraid. How is that possible?

The only way it's possible is if we personally know the God of the Bible for who He really is. When Joshua was told, "for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go", Joshua was meant to remember the God who had already provided Israel with a mighty deliverance from Egypt and with faithful care in the wilderness. When we take our eyes off of what scares us and choose to truly focus on the mighty and faithful God who is with us, God expects fear to flee away. In this way, if we know God for who he really is, and keep our spiritual eyes on him in all circumstances, courage can actually be the absence of fear.

But this will all be a pipe dream if God is just a theological construct in our minds. It’s when we’re convinced that God is always with us, know Him for who he really is, and continually look to Him for help that we can adopt a new definition of courage in our lives (which is actually a very old definition):  Courage is the absence of fear when we’re focused on the mighty God who is always with us!

© 2018 by Ken Peters

A Contrast to keep in mind for the New Year

As you begin the year 2018, encourage yourself with the wonderful contrast found in Psalm 147! The psalmist wrote in verse 3 that the LORD “heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (or literally, “their sorrows”), and then immediately added that God also “counts the number of stars; He gives names to all of them” (verse 4). Tenderness and awesomeness, side by side. The comforting arms that hold us capably hold the universe as well.

The psalmist wanted us to know that the same God who tenderly and caringly draws near to the struggling, the hurting, the discouraged and the disappointed is also the God who is great enough to name every single star in the universe.

Scientists have concluded that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on this planet. Estimates put the score at about:

Sand:          7,500,000,000,000,000,000

Stars: 70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

And God calls each of those stars by an individual name. No wonder the very next verse in the psalm says, “Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite!” I can hardly remember one person’s name just 2 minutes after being introduced to them! Yet God can recall the names of 70 thousand million million million stars!
But this contrast goes even further. Even though God may know all the stars by name, He has much more than mere knowledge of our sorrows and disappointments. The psalmist writes that He “heals” those who are hurting, and carefully “binds up” their wounds and heartaches. Consider this! He tenderly touches us with those same strong hands that hold every massive star in the universe. And on top of that, because “His understanding is infinite,” we can be sure that we can trust His wisdom. He knows what He’s doing as He leads us through whatever we're going through.
So if you’re wearily carrying heartfelt sorrows or deferred hopes into this new year of 2018, take heart! The same God who has every star in the universe accounted for according to His infinite understanding and strength, is also attentively looking after our hearts.

© 2017 by Ken Peters

Reading List 2017

I continue to find the reading of books far more engaging than watching television (or most other things). Someone recently joked that I should get a shirt that says, I'd rather be reading!, and wear it all the time. In fact, when I'm not reading (or working on a writing project, or at work), you'll sometimes find me making memes about books. Here's the latest one I created this year...

The truth of such a meme is reinforced by the fact that just over half of the books I read this year (13/24) were bought used. And as usual, just for the record, here are my reading lists for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2011 and 2010 (this blog was dormant for 2012 and 2013).

Apart from the books listed here, I 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 what is most essential for me to be feeding on. Most of the postings I add to my blog are a result of my time spent reading God's Word.

Here are the books that I've read this past year...

1. Hidden in Christ: Living as God's Beloved by James Bryan Smith. This is a book of devotionals based on select words found in Colossians 3:1-17, one of my long-time favourite passages of Scripture. Each chapter hones in on the rich meanings of words carefully chosen by the Apostle Paul, and I found that Dr. Smith's insights repeatedly brought the words home to my personal context so that I could better experience the reality that Paul intended for his readers to realize in their everyday lives as they reflected on this passage. It's another of those books you want to start reading again as soon as you complete it!
2. Arabian Sands by Wilfred Thesiger. This book is a must-read for all desert-lovers. The book reads as slowly as a camel crossing the Empty Quarter, but is thoroughly mesmerizing in its recounting of the cultural and contextual details as Thesiger crossed the vast Empty Quarter of the Arabian peninsula by camel two times. The stories Thesiger tells are made all the more appealing by his obvious love and respect for the Bedu people, who helped him across "the sands" where no Westerner had ever before travelled. These desert adventures occurred just before the oil companies appeared on the scene, which Thesiger rightly feared would forever change the cultural landscape of the Bedu people, making this book a precious time capsule of an age we will never see again.
3. The Bait of Satan: Living Free from the Deadly Trap of Offense by John Bevere. I get offended. And sometimes I let offenses linger. And I know that every day, I face numerous opportunities to get more offended. I don't always resist those temptations. So when a particular instance of this came up in my life, someone recommended I read this book. I'm glad I did, because as I read it, I became more and more aware of how much I needed to read it as personal examples of what Bevere was writing about kept coming to mind. This book is very direct and very practical, and I found it very helpful. I now plan to work through the study guide that came with the version available at the link above.
4. Total Forgiveness by R.T. Kendall. I found this book around the same time that the above book was recommended to me, so I figured I must really need to carry on with this theme. Kendall had a completely different approach from John Bevere, each with their own strengths. And though I struggled at times with what seemed like Kendall's somewhat passive approach on how we respond to significant sins in the Church, I was encouraged by his humble grace-oriented perspective on how we need to avoid carrying superior attitudes toward others. But the chapter on forgiving oneself was worth the price of the book for me! I went back and prayed through that whole chapter after I had read it and may do so again. The many insights of that chapter could make a real difference for me!
5. Come Back, Barbara by C. John Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani. A wonderful book written by a father and his daughter about the many challenges they faced as parents and as a daughter growing up in a Christian home. This book tells the story from both the father's and the daughter's perspective about the journey each of them experienced and on the lessons that each of them learned about themselves as the daughter turned away from God and then eventually returned to Him.
6. The Book that Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization by Vishal Mangalwadi. The scope of this book is astounding. Thoroughly researched and well-written, Mangalwadi presents a compelling case for how radically the truths of the Bible have influenced the world we live in. I found reading it hard slogging at times, and sometimes grew quite weary from how thought-provoking this book is, but I'm glad I read it. This book serves as a beacon in a dark and deteriorating world, offering a Christ-centered worldview, in contrast to the hopeless relativism being tossed around these days.
7. Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill by Stephen Mansfield. This is not your typical biography, as it quickly breezes through the many events of Winston Churchill's life. The majority of the book consists of 30 brief 3-4 page chapters that explore the major contributors and/or characteristics of Winston Churchill's leadership style. It's really a book on leadership that uses Churchill's life as a reference point. I found it both very illuminating and challenging.
8. Union With Christ: The Way to Know and Enjoy God by Rankin Wilbourne. I was really looking forward to reading this book, and I wasn't disappointed. It is a treasure trove of truths that are too much to take in! It's the kind of book that one needs to eventually go back over and read again for it to properly sink in. Wilbourne gave me an appreciation for the huge importance of understanding the wide-ranging real-life blessings of our union with Jesus, and made me hungry to experience more of the reality of that union.
9. Making All Things New: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life by Henri Nouwen. I found this little book in a used book store just after preaching a sermon on God making all things new, so I couldn't resist it. Henri Nouwen aims this book at people who want "to enter more deeply into the spiritual life" and he offers a simple and yet extremely insightful path to get there. Interestingly, he focuses on our "worry-filled world" as what hinders us from communion with God, and offers a very practical and Christ-centered path to experiencing the the presence of God and the new life God wants for us. This book is a gem.
10. The Bishop of Rwanda: Finding Forgiveness Amidst a Pile of Bones by John Rucyahana with James Riordan. A sobering read that shares the horrifying context and story of a genocide that happened before our very eyes, while those with the power to prevent it dithered and denied it was happening, until over one million people were killed in less than 100 days. But Bishop James Rucyahana has more than just that story to share - he also shares a story of healing and restoration and reconciliation centered around the Gospel of Jesus. The miracle of Rwanda's ongoing recovery is as amazing as the genocide is horrible. 
11. Frederick: A Story of Boundless Hope by Frederick Ndabaramiye and Amy Parker. After reading the book above describing the historical context and story of the Rwandan genocide, I decided to read this book, which is one man's - or rather - one boy's story in the midst of it all. What makes Frederick's story so readable is that the outcome is so amazing. The horror he goes through as a boy is incredible, but somehow, by the grace of God, Frederick doesn't allow his wounds to stop him from being a blessing to others. He dreams bigger than most of us Westerners would dare, and has seen all of those dreams realized! An inspiring story.
12. Making Disciples: Developing Lifelong Followers of Jesus by Ralph Moore. This is an intensely simple and practical and motivating book on the Biblical mandate of going and making disciples. Moore's premise is that nothing should be more important than making disciples as we live lives of loving God and our neighbours. I had never heard of Ralph Moore, but now I want to read more of his books, and I'm eager to put the principles of this book into practice. It's the kind of book I want to keep close at hand rather than on a shelf so that I can refer back to it repeatedly to keep myself from forgetting what I want to do about what I just read!
13. Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality: The Gospel According to Abraham by Iain M. Duguid. I found this book to be intensely relevant to mind games I've routinely played and lost. The book lives up to its title by offering very accessible strategies for living in what Duguid calls the Reality Gap that all of us face in our lives on this earth. Duguid very capably applies the lessons of the story of Abraham to our everyday lives in ways that I found surprising and encouraging and refreshing. I shouldn't have been surprised, as I have long believed that Abraham's story is meant to be a centerpiece of the Christian life, providing many signposts for our journey of walking by faith. I highly recommend this book and this author.
14. Waterloo: The History of Four Days, Three Armies and Three Battles by Bernard Cornwell. Given that the Battle of Waterloo was a pivotal moment in history with huge implications regarding the history of Europe and beyond, I wanted to understand more about this complicated battle and its outcome. The fact that Napoleon nearly won the battle makes it a riveting story, and begs many questions regarding why he lost - and in the end, he was routed. But regardless of the outcomes and the reasons why and their implications, the story of the battle itself is deeply saddening. It was the kind of battle where it seemed everyone died, both humans and horses, and yet, there were survivors, all of whom, whether the victors or the vanquished, left Waterloo grieving their losses.
15. The Legacy of William Carey: A Model for the Transformation of a Culture by Vishal and Ruth Mangalwadi. An excellent tribute to a man who truly laid his life down to take the Gospel to the peoples of India. The Mangalwadis being themselves from India, they highly prize the contribution that William Carey made to their nation, and they provide a wonderful description of what he achieved in his lifetime as well as the long-term implications his achievements have had in India. The Mangalwadis don't make the mistake of over-glamourizing Carey, or of ignoring his weaknesses, but they do emphasize how effectively God was able to use this humble man from humble origins, who knew that he was an imperfect servant in the hands of his Master, to eternally impact an entire nation for Jesus.
16. Immanuel: Reflections on the Life of Christ by Michael Card. What a treasure this was to find in a used book store. This book contains devotional reflections from Michael Card on each of the songs he wrote for his CD-trilogy on The Life of Jesus. One can tell that Michael Card is a student of God's Word from his lyrics, but even more so from his devotionals. I read one chapter each night as lay down, and was often powerfully touched by his thoughts on the life of Jesus. This book was so good, that it will be one of those rare books that I begin reading again immediately after completing it! I want what I learned from it to sink in even deeper.
17. The Longest Day: June 6, 1944 by Cornelius Ryan. This is an excellent account of the build up toward and the invasion of Normandy in 1944. Based on meticulous research among both allied and German sources not long after the war, it provides a compelling picture of what happened that day. I find it helpful, in my consistently comfortable surroundings, to be reminded of those who performed amazing acts of courage and sacrifice for the sake of others. It shouldn't require a war for us to make sacrifices for others, and so I believe that the example of those soldiers is relevant to us today.
18. Job by John Piper. This is a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated book consisting of a poem and accompanying artwork that captures the essence of the book of Job. Though I at times struggled with the flow of Piper's poetry, I loved how he captured so many gems of truth from Job's story in his interpretation of it. I found that the most poignant portions of the poem were the brief stanzas that related the story of Job to the story of Christ and the Gospel. A truly beautiful book.
19. Band of Brothers: E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest by Stephen E. Ambrose. Following up the pick I read above regarding D-Day, this book follows the exploits of the most famous of the American airborne divisions in WWII. I think I may have been as fascinated with Ambrose's description of Easy Company's training as I was with his accounts of what they achieved during the war. The men of this company were exceptionally prepared for highly exceptional circumstances, and as the title suggests, the strain of the circumstances they endured created a sense of brotherhood between them that few things in this world can duplicate. It truly illustrates how and why God uses troubles in this world to mature us as individuals and as a faith community.
20. Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace: The Gospel in the Lives of Isaac and Jacob by Iain Duguid. Duguid doesn't have much to say about Isaac in this book (if you want to learn some amazing lessons from Isaac's life, check out what Watchman Nee wrote!), but most of us can easily relate to Jacob's control issues, and I felt that Duguid did a fantastic job of explaining how relevant the lessons of Jacob's life are to me! I've struggled with my own spiritual ups and downs as I read this book, and as a result, this book felt extremely relevant and encouraging. As Duguid did so well in book #13 above, he helped me to repeatedly shift my focus from myself and onto Christ and His Gospel and His faithfulness and to the new covenant He has included me in! The truths I found in this book are truths I want to remind myself of every day!
21. Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne. Every so often (typically not more than once a year), I feel like reading a work of fiction. Never having read anything by Jules Verne, this book caught my interest at a driveway booksale this past summer. I picked it up for $1 thinking it'd provide me with a nice light read sometime, and I was right. It's the first work of science fiction I've read since I was a teenager, but this one felt different. It was first published in 1864 long before science fiction took readers into space. Verne was a pioneer of the science fiction genre, and is probably still widely read because he was such a wonderful storyteller. Reading it simply felt fun.
22. Secrets of the Secret Place: Keys to Igniting Your Personal Time with God by Bob Sorge. I've picked away at this 52-chapter book little by little throughout 2017. There are some real gems to be found among Sorge's treatments of various devotional topics. Many chapters certainly improved my spiritual posture or perspectives, and it would definitely be worth reviewing the many things that I've underlined. However, I was often distracted by the unrealistic verbiage Sorge chose to describe what we're aiming for in our devotional times with God. Phrases like, "to help you pursue God with absolute abandonment" left me feeling flat, knowing that no human alive is capable of such "absolute abandonment." Too often he seemed to get carried away in hyperbole he expected to be taken literally, leaving me feeling like he was setting the bar too high to attain. But apart from that, there's much encouragement to be found here.
23. Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander In Chief by James M. McPherson. After discovering this book in a used book store, I found it a surprisingly gripping book. McPherson is supremely qualified to zoom in, so to speak, on this particular aspect of Lincoln's presidency. Lincoln is the only American president whose time in office was filled from beginning to end with the country being at war, during which, he served as the practicing Commander-in-Chief. Of course, having no military experience, Lincoln had to grow in this role through diligent research as well as painful experience. And what makes this book so inspiring, is how McPherson portrays the courage and tenacity that Lincoln modeled as a leader through many desperate times that would've caused many other leaders to compromise and fail. This is truly a book on leadership for any of us who feel like quitting when there seems great cause for discouragement.
24. Living in the Light of Inextinguishable Hope: The Gospel According to Joseph by Iain Duguid and Matthew Harmon. My third book by Iain Duguid in this series on The Gospel According to the Old Testament was well worth it. There are so many lessons to be found in the story of Joseph, and Duguid is able to make them seem incredibly relevant to our everyday lives. I especially appreciated his emphasis on how a supremely wise and loving God is able to use both our own sins and the sins of others committed against us to accomplish His purposes. In other words, our or others' failures don't determine the outcomes of our lives, but only God does, regardless of what may appear to get in the way. This is a comforting conviction when I consider how many ways my sins have surely affected others, and when I remember that God is at the center of my circumstances.

"Now there was a man..." (Luke 2:25)

(Artwork by Grace MacLeod, used by permission)

"Now there was a man"
Who'd been told he would see
The awaited Messiah
Before his death came to be.

How long did he wait,
After receiving that word?
How many nights dreaming
Of that promise he'd heard?

How many prayers
Did this Simeon pray
For the great consolation
That seemed so far away?

Did so many visits
Feel like such a great price –
All those walks to the temple
In search of the Christ?

Who was this good man –
This man without tribe –
Who represented his nation
In all that he cried?

Surely it pained him
At times through the years,
But God's Spirit was with him
To collect all his tears.

But then the day came –
Though nothing set it apart
Except for one Child
Whom he knew in his heart.

The Spirit did tell him
That this was the Boy –
The awaited Messiah!
And it gave him such joy!

The parents brought doves,
As gifts of the poor;
Though they were richer than any,
And their acceptance was sure.

For the child that they brought
To present unto God,
Had just come from heaven
Where angels He awed.

The man longed to hold Him,
He had waited so long –
A lifetime of waiting for He
Who would right all that's wrong.

He said this was the One
Who would save all the world,
His life and his purpose was
Heaven's banner unfurled.

So how did he feel
With his heart now replete;
His heart overflowing;
His life's longings complete?

He would never stop thinking
Of that baby he saw,
And as he pondered God's goodness,
He felt nothing but awe.

© 2017 by Ken Peters