That's a heavy-duty reading list, but I expect you're up to it! I didn't read fiction for a long time - and I'm sorry that I did that. During covid lockdowns when there was more reading time available I once again started reading. I'm much more likely to read Louise Penny than Shakespeare, though. I did attempt to read 12 classics last year and I came close. The most heady (but not long) book I've read this year is Albert Camus' The Stranger. A bit depressing but fascinating still. I have Fleming Rutledge's The Crucifixion near my desk and it's very big (I favor short books, a fault I know) ... but I think it will be good reading during March as we head into Easter.
I've never heard of Louise Penny, is she a big name where you're from?
I don't think reading short books is a fault as all. I recently read a study which suggested most people don't even read one book a year, no matter how long, and so I'm a big advocate for short books, especially to encourage more reading. Some authors are also able to pack far more into five words than others are in five pages...or chapters! Never put yourself down for the length of your books.
John, Fleming Rutledge is always a great read - it won't feel like a long book in the end. I found it so helpful (even when I wasn't too sure I could go with everything she said). Her books of sermons are really worthwhile too.
I’ve got a reading plan for Calvin’s Institutes that I really want to get going but it’s going to have to wait until after a bunch of work at church gets finished up.
I did start off the year reading quite a hefty, significant book (Carl Trueman’s rise and triumph) and while it was very well done and helpful, I can’t say I enjoyed it. Tim Keller’s book on prayer, though, is a joy right now.
Truman's book is certainly a difficult one. I'm immensely grateful for his scholarship and wisdom, but it could have easily been seven books rather than one! Very meaty.
Church takes prime place, I'll be praying for you.
Definitely, but I’d rather be in a situation where a book could be 7 books than in the normal situation where a book could have been a blog post! Thanks for praying!
Snap! I'm also reading through Calvin's Institutes, for the first time, over the course of the year (albeit I'm slightly ahead of that schedule). After 30 years in ministry I figured it ought to be something I was personally acquainted with, not simply aware of as a mountain range just over yonder.
A little ahead is fine, I'm a little behind, so we can balance one another out! That's a good heart to have towards it, I'm really glad you're reading it too, how are you finding it so far?
I've been quite surprised - I guess I was expecting something like a more typically topical Systematic Theology but he's addressed questions that were probably far more commonly addressed in the early church - including the Trinity and their relations etc. It's not an easy read that's for sure - I think I find Augustine at least as readable if not more so (but that might be a translation issue - I'm currently reading Boulding's tr of the Confessions and finding it's very readable). I think whenever I read Calvin (sermons, commentaries) I find it humbling because there's always a sense of God's majesty in what he writes. How about you?
That's a really interesting point. I'm actually studying Classics right now with a view to translate / re-translate Latin works from Church History that have either never been translated or are somewhat outdated and over-complicated. This goes for other languages too, of course. Translation plays a big role in whether a book is readable or not.
I love the sense of God's majesty too, I think that's so inspiring.
My biggest takeaway is how applicable his writing is, because he's not confining himself to speaking to his own generation, but rather to the human condition. For instance, this is just as true today as it ever was:
"the pious mind does not dream up for itself any god it pleases, but contemplates the one and only true God. And it does not attach to him whatever it pleases, but is content to hold him to be as he manifests himself"
I've just read over the past couple of days a short book called Lent by Esau McCaulley (part of a series called Fulness of Time). I gave it 5-stars on Goodreads, it was so helpful. For someone who isn't in an especially liturgical church setting it gave me lots not to just think about but to appreciate and warm to. I'd highly recommend it.
That's a heavy-duty reading list, but I expect you're up to it! I didn't read fiction for a long time - and I'm sorry that I did that. During covid lockdowns when there was more reading time available I once again started reading. I'm much more likely to read Louise Penny than Shakespeare, though. I did attempt to read 12 classics last year and I came close. The most heady (but not long) book I've read this year is Albert Camus' The Stranger. A bit depressing but fascinating still. I have Fleming Rutledge's The Crucifixion near my desk and it's very big (I favor short books, a fault I know) ... but I think it will be good reading during March as we head into Easter.
I've never heard of Louise Penny, is she a big name where you're from?
I don't think reading short books is a fault as all. I recently read a study which suggested most people don't even read one book a year, no matter how long, and so I'm a big advocate for short books, especially to encourage more reading. Some authors are also able to pack far more into five words than others are in five pages...or chapters! Never put yourself down for the length of your books.
John, Fleming Rutledge is always a great read - it won't feel like a long book in the end. I found it so helpful (even when I wasn't too sure I could go with everything she said). Her books of sermons are really worthwhile too.
I look forward to it!
I’ve got a reading plan for Calvin’s Institutes that I really want to get going but it’s going to have to wait until after a bunch of work at church gets finished up.
I did start off the year reading quite a hefty, significant book (Carl Trueman’s rise and triumph) and while it was very well done and helpful, I can’t say I enjoyed it. Tim Keller’s book on prayer, though, is a joy right now.
Truman's book is certainly a difficult one. I'm immensely grateful for his scholarship and wisdom, but it could have easily been seven books rather than one! Very meaty.
Church takes prime place, I'll be praying for you.
Definitely, but I’d rather be in a situation where a book could be 7 books than in the normal situation where a book could have been a blog post! Thanks for praying!
That is a very good point, I'm 100% with you there.
These are some great books! I also really enjoy Brandon Sanderson’s books :)
Snap! I'm also reading through Calvin's Institutes, for the first time, over the course of the year (albeit I'm slightly ahead of that schedule). After 30 years in ministry I figured it ought to be something I was personally acquainted with, not simply aware of as a mountain range just over yonder.
A little ahead is fine, I'm a little behind, so we can balance one another out! That's a good heart to have towards it, I'm really glad you're reading it too, how are you finding it so far?
I've been quite surprised - I guess I was expecting something like a more typically topical Systematic Theology but he's addressed questions that were probably far more commonly addressed in the early church - including the Trinity and their relations etc. It's not an easy read that's for sure - I think I find Augustine at least as readable if not more so (but that might be a translation issue - I'm currently reading Boulding's tr of the Confessions and finding it's very readable). I think whenever I read Calvin (sermons, commentaries) I find it humbling because there's always a sense of God's majesty in what he writes. How about you?
That's a really interesting point. I'm actually studying Classics right now with a view to translate / re-translate Latin works from Church History that have either never been translated or are somewhat outdated and over-complicated. This goes for other languages too, of course. Translation plays a big role in whether a book is readable or not.
I love the sense of God's majesty too, I think that's so inspiring.
My biggest takeaway is how applicable his writing is, because he's not confining himself to speaking to his own generation, but rather to the human condition. For instance, this is just as true today as it ever was:
"the pious mind does not dream up for itself any god it pleases, but contemplates the one and only true God. And it does not attach to him whatever it pleases, but is content to hold him to be as he manifests himself"
That's a wonderful quotation and an excellent point. God bless your efforts with those translations!
Thanks Brother!
I've just read over the past couple of days a short book called Lent by Esau McCaulley (part of a series called Fulness of Time). I gave it 5-stars on Goodreads, it was so helpful. For someone who isn't in an especially liturgical church setting it gave me lots not to just think about but to appreciate and warm to. I'd highly recommend it.