Recommended
When Helping Hurts is the second in a list of books on ministry we've been asked to read by a pastor in our church. I started it a few years ago but it's quite methodical and I'm afraid, though it was helpful, I didn't finish it then.
After picking it back up again this month, I'm eager to recommend it to you. The homeless/panhandling in Raleigh seems to have skyrocketed since COVID and it's hard to resist giving my cash tips out at every stoplight - even when I know that may contribute to the problem, not help to fix it.
But what if I want to do more than pray? Proverbs 28:27 says, "Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse." I don't want to be guilty of hiding my eyes from the poor - literally or figuratively." So this book helped expand my understanding of poverty, and think critically about ways I and organizations I support or partner with in some way seek to care for the poor and needy. An overly simple summary of the problem posed by the book would include the fact that poverty is complex, and includes different facets such as: poverty of being, poverty of spiritual intimacy, poverty of community and poverty of stewardship
Perhaps, this review should be found under the category "listen" instead of "read". However, my argument for finding it herein is based on the fact that this particular narrative was orginially a book. And that's that. A note to recommend the audio version, however I will make. The so-called problem of so many German words and proper nouns that I could never have pronounced on my own, and would have unavoidably become frustrated, was solved as they were simply read to me with precise pronunciation, resulting in the fact that now I feel ever so slightly more familar, not only with Bonhoeffer's history, but German culture and language as well.
If you work well with a book in the background, or have many driving days ahead, I highly recommend this book in audio form. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to all twenty-two hours and thirty-three minutes of Bonhoeffer's incredible story as told with incredible detail by Eric Metaxas.
What's more, Andrew makes a cameo in this review here with his emphatic if not extensive opinion. Upon a number of hours listening on the road during our California roadtrip, he became thoroughly fed up with all of the detail and lengthy quotations and quit listening along.
What details?, you may ask. All of them, I say. Metaxas inserts what must be pages and pages, and pages of direct quotes from Bonhoeffer's letters; to friends and family, from friends and family. The book was inspiring and encouraging, edifying even. Primarily, I'm sure because of its noble and spiritually courageous subject, but also with the beautiful, honest, and entertaining manner in which it was written. I'm almost glad I have no quotes to share because there would be much too many.
My favourite coping mechanism is a quality book with humour. In some seasons that has been The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Today, I rediscovered this book on my shelf.
I cannot recall how I came upon this treasure, but William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back just hits the spot! Superbly written in Shakespearean meter and verse, this adaptation of the epic saga will keep you sufficiently amused and distracted as long as you keep it open.
Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite.
Chorus:
O, 'tis for the Rebellion a dark time.
For though they have the Death Start all destroy'd,
Imperi'l troops did from the ashes climb
And push the rebels closer to the void.
Across the galaxy pursu'd with speed,
The rebels flee th'Imperi'l Starfleet vast.
A group with Luke Skywalker in the lead
Hath to the ice world known as Hoth flown fast.
Meanwhile, the cruel Darth Vader is obsess'd
With finding young Skywalker. Thus he hath
Through ev'ry point of space begun his quest
By sending robot probes to aid his wrath.
In time so long ago begins our play,
In war-torn galaxy far, far away."
Many thanks to Ian Doescher for writing such a superb piece of fiction,
and may the force be with you.
This is a new favourite devotional of mine and Andrew's. Isaiah by the Day, a New Devotional Translation by Alec Motyer is well-written. His translations are thorough and insightful, in-depth and enlightening, yet easy to understand.
The layout of each section is the translation of the passage on the left, with notes on the right side of each page. And a "Thought for the day" at the end. We read through the passage with the notes, and then read the passage uninterrupted, ending with the devotion. It's an excellent way to learn more about Scripture, and has been our best evening devotion.
Here's an excerpt from yesterday's "Thought for the day." (from page 93)
"Pride is the ultimate expression of salvation by works; it is practical atheism. It shows its ugly head any day we omit Bible reading; it is leering over our shoulders when we can't find time for prayer - and, oh yes, when we neglect to gather round us the strength of fellowship or when our places are empty at the Lord's Table.
Pride laughs up its sleeve when we are difficult to get on with, stubborn rather than amenable, digging our heels instead of open to reason.
Just as there is no way we can serve both God and mammon, so there is no way we can (openly or secretly) believe in our personal omnicompetence and at the same time believe in Jesus as the Saviour of sinners."
Start. Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average, Do Work that Matters by John Acuff. To be honest, I picked this up because Andrew read it and said it was good. I completely trust his judgement, which is convenient, because he is my husband.
Disclaimer: I'm not into self-help books, or motivational speakers. But this one got me excited. It might even have something to do with the fact that I finally started my blog.
John Acuff writes conversationally. His book is easy to digest, but literally it was so inspirational that I couldn't read it before bed, or if I was trying to wind down. He made me question the ways I spend my time, my motivations, everything - in a super good way!
He spends time walking you through his story and lessons he's learned on the path to his dream job. And he organizes his thoughts in "five stages of a wildly successful life: Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding." He is poignant, thoughtful and practical.
As usual, one of my favourite quotes in the book is the author quoting someone else, but the mark of an excellent author is his ability to quote excellent authors. Here's the quote, from page 216:
"If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don't, you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself; you hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet. Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It's a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got." - Steven Pressfield
And here's some quotes by Acuff himself:
"You'll be swamped with opportunities to guide other people...and I want you to be ready with a few boundaries so you can do the greatest good possible. I once heard a pastor say, 'I'd love to go to coffee with every one of you, but then I'd never have time to do all the things that make you want to have coffee with me in the first place. Like studying, reading, researching, and helping the people I've committed to.'"
"It's important to disappoint the right people in my life. For years, I thought if I lived perfect life, I could make everyone happy and never disappoint anyone. I know that's a foolish thought, but people-pleasers like me are constantly intoxicated with expectations like that."
"You can't be 'anything you want,' but you can be something even better: the best version of you. That's always more enjoyable than trying to force yourself to be something you weren't designed to be (please refer to my dreams of being in the NBA)."
So, there you go. I'll admit that the above list doesn't capture the powerful questions Acuff asks, or the gentle challenges throughout his book, but if you want more, go borrow or buy it (preferably at a local bookstore cough not Amazon cough)
I have just begun This Sunrise of Wonder by Michael Mayne, and was forced to cease reading it just before bed because I wanted to share just about every word on every page. The author was a priest in South London and Hertfordshire, Englad, so I'm anticipating some theological differences, but the respect of a higher power often leads to humble, hopeful literature and so far I have not been disappointed.
sunrise of wonder." was the inspiration for the name of the book.
The volume is described as "a series of twenty-four letters Michael [offers] to his grandchildren of all that has inspired him in literature, music and art. It is, in Ronald Blythe's words (from the forward), 'an inventory of his joy.'"
I’ve just finished the thrilling and impactful book A Foreign Devil in China.
I bought it for under a dollar, much less than what it's worth, at one of my favourite thrift stores, Durham Rescue Mission. The biography of Nelson Bell, missionary to China in the early 1900s was all I could have asked for and more. Convicting, inspiring and encouraging, I fully believe the Lord used different pieces to encourage me in prayer, purpose-driven business, rest and faith. While there is some violence due to the barbaric unrest in China, it’s for the most part a family friendly book with lessons for readers of all ages.
Here's a sample text from the life of Dr. Bell, followed by a poem written by a fellow missionary on the field of China, E. H. Hamilton.
"Nelson was comforted. 'Jacob limped next morning as he went forward, but that limp was because God's hand had touched him. We may have a terrible story which gives us an emotional limp, but it is where God, in His love and mercy, has touched us, bringing us a blessing, with a consciousness of God's presence. God has left our hearts the mark of his loving touch.'"
Afraid? Of What?
To feel the spirit's glad release?
To pass from pain to perfect peace,
The strife and strain of life to cease?
Afraid? - of that?
To hear his welcome, and to trace
The glory gleam from wounds of grace?
Afraid - of that?
Afraid? Of What?
A flash, a crash, a pierced heart;
Darkness, light, O Heaven's art!
A wound of His a counterpart!
Afraid - of that?
Afraid? Of What?
To do by death what life could not -
Baptize with blood a stony plot,
Till souls shall blossom from the spot?
Afraid - of that?
I discovered this song on my absolutely wonderful Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify. I chose Spotify in high school because it was more popular internationally and I was not aware of either Pandora or Apple a music. While I also enjoyed Gaana.com (the Indian equivalent), I wasn’t about to pay for both. Spotify premium it was, and has been for many a year. Anyway, I love this song because it’s quirky and communal and full of praise. Enjoy.
"OK" with Hollyn by PEABOD on their 2018 album Healthy Snacks is one of my songs on repeat these days. I'd say it's incredibly appropriate for this time in history because it helps shake off the worries. "OK" is chill, happy, just so very catchy, and the album cover makes me smile every time.
Below are some of my favourite lyrics, but you can read the rest here before you GO HAVE A LISTEN.
"Sometimes the world's just a little too much
So you play a sad song to cheer yourself up
And tell yourself that you are okay
Saying I'ma be okay"
...
"Some days you're just sad like your brain is in a monsoon
Just treat it like a fad and this style will be gone soon
Deep down you can be glad because you know that Jesus got you
When you feeling bad just remember Jesus got you"
"Spiritual Songs" has been my favourite play-all-day-in-the-background playlist since I discovered it several months ago. I already thought very highly of Josh Garrels (read: in the top 1% of his listeners online - Spotify told me), but when I realized he curated playlists, my musical world was rocked.
In the description, he quotes Ephesians 5:19, which says, "Be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."
Press play and enjoy.
Thirty Minutes with the Perrys is my current favourite podcast. I discovered Jackie Hill Perry through her ministry and book Gay Girl Good God. She and her husband are writers, poets, and speakers. Their podcast is relatively new, and every episode is packed with humor and truth - an excellent combination.
I discovered Scott Erickson through his Instagram page. His impactful illustrations, powered by his faith, resonated with me. This is my favourite of his designs, shared in response to the racial violence and anti-racial backlash that ensued this year across America.
View this post on Instagram
After following @scottthepainter on Instagram for a while, I was intrigued enough to follow him to his website. And I stumbled upon his show Say Yes: A Liturgy of Not Giving up on Yourself. You can totally opt to watch the video here with the password "sayyes" but I highly recommend reading his story around it here.
The show is hilarious and inspiring and creative and unconventional. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, without giving too much weight the somewhat ambiguous language around religion.