The Simpleton Blog

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Last Branch Standing

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about Last Branch Standing By Sarah Isgur Now I'll admit that this recommendation is a bit revealing of my inner nerd - but it's a great read. Sarah Isgur is the host of my favorite podcast "Advisory Opinions" (co-hosted by David French) where they break down Supreme Court cases and arguments twice a week. This is her first book, and it beca

Sep 15

The Six Types of Working Genius

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about The Six Types Of Working Genius By Patrick Lencioni I was recently invited to attend a leadership summit in Texas and we were encouraged to read this book and take the assessment in preparation for our discussion. [Sidenote: I do not recommend the assessment - in just reading the book, it's pretty easy to self-select which competencies

Aug 15

Be-Loved

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about BELOVED By Francis Chan Long ago, I promoted an older book called “Crazy Love” by the same author. Crazy Love was written in the early days of his ministry and sort of launched him onto the national stage. Now, with Beloved, Francis is looking back on his decades of ministry in this extremely compelling work. It’s a beautiful reflecti

Jul 15

Pastor's Bookshelf - Dominion

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about Dominion By Tom Holland I mentioned this book in a sermon recently - and I finished it soon after, and am now ready to recommend this read. I will give this one a PG-13 label - there’s some pretty horrific stuff done throughout history, and Mr. Holland does not skip the rough stuff, including some very rare coarse language. Other than

Jun 15

Visioneering

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about Visioneering By Andy Stanley Andy Stanley is the well known pastor of a very successful church down in Georgia. Probably best known as the church that created the kid’s curriculum ORANGE - Andy has a talent for making things relatable and easy to understand. To be honest - I picked up this book because for the first time in my ministr

May 1

The Freedom Of Self Forgetfulness

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness By Tim Keller If you’ve been following my reading recommendations for a while, you know I’m a big fan of Tim Keller and his giant brain. If you aren’t familiar - Tim Keller was a brilliant pastor who served a church in New York for a very long time before his recent passing due to cancer. His sermons

Apr 15

Living Life Backwards

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about Living Life Backwards By David Gibson This book was recommended to me recently by another pastor. They sort of off handedly referred to it, and I thought the point they were making was brilliant - so I rushed out to the library (okay, the app on my phone) and downloaded the audio book immediately - I was not disappointed. This book ta

Mar 15

Finding God's Life For My Will

Pastor’s Bookshelf - Welcome to my bookshelf! Each month I will discuss a recent book that I’ve finished. This month I’d like to talk about Finding God’s Life For My Will By Mike Donehey Mike Donehey is probably best known as the lead singer for a Christian music group called Tenth Avenue North. I had heard of them, but didn’t know their music very well (I think my wife had listened to them more than I did), but then years ago we went and saw them on the free night at Uni

Feb 12

A Long Obedience In the Same Direction

Eugene Peterson is probably most famous for his work on the translation of the bible called “The Message.” But, I have discovered in recent years - he was SO much more than that. His knowledge of the original languages is incredible, but his knowledge of the bible - both the words on the page, but also the meaning behind those words - is even more inspiring. He has an intimacy with the way he walks through the pages of scripture that left me with my jaw on the floor more tha

Jan 23