It was a good year of reading. Some great books, some duds, but 35 books and10,200 pages (though some of the fiction was audiobooks). Here are some of my favorites from the year in categories: Fiction Theo of Golden by Alan Levi. It was the first book of year, and in many ways, the best. … Continue reading Best Reads 2025
christianity
Cutting Room Thorn: Thorns that Choke
Last week I had the chance to unpack the Parable of the Sower and Jesus' related conversation (Mark 4:1-20) about the purpose of parables. I did not spend much time discussing the nature of each soil, though I did not entirely skip it. Some hearers of the gospel are like hard ground (the path) that … Continue reading Cutting Room Thorn: Thorns that Choke
Cutting Room Floor: Love of Money and God’s Presence
This week, I preached from Joshua 1 where Joshua received his commission from the Lord to lead Israel into the Promised Land. Along with this commission comes the charge, "be strong and courageous", a charge repeated three times. This charge to be courageous is grounded, primarily, in the fact that Joshua was not being sent … Continue reading Cutting Room Floor: Love of Money and God’s Presence
Book Review: “Who’s Afraid of Christian Nationalism,” by Mark David Hall
A friend asked me to read this recent book (2024) by Mark D. Hall, a professor in the School of Government at Regent University. The book is helpful in some areas, a bit too shallow in others, and outright deficient in one. Let me begin by summarizing Hall's central thesis: Christian Nationalism is an unchristian, … Continue reading Book Review: “Who’s Afraid of Christian Nationalism,” by Mark David Hall
Cutting Room Floor: hating the -ism, loving the person
I ran across this quote last week and was tempted to include it in my sermon on Psalm 133, but it's long. So here ya go...a great quote from Charles Spurgeon. Where the Spirit of God is there must be love, and if I have once known and recognized any man to be my brother … Continue reading Cutting Room Floor: hating the -ism, loving the person
God Entranced 