Below is a small selection of some of my favorite books that I read throughout the year. I’ll include a link to each book (there are nine of them), a short explanation for why I enjoyed the book so much, as well as a select quote or two.
(Disclaimer: My inclusion of any author on a list like this shouldn’t be taken as my tacit endorsement of everything this person may have ever said or written in their life. Got it? Good…)
For the last two years, much of my focus in prayer and thought has been soaked in the Beatitudes. Part of this is for a practical purpose. I am currently writing a book to be published in the Fall of 2021 by Fortress Press (working title: Jesus People: Communities Formed by the Beatitudes).
But more importantly, I have become convinced that the Beatitudes are, indeed, the lens through which we are called to live. They encapsulate Jesus’ entire life, ministry, teaching, death and resurrection. Each of us would do well to commit them to memory and prayerfully reflect upon them every day.
Because in the tumultuous storm that is currently raging throughout American society, the Beatitudes give us an anchor that enables us to offer a grounded, Christlike response.
I haven’t blogged since January. Of course, as we all know, much has happened in the world since then. But so much has already been written from virtually every conceivable perspective regarding COVID-19. I’ve certainly had plenty of my own thoughts, but I’ve had opportunities to share those thoughts on Sunday mornings.
Between helping my church navigate through this challenging season, and also devoting significant time towards my next book project, I just haven’t had much time to give to blogging.
I’m making an exception today. But rather than compose my own piece, I wanted to share a post I read a few days ago on a New Orleans Saints message board (of all places). These thoughts were written and posted in the context of a discussion of the Ahmaud Arbery murder three months ago. And now, just within the last couple days, two more race-related incidents have occurred, one of which resulted in the death of another unarmed black man.
This post was written by a fellow Saints fan who goes by the handle “First Time Poster.” His comments were a response to another person who took exception to a third party making an unfair generalization in reference to Arbery’s murderers (“Whites gonna white.”). I felt his response was powerful and worthy of sharing with my readers. With his permission, I’ve re-posted his comments below for your own reflection:
Ryan Post 