On the Nightstand

It seems I'm always reading several books at once. I read some for my work--so, for instance right now I'm reading "The American Colonial Mind and the Classical Tradition" by Richard Gummere and "Sailing the Wine Dark Sea" by Thomas Cahill. At the same time, I am working through Derek Kidner's "Genesis" and Victor Hamilton's "The Book of Genesis."
I am almost finished with Walter Isaacson's "Steve Jobs," which I got for Christmas. But, I couldn't help getting started on Rick Marschall's "Bully: The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt," also a Christmas gift.

My friend Mike Milton's new book, "Songs in the Night," came in the mail just a few days before Christmas--I started it the minute I opened the package. Likewise, I began reading the new N.T. Wright translation, "The Kingdom New Testament," right after I brought it home.
I try to read everything Douglas Wilson writes--which is a feat in and of itself. I always learn so much about writing--besides whatever it is that he happens to be writing about. But with his "Wordsmithy," a book of advice to writers, I am getting a double-dose.

After slogging through Umberto Eco's very dark "The Prague Cemetery," I thought I probably needed something really edifying to read next. So, I am re-reading Ian MacLaren's "St. Jude's."

And, for my devotions, I am slowly savoring the third volume of "Daily Scripture Readings" by Thomas Chalmers. So rich.

Next up: I gave copies of Niall Ferguson's book, "Civilization: The West and the Rest," to three different people for Christmas, but I didn't keep a copy for myself. So this week, by hook or by crook, I'm going to get over to Parnassus for that--and while I'm in that part of town, I'll also step into Logos to re-supply and re-provision.

Christmas Favs

1. "On Christmas" by G.K. Chesterton

2. "Christmas Stories" by Charles Dickens

3. "On the Incarnation" by Athanasius

4. "Nativity Hymns" by Isaac Watts

5. "The Birth of the Savior" by C.H. Spurgeon

6. "No Holly for Miss Quinn" by Miss Read

7. "Corrie's Christmas Memories" by Corrie Ten Boom

8. "The Fourth Wise Man" by Henry van Dyke

9. "Shepherds Abiding" by Jan Karon

10. "A New England Christmas" Henry Wadswoth Longfellow

11. "The Invention of Lefse" by Larry Woiwode

Christmas Wish List

1. “Civilization” by Niall Ferguson

2. “The Kingdom New Testament” by N.T. Wright

3. "Bully" by Rick Marschall

4. “Death of Kings” by Bernard Cornwell 

5. "Steve Jobs" by Walter Isaacson

6. “Holidays in Heck” by P.J. O’Rourke

7. "Thomas Manton" by Derek Cooper

8. “Songs in the Night" by Mike Milton

9. “King Rat” by China Mieville

10. "Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem" by Carol Delaney

11. “Justification” by N.T. Wright

Favorite Quotes on Prayer

1. "Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." Oswald Chambers.

2. “What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer" E.M. Bounds

3. "Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers." J. Sidlow Baxter

4. "Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still." E.M. Bounds

5. "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees." William Cowper

6. “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying.  He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick

 7. “I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.”  Charles Spurgeon

8. “To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them." John Calvin

9. "If you want that splendid power in prayer, you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ." C. H. Spurgeon

10. "The word of God is the food by which prayer is nourished and made strong." E. M. Bounds

11. "Prayer should be the breath of our breathing, the thought of our thinking, the soul of our feeling, the life of our living, the sound of our hearing, and the growth of our growing.  Prayer is length without end, width without bounds, height without top, and depth without bottom; illimitable in its breadth, exhaustless in height, fathomless in depths, and infinite in extension.  Oh, for determined men and women who will rise early and really burn for God.  Oh for a faith that will sweep into heaven with the early dawning of morning and have ships from a shoreless sea loaded in the soul's harbor ere the ordinary laborer has knocked the dew from the scythe or the lackluster has turned from his pallet of straw to spread nature's treasures of fruit before the early buyers.  Oh, for such.” Homer W. Hodge

Favorite Martin Luther Quotes

1. “Hier stehe ich; Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me. Amen!”

2. “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every part of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, then I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all battlefields besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point”

3. “I am more afraid of my own heart than of the Pope and all his cardinals. I have within me the great Pope: Self. I more fear what is within me than anything that might come from without.”

4. “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”

5. “For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel.”

6. “I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.”

7. “Music is the art of the prophets and the gift of God.”

8. “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.”

9. “You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.”

10. “There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.”

11. “Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God.”

Paul Johnson Books Since 2003

1. The Vanished Landscape

2. Washington

3. Creators

4. Heroes

5. Churchill

6. Humorists

7. Jesus

8. New Journeys into Chaos

9. Civil War in America

10. Brief Lives

11. Socrates

What to Remember When Reading the Bible

1. Remember the one, central story: the whole Bible is about just one thing. The pattern of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration runs throughout the Old and New Testaments.

2. Remember that the Bible is its own best commentary. The Word interprets itself; Scripture explains Scripture.

3. Remember to read individual passages in their context—textual, literary, symbolic, historical, cultural, grammatical, and theological.

4. Remember that all Biblical revelation is intended to reveal. Always look for the most obvious literary sense of a text.

5. Remember that all Scripture is inspired and superintended by the Holy Spirit. So, every little detail matters.

6. Remember that Scripture has only one meaning but multiple applications—so, it is important to distinguish between indicatives and imperatives.

7. Remember that we read translations of the Bible. All languages have strengths, weaknesses, and peculiarities—and moving from Greek and Hebrew to one of our modern languages (such as 21st century American English) will always require some additional scrutiny and study.

8. Remember that we must always interpret experience in light of Scripture and history in light of revelation; not the other way around.

9. Remember that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New.

10. Remember that “there is nothing new under the sun.” So, beware of innovative or novel interpretations of Scripture. Steer clear of new “discoveries” in Biblical revelation. We have a rich legacy of wisdom passed down to us from throughout church history so we should consult good commentaries whenever possible--and look to the “old paths” more often than not.

11. Remember that we should always read Scripture prayerfully, submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

My Picks for Most Significant Archeological Discoveries

1. The Rosetta Stone

2. The Dead Sea Scrolls

3. Assurbanipal’s Library at Nineveh

4. Robinson’s Arch in Jerusalem

5. Kibbutz Ginnosar Boat

6. The Ebla Library

7. The City of Troy

8. Caesarea Maritima

9. Sodom and Gomorrah

10. The City of Pompeii

11. King Tut’s Tomb

My Favorite Street Foods

1. Bratwurst in Leipzig
2. Frites in Antwerp
3. Coffee in Bogota
4. Falafel in Jerusalem
5. Pain au Raisin in Paris
6. Lamb Kebab in Amman
7. Satay in Jakarta
8. Wienwurst in Vienna
9. Nathan's Coney in Brooklyn
10. Stroopwafel in Amsterdam
11. Haggis in Edinburgh

Essential John Stott Books

1. Your Mind Matters
2. Basic Christianity
3. Christian Counterculturalism
4. The Cross of Christ
5. The Living Church
6. The Message of Romans
7. Standing Firm in Truth
8. I Believe in Preaching
9. Culture and the Bible
10. Christian Mission in the Modern World
11. The Preacher's Portrait

Summer Reading, So Far

1. “The Greater Journey,” David McCollough
2. “The Righteous Shall Live by Faith: Romans,” R.C. Sproul
3. “Magic,” G.K. Chesterton
4. “The Mighty Weakness of John Knox,” Douglas Bond
5. “Portrait of a Spy,” Daniel Silva
5. “Poke the Box,” Seth Godin
7. “Reformed Dogmatics in One-Volume,” Herman Bavinck
8. “The Lives of Robert and James Haldane,” Alexander Haldane
9. “Enchantment,” Guy Kawasaki
10. “The Fort,” Bernard Cornwell
11. “An Ocean Full of Angels,” Peter Kreeft

Romans 12:21

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Why I Go to ACCS Every Year

1. Encouragement, encouragement, encouragement.
2. Book buying extravaganza.
3. Catching up with dear friends from all over the world.
4. Book buying extravaganza.
5. Practical help for teaching better, smarter, and more enjoyably.
6. Book buying extravaganza.
7. Refocusing our discipling vision.
8. Book buying extravaganza.
9. Borrowing great ideas from the best of the best.
10. Hearing Douglas Wilson wax eloquent.
11. Oh yes, and book buying extravaganza.

Where We'll Go in England

1. Brighton’s Medieval Lanes
2. Nash’s Royal Pavilions
3. All Hallow’s Barking at the Tower
4. Vespers at Bunhill Fields
5. Churchill's Chartwell
6. The Hever Castle Gardens
7. Southwark Cathedral
8. Poet’s Corner at Westminster
9. Ely Cathedral
10. Evensong at King's College
11. St. James Piccadilly

Where We'll Shop in England

1. Hatchard’s Bookstore
2. Stanford’s Maps
3. Waterstone’s Books
4. George Trumper’s
5. G. David Bookshop
6. Fortnum and Mason
7. Covent Garden
8. Regent’s Street
9. Cecil Court
10. High Street Lewes Books
11. W.H. Smith’s Stationers

Where We'll Eat in England

1. Pret a Manger
2. Nero’s Coffee
3. Barbacoa
4. Wagamama’s
5. Jamie’s Italian Kitchen
6. The Cambridge Eagle
7. The Borough Market
8. West Cornwall Pasty
9. Nandos Peri-Peri
10. Maoz Falafel
11. Fifteen London

After 20 Years, Why I'm Still Teaching

1. I get to love what I love in front of my students.
2. I inevitably learn more--even more than those I’m teaching.
3. I have a great excuse to buy more books.
4. And then, I have a great excuse to read more books.
5. I am forced to make real-life connections rather than simply pontificate in the theoretical.
6. I am provoked to think about the future and scrutinize the present through the lens of the past.
7. I am able to reacquaint myself with the best of our great legacy of art, music, and ideas.
8. I get the satisfaction of seeing the “lights come on.”
9. I am constantly prodded to hone my communications skills.
10. I get to bear testimony to the grace and mercy of God, in space, in time, and in me.
11. I am privileged to catch early glimpses of the future leaders of our culture in action.

Samuel Johnson's Dictum

"To be happy at home is the end of all labor."

Favorite Paul Johnson Books

1. Modern Times
2. The Birth of the Modern
3. To Hell with Picasso
4. Intellectuals
5. Art: A New History
6. Civil War America
7. Churchill
8. Jesus
9. Humorists
10. Heroes
11. Creators

Reagan at 100: Favorite Books

1. Abortion and the Conscience of the Nation, by Ronald Reagan: While nearly everyone else seems to be focusing on books about Ronald Reagan on the 100th anniversary of his birth, I am much more interested in books by Ronald Reagan. And though there are many, this slim volume tops the list. With afterwards by C. Everett Koop and Malcolm Muggeridge, this book epitomizes the courage, principle, and substance of the “Great Communicator.”
2. Reagan, In His Own Hand: The Writings of Ronald Reagan That Reveal His Revolutionary Vision for America, by Ronald Reagan and edited by Kiron Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson: Comprised largely of short radio commentaries delivered during the pre-presidential period (1975-1980), this collection is quintessential Reagan.
3. Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches, by Ronald Reagan: This collection is largely from the presidential years (1981-1989).
4. Reagan: A Life In Letters, by Ronald Reagan and edited by Kiron Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson: Here all the warmth, humor, and greatness of Reagan is altogether evident.
5. Stories in His Own Hand: The Everyday Wisdom of Ronald Reagan, by Ronald Reagan and edited by Kiron K. Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson: From laugh-out-loud-funny to can’t-help-but-weep, Reagan could tell a story better than nearly anyone but Will Rogers.
6. The Reagan Diaries Unabridged: Volume 1: January 1981-October 1985 Volume 2: November 1985-January 1989, by Ronald Reagan: Here are the essential historical archives.
7. A Shining City, by Ronald Reagan: This collection of 50 post-presidencial speeches, from his farewell address to his final public communication announcing his Alzheimer's disease provide a poignant postlude to an amazing career—I still remember the electric atmosphere he created at the 1992 GOP convention in the Astrodome.
8. Reagan’s Path to Victory, by Ronald Reagan and edited by Kiron Skinner, Annelise Anderson, and Martin Anderson: This collection of pre-presidential speeches reveals Reagan as a prolific and thoughtful writer, who wrestled with the whole range of modern cultural and political issues with principled good sense.
9. The Wit & Wisdom of Ronald Reagan, by Ronald Reagan and edited by James C. Humes: Even political enemies have to smile.
10. An American Life, by Ronald Reagan: This is how he wanted to be remembered.
11. I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan, by Ronald Reagan: What an amazing love story.