I can't entirely get my head around these Big Topics, and I tend to get a bit anxious about them, but then Doug always brings things back around to thI can't entirely get my head around these Big Topics, and I tend to get a bit anxious about them, but then Doug always brings things back around to the gospel, and my heart returns to a calmer rhythm. His cheerful expectation of a black swan revival gives me hope. And I'm always reminded that my duty lies in my duty, not in sorting out the Big Topics, or perhaps that my duty IS the Big Topic in my small world, though it only looks like a couple of copper pennies to the big world....more
One of my Goodreads categories is "bathroom books." These are titles that I've plodded through a page or two, a paragraph or two at a time while answeOne of my Goodreads categories is "bathroom books." These are titles that I've plodded through a page or two, a paragraph or two at a time while answering nature's call. Since I could not find Richard Baxter's memoir of his wife in audio*, this edition with Packer's commentary was my best option.
First, it's odd to me that, though Baxter's work makes up the bulk of this volume, Packer alone is listed as the author. That's a fail on Crossway's part. As is its addiction to endnotes—a lazy, reader-inimical practice.
I was interested in the book for the record of how Richard ministered to his wife's frailties. Unfortunately, well-meaning friends dissuaded him from writing about how their marriage came about—that would have been most interesting! Richard shares passages from Margaret's own writing, his letters to her, and other reflections to show her struggles to truly believe and internalize the gospel. He writes, "When we were married, her sadness and melancholy vanished. Counsel did something to it, and contentment something; and being taken up with our household affairs did somewhat." First, this is a great comeback to people who say dumb things like, "Marriage won't solve all of your problems." Well, duh. But it just might solve some of them, so knock it off with the attitude that it won't solve any. Second, the solutions it can bring, according to Richard, are access to wise and loving counsel, the contentment that comes from having desires met, and the healthy distraction of having to focus on one's calling as a wife. Richard sees his responsibility to live with his wife with understanding. Part of that is seeing rightly the nature of her trials: "It is not God's or our enemies' afflicting us in worldly losses or sufferings... which is half so painful as our own inward infirmities. A man's spirit can bear his infirmities of outward crosses, but a wounded spirit who can bear?" She needed correction, but even more, she needed compassion. Compassion, indeed, is often the best means of correction. Richard provided that, though, he admits, not perfectly: "I was apt...to be impatient with her impatiency and with every trouble of her mind, not enough considering how great tenderness...she needed." The best way to persuade someone of the truth of God's love is to love them truly. All of the sermons and scoldings about their unbelief will do nothing without that.
My only criticisms of Richard would be resolved if I could time travel and take him a copy of The Things of Earth and a good book on marriage. His too-harsh disdain of material things and his ridiculous take on clergy marriage needed correction.
Packer's commentary at the end of the book compared it with A Grief Observed. It was very interesting to see the similarities and differences between Baxter's and Lewis's experiences of grief.
*If you are inclined to make an audiobook of a public domain work, for pity's sake do not make the eighty-seventh version of a popular title; rather, make the first version of one that's never been recorded. Fill a need that hasn't been filled yet!...more
Look, I'm a girl, OK? Because I read this and thought Daniel Boone was an idiot who could have avoided half the troubles he ran into. Yeah, that's proLook, I'm a girl, OK? Because I read this and thought Daniel Boone was an idiot who could have avoided half the troubles he ran into. Yeah, that's probably what made him the legend he became, but maybe one can achieve great things a little more wisely? ...more
Such a delight to finally get to read this one. Although I don't have direct ties to Logos—not a former student or parent—the school has been an immenSuch a delight to finally get to read this one. Although I don't have direct ties to Logos—not a former student or parent—the school has been an immense blessing to my community and to many friends. So I felt all the feels all the way through as I got to know many friends and acquaintances better through hearing more of their stories associated with Logos. How could I not love sentences such as "Coach Puckett was a joy to get to know" when I have experienced the joy of getting to know the former-Coach former-Puckett? And of course there were many other observations in that vein.
I am a big fan of authors narrating their own books, and this was no exception. I have only one quibble. In English, "et cetera" is pronounced "et setera." If you wanna get all Latin-fancy, I'll accept "et ketera." And I won't fuss too much at "ek setera." But "essetera"??? No. Absolutely not. Public-flogging-worthy. Stop it, Tom! Stop it!...more
I of course know the "Chariots of Fire" slice of Eric's life, but this was a nice little intro to the rest of his story. If you want to name your son I of course know the "Chariots of Fire" slice of Eric's life, but this was a nice little intro to the rest of his story. If you want to name your son after a man of whom the world was not worthy, you could do worse than Eric. His was a life well spent — a stellar example of living sacrifice.
I might have been sitting in Tapped blubbering over the end of the book this evening. Or it might have been some other silly middle-aged spinster. We may never know! ...more
I think this is the first time I've had to create a Goodreads record of the edition I read of a New York Times bestseller.
Great stuff here. Megan kepI think this is the first time I've had to create a Goodreads record of the edition I read of a New York Times bestseller.
Great stuff here. Megan kept her receipts. Lots of them. She didn't just go to CVS a couple of times and make it look like she had lots. She found shepherds for sale at Dollar Trees, Walmarts, Nordstromses...you name it. I think the most gut-wrenching bit for me was the R. Den-h story. How could anyone who has been an innocent victim think the right course of action is one that victimizes innocents? Truly, hurt people hurt people. And sometimes viciously...not to mention lucratively.
I also especially appreciated Megan's testimony at the end. God is good and He is mighty. We needn't panic over the troubles in the world, even when they have insidiously worked their way into the church. He can raise the dead with a word or knock down the gates of Hell with a single breath...and He loves to do so.
Book could have used another round of copyediting to clean up some...oddities.
This is one of those books that I couldn't possibly get entirely into my head, so I wouldn't want to be tested on it. But I'm glad I read it because iThis is one of those books that I couldn't possibly get entirely into my head, so I wouldn't want to be tested on it. But I'm glad I read it because it fortified my understanding and appreciation of what the Bible is and how we got it and why it is such a great gift from God. I appreciated that Keith was equally tough on the Cathodox errors and the solo Scriptura error of modern Evangelicals. I also appreciated how thorough it was, but another round of editing could have tightened it up a bit without losing any substance. And another round of copyediting could have cleaned up a few grammar bloopers I heard along the way. But mostly I'm just grateful for anybody who equips me to love and understand Scripture better.
Joffre's narration was spot-on — he reads with a comprehension that greatly facilitates the listener's own comprehension....more
I recognized our church community in some of what he said about us, but not in all. I hardly ever hear the word "reconstructionist" around here, yet GI recognized our church community in some of what he said about us, but not in all. I hardly ever hear the word "reconstructionist" around here, yet Gribben insists on labeling us as such. Someone from afar might think I had dandruff with all the head-scratching I did over this. One story I heard is that when Gribben first sat down with some of the Moscow leaders, he mentioned another organization he discusses in the book and was met with blank stares. Our guys had never heard of 'em (though they were obviously familiar with us). Gribben's thesis seems to require some sort of intentionality about these and other groups all being in the PNW together, but Christ Church and our related ministries are here for completely different reasons. He even mentions a bit about why Jim Wilson (whom nobody could possibly imagine was a recon guy) chose Moscow, which pretty much makes our continued presence here accidental and, in relation to the other groups, coincidental. I have no complaints about how Gribben portrayed us — this was no hit piece, and goodness knows we've seen enough of those to know what one looks like — I just question whether his thesis holds up.
The book is already a little dated. So much has happened in the past few years. We've had a population explosion, for one thing, which Gribben might take as confirmation of his thesis, but it's not like we were actively recruiting. God just keeps sending us more people. But other Christian communities (I'm thinking particularly of Ogden and Batavia) have also boomed in the past few years. They're younger than Moscow, but we feel much more kindred-spiritedness with them than with, e.g., the Redoubt survivalists. I think Gribben tries to make causation out of correlation, and I don't think he pulls it off.
A lot of the background history he gave was interesting, though.
The narrator was OK as narrators go, but I sure wish someone had told him how to pronounce Moscow. Seven hours of hearing it wrong was a trial to my soul. ...more
I started this on my eastbound cross-country trip, and it made me laugh at the various confusing controls in every public rest stop in America. I bet I started this on my eastbound cross-country trip, and it made me laugh at the various confusing controls in every public rest stop in America. I bet some of them must've won an award. I finished it nearly a week ago, but forgot if in my last batch of reviews. Can't blame that on bad design...just bad memory!
(My phone's being weird and won't let me set the date. I think I finished it on Sunday, May 19, 2024.)
Now THIS is the right way you write a bio for kids. Much better than the Phyllis Wheatley book from the other day. I knew next to nothing about David Now THIS is the right way you write a bio for kids. Much better than the Phyllis Wheatley book from the other day. I knew next to nothing about David Crockett (who was never called Davy till after his death), and now I know a nice-sized portion of the basics. Great little intro to a man worth knowing about.
Keep forgetting that I read this while I was sick a few weeks ago. This content seems pretty ho-hum to us today, but imagine being the first to say thKeep forgetting that I read this while I was sick a few weeks ago. This content seems pretty ho-hum to us today, but imagine being the first to say these things. Carey was a great man....more
You can't possibly swallow the entire Pacific Ocean, but you can get pretty wet in it. This book was a good wade into basic Christian doctrine.You can't possibly swallow the entire Pacific Ocean, but you can get pretty wet in it. This book was a good wade into basic Christian doctrine....more
I find people delightful who find things delightful. Carrie finds Anne delightful. Just a couple of quibbles: 1) I think she's too quick to identify AI find people delightful who find things delightful. Carrie finds Anne delightful. Just a couple of quibbles: 1) I think she's too quick to identify Anne's virtues as explicitly Christian virtues. I don't trust Montgomery's doctrinal soundness, and therefore I find Anne a little suss on such matters. 2) I think she's too quick to identify empathy as a virtue. Sorry...I read Rigney's book first, so now I find unqualified empathy a little suss, too!...more
So good to be able to listen to the audiobook, especially with Lisa reading it! This was one of my favorite books from last year and one of my favoritSo good to be able to listen to the audiobook, especially with Lisa reading it! This was one of my favorite books from last year and one of my favorites I've ever worked on. It came to me with a different title, and I lobbied successfully that it be changed to this one—one of the proudest accomplishments of my career. If you need a reminder of the goodness and power and wisdom and glory of God, especially during suffering, don't deprive yourself of this book a minute longer....more
I'm not the audience for this book, but of course there's always something to glean from Rigney. Here's a very, very tangential thought I thunk while I'm not the audience for this book, but of course there's always something to glean from Rigney. Here's a very, very tangential thought I thunk while reading it: Gravity is key to leadership. A woman is designed to be a moon that is drawn to and held by a man's gravity. She in turn exerts an influence over him as she pulls the tides to and fro. A woman without a man is just a giant space rock that probably crashes into a planet and kills all the dinosaurs. So, apologies to all the stegosauruses and triceratopses...it was probably me. ...more
I read Christian memoirs to remind myself of how good God is. This one did not disappoint. And He seems extraspecially good when He's poured out His gI read Christian memoirs to remind myself of how good God is. This one did not disappoint. And He seems extraspecially good when He's poured out His grace and kindness on people I know and love!
Paperback and Kindle editions should be live on Amazon in a day or two!...more
I tried to start another Holland book while I waited for this one to become available, but I couldn't get into it because I knew this was the one I waI tried to start another Holland book while I waited for this one to become available, but I couldn't get into it because I knew this was the one I wanted to read. I mostly enjoyed it (an unbeliever, he whiffs it on his takes of some things), and it deepened my gratitude for the change Christ has made and continues to make in this world. The afterword, in which the author talks about how his godmother took seriously her calling to invest in his spiritual formation was perhaps my favorite part as it zoomed in from the book's huge, sweeping view of history to a small, personal bit. She dies hopeful of her future; he shrugs off that hope. But wait....there's more: in recent months, Holland appears to have been undergoing a real transformation from his banal atheism to some form Christian faith. Auntie Deb's investment is finally reaping a return. I don't know what we get to know about life here after we've gone on, but I hope she gets to know this. And I hope Tom's journey ends up in a sincere and orthodox place.
The introduction and afterword were read by the author, and while the main narrator was fine, I wish Holland had read the whole thing....more
Loading...
