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
Having enjoyed the BBC series, I was expecting the same sort of thing here, but the book is not really a novel with a plot; it's sketches of country lHaving enjoyed the BBC series, I was expecting the same sort of thing here, but the book is not really a novel with a plot; it's sketches of country life from the author's childhood in the 1880s. I tagged it both as fiction and as biography/memoir. I started it while crocheting on vacation, but as I really needed something with story grip to keep me going on that task, I abandoned it. But I didn't hate it outright, so I picked it up and finished it later. And while I found it pretty dull going in general, it was anthropologically interesting, and it spiked my emotions at two points. First, the description of the clergy made me angry. The Church of England's grandest tradition appears to be the propagation of false shepherds. Second, the very last line moved me to tears. I shan't repeat it here for the sake of avoiding spoilage.
Karen Cass gave her usual apt performance as narrator....more
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.
Kids' biographies can be a good way to get a quick overview of subjects' lives. Unfortunately, they can also be patronizing and silly. I found this onKids' biographies can be a good way to get a quick overview of subjects' lives. Unfortunately, they can also be patronizing and silly. I found this one erring too much in that direction.
Reader was fine. She even pronounced Cowper correctly. ...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 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 may have to make this brief collection an annual read. I wish they'd included a literal translation of the Lorica along with the 'Tis the season! ☘️
I may have to make this brief collection an annual read. I wish they'd included a literal translation of the Lorica along with the rhymed one. The Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus was particularly moving.
Reader was OK, but why do people not know that prophesy and prophecy are two different and differently pronounced words?...more
Great stories of faithful people and their faithful God. Just needed a copyeditor. There were several cringey grammatical bloopers, such as "Unable toGreat stories of faithful people and their faithful God. Just needed a copyeditor. There were several cringey grammatical bloopers, such as "Unable to walk after the ordeal, guards carried him back to prison."
I was expecting to be mildly interested in this and find it a bit of a bore. I wasn’t expecting stay-up-past-my-bedtime story grip, and I especially wI was expecting to be mildly interested in this and find it a bit of a bore. I wasn’t expecting stay-up-past-my-bedtime story grip, and I especially wasn’t expecting to bawl my eyes out. But...Guthram's baptism! I never suspected that the phrase “ferocious grace” could make sense, but indeed it does. The English really don’t make kings like they used to. That’s what comes of castrating and bidding the geldings be fruitful. (I watched the BBC “Bertie and Elizabeth” last week and found it the most depressing thing in the world that about five minutes after the Brits defeated the Nazis, they surrendered without a whimper to the home-grown socialists.) But Alfred was the real deal—a monarch with military might, a merciful mien, and marvelous mental capacity. Can’t remember who my last historical crush was, or if I’ve ever had one, but I hope I get to be all blushy and tongue-tied when I meet him in the resurrection. Three cheers a piece to my friends who have named their sons Alfred. Go thou and do likewise!
Joffre did a fine job, as usual, on the narration. I’m not sure he nailed all those impossible British place names, but that’s because nobody’s sure. (Except Lisa J. Maybe she’ll listen and let us know.)...more
Why are there so few books that are comfortable without sentimentalist sewage? “There’s such a thing as Hell, but God goes there with you” is a*sigh*
Why are there so few books that are comfortable without sentimentalist sewage? “There’s such a thing as Hell, but God goes there with you” is an appalling take on Psalm 139:8. The “Hell” in that verse is not the place of damnation, but Sheol, the grave — the place where all the dead, not just the damned, go.
Here’s a better take on whether suicide is a one-way ticket to Hell: the Bible is clear that there is an unforgivable sin, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Suicide is a grave sin, but it isn’t that. Heaven is appropriated by faith in Christ’s righteousness, not by our own righteousness, which means He is able to save us even if we whiff it big time as our very last act on earth. I’m sorry no one has ever told Sean Dietrich this.
Other than that nonsense, I enjoyed a lot about the book. Dietrich is a funny guy. I'll read more by him, but not with any expectation of encountering profound theological insights.
My recent rewatch of 84 Charing Cross Road reminded me that Pepys's diary was on my bucket list, but, unlike Helene Hanff, I was quite content with thMy recent rewatch of 84 Charing Cross Road reminded me that Pepys's diary was on my bucket list, but, unlike Helene Hanff, I was quite content with this four-hour abridgement. I did Boswell's Johnson unabridged, but a hundred and ten hours of Pepys sounds about as appealing as a case of intestinal parasites. His first-hand accounts of historical events—the restoration of Charles II, the Plague, and especially the Great Fire—are certainly worthwhile, but the man himself had the morals of an alley cat. There wasn't a woman of any class or station he wasn't content to mess around with, and the episodes included in this edition were more than enough for me. I assume modern print editions include translations of the foreign-language passages, so I was disappointed that they didn't bother to provide that in the audio...until I realized that those were the bits with all the salacious details of his sexual dalliances, so I recalibrated to gratitude for the linguistic obfuscation. I was also grateful for having burned all of my journals eleven years ago, because nobody needs to imbibe that quantity of anybody else's self-involvement.
"Light bulb moment: You should get Ishita Davidson to do the Pandita Ramabai audiobook. "Light bulb moment: You should get Ishita Davidson to do the Pandita Ramabai audiobook. ...more
God made and gifted Jim Elliot for the short, intense life and bold death He led him to, and I honor that. He didn't make me anything like him, so I dGod made and gifted Jim Elliot for the short, intense life and bold death He led him to, and I honor that. He didn't make me anything like him, so I didn't find him compelling in that way. He'd have thought much less of me, and probably rightly so, for I have greater faults of character, not just differences of personality. The parts of the story that are compelling to me are told better in other places (the format of this volume, a string of quotes from Jim's letters and journal entries, is a bit choppy).
I was glad to have Elisabeth reading it. For me, she is the greatest gift to come out of Jim's story....more
I'd almost forgotten I'd listened to this a couple of years ago (a different edition), and on this reread, it was the badness of L'Engle's foreword thI'd almost forgotten I'd listened to this a couple of years ago (a different edition), and on this reread, it was the badness of L'Engle's foreword that I remembered most. Alas, that recollection came too late for me to realize I should just skip it.
Many of Lewis's feelings expressed here ring true with my own experiences of grief. Mine has been a different flavor (Douglas Gresham's reminder not to forget the article in the title is valuable — the book is about a grief...not every grief). I've never lost any close loved one to death. I've never had any close loved ones to lose that way. (My only comment on "It's better to have loved and lost..." is that such comparisons are impossible and the attempt is stupid and unkind.) I've lost some through rejection (the last few years brought two very painful experiences of that variety of grief) and through drifting apart, but never a severance of a current mutual closeness. So my greatest griefs have always been those of lack, not of loss. Perhaps the hardest was an experience some years ago that made me realize that my idea of having a substitute family in the church would not and could not happen. It took me months to even figure out that that was why the event, which would hardly have been a blip to anyone else, was so shatteringly painful to me. So I could not have found (and did not seek) understanding or comfort in the midst of it. Why would I expect human consolation in the midst of so inexplicable and unarticulable a grief when I hadn't received any even after the deaths of my father and my brother—much more obvious and understandable sufferings? They were less acute because of the lack of closeness, but that lack was the grief. And is. And shall continue to be, perhaps till my death. That, in particular, is where Lewis's observation of the similarities between grief and fear are clearest. Or perhaps where the line between them is most blurred: when a wave of the unbearableness of it hits me, and I know I will likely have to bear the unbearableness for decades longer. But I have learned to bear it a little better...at least well enough to keep it mostly to myself and keep a mostly cheerful face turned toward the world.
And that brings me to the second place where Lewis's experience intersects most clearly with mine—the realization that all this putting self first really won't do. "Sweet, sad, stinking self" (to borrow a phrase from Elisabeth Elliot, who borrowed it in turn from an old professor) is not a fit object for my most intense attentions. As Lewis puts it, "And now that I come to think of it, there's no practical problem before me at all. I know the two great commandments, and I'd better get on with them." Amen....more
Grateful for God's delivery of Bob Fu from the CCP and, more importantly, from his sin. And grateful for how God has used him to continue to work for Grateful for God's delivery of Bob Fu from the CCP and, more importantly, from his sin. And grateful for how God has used him to continue to work for justice for those who are still oppressed in China.
When the audio of Lisa's first book dropped on Monday, it felt like an extra birthday present for me! It was a pleasure to revisit these vignettes of When the audio of Lisa's first book dropped on Monday, it felt like an extra birthday present for me! It was a pleasure to revisit these vignettes of the Leidenfrosts' years of living in Ivory Coast. Some are poignant, but most are just plain fun...especially the ones about kids and critters.
There was a painful element, but it was my own fault. When I first read the book in print several years ago, I did so with pen in hand, marking numerous grammatical and other errors. Alas, I never got those applied to the file, and then I stupidly sent the book off to my mom to read. So I got to hear all of those errors being read. Ouch. ...more
I've read and enjoyed Lisa's other two books, and this is the best yet. Of course knowing and loving the author makes it especially dear to me, but I I've read and enjoyed Lisa's other two books, and this is the best yet. Of course knowing and loving the author makes it especially dear to me, but I think this book would be a blessing to any Christian who is in the midst of suffering or has been battered by the waves of heavy trials. "When through the deep waters I call thee to go, / The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; / For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless, / And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress." When the Word of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea, all of the waves and billows we have endured will be a part of that flood. Suffering is never for nothing, even when the whys of it are unclear...even for a long time.
This is my favorite book I've read this year, and I'm sure it will become a favorite of many others.
I believe plans are underway for an audio version, and I'm very much looking forward to that!...more
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