Sunshine Days
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Summer break is already 1/3 over for us, but we are enjoying the slower pace. I've been working in the yard in the cooler mornings & trying to get organized for next school year during the hotter afternoons.
I was hoping to get quite a few books knocked out this month, so here is what I ended up with!
Describing this book in one word--heavy. While I don't agree with every conclusion Whitehead makes, I wholeheartedly reject the ideals of the movement discussed. Christian Nationalism in America is reaching a new fever pitch over the recent years with politicians taking up the call for America to return to some time when we were supposedly better than we are now. They stir fear in their voters, creating more division than ever. And they're taking the name of Christ down with them. Now, Jesus isn't threatened by any sinful schemes that we can draw up. He said that even the very gates of hell wouldn't be able to take down His Church. God will accomplish what He has planned. In the grand scheme of things, America isn't that important. Neither are its politicians & elections & Supreme Court decisions. God is sovereign over it all.
This was an advanced copy through NetGalley, and it was mostly aimed more toward pastors & church leaders. While I'm not any of those things, I found it very helpful to learn some about some of the research & thought processes that might go into changes made in a church. I'm also really interested in getting better at prioritizing discipleship. The author starts by getting his readers familiar with his fundamental philosophies that he's working from. Then, he identifies 4 groups of people & how to reach them-sleepers, seekers, consumers, & disciples. Sleepers & seekers aren't believers, but churches should still find ways to minister to them, especially the seekers. Consumers & Disciples are believers at varying degrees of warmth or apathy in their spiritual life. As I read the chapter about consumers, I was tempted to list out all the people that I feel are just apathetically consuming. However, the Holy Spirit did a lot to point out to me that I can very much fall into that consumer mindset. "What can my church do for me?" "If they make that change that doesn't serve me, I won't participate." I think these & embarrassingly more thoughts throughout my week. This book had some really practical ideas about how to make discipleship ministries running well at any local church.
While I do not have ADHD nor deal with it on a daily basis, I found this book particularly helpful in understanding the mindset of those who are diagnosed with ADHD. The Holderness family has been an internet mainstay for years, and so many have enjoyed their humorous take on life. This book takes you behind the curtain. How all of that creativity comes with a lot of other things-good & bad. They talk about how they have learned to structure their days in such a way to support & challenge Penn in particular. They talk about the spectrum of ADHD & how each person's diagnosis is a little different. While they don't shy away from discussing the frustrations & failures they've experienced in relation to ADHD, the title tells you what they are really trying to help you see--that ADHD can be a kind of superpower when surrounded by supportive people & routines.
After years of seeing her on morning TV, I had no idea that Savannah Guthrie had any personal relationship with God. In this book, she shares a little about her own faith journey with all the youthful missteps & failings. Quoting from a wide variety of spiritual leaders (from Tim Keller to Mother Theresa), Guthrie does see to have a solid understanding of the Gospel. I hope she feels more & more comfortable sharing & highlighting faith in the stories she tells in her day job!
I just finished this book & I'm still processing it. My initial reaction is to throw away the smart phones, delete the social media, & never let my children near a screen ever again! However, Haidt isn't advocating for a tech-free world. Instead, he's advocating for common sense! Why are parents suing video companies because their kids stopped showering due to their addiction to Fortnite? Why are we more concerned about kids not falling off monkey bars or not eating fast food, but we let them have unfiltered, unmonitored internet access? The research about the rising mental health crisis is staggering. We have to turn the tide. We have to protect our kids from this virtual world that is destroying them. Ironically, part of the solution is less protection in the real world. Haidt extols the benefits of letting your children have more independence in their daily life, taking more ownership of various tasks. Even as an atheist, Haidt recognizes the importance of spiritual formation in children & how that actually increases their mental health. This book is a must read for all parents, even those whose kids might be past these stages because you are part of the village that can help make the necessary changes to policy to enact common sense regulations on these technologies that are hurting our kids.
Also, a shameless plug for some friends who have a podcast episode discussing this book from a Christian perspective. Here's a link to the episode on YouTube:
This novel was read based on the recommendation for Sarah MacKenzie of Read Aloud Revival. Based on Sarah's usual impeccable taste in books, I was disappointed in this book. The basic idea is largely unoriginal, borrowing heavily from Narnia. The plot & "conflicts" are just not well-developed. The characters aren't very loveable or believable & their dialogue is stilted. To top it off, we have a privileged, whiny heroine. I almost stopped reading, but I thought that maybe it would come around. It didn't.
You know those people that have the most interesting stories? Bob Goff is one of those people. And he would probably tell you that why he has those stories is because he gets out & loves people. This book is so full of joy. While I don't fully agree with all of Goff's conclusions about faith & God, I enjoy his exuberance & dedication to finding creative (sometimes radical) ways to show love to those around him. As Christians, we're commanded to love our neighbors. I think we could all take ideas from this book & carry them out into our daily lives.
Ginny Yurich is the founder of the 1000 Hours Outside movement. She has a huge following & has inspired thousands of families to make time outside a priority. Her book explains the various beliefs that have motivated her work & is jam-packed with information. I also added quite a few books to my TBR list as a read. I only wish the editor had been a little more heavy-handed. The organization of the book could have used a little effort to make it more easy-to-follow. Some information gets a little redundant by the end of the book, but she applies the facts to a variety of areas of daily life. Overall, the message of the book will hopefully inspire more families to slow down & enjoy God's beautiful creation.
This book is such a helpful resource as we are exposed to such a spectrum of Bible teachers who all claim to be dedicated followers of Christ. We hear messages that sound so close to the truth that we can easily be deceived. Alisa walks through some of those popular mantras that are peddled by "Christian self-help" influencers. She encourages logical thought grounded in God's Word because truth is not based on our experiences or feelings. Saturating our life in The Truth is how we can spot the enemy's lies.
With a refreshingly helpful, practical take on Christian parenting, the Graebes take you through the habits that have formed the culture in their own home. The focus is mainly on our own attitudes toward this monumental task of discipling these precious souls in our care. The last section is a workbook where parents can take what resonates most with them & plan out ways they can bring them to life in their own homes.
June has been a very productive reading month, but July will probably be slower. My month is a little busier & my local library has decided to drop Hoopla which is the main way I have the time to find books for myself. Oh well!
I hope these reviews are helpful in seeing if any of these are ones you'd be interested in. I'm in a bit of a fiction slump, so tell me your favorite novels that you think I'd like!
Cheering you on as always!
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