The Pepperdine Lectures is an event that I’ve enjoyed for many years. As a result, there will not be another post until Monday.
I am very grateful for all of you who read this blog regularly. Some have been regular readers for several years. More than anything, I hope this is a place that is helpful and encouraging.
I am giving away a copy of Tim Keller’s new book, Every Good Endeavor to the 50th person (beginning today) who subscribes to receive my blogposts by e-mail (free).To subscribe, just enter your e-mail address in the box to the right and click “subscribe.” You will then be given a brief note on how to activate the account.
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Check out these top suggestionsSome of the best book suggestions that I come across are often in the end of the year lists. Jonathan Storment (Abilene, Texas) has published his Top Reads from 2012. Good list.
You might be interested in this list of Top 10 Work Life Balance Books that Every Professional Should Read.
Also, don’t miss Frank Bellizzi’s My 12 Best Books of 2012.
Don’t miss this very moving story about NFL All Pro Scott Wells who plays center for the St. Louis Rams. Scott is the son of Wayne and Cindy Wells, who I have known for many years. Wayne is a Church of Christ minister in Gainesboro, Tennessee. The video is the moving story of Scott and his wife’s decision to adopt children from Uganda.
John Mark Hicks, a theologian who teaches at Lipscomb University, has listed his top five blog posts of 2012. John Mark’s writing is always very thoughtful and grounded in the Christian story.
Joe Lalonde wrote a nice piece on negativity. I like to read these kinds of reflections at the first of each year.
Recently Michael Hyatt recommended a book entitled 20,000 Days and Counting by Robert D. Smith. I read it this weekend and now will skim through it again. I find benefit in reading these kinds of books at the first of the year. Helps me examine my thinking, life, work habits, etc.
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Congratulations to Dave Moore who has won in the Friday drawing for the book by Tim Keller. Dave has won a copy of Tim Keller’s new book Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work. Thanks to the Penguin Group for making this possible!
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The following are some resources for the week that you might enjoy. These are links to posts, articles, etc. that in some way caused me to think. Maybe you will find some of these useful as well.
A Tiny Life Ends in South Sudan. I read this piece in the New York Times recently. Very sobering. This a stark reminder of the impact of disease and poverty on families in South Sudan (and so many other places). Periodically, I have to read articles like this to bring perspective to my life and work.
Peter Scazzero has written a good post. Summer Reading Picks 2012. I appreciate lists like this.
What a great piece! How to Miss the Point: A Guide to Dimwitted Discourse. (Originally seen on Scot McKnight’s blog.)
Have you ever worked with someone who constantly attempted to micromanage you? You might find Michael Hyatt’s post “How to Manage a Micromanager” useful.
Paul Tripp has written a new book entitled Dangerous Calling: Confronting the Unique Challenges of Pastoral Ministry. I have not read the book but did enjoy the brief video promo that you can find here. This sounds very interesting.
You might be interested in one or more of the following links. Most of these resources surfaced within the last four weeks.
This is a great article, by Peter Bregman, that appeared in The Harvard Business Review: ”Two Lists You Should Look at Every Morning.”
You might consider looking at The Browser: Writing Worth Reading. This is an interesting website that features “Today on FiveBooks Interviews” in which various people suggest the best reading on any subject.
You might enjoy these two interviews with Ian Morgan Cron on the life of a writer. See part 1 here and part 2 here. Be sure to see the notes on each page. Cron is the author of Jesus, My Father, The CIA, and Me, which is an excellent book that explores in particular the relationship between a boy and his father.
John Fry has written two good posts in which he offers some very insightful comments regarding pastoral ministry. See “Are ‘Pastors’ The Problem?” and “Is ‘Pastor’ a Volatile Word?”
While I was away, I read Jeffrey Gettleman’s startling piece in The New York Times on the thousands of children who are fleeing Sudan. Oh my goodness.
I also read this sobering piece about a 13-year-old Afghan girl who was forced to marry and then was tortured. Fortunately, some sought justice.
The following are links to posts that I found particularly interesting this week. Maybe you will see something that interests you. 
Everything New
Check out this video by Jeff Cook that Scot McKnight posted. It is very good. I look forward to reading the book. You might enjoy his website.
On writing
Have you been reading Jeff Goins’ series: 15 habits of Great Writers? It is very well done. I especially enjoyed one recent post in this series entitled: “Great Writers Share Other’s Work.”
Also be sure to see this letter to a writer who is losing confidence.
Particularly for men
Have you seen Patrick Morley’s new book Man Alive? You might enjoy the website as well.
On ministry and identity
Some ministers are perceived by others to be important. Meanwhile other ministers feel self-conscious and believe they have little, if anything, to offer. I reflect on this kind of self-perception in this post which begins with this sentence: “When I first began preaching and serving as a “full-time minister,” I soon realized that some preachers were considered to be important people.”
Regarding e-books
Be sure to see Wade Hodges’ post “Thirteen Lessons I’ve Learned From the Ebook Business.”
I’ll take one of these offices!
“The Libraries, Studies and Writing Rooms of 15 Famous Men.”
