May 2012
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Book Review: Calico Joe
A baseball book by John Grisham, you say? Why yes, I believe I’d be interested in that. I gave Grisham’s newest novel, Calico Joe, four out of five stars over on GoodReads.
I read this 200-page book in about two days, definitely a quick read for a Grisham novel. It isn’t nearly as prodigious as most of his earlier stuff, but it was very enjoyable.
As usual, there are a few...
April 2012
7 posts
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Baseball Memory Lab →
Baseball manages to screw up a whole bunch of things, but this isn’t one of them. A very cool site where you can share a baseball memory, including tagging players and stadiums, adding pictures, and more. Very cool, MLB.
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Book Review: Imperfect: An Improbable Life
Last night I finished Jim Abbott’s autobiography (with Tim Brown), Imperfect: An Improbable Life. I enjoyed it greatly and gave it 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.
The authors brilliantly interwove the story of Abbott’s life with the story of the no-hitter he threw in September 1993 as a member of the New York Yankees. I don’t know which writer deserves the most credit for the...
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Thoughts on 1 Samuel
I began studying 1 Samuel at the beginning of 2012, and I finished it this morning. I really enjoyed diving into an Old Testament book a little more deeply than I typically have. I feel like God taught me many lessons through these months, and maybe some of them will be helpful for you, too. Here is a very non-exhaustive list of lessons from 1 Samuel.
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, fought...
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2012 MLB Predictions
That time of year again, when all the pundits prognosticate pugnaciously about the upcoming baseball season. And I’ll participate.
American League
East: Red Sox
Central: Tigers
West: Angels
Wild Cards: Rangers, Rays
MVP: Albert Pujols
Cy Young: Justin Verlander
Rookie of the Year: Yu Darvish
Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia
National League
East: Phillies
Central: Cardinals
...
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March 2012
5 posts
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Book Review: Out of My League
I recently finished Dirk Hayhurst’s newest book, Out of My League: A Rookie’s Survival in the Bigs. Like he did well in his first book, Hayhurst writes an imminently readable story, writing chapters of just three to four pages to make it extra easy on the reader, but not in a condescending way. It’s easy to digest the story in manageable chunks, but it flows smoothly even through...
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Book Review: Ted Williams: The Biography of an...
Indulge me, at the start of this book review on Leigh Montville’s Ted Williams: The Biography of an American Hero, to send a personal message to the author. Mr. Montville: When using an abbreviated word as an adjective, there is a proper rendering. Let’s use the word “stinking.” As in, “This stinking guy…” To abbreviate this word properly as an adjective,...
February 2012
6 posts
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Book Review: Hellhound on His Trail
I recently finished Hampton Sides’ “Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History.” In it, he details, in three separate “books,” James Earl Ray’s stalking of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the background of Ray, and the pursuit of Ray after King’s assassination. I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars and would highly...
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“It is particularly noticeable that such a ‘responsible reappraisal’...”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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Book Review: Real Marriage
I recently finished “Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together” by Mark and Grace Driscoll.
I should preface this entire post by stating for the record that I disagree with much of Driscoll’s theology and am often very troubled by the delivery of his messages. I suppose it’s impossible to separate those kind of things from the reading of a book like...
January 2012
1 post
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“A leading man in the Confessing Church recently said to me: ‘We have no...”
– Dieterich Bonhoeffer
December 2011
1 post
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November 2011
2 posts
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Book Review: The King Jesus Gospel
One of the things I love about the holidays is a little extra time to read. I’ve been really enjoying that this season, as I’m now posting my second review in three days, this time moving from the world of fiction to Christian Ministry/Theology with Scot McKnight’s The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited.
I’ll cut right to the chase: Over on GoodReads, I...
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Book Review: The Litigators
I just finished John Grisham’s latest offering, The Litigators. I’ve read every book Grisham has written, and I am a big fan of his. While I have generally felt that his writing has been tailing off a bit in quality, I still love most everything he’s written. And I loved this book. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Grisham is masterful at developing characters the reader grows to...
September 2011
3 posts
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“When we can hardly find any instances of our favorite theological category in...”
– @scotmcknight, “The King Jesus Gospel”
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"I Smell Cookies"
Occasionally, after Kari and I put the boys to bed and all is quiet in our home, we’ll preheat the oven to 375 degrees and enjoy one of our favorite treats, chocolate chip cookies. In fact, we like chocolate chip cookies so much that we had those for dessert at our wedding instead of wedding cake.
A couple weeks ago, having just removed our cookies from the oven in all their piping hot...
July 2011
2 posts
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“What the gospel does is show us that Jesus’ life from a purely earthly...”
– Lesslie Newbigin
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NYC 2011: Ways I Know I'm the Old Guy
So, during my recent trip to NYC2011 as a sponsor with the North Central Ohio District NYI, I began a list of ways I knew I was the old guy. This list was apparently met with delight by many, especially those who work or have worked in youth ministry. So, back by popular demand, here’s the complete list of Ways I Know I’m the Old Guy!
I’m way more excited about Francis Chan than...
May 2011
8 posts
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A Hypothetical Scenario
Let us discuss a hypothetical scenario:
There are two baseball teams. They shall be called “Team A” and “Team B.” Here are some events that have taken place between the two teams in the last year or so:
During a ruckus, a player from Team B uses his steel spikes to kick two players from Team A. One of these players has his back bloodied and torn up. The other, who was...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 14
This chapter details the start of Bonhoeffer’s ministry to two congregations in London. It is noted that, even though his services were sparsely attended, Bonhoeffer prepared as if he were “preaching to thousands.” It would serve us all well to do our jobs this way!
In this chapter, Metaxas also speaks of Bonhoeffer’s close relationship with two individuals: George Bell...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 13
In the fall of 1933, Bonhoeffer and several others set about writing The Bethel Confession, hoping it would become a document the German Christians would have to answer to. The idea was to state precisely what it was a true follower of Christ should believe, and then have the German Christians either sign off or deny it. Of course, the Aryan Paragraph (which excluded Jews from being able to serve...
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Book Review: The Extra 2%
Worst-to-first. It’s an age-old cliché that is seldom achieved, but when it is, everyone wants to know the details. How did you do it?
Jonah Keri presents an adequate description of perhaps the most unlikely of such events, the sudden and unexpected rise of the Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays in the brutal American League East. The very concept is so far-fetched, catching and passing the filthy-rich New...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 12
In 1933 in Germany, the church struggle began in earnest. Hitler was pushing for Ludwig Muller to become Reich Bishop, the person to head up the united church he was proposing for the country. Instead, the bishops of the church, having no respect and in fact great disdain for Muller, elected the well-loved Friedrich von Bodelschwingh. Muller hooted and hollered about Bodelschwingh’s...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 11
The eleventh chapter, which covered Nazi theology, was a great reminder of what a gifted writer Eric Metaxas is. Bonhoeffer’s name isn’t even mentioned until the last page of the chapter, but Metaxas still keeps you rapt with his attention to detail and fantastic writing style. Here is a sentence that particularly jumped off the page:
Chamberlain…is another baffling character...
April 2011
5 posts
Bonhoeffer: Chapter 10
Soon after the Nazis came to power, their racist propaganda began taking hold. During the first year after Hitler’s election, Jews were prohibited from serving in the government, pastoring a German church, participating in the world of journalism, and enjoying any cultural activities, including the arts, theater, literature, and film, among other things.
Bonhoeffer quickly wrote an essay on...
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WatchI’m not a Mets fan. Not at all. But this made me a David Wright fan. We need more of this in all sports.
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 9
This chapter covers 1933, the fateful year in which Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany. Hitler and his cronies swiftly and fearlessly put their plan in place within weeks of being elected: First proclaiming that his politics were God’s politics; then having the Reichstag burnt to the ground; and then having the checks and balances abolished so he could have absolute power. After...
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WatchPretty cool story about Albert Pujols from 60 Minutes this week
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 8
The eighth chapter chronicles Bonhoeffer’s return to Berlin and his time there as a lecturer. Formative events occurred during this season, including Bonhoeffer’s introduction to Karl Barth, who would become a friend. Bonhoeffer also wrote prophetically during this time that he felt [the Germans] were standing at a tremendous turning point in world history,” that something was...
March 2011
9 posts
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 6 (Or, "Holy Flatulence")
In the middle of reading this chapter, I laughed so hard I cried. And then I tried to read the part that was making me laugh to someone else, and I laughed even harder and tried even more. Metaxas briefly explores some rather hilarious writing that Martin Luther did later in his life, writing that was rather harsh when speaking of the Pope. I’ll let this serve as a spoiler, and you can read...
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Nan (1924-2011)
Today the woman I’ve known all my life as “Nan” breathed in and then breathed out. For the last time. She had just turned 87.
Nan’s health has been failing for years. There have probably been 10 times we thought she was going to go, and she rallied every time. Except this time.
Since I moved away from Ashland in 1996, I mostly remember a healthy and vibrant Nan, the lady...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 5
Again, if you’re wondering why all these posts on this book, you can read about why I’m doing it here. Please feel free to chime into the discussion on this biography of this fascinating and inspiring individual.
Dietrich spent 1928 in Barcelona, Spain, as vicar (assistant pastor) to a German congregation there. In the summer, when many of the Germans left Barcelona to return to...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 4
When Bonhoeffer’s trip to Rome was complete, he returned to Berlin to resume his studies. After seven more semesters of study (nine total), he earned his doctorate. His doctorate! He was 21 years old.
This chapter is like reading the Who’s Who of Theologians from the early 20th century. Bonhoeffer’s studies at Berlin were influenced to some degree by Friedrich Schleiermacher,...
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Bonhoeffer: Chapter 3
In the third chapter of Bonhoeffer, Metaxas details Dietrich’s first trip to Rome, which he took at age 18 with his brother, Klaus.
What immediately struck me in reading this chapter was how exceptionally brilliant Bonhoeffer was. At age 18 he treasured the art he witnessed in Rome with journal entries chock full of first-class nomenclature, even noting Michelangelo’s work and its...