My Summer Reading List (So far) // Church History, Theology, and Fiction

If you know me, you know that I LOVE to read. A couple months ago I posted my Quarantine reading list, and several of you have requested that I make an updated video on what I'm reading, so here it is! *Time Stamps Below*

You'll notice that this list contains a lot more fiction than the last one. That's intentional. For the past few years I've been reading almost exclusively non-fiction, primarily about theology, and a little leadership mixed in. I love these books. However, I realized that I was missing fiction, so I've slowly started reintroducing it into my reading routine. I hope you'll find some books in this list that you might enjoy!

Books Mentioned:

The Chronicles of Narnia Series by CS Lewis (01:47) - These books were SO fun to read! Walking away from reading these I was reminded of the fact that your never too old for children's books, and that CS Lewis is truly a master of fiction and non-fiction, a rare talent. One of my favorite things was Lewis' reflections on how Aslan (God) is not tame. We can't put God in a box. Yet, Lewis also shows how this truth can be twisted and weaponized. There's so much more to say, but if you haven't read them, read them.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (03:48) - What. a. book. This fictional deep dive into America's dark history is a stunning read. Whitehead brilliantly reimagines the Underground Railroad as an actual railroad, and though this is fictional, it will deeply move you to reckon with the horrors of American slavery. If you're looking for a fictional read that can educate you on the history of race in America, look no further. Well deserving of the Pulitzer.

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (05:03) - I loved this one! Ortlund delves into the depths of Christ's heart, showing it to be gentle and lowly, a heart for sinners and sufferers like you and me. I've read many devotional books that leave you feeling the warmth of Christ's love. However, no other book explores Christ's love in such a warm and yet theological way. Ortlund explores what it means for Jesus to be gentle and lowly in heart through Scripture and the writings of the Puritans. Ortlund introduced me to a whole new world of Puritan writers, and I can't wait to explore more.

The Lost World of Genesis One by John Walton (06:59) - Walton is a master historian of the Ancient Near East, and he uses this knowledge to shed new light on the biblical origin account in Genesis One. The debate over the origin of man is a fierce one, and Walton wades into this with precision and keen intellect. Showing that the ancient Israelites would've viewed creation accounts through a functional ontology rather than material ontology breaks open a new world of interpretive possibilities in which one doesn't have to decide between faith and science.

The Lost World of the Torah by John Walton and J. Harvey Walton (08:56) - This book shared many, but not all, of the strengths of The Lost World of Genesis One. Once again, Walton sets this biblical text in its ANE background and in so doing sheds new light on the text. Many of Walton's conclusions I agree with, such as the fact that it's not hermeneutically tenable to divide the Torah between moral and ceremonial law. He also masterfully shows that law functioned much differently in the ANE, and that our interpretations don't usually give justice to that. However, several of his conclusions I couldn't quite get on board with.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins (11:07) - This was just plain fun. I called it in the video a guilty pleasure, but honestly, I feel no guilt over enjoying this. Reading this prequel brought back so many Hunger Games memories, and I thought Collins did a wonderful job with this.

The Story of Christianity by Justo L. Gonzalez (12:39) - This is a great introduction to church history. I've read both volume 1 (pre-reformation) and volume 2 (post-reformation), and I must say, I prefer the former, though they're both excellent. If you want to learn more about Church History, which I would recommend, this is a great place to start. Very accessible and easy to follow.

Dominion by Tom Holland (13:53) - Holland is a masterful writer of history, and in this retelling of the growth of Christianity and its profound impact on the world, he weaves together the story in an eminently readable fashion. This is not a textbook listing facts and dates. This is the story of people in the globe-spanning story of Christianity. This is history being told at its finest.

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Video Stuff:

Camera: Canon 80d

Lens: Sigma 17-50 F2.8

Edited in FCPX

Music:

Bowmans Root - Isaac Joel

Fade Out - Basketcase