(Today is Martin Luther King Jr. day. As our nation remembers the work of Dr. King, it is also a time for all of us who are believers to remember that the church is called to model relationships, regardless of race, where the Gospel shapes who we are and the way we treat one another.)
The following are resources you may find helpful. I have read most of these in the last few weeks.
Writing
See “Top 10 Writing Quotes to get you started in 2016.” I mention this because I regularly look for brief quotes that are inspirational and motivating. Usually in a list like this, I will find at least one quote that I connect with.
Ministry
If you are a Christian leader in any sense of these two words, I would encourage you to read The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero. I have read all of Scazzero’s books and each one has ministered to me in some way. This particular book is his most recent and may be his best.
Productivity
See this excellent article from Inc magazine: “10 Habits Remarkable People Give Up Every Day.” Helpful.
J. I. Packer
I have admired J. I. Packer for many years. See “J. I. Packer, 89, Losing Sight But Seeing Christ.” Many years ago, I was a young minister and was dealing with a few people who had a perspective on the Christian faith that was unfamiliar to me. I discovered a discussion regarding this perspective in one of Packer’s earlier books. I wrote Packer and asked for clarification regarding this discussion. Within days, he faxed (remember the “fax” machine?) a very helpful letter to me. I have always been grateful.
Fear
In October, I read a piece by David Brooks in which he asked the question, “Who would you be and what would you do if you weren’t afraid?” What a wonderful sentence to reflect on at the beginning of a new year!
Reading
I am a regular reader of Comment journal. Typically I read the print version but they have recently upgraded their website where you can access past issues of the journal.
I especially enjoy the regular series by James K. A. Smith in which he reflects on books, articles, and various topics. (I find him interesting, helpful, and thoughtful). See his most recent article, “World View: An Annotated Reading of Your World.”