Happy New Year! Today I am going to share a poem whose point is relevant every day, every hour, and every moment we may need it. God’s grace is available to us at all times, because God is always faithful, as Lamentations 3:22-24 says:
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
The poem’s title is “A New Leaf”, author unknown, and compares a child/teacher relationship to us and Jesus. His mercies are new every morning and every day, not just on special occasions. God wants everyone to turn to Him at all times. Don’t wait until New Year’s Day.
“He came to my desk with a quivering lip, the lesson was done. ‘Have you a new sheet for me, dear teacher? I’ve spoiled this one.’ I took his sheet, all soiled and blotted and gave him a new one all unspotted. And into his tired heart I cried, ‘Do better now, my child.’
I went to the throne with a trembling heart; the day was done. ‘Have you a new day for me, dear Master? I’ve spoiled this one.’ He took my day, all soiled and blotted and gave me a new one all unspotted. And into my tired heart he cried, ‘Do better now, my child.'”
As 2023 ends, many are posting reflections on the year, including book lists. Figured I’d jump in again! In 2022, I managed to read 22 books, but topped that in 2023 with 26.
What books did I read this year?
Let’s start with the fun ones.
Fiction books:
Mostly Harmless by Douglas Adams The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
Mostly Harmless is the last of 5 books in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. The Silmarillion I tried to read way back in high school but couldn’t finish. I finally got it in this year.
Classics:
Each year I try to fit in a couple of “classics,” although what books belong in that category is debatable.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Chosen by Chaim Potok Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Chosen was my favorite of these. It’s a story of two Jewish teenagers in Brooklyn in and around the time of World War II. One of them was a strict Hasidic Jew, while the other was not, and the book follows their friendship over time.
A few history books:
In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson Christianity Through the Centuries by Earle Cairns Sacred Scripture, Sacred War by James P. Byrd
Erik Larson is one of my favorite authors, and this book covers the rise of Hitler, including why there wasn’t more opposition to him earlier, mostly through the eyes of the U.S. ambassador to Germany.
Byrd’s book is based on a study of hundreds of sermons delivered and/or published during the American Revolutionary War and covers the Bible verses and ideas that were used to motivate American soldiers. Most interesting were verses whose interpretations changed to fit the preacher’s objectives, not objectives changed to fit Scripture. For example, there were verses used to justify rebellion from England that were later used to justify submission to the new American government.
More non-fiction than usual:
Success Through Failure by Henry Petroski Force by Henry Petroski Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
I read two by Petroski by accident. One was recommended by a relative and the other by a book review I read. Only when I started the second one did I realize it was the same author. Both were interesting descriptions of engineering ideas for laymen like myself.
I hope to not break any of Strunk & White’s rules in my blog in 2024. I initially read it during college, and finally came back to it for some light airplane reading.
Also more biography than usual:
Faithful Presence by Bill Haslam Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis Pulitzer by W.A. Swanberg
Reading about Tolkien and Lewis back-to-back was very interesting, and not just because they mention each other. I didn’t know much about Tolkien’s background and faith, and how those influenced his fiction, or much of Lewis’ journey of faith.
The Pulitzer biography was fascinating as background for why much of the media are the way they are today. Pulitzer as publisher was driven by a political agenda and used sensationalist methods to bring in readership. Pulitzer as man was a genius with an amazing memory, but also abusive of his staff and sometimes his family.
Plus a bunch of religious books and devotionals:
In addition to regular Bible and study Bible reading, in 2023 I read:
Is Europe Christian? By Olivier Roy Rediscovering Holiness by J.I. Packer 2 books by my former pastor Glenn Parkinson: A Larger Faith: the Book of Daniel and Peter’s Principles: Learning to Follow Jesus The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis 3 books by Warren Wiersbe: Be Committed (Ruth/Esther), Be Determined (Nehemiah), and Be Patient (Job). Morning by Morning by Charles Spurgeon
Roy’s book discusses different ideas of how a country or region can be considered Christian, then whether Europe meets his criteria. I found the parts about “what is a Christian country?” more interesting that the question asked in the title.
I read the Four Loves for the first time because someone recently compared one of my posts to the book. Much of the book isn’t theology, but more practical observations about human relationships.
I picked up Wiersbe’s entire “Be” series in 2021 as part of a digital subscription and am working through it over time. A long time. I like his overall approach and the books are a great source of thoughtful stories and quotes.
26 is lot for me, and how many will I read in 2024? Who knows…in the meantime, have you read any of these 26? What books did you enjoy in 2023?
As 2022 ends, many are posting reflections on the year, including book lists. Figured I’d jump in, even though I am a slow reader, prone to distraction, and have a job that requires multiple hours per day of reading. So, when I see others listing 70+ books read in 2022, I tell myself that 22 books is enough, since the year was 2022.
A range of history books: Clouds of Witnesses by Mark Noll and Carolyn Nystrom The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne by David Starkey The Offshore Islanders: A History of the English People by Paul Johnson
The first two of these made appearances in the blog, referenced in the Bibliography. Clouds of Witnesses, which could be included in other categories, is an excellent collection of stories about Christians in Asia and Africa, giving a great perspective away from my local, American one. More history posts will be coming from that book. The Residence is a collection of stories from workers in the White House, from cooks and valets, and many other roles. It ranged multiple decades of presidents and their families, with interesting takes on these very real people.
The Devil in the White City is my favorite book by one of my favorite authors, and likely will be covered as the blog’s first book review soon. Erik Larson writes history that reads like a novel and picks amazing stories as topics.
With a family trip to England and Wales on the 2022 calendar, both history and fiction books on this list revolved around the U.K.
A range of fiction books: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John LeCarré The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams So Long and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams
It’s only now that I realize all of these books involve England. “Tinker” is one of my dad’s favorite books and I’d put off reading it for a long time but am glad I finally got to it. It’s a fascinating and complicated story about a mole in the British spy network, and I picked up great quotes like “All power corrupts, but some must govern,” and “Learn the facts…then try on the stories like clothes.” “Hound” is one I read as a teenager and picked back up for something quick and light to read, and the other 3 were new to me. This blog began with a Douglas Adams reference, and there will likely be more to come!
Only one non-fiction book: King’s X: The Oral History by Greg Prato
This ended up featured in two blogposts and tells the story of one of my favorite bands that never quite “made it big,” but gets a ton of respect from other musicians. Part of the problem was that they couldn’t be pigeon-holed as either a “Christian” band, or not.
Plus some Christian commentary and devotionals: In addition to regular Bible and study Bible reading, in 2022 I read:
4 books by Warren Wiersbe: Be Alive (John 1-12), Be Transformed (John 13-21), Be Wise (1 Corinthians), and Be Encouraged (2 Corinthians). 4 books by C.S. Lewis: That Hideous Strength, The Weight of Glory, The Abolition of Man, and The Great Divorce. Encouragement: The Key to Caring by Larry Crabb and Dan Allender Everyday Prayer with the Reformers by Donald McKim Tapestry: The Book of Revelation by Glenn Parkinson
A fan of C.S. Lewis from childhood, in 2022 I aimed to read several of his books I hadn’t before, which include the last 3 above. I love finding familiar Lewis quotes in their original context, which brings out even more meaning. A few of these ended up in the blog. In 2023, maybe I’ll get to Surprised by Joy, The Four Loves and all of God in the Dock.
I picked up Wiersbe’s entire “Be” series in 2021 as part of a digital subscription and am working through it over time. A long time. I like his overall approach and the books are a great source of thoughtful stories and quotes.
Encouragement and Everyday Prayer both ended up in the blog. The first I had read many years ago and rediscovered ideas in it that I had forgotten the source of. Everyday Prayer was a gift and is a short devotional covering segments of prayers from the Protestant Reformation, with related stories and Bible verses.
Lastly, I just finished Tapestry earlier today. Glenn Parkinson is the retired former pastor of my church, and the book provides a very helpful overview of the book of Revelation, making a great case that John “did not intend to give us a puzzle no one can solve,” but intended to reveal (as in a revelation) a tapestry of images designed to encourage Christian faithfulness and perseverance in the time between Jesus’ first and second comings.
Will I read 23 books in 2023? Who knows…in the meantime, have you read any of these 22? What books did you enjoy in 2022?
Driving Toward the Morning Sun 