What Collin Hansen’s Reading This Summer

Find Your Perfect Summer Read in His List

View in browser What I'm Reading This Summer Summer is a time for reading. Work slows down a bit. I'm not traveling as much to speak and teach. School's out. I spend more time by the lake. In fact, I have probably spent more time reading on a couch next to a lake than any other place. I've read everything from history to fiction to theology on that couch that helps put my mind in the right place to relax then concentrate. If you love to read, I'm sure you have that kind of place, too.   I recently welcomed one of my favorite guests back on Gospelbound to talk about summer reading. Melissa Kruger is the vice president for discipleship programming at TGC and co-host of the hit new podcast, The Deep Dish. We talked about why we love reading and why reading matters. Not much makes me happier than giving, and receiving, a good book recommendation.   Here's what you probably came here for—my list of a few books I'm reading this summer, followed by many more recommendations from past years. You'll see brand-new titles and contemporary classics, with a few all-time greats sprinkled in. Happy reading! (And let me know which books you think I should read next.) Find Your Perfect Summer Read What I'll Be Reading This Summer Andrew Wilson, Gospel Stories Robert S. Smith, The Body God Gives Robin John, The Good Investor: How Your Work Can Confront Injustice, Love Your Neighbor, and Bring Healing to the World   Christian Biography George Marsden, Jonathan Edwards: A Life  Roland Bainton, Here I Stand Peter Brown, Augustine of Hippo: A Biography   General Non-Fiction Bobby Jamieson, Everything Is Never Enough Timothy Keller, Making Sense of God Jen Wilkin, You Are a Theologian   Historical Non-Fiction Russ Ramsey, Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart Sarah Irving-Stonebraker, Priests of History Walter R. Strickland II, Swing Low   Fiction Allen Levi, Theo of Golden Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre   Challenging Read Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections Kevin Vanhoozer, Mere Christian Hermeneutics Nancy Pearcey, The Toxic War on Masculinity   For Spiritual Growth Vaughan Roberts, God's Big Picture Jeremy Linneman, Pour Out Your Heart Brad Edwards, The Reason for Church   Beach Reads Alex Duke, From Eden to Egypt Sean DeMars, Rebel to Your Will Patrick Miller and Keith Simon, Joyful Outsiders   Most of these are available at discounted rates in the TGC store, where you'll also find unbeatable prices on bulk orders. BROWSE THE STORE Collin Hansen Vice President for Content and Editor in Chief   The Gospel Coalition PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO, 65205 Unsubscribe

Where Will Abba Take Our Hearts Today?

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Where Will Abba Take Our Hearts Today? SCOTTY SMITH "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." 2Thess.3:5   Heavenly Father, this Scripture is your response to one of my favorite hymn lines: "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." We're prone to wander, but you're more than prone to redirect our hearts. Hallelujah, and thank you—for we easily wander into faithless, graceless, aimless, hopeless directions. Some mornings we wake up with our hearts drifting (or running) to self-pity and/or fear. Our gripes become more real than your grace, and our worries loom larger than your worship-worthiness. By mid-morning, heart-cruise-control takes us into the morass of people-pleasing. But caring more about who we are in people's eyes than who we are in Christ will always lead us into a ditch. Some afternoons the magnetic pull of resentment, anger, and blame take the wheel. Before we know it, we're taking side trips into the villages of comparison, envy, and discontent. By late afternoon, our unguarded hearts are on the look for rest stops that offer no rest—just momentary relief. Sugar highs always take us lower than where we started; and fanatcizing inevitably leads to nightmare-ing. So Father, on this June Friday—at the beginning of this weekend, please answer the apostle Paul's prayer in 2Thess.3:5 on our behalf. Drive and direct our hearts into your lavish, liberating, life-giving love. And take us deeper into Christ's perseverance—his finished work for us, and his ongoing work in us. We'll gladly live like an electric automatic driving car. Don't just "take the wheel," Abba; take our whole being, the roadway, and final destination. By the power of your sovereign Spirit, redirect our hearts into every good thing we have in Jesus, and everything you've planned for us before the world began. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Accepting Change Kindly, and Aging Gracefully, Not Grumpily

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Accepting Change Kindly, and Aging Gracefully, Not Grumpily SCOTTY SMITH Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb. 13:8   Dear Jesus, I really don't like change—especially hard to accept changes. I like newness, excitement, flourishing, and adventure. When it's all said and done, I love to come home to the normal, comfortable, and predictable. I like things to get better, not bitter. But atrophy, disruption, and weakness were put into place a long time ago—in the very first garden—Eden. We are grateful there's one part of our lives that will never change, and that is you, Jesus. You are "the same yesterday, today, and forever"—the same beauty-abounding, truth-filled, and grace-overflowing Savior. That doesn't make you predictable, and even less so manageable. But it does mean we can trust you without any reservations. Change doesn't have sovereignty, only you do, Jesus. Nothing is random. Everything is under your sight, reign, and purposes. Nothing shocks or surprises you. You will never say, "I didn't see that one coming." With you, disruption and decay ultimately lead to delight. What you do see coming is our coming life in the eternal, perfect Garden-World of the new heaven and new earth (Rev.21:1-22:6). Nothing will atrophy, only flourish. My hearing aids won't come with me in the new earth. Nothing will ache in my body or heart. I'll never forget a name—or forget the Gospel, for even one second. My sadness and impatience with the aging process—mine and others, will be replaced with perfect joy and me being made perfect in love. I am SO looking forward to that, Jesus. Until that Day, help each of us see and accept change as part of a far better story than we could/would ever write. Help us age well, not grumpily. Because you hold us tightly we can hold everything else lightly. So Very Amen   Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

This New Cohort Will Help You Connect Christ with Your Culture

Registration Includes a Pre-Market Copy of TGC's New Cultural Apologetics Book

View in browser - CONNECT AND CONFRONT THE CULTURE - PRACTICAL HELP FOR YOUR CONTEXT - EXCLUSIVE TIME WITH KELLER CENTER FELLOWS At a time when secular ideologies shape cultural narratives and traditional Christian beliefs are increasingly misunderstood or dismissed, cultural apologetics is fundamental for modern-day Christians.    This new cohort by The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics will equip ordinary Christians and ministry leaders alike to defend the truth of the gospel intellectually and show its beauty, relevance, and goodness in everyday life.   Through eight interactive sessions, the Keller Center fellows leading this online learning cohort will use their years of extensive training and hands-on experience to give you a practical overview of cultural apologetics and how it can be applied effectively in teaching, preaching, Bible studies, and day-to-day conversations.   Attendees will receive an exclusive pre-market copy of TGC's new book, The Gospel After Christendom.    WHY YOU SHOULD SIGN UP TODAY Gain a deeper understanding of cultural apologetics and its importance for evangelism and discipleship Understand the greatest challenges of our cultural moment—and how to face them Gain skills to tell the gospel story in clear and compelling ways Be equipped with answers for common defeater beliefs on topics like sexuality, slavery, and science Develop a plan for how to employ cultural apologetics in your neighborhood and church FIND OUT MORE YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN The Gospel Coalition, PO Box #1637, Columbia, MO 65205 Unsubscribe

Why These Constant Cravings and Discontent in Our Hearts?

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Why These Constant Cravings and Discontent in Our Hearts? SCOTTY SMITH    The angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." Then he said to me, "These are the true words of God." Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "Don't do that! I'm a fellow servant with you, and all who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." Rev.19:9–10   Lord Jesus, it's easy to understand why John fell down to worship the angel who delivered the exhilarating declaration and wondrous vision of the wedding supper of the Lamb. For our oldest longings, greatest cravings, and deepest yearnings are "married" to you, and the fullness we will experience at your return. Even when we forget, ignore, or marginalize you, our hearts ravenously desire you. We're fools to think there's some set of circumstances, some person, some romance, some change in our world that can satisfy the eternal restlessness in our hearts. Oxygen for lungs, blood for the heart—you, Jesus, for our whole being—that's how essential and glorious you are, and how fully we are made for you. Because we are already married to you, cherished by you, and guaranteed a place at this Banquet, make falling down before you in worship and rising up in joy our most healthy state of heart. By the power of the Holy Spirit, renew our hearts, restore our joy, refresh our passion for you, Jesus. Jesus, until the Day you greet us at "the marriage supper of the Lamb," adjust our expectations of "mere people"—spouses, children, and friends. Heal our greatest relational wounds and ramp up our delight in you. In our temporary marriages, bring Gospel-perspective, gentleness and kindness, and mutual encouragement. So Very Amen. Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.

Building, Praying, Keeping, Waiting

Heavenward. Read the latest from Scotty Smith's blog.

Heavenward SCOTTY SMITH Building, Praying, Keeping, Waiting SCOTTY SMITH "Dear friends, be building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourselves in God's love, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 20-21   Lord Jesus, there are so many things in life over which we have zero control. Like weather fronts, vacation bugs, the fish bite, other's emotions, getting older—to name a few. But your half-brother, Jude, gave us four things we can control—anytime, everywhere, all the way Home:    Building ourselves up in the faith: How, Jesus? There's many ways, some of the "biggies" include meditating on your Word, preaching the Gospel to our hearts daily, walking with friends who love you, and want to groan and grow in grace.    Praying in the Holy Spirit: Not just "saying our prayers"—but adoring you, Jesus—pondering your beauty, goodness, and truth. Seeing your hand and heart in creation. Fellowshipping with Abba so often and well, we delight in all of his answers to our prayers—including "Yes," "No," "Heck no," "Not Yet," "Yes, but not as you thought."    Keeping ourselves in your love: Not earning more of your love, but swimming in its depths, marinating in its riches, contemplating its hope. Each of us will be preoccupied with something—whether it's our fears, hurts, regrets, our kids' choices, the next news bite, etc., etc., etc. But you call us to make your multidimensional love (Eph.3:19-20) our perpetual preoccupation, holy obsession, home address, and oxygen/water/bread. Thank you for this calling, Jesus.    Waiting for the mercy of your return: Not waiting for our kids/spouse to adore us, or our "barns" to be full enough; but waiting for the Day of your return, Jesus. The Day you return to finish making all things new and beautiful—including us, Hallelujah! So let it be, So Very Amen.     Wish you had a roundup of our best content? Subscribe to our weekly Update. SIGN ME UP! The Gospel Coalition  PO Box #1637    Columbia  MO  65205    You received this email because you are subscribed to Scotty Smith's Blog: Heavenward from The Gospel Coalition. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Unsubscribe from all future emails.