The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith

By: Timothy Keller

personal copy, hardcover, 133 pages plus acknowledgments and notes

Published: 2008

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian faith

 

I'm a big Timothy Keller fan (RIP), but this book has been on my shelf for a while. I really, really enjoyed it. I underlined a LOT, but quickly decided this book is a "keeper," so I don't have too much to blog.

 

In sharing the familiar story of the prodigal son from Luke chapter15, Keller dives in to how BOTH brothers had a wrong relationship with the father. So much is preached about the prodigal son and the father's forgiveness, but less is taught about the elder brother. Keller has something to say about that!

 

I confess, I've always connected with the elder brother's frustration and anger. "I've done the right thing and I've never been celebrated!" That sense of being wronged . . . oh my. Keller really opened my eyes in this book. I love how he teaches and preaches. 

 

I did put one post-it note in place. In chapter 1 within the section titled, "Why People Like Jesus But Not the Church," Keller writes:

 

He is on the side of neither the irreligious nor the religious, but he singles out religious moralism as a particularly deadly spiritual condition.

It is hard for us to realize this today, but when Christianity first arose in the world it was not called a religion. It was the non-religion.

 

There is so much that I have underlined, starred, noted, etc. in this little book. I already look forward to re-reading it! Turning every thought captive to the Lord Jesus Christ and examining my own heart . . . these are things I need to be actively working at.

 

 I loved the reference to Babette's Feast and I'm so glad I've read that story. I love that Jesus and salvation are experiential, material, individual, and communal. (I know that last bit seems contradictory, but it's not!)

 

I highly recommend this book (and am willing to loan out my copy). 

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

By: W. Phillip Keller

personal copy, paperback 173 pages

Published: 1970, reprint 2007

Genre: Christian devotional, theology

 

I heard several recommendations of this book. Initially, I requested it via Libby ebook and waited quite a while to get it. I started reading it in Libby but was too busy with other things and it autoreturned, so I purchased a copy for myself.

 

This little book has a LOT of post-it notes in it! Since it's my personal copy, I quickly switched to just underlining and writing in the actual book. I'm going to try to just hit a few of the high points here.

 

The author goes over Psalm 23 line by line, making the comparison between actual sheep farming and what Scripture has to say to us. I memorized Psalm 23 quite a few years ago. My mom teared up when I recited it for Ruth Nesbitt at the end of her life. It's good Scripture to know.

 

Page 30: "One of the fallacies that is common among Christians today is the assertion that if a man or woman is prospering materially it is a significant mark of the blessing of God upon his or her life. This simply is not so."

 

I love that in addition to going through the 23rd Psalm thoroughly, he refers to many other Scriptures to point the reader back to God's Word. Here he points out that Revelation 3:17 says, "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked." There is so much more - read the book!

 

Page 48: "One of the outstanding marks of a Christian should be a serene sense of gentle contentment."

 

This can be a struggle! Trust in the Lord can be my mantra, but if I don't actually LIVE that trust, I miss out on the peace that He intends for me.

 

Page  61: "The biographies of the great men and women of God repeatedly point out how the secret of the success in their spiritual life was attributed to the 'quiet time' of each morning."

This strikes me. My morning is prioritized by drinking coffee, playing my games (Wordle, etc.), and making my list for the day. Morning devotions are important, but I don't focus on them or the Lord as much as on my own "stuff." I think this needs to change!

Page 88: "Our behavior patterns and life habits are so much like that of sheep it is well nigh embarrassing."

As I read this, I thought of my daughter-in-law who raises sheep. I wonder if she would be willing to read this book. I love that the author has a faith-based perspective on both sheep and the Psalm.

Page 134: ". . . do I fully appreciate what it has cost Him to prepare this table for me?"

I too often take Jesus' sacrifice for granted. Time for contemplation and praise need to be a priority in my day.

There are so many other passages that I underlined or marked, but I want to have this book on hand to re-read and pray about. I don't often purchase books any more, but I'm glad I bought this one. After Libby auto-returned it last time, I requested it again. That was on January 6. Here I am on March 16th and Libby says I have an eight week wait! I'm going to cancel my hold. I can read my personal copy at my leisure!

Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God

by Timothy Keller

Libby audiobook 9 hours

Read by: Sean Pratt

Published: 2014

Genre: Non-fiction, Christian faith

I was on the waiting list for this for a LONG time! It surprised me, because it was published a decade ago. Perhaps Keller's death last year has renewed interest in his books. I  don't know what I expected, but my initial reaction was, "it's SO theological!"

Um, yes. It's a theology book about prayer. I love his use of Scripture and his encouragement to readers to seek out Scripture. God's Word has the ultimate say in what prayer is and should be.

One of the questions Keller raises (without his theological words like hermeneutics . . . ) is about the goal of prayer and its benefits. Are we praying for our own self or for God's glory?

He mentioned a book by Anne Lamott. It caught my attention right away! Called Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, I thought about reading that one next. But Keller pointed out that her book encourages readers to not worry about who or what God might be - to just develop the habit of prayer. He also asks the pointed question: what about confession and repentance? Yes, we pray in adoration of God (Wow), we pray thanksgiving (Thanks), and we ask for his intercession (Help), but we also need to pray confession and repentance!

I'm not 100% finished with the book but it's due in two days. I tried listening to it while working today, but I simply could not pay enough attention to track what he was saying. I may need to add more to this entry later (or get my hands on a print copy of the book!) 

The main things I've appreciated about it so far is the emphasis on being in the Word; praying Psalms; and taking time to read Scripture, meditate, then pray.

I really like Timothy Keller. I'm so thankful for his teaching and preaching. The reaction that the book is "too theological" made me feel as though I'm dumbing down as I get older. Or perhaps I'm more distracted and don't want to think too hard. Or it may be that some books really do need to be read rather than listened to!

Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work

by Timothy Keller with Katherine Leary Alsdorf
Scott County Library hardcover 253 pages
genre: non-fiction Biblical living
published: 2012

This book was incredible. I've always liked Keller's stuff, but I think this is the first book of his I've read. I was surprised at how many life lessons and Scriptural applications it contained. I'm nowhere near being a pastor, yet Sunday sermon topics kept jumping out at me!

Having quit my full time job over two years ago, I still feel as though I'm trying to find God's purpose for my life. I struggle with wants vs. needs and spending less money since I now earn so little money. What are my gifts and talents and how does God want me to use them for His glory?

This book really helped me see that "work" isn't just how I make money. It's about why I work. What's the purpose? If it's ever just for a paycheck, then I'm not doing it the right way. Whether I teach full time or ring up people's purchases at McDonald's, there is so much more to the concept of work.

I love how this book is structured! I would definitely re-read it. I recommend it for anyone looking for their direction in terms of work. I recommend it to pastors for a wealth of sermon ideas with lots of great Scripture references!

Toward the end, he recommends two books that I may or may not get: The Call by Os Guinness and Creation Regained by Al Wolters.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

by Timothy Keller
Hennepin County Library hardcover 241 pages plus end notes, etc.
genre: non-fiction, Christian apologetics

(At least, I think it's called "apologetics.")
Timothy Keller is amazing to me - calm, rational, firmly fixed on God's Word. This book was not a quick and easy read, but very, very worthwhile. I may buy my own copy. It's one I would definitely recommend for intellectual people who have issues with faith.

Page xii - "The people most passionate about social justice were moral relativists, while the morally upright didn't seem to care about the oppression going on all over the world." Ouch! Keller is writing about his own spiritual journey in the 1960s, but it's a fair criticism. Having grown up in a non-believing but social justice passionate household, I see too many believers who are indifferent to the suffering of others throughout the world.

Page 79 - "The people on the bus from hell in Lewis's parable would rather have their 'freedom,' as they define it, than salvation. Their delusion is that, if they glorified God, they would somehow lose power and freedom, but in a supreme and tragic irony, their choice has ruined their own potential for greatness. Hell is, as Lewis says, 'the greatest monument to human freedom.' As Romans 1:24 says, God 'gave them up to . . . their desires.' All God does in the end with people is give them what they most want, including freedom from himself. What could be more fair than that?" This is from the chapter "How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell?" It reminds me of people who say they would prefer to go to Hell, because it will be a big party of sinners having fun. This "logic" makes me so sad . . . I like how Keller puts forth the answer to this commonly asked question.

Page 94 - "Since Christian believers occupy different positions on both the meaning of Genesis I and on the nature of evolution, those who are considering Christianity as a whole should not allow themselves to be distracted by this intramural debate. The skeptical inquirer does not need to accept any one of these positions in order to embrace the Christian faith." Keller goes on to give a great perspective on keeping focused on the central claims of Christianity.

Page 95 - "Jesus's miracles in particular were never magic tricks, designed only to impress and coerce. You never see him say something like: 'See that tree over there? Watch me make it burst into flames!' Instead, he used miraculous power to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and raise the dead." I love how he talks about Jesus wanting to restore the world to the condition of wholeness and wellness that God intended.

Page 103 - The who section on The Da Vinci Code bugged me . . . how did a work of fiction come to have so much influence on people's beliefs?  This whole section shows the depth of scholarship about what we can know about Scripture and its reliability. Powerful!

Page 122 - In the section Keller calls "The Intermission," I love this observation! "Which account of the world has the most 'explanatory power' to make sense of what we see in the world and in ourselves? We have a sense that the world is not the way it ought to be. We have a sense that we are very flawed and yet very great. We have a longing for love and beauty that nothing in this world can fulfill. We have a deep need to know meaning and purpose. Which worldview best accounts for these things?"

Page 168-9 In "The Problem of Sin," Keller writes about something that sneaks in to my attitude sometimes! Ouch again! "If we get our identity from our ethnicity or socioeconomic status, then we have to feel superior to those of other classes and races. If you are profoundly proud of being an open-minded, tolerant soul, you will be extremely indignant toward people you think are bigots. If you are a very moral person, you will feel very superior to people you think are licentious. And so on." Wow! Help me to keep my eyes on You, Jesus! Humble my heart.

Page 170 - "The Hebrew word for this perfect, harmonious interdependence among all parts of creation is called shalom. We translate it as 'peace,' but the English word is basically negative, referring to the absence of trouble or hostility. The Hebrew word means much more than that. It means absolute wholeness - full, harmonious, joyful, flourishing life." I love this! I've always thought of "shalom" as just meaning "peace." This definition is so much richer!

Page 188 - In the section about forgiveness, Keller writes a powerful observation. "But when you try to get payment through revenge the evil does not disappear. Instead it spreads, and it spreads most tragically of all into you and your own character." Wow! So very true.

Page 236 - Another ouch! Examine your heart . . . "I will grant that, on the whole, churchgoers may be weaker psychologically and morally than non-churchgoers. That should be no more surprising than the fact that people sitting in a doctor's office are on the whole sicker than those who are not there. Churches rightly draw a higher proportion of needy people. They also have a great number of people whose lives have been completely turned around and filled by the joy of Christ." I like the analogy to the doctor's office, but still . . . that's a tough statement!

So much good in this book! Keller is incredible. I'm so glad he loves the Lord and strives to get people into relationship with Him!

The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Hennepin County Library hardcover 224 pages
genre: NF motivational

This is the second time I've tried to get through this short book. In some ways, it has a great message that I can take to heart. In other ways, it is simply too rah-rah, of the world, business-success-oriented. I feel bad that I've had it three days over the due date with such a long waiting list. It was on our summer Litwits reading list and I just couldn't get into it in August. And now I'm struggling to finish the last 40 pages. But it WILL go back today, whether I finish it or not.

www.The1Thing.com is apparently the motherlode of info that they gathered (and a book trailer).

I kind of wanted to record the "Big Ideas" at the end of each chapter, but I'm feeling lazy and time-crunched. I've looked a bit online, but here's one I grabbed a pic of earlier this summer:

 

There are lots and lots of these "Big Ideas" and they are worth looking at. I am going to move on with my life, however, and perhaps get back to this book at some future point in my life. Also, someone pencil-underlined throughout this library book and that was very frustrating! I almost went through it with an eraser, but . . . I'm more interested in finishing the reading first! 

And I think part of my issue with this book is that if I work to identify the One Thing that matters most to me, I would have to say my faith. If I focus more time, energy, and attention on my faith, I would quit my job (and our income would drop drastically). I am not sure at this point in my life WHAT I want. I'm too young to throw in the towel (and I do love learning), but I am either mid-life crisis-ing or not listening to God's call. In any case, this book is just not the right book for me at the right time.

The One Thing: the surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results

by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Hennepin County Library hardcover 225 pages
genre: non-fiction motivation

I admit defeat. This book is simply not the "right one" for me right now. It's also five days overdue at the library and I cannot renew it. So I'll have to cycle back to it at some point. The end-of-chapter "Big Ideas" would probably be sufficient to get the gist of the book. So far, I have found it to be oversimplified (but that's kind of the point).

page 35 - "Achievers operate differently. They have an eye for the essential. They pause just long enough to decide what matters and then allow what matters to drive their day." I need to be more like this and less swept along by the various and sundry things that crop up in my day!

Chapter 4 "Big Ideas" - Go small, go extreme, say no, don't get trapped in the "check off" game - I think I need to scan and save the blurbs with this . . .

page 79 - "When you gamble with your time, you may be placing a bet you can't cover." So true!

page 91 - Dweck and mindset. Interesting that I recently read an article that doesn't praise her work, but questions it.

There was also an interesting section on willpower. So many ideas running through my brain and so little time to process and discuss! I only got as far as page 104. I am torn about requesting it again . . . Perhaps I'll make note of it in my library bin and see if I have time in a few months to tackle it.