Mark's #36 - Amped by Daniel Wilson (2012)

Set in the near future, Amped portrays a world where neuro-technological advances enable humans to perform super human feats by unlocking and empowering their own brains through computer modular implants.  Those that get this procedure done (for a wide variety of reasons and abilities) are considered "Amps". Meanwhile, there are those of the "pure human" kind that resent the increased abilities and opportunities afforded to these "Amps".  Led by an anti-amp crusader senator, legislation, prejudice, and widespread mistreatment of amps begins to ensue. The premise of the book caught my attention, especially given my focus on dystopian future novels this year and my interest in the effects of technology on culture and society.  I had high hopes for this book, and was glad when I was able to check it out online for free from my local library.  Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it was the author or the reader (probably both), but the overall feel of the book seemed overly Emo/hipster/99%er to me.  It was interesting enough for me to finish... but just barely.

I would only recommend this book to people who are very much into sci-fi technothrillers, or perhaps Emo teens full of angst against 'the system'.  Otherwise, if you're looking for good, well researched, technothrillers, stick with the master of the genre - Michael Crichton.

Mark's #35 - Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper (2003)

As this is not the first time I've read Don't Waste Your Life, I wondered if reading this book again would be beneficial in any way.  As it turns out, I underestimated the book and its impact on my life and soul. Before Crazy Love, before Radical, this book was written to inspire a generation of Christ-followers to radical and joyful risk for the glory of Christ.   As the title suggests, this is Piper's passionate plea to make our lives count for eternity.

As I finished the book today, and the second-to-last chapter about world missions, I realized how deeply Piper's teachings and thoughts have penetrated and shaped my own thinking and teaching.  I am grateful for any reminder to live for what matters for all of eternity, as this world and its stuff pulls like gravity to distraction and a wasted life.

If you haven't done so, make Don't Waste Your Life a priority on your reading list.

Here's Lecrae's rap by the same title to spur you on: http://youtu.be/7RWEllqh5J0

Apologia - September 2012 - Thinking About Fiction

In September, we'll be reading and discussing fiction in our monthly Apologia discussion.

Read the article and three short stories and join us!

Here's all of the readings condensed into one pdf:

Apologia, September 2012

Here's the links to each of the readings:

1. Why Christians Should Read Fiction-- Tim Challies has a very helpful interview here with Russell Moore on the value of reading fiction—including what to avoid and what he recommends. http://www.challies.com/interviews/fiction-literature-an-interview-with-russell-moore
2. “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor http://ayersamazingwiki.wikispaces.com/file/view/Good+Country+People+Full+Text.pdf
3. “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor  http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html
4. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson http://www.americanliterature.com/Jackson/SS/TheLottery.html

Mark's #34 - Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know by Wayne Grudem (2005)

I have long been a fan of Dr. Grudem's theological insights and explanation of Christian doctrine through his much lengthier Systematic Theology book (published in 1995, 1264 large pages with tiny font).  Since the publication of Systematic Theology, a condensed version of that weighty tome entitled Bible Doctrine has been published (1999, 528 pages). However, for my current purposes, I was looking for a much briefer and broader overview of Christian doctrine as a personal refresher. Christian Beliefs was exactly what I was looking and hoping for (160 pages). Each of the twenty chapters summarize the key points and verses relating to the core doctrines of the Christian faith.  Grudem writes from a broad evangelical perspective,  with an emphasis on God's sovereignty (i.e., Reformed perspective).  Though a short book, there were countless Scripture quotations and references, demonstrating Grudem's high view of the Bible and its authority in the life of the Christian.

Not only was I personally edified by this broad sweep through doctrine, as a pastor, I look forward to  distributing this resource to as many people as I can for their equipping and encouragement.

Mark's #33 - The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg (2012)

Most of us recognize that we are largely a product of habits - good or bad.  Over time we develop our habits across a wide range of actions or thoughts - and, in-turn, those habits develop us. Here's a quick exercise for you:

• Think about your best habit.  How did it form?  How does it persist?
• Now think about your worst habit. How did it form? How does it persist?

It may have taken some work for you to do that exercise, because in doing so, you were actively engaging your brain in the analysis of your habits, which by nature, avoid active cognitive engagement.

This book explores habits - how they're formed, why they're formed, and what occurs in our brains in regards to habits, and how habits can change.  Using a multitude of examples from a wide variety of life, this book explores the habits of individuals, corporations, and societies.

As it turns out, our brains love habits - good or bad.  These 'autopilot' responses and behaviors allow our brains to focus its energy on other, less familiar activities.   Our brains process a multitude of 'cues' throughout each day.  If each 'cue' required deliberate thinking (tying our shoes for example) we would be mentally exhausted before lunch.  Think about when you first learned how to drive a car.  The information your brain had to process was almost overwhelming  - hopefully this is no longer the case.

The encouragement to me from reading this book was that though habits are pervasive and life shaping, our habits are not out of our control.  We are not victims of our habits. Rather, with intentional thought and action, our habits can and do change.

Once you understand that habits can change, you have the freedom and the responsibility to remake them.  Once you understand that habits can be rebuilt, the power of habit becomes easier to grasp, and the only option left is to get to work.

So, what habits would you like to change?

Mark's #32 - Penny From Heaven by Jennifer Holm (2006)

Recently, my daughter Zoe and I went on a two day daddy-daughter date to the Okuma military resort in northern Okinawa.  For the car ride there I downloaded this book for us to listen to. Set in 1953, New Jersery, Penny From Heaven is the story of 11-year-old Penny Falluci, and her large family that has been split by her fathers death several years prior. Her italian relatives from her father's side of her family make up a fun, boisterous bunch that is trying to fit into post WWII America.  Penny lives with her mother, Me-me and Pop-Pop, who are her grandparents.  Early on, it is apparent that there is much tension between the two sides of the family, as well as some mystery surrounding the circumstances of her father's death.

The author does a marvelous job of transporting the reader (or listeners in our case) to the world of 1953 New Jersey.  You get a sense for what daily life looked like then, as well as the fears and worries of the people were.  For example, Penny is not allowed to go to the movies or public pool, as her mother is constantly worried for that Penny will contract polio and end up in an iron lung.  You also get a sense for the racial and ethnic tensions of the day.  Italians are perceived as suspect, seeing as Italy was on the wrong side of the war.

As the story progresses, the reason for the rift between the two families becomes clear after Penny suffers an excruciating accident where her arm is mangled in an electric laundry ringer.   While in the hospital, as the families exchange harsh words, the truth about the death of Penny's father emerges.  Shortly after the war,  Penny's father is suspected to be a spy, since his brother Dominic bought him a fancy new shortwave radio (which apparently was not permitted for Italians in those days).  Her father was arrested and sent to an internment camp in Oklahoma, along with thousands of other suspected Italian Americans.  While there, he contracted some sort of illness and died alone.

Zoe and I enjoyed listening to this book.  I felt like, in some ways, it gave me added insight to the childhood of my own Italian mother born in 1952.  I could relate to the boisterous and loud Italian family gatherings with good food and good memories.