Before sharing the list I thought I might add some of my thoughts on the professors announcement. First, if religion has no place in the discussion, why did the professor feel the need to bring it up. I think I have an answer to that question. While the students are force fed the religious and irreligious thinking of Plato, Marx, Locke, Foucault, etc., the professor cannot be bothered with having to deal with the truth (yes, I have the nerve to utter such a word)–of course with Foucault in the mix dealing with the mere concept of truth would be great fun.

I fear that a great deal of what falls under the auspices of what passes for modern education can effectively be described through the words of E.M. Forster–“spoon feeding, in the long run, teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.”

Reading List

The Republic, Plato

Second Treatise of Government, John Locke

On Liberty, John Stuart Mill

Communist Manifesto, Marx & Engels

The Foucault Reader, Michel Foucault

The Rebirth of History: Times of Riots and Uprisings, Alain Badiou

Doesn’t this sound like some wonderful material which will make great fodder for discussion? Anybody want to read along?

Next we come to “The Very Reverend Gary Hall” (direct quote from the National Cathedral web-site lest you think I, of all people, would be facetious with such a title), an Episcopal clergyman, who first admits that he has been preaching on issues of gun control in the pulpit, (I wonder if the IRS knows about it), but now points out it is time to take action. As you listen to his statement take note of the “gun lobby” and the “Cross lobby.”

I am having to assume that when he juxtaposes the “cross lobby” with the “gun lobby” he is attempting to indicate that the “cross lobby” is composed of those in agreement with the political stance he is taking. However, in his comments he refers to people of faith, actually across many faiths, who stand with him. But, what faiths is he referring to? I can think of many faiths in a gathering representative of ecumenism who would not agree regarding an interpretation of the Cross. His own invitee, if she were even slightly devout in her Judaism, would think in ways diametrically opposed about the cross to even his very liberal form of Christianity.

Let’s be honest about what we have here. Once again a liberal Democrat that has no use for religion at any time except when she might exploit it for some political gain. In this case “The Very Reverend Gary Hall” became her willing pawn of the moment and in the process showed his own disrespect for the Cross of Christ and his willingness to lay it out for exploitation. For that he should be ashamed of himself.

Even though Tozer pastored within the Christian & Missionary Alliance in the early to mid 1900′s, his writings have taken his influence far outside that denomination. Of the many titles that have been published and re-published under his name, arguably the most important is the small volume entitled The Pursuit of God. While being able to be read in a single setting (barely over 100 pages), it is a book to be digested and prayed over in bite-size pieces. Because of that truth it easily falls into the category of those books that need to be read not once, but many times. I would suggest that it deserves a place on the short list of “must reads” for any serious Christian.

In this brief treatment the author has condensed his thinking into 10 brief chapters on issues as diverse as materialism, science, and rest. Unlike many similar books, some of the most meaningful text are found in the written prayers included at the end of each chapter. This is a book that has endured the test of time and continues to be very enriching to the inner life of the believer. I strongly recommend it to you.

If you have read much devotional Christian literature you can appreciate what I am about to say. We have started to produce a style of writing that is both quite simplistic and quite sophisticated. That is simplistic in it’s content and sophisticated in it’s form. The older material, on the other hand, is profound in it’s content, while being very simplistic in it’s presentation–that can be a very refreshing change if you are guilty of chronological snobbery–assuming that what is new, by simple matter of age, is better than that which is old.

A third title that I have just started to spend some time with is the unabridged (mostly) Denny translation of Les Miserables. While this is a fairly significant undertaking, not necessarily the reading of a book of that length, but putting aside the other things I would like to read long enough to finish this rather significant tome. Even though very few pages are in the finished column I have already gotten the sense that I will enjoy both the experience and the accomplishment.

As a pastor I am doing something that is a bit of an attempt to battle this dearth of mindful study–and it is not an original idea by any means. Beginning this month I am suggesting a “book of the month” at the church. As I have reminded the congregation, we are not discussing it, having quizzes on it, etc. This is simply a suggestion of a title that is substantive in nature which will hopefully allow us to ingest some good material which feeds the spirit on a little bit deeper level.

We have started with the brief devotional classic by A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God. This is one that, if you have never read, I would strongly suggest. If you have read it, as I have many times, it would be well worth pulling out again. Mine is so old that the price tag on it is $1.95 (new). However, I am tremendously enjoying it all over again. If you are not involved in some similar reading plan of your own you might like to join us.

The Pursuit of God was published in 1948, but as is true with so much of what Tozer has written, it feels as relevant as much of what is written today–the truth be told it is actually more relevant. If you have never delved into Tozer, this would be a really good time and place to start.

I am not sure why any Republican complains about President Obama bowing to world leaders, when their Representatives turn around and bow to him.  Paul Ryan showed he does not have the fortitude to serve as Vice-President as he likewise caved to pressure or simply lacks basic fiscal wisdom. Thus it was proper that he and Mitt Romney lost the election. It is my hope that every Republican who voted yes for this terrible legislation suffers miserably at the ballot box at the next election. As if the fiscal cliff vote was not bad enough, the hapless GOP rewarded their weak and fearful leader with the gavel once again.

It is my expectant desire that this political ignorance and fear on the part of the elected officials will move us ever closer to a third political party–except it will not be the Libertarian Party as many suspect, it will instead be the Conservative Party. It is my hope that out of this wreckage the few principled Conservatives in Washington will rise up and begin to build a consensus that will eventually govern with a moral core and an evident spine–something that the current GOP dreadfully lacks.

As we enter the political milieu of 2013 Pogo is showing himself quite wise once again:

This has come to my mind more recently not only because of this joke of a bill the President sent to the Senate (wait-don’t spending bills originate in the House?–how foolish of me, that was back when we used to pay attention to the Constitution) but also because of the social media circles I am involved in due to my role of book reviewer. It is a fair assumption to make (although possibly not completely accurate) that people who write books and review books are articulate and operate with the ability of lucid thought. I am of course excepting those people who spit out a constant drivel of zombie/vampire tripe.

Yet the majority of these same people lose the ability of cogent thought when it comes to politics. The simple fact that many of them voted Barack Obama back into office for a second term is all the evidence needed to make this point (see “Confederacy of Fools”). However, this can best be explained by Mitt Romney’s 47% (the gimme gang–which was obviously true) and added to that the 3% who suffer from PLGIM.

While it is obvious from the most cursory glance they have a rather pronounced inability to think cogently about fiscal policy, we see it abundantly evident in social issues. For instance, regardless of a complete and total lack of evidence for man-made global warming they will forever worship at that altar. Now we are seeing the new issue–”fracking.” Here is a challenge for the fun-loving Conservative. Go to your favorite “intelligent” liberal and ask them about this perfectly safe and legitimate practice–after they are halfway through their tirade, ask them what it is and what makes it so dangerous. Be prepared for some great fun.

This is the same group that demonizes Capitalism, and praises Socialism. Or thinks we will somehow spend our way out of debt by overtaxing the wealth creators in our country. Or this President who could not support a bill that would give personhood to a baby that survived a botched abortion and has never, ever, ever, supported any restriction to killing unborn children, wants us to believe he has the greater interest of the country in mind when he tries to gut the 2nd Amendment.

Keep in mind that Liberals are not bad people–they just need help. I have a friend who is a neurobiologist and I am wondering if this is a social concern that he might want to take up researching. This needs to be addressed because since it has become so systemic it is quickly taking the country in a direction that we (people concerned for their country) do not want to go. Time is of the essence.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 22,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 5 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

As many of you are aware a great deal of my writing energy has gone into a foray into the world of book reviewing at PJ Review of Books. I have enjoyed that process immensely and continue to do so. What has been especially meaningful is being able to connect with new and upcoming authors and hopefully having a part in getting the word out regarding their projects.

I thought this would be a good chance to look back on some of the books I have especially enjoyed and then some I am looking forward to reading this next year. I do know that however well-intentioned my reading plans for 2013 may be I will most certainly change as the opportunities do likewise.

Favorite Reads from 2012

I was able to read a lot of really good stuff this year and to narrow it down to a few is both difficult and a little unfair to many titles, but the few I will mention are the real standouts. I encourage you to check out these reviews and even more so to check out these books. While most of these titles are in no specific order, number one is indeed number one–the best thing I read this past year was:

Saving Leonardo: A Call to Resist the Secular Assault on Mind, Morals & Meaning, by Nancy Pearcey.

Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010, by Charles Murray

Prior to this trek into the world of book reviewing I have not been much of a fan of much fiction at all and definitely not what I would call the “thriller” genre. Two authors I have been introduced to are Bill Johnstone and Mark Gilroy. Gilroy’s work was possibly the biggest surprise and I can’t say enough good about his two titles I was able to enjoy.

White Collar Option, by Bill Johnstone

Cuts Like A Knife, M.K. Gilroy

Every Breath You Take, M.K. Gilroy

My final two come out of the non-fiction spiritual realm. As I indicated there are so many that I am leaving out that were so good, but IMHO these were the real standouts.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream, by David Platt

Why Jesus?: Rediscovering His Truth in an Age of Mass Marketed Spirituality, by Ravi Zacharias

Reading Plans for 2013

Les Miserábles, by Victor Hugo–as much as I love this story I have never read the unabridged version. That is a goal for this year.

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible, by Randolph Richards & Brandon O’ Brien

The Collected Sermons of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, by Isabel Best

Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction, Jonathan Pennington

Even though I already have a lengthy and growing list of books to be reviewed, most of my reading I would expect is unknown at this point. If you have any recommendations I would love to hear them.

This is not to say I hated it–I certainly did not–much of it I loved–but not as a whole. The problem I think stems from too much ambition. Overreaching with this story is a very understandable temptation. As would be expected the cinematography is so much larger and encompassing than could ever be captured on the stage. There are many gorgeous panoramas along with meaningful backdrops. In fact, there seems to be a bit of schizophrenia going on as this project never does quite figure out if it is a movie or a Broadway production–this lasts to the final scene which more or less resembles a massive curtain call. The storytelling suffers a bit with it’s operatic style and scarcity of dialogue.

There are some very strong musical performances. Anne Hathaway’s “I Dreamed A Dream” just about tears your heart out, while the vocals of Eddie Redmayne as Marius are stunning. This production is strongest from the barricade scenes until the finale. The conclusion will most likely be met with applause (such was the case today) and a dry eye will be difficult to find. However, this movie seems to take quite a while to get started and if you are not familiar with the story yet, you will want to read a synopsis prior to viewing.

Even though the themes of justice, forgiveness, and mercy which make this story so timeless are well represented, the sensuality and double entendres are amplified well beyond necessity. Most that have will see this film have already decided to do so, thus I do not expect that my comments will persuade or dissuade many. If you go in with a bit of a “blank slate” you will most likely have a satisfactory viewing experience. The rest of us may be set up for a bit of a disappointment.