Go MAD Summer Book Bonanza

What is a Summer Book Bonanza? It's Doug, Brad and Jesse's grab-and-go list of books that shaped us, challenged us, and also made us laugh & think along the way. From the St. Augustine to the Fonz, there's something here for everyone!

If you are an avid reader, you will find new fuel. If you're not, we make the case that the right book at the right time can change how you think, pray, and show up in the world as an ambassador for Christ.

Grab a notebook, build your own summer reading list, and keep your Bible at the center. Subscribe, share this with a friend, leave a review, and tell us what book you would add to the mix.

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Thank you for listening and Go M.A.D. today!

Transcript

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A Different Kind Of Go Mad

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hey everyone, you want to stay tuned for this episode because this is going to be a little different. We're going to be talking about the GoMad Summer Book Bonanza, which yes, Doug and I do read and we'll prove it. And we're each going to share, including Jesse, we're going to share three books each. Why is this important? Well, hey, you may not be a big reader, you may read all the time, but I can tell you that these are books that have an impact on each one of us, can have an impact on you. And reading as an ambassador of Christ is an important thing to be about. Stay tuned. You're going to hear some fun along the way and some great recommendations. Let's go, Mad.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Hey, welcome to Go Mad. Woo with Doug and Brad. Go make a difference with Doug and Brad. And Jesse. Um, we're trying something a little different this time around. I didn't know that anyone would be interested in my summer to-do list, but I've got it here. Um please don't read it. Wait. You said books? Books. Books. Oh man. Well, okay. All right, hold on, hold on. That's me typing. Looking up the time I'm ready

Hammock Dreams And Near ER Stories

SPEAKER_01 1:07

now. I was actually gonna ask, uh, getting ready for this. I was like, the best way to read a book in the summer is in a hammock. Right? Yes. Has any of have any any of you guys ever actually tried to install a hammock?

SPEAKER_02 1:22

I thought you were gonna okay, not just install, I thought you were gonna talk about getting into one. Again, a man of my stature, you're carrying. I just feel like I'm gonna flip over every time I get into the No, I know, but I I I've always preferred a man of my character.

SPEAKER_01 1:40

Sounds like a nice way an 1800s guy says I could stand to read a few stallinkies. It is it is a challenge. I almost had to go to the ER yesterday. Just by trying to put up a hammock and then trying to get into it.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

But yeah, it is it is a challenge. But the good news is you can read in different locations. And I want to say to people that are like, I'm not a big reader. I get that. Maybe this will make you want to read. Yeah, I am these are some fun I have a confession. I'm not an avid reader. I I like reading, yeah, and I have a stack of books that are partially finished. Yep, but I I want to read more, and every time I do, I'm like, man, there is so much great stuff to read out there.

SPEAKER_01 2:26

That comic book uh uh stack you have it it it they're only like half done.

SPEAKER_02 2:32

Yeah, but I am up to the thick Garfields where they have like three books in one, and I am making good progress. The three in ones.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Yeah. So you're listening, you're like, okay, this is going to be the most spiritual list. I'm going to be uh very edified. We think you will be, and there's some of that, but you might be surprised with a uh a selection or two here.

SPEAKER_02 2:56

You know what I was reminded of when getting ready for this? The old school, two things. First of all, I was reminded of the old commercial Riff. Oh Reading is fundamental. That's so guilty. I went on YouTube, Ed Asner was surrounded by kids on the steps of a library. Yeah, and they all have books. I'm like, that looks like what you see nowadays. Um, and I'm like, and it ends with give a kid a book, and you'll give a kid a break.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

You win. There we go. I just remember those because it was I just remember his look.

Reading Habits And Comic Book Confessions

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 3:32

He'd be like, children read. And then I was also reminded of some PTSD I have. Some book PTSD, Doug. Doug. What? Oh, Doug. What are you looking at me? So Doug and I shared a room growing up. And and there we are, we're we're here. I'm gonna be blamed from each other. And evidently I lightly snore. I I gently snore in the night, right? Are you guys familiar with the Richter scale?

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Can anything can anything that shows up on the Richter scale be considered lightly? Here, hold on, hold on. This is a snore. This is a Brad snore.

SPEAKER_02 4:14

Like you should probably go to the doctor right now.

SPEAKER_01 4:17

But regardless, I tried so hard. I'm serious. I tried so hard to get to sleep. You know how when you're trying to get to sleep, you're like, I don't have a lot of time, I gotta get to sleep, it's too much pressure, you can't get to sleep. I tried so hard to get to sleep before you would get to sleep because of the snoring.

SPEAKER_02 4:33

So Doug and I have these stacks of just mostly comic books at that age next to the bed. End of the bed, yeah. All of a sudden, I would wake up in the morning and there was like a Garfield comic on me, an Archie comic, something. Or heavy, or bigger. He would throw something to get me to stop snoring, and then he ran out of the comic books. Warren piece will leave a mark. I'm just gonna say, uh it brings up questions at school. What is that rectangle bruise you have there?

SPEAKER_01 5:03

I might get the window I needed, and I would, I do remember I would I would have three or four selections. Yep. Because I didn't want to start with war and peace. This is this is You wanted to.

Snoring Trauma And Flying Paperbacks

SPEAKER_01 5:15

This is the compassion and love I had for you. I didn't want to start there. I wanted to start with Garfield, and I did. And if Garfield didn't work, we got to um the Karamitsukov brothers.

SPEAKER_02 5:25

We are still pursuing counseling for this. Uh yeah and uh so so I got past that for this episode, and I'm just gonna dive in. How about I start? I'm gonna start with the first book here. Um my first selection again.

SPEAKER_01 5:40

No, please let me start. I I know if you know I'm sorry, I'm not usually selfish like this. I hope in the podcast. But I I I'm so concerned you guys are gonna say the one I wanna say. I had some concerns about that, but yeah. Okay, I can I please start Go for it. All right, here we go. One of the most um uh groundbreaking uh um difference-making books in my life. You guys will know this one. The Hardy Boys and the Case of the Missing Watermelon. I'm just gonna take this back and the sequel quick. I it was The Sequel, The Hardy Boys and the Case of the Missing Watermelon Rhines. I'll tell you what.

SPEAKER_02 6:22

If I cross that off my list, can I go back to the case?

SPEAKER_01 6:25

See, they realized everyone had eaten them.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

If I promise, Jesse and I won't cover that one. Can I can I start again here? All right. So book number one, it's a lot of fun. No, all right. Um, book number one is uh, and again, we're doing this because being an ambassador for Christ, you should be a reader, you should read books, and this is one that really impacted

Fresh Wind Fresh Fire And Prayer

SPEAKER_02 6:49

me. I'm gonna hold this up here. It is called Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Simbal. Oh, he's the best. Now, this is I should look at the camera and smile for a moment. Here's the book. I we're getting no proceeds from this, but uh Fresh Wind, Fresh, Fresh Fire. Quick summary of this, because we're not gonna take a long time on any of these books, but this book is part memoir and part challenge to the modern church and and just believers. Jim Simblet tells a story of how the struggling Brooklyn Tabernacle, which, if you don't know, huge church, 10,000 people a week go to this church in New York City. Incredible place grew from a very tiny congregation, like a few people, into a thriving ministry. And guess what? It wasn't through programs, spoiler alert, wasn't through marketing, was not through a strong social media presence because there wasn't social media when this was happening, or church growth techniques. It happened because of prayer, because of dependence on God and the work of the Holy Spirit. Some of the lessons I took away from this, I jotted down, prayer is not a supplement to ministry, it is the foundation of ministry.

SPEAKER_01 7:59

It's everything.

SPEAKER_02 8:00

God often works most powerfully through people who know they are weak. I learned that the church's effectiveness is measured more by its spiritual vitality than the size of the church or the programs. I was reminded the gospel is most convincing when people see transformed lives, and also revival begins with a desperate hunger for God. I I realized in reading this story that when I'm not praying, I'm doing something wrong. I am doing something wrong because when things look hopeless, when you're ready to give up, because Pastor Jim Simbler talks about being ready to give up, when you're on your knees and you're with some the body of Christ praying together, even a small group where two or three are gathered, God shows up. Uh quote from this no matter what I preach, the future will depend upon our times of prayer. And the more we pray, the more we sense our need to pray. So this was a game-changing book. And I will tell you this, as is the case with many of the books that I might recommend. It's an easy read. It really is. It's not long, and it's really straightforward in the writing. Check it out this summer.

SPEAKER_01 9:10

I have read this book and been blown away by it. I all I'll say is I have been to this church. Yeah. I've never felt the Holy Spirit in a place like I did there. I actually we started, Anna and I were in a dry point in our lives. We started their their choir started singing, and we before they were a sentence uh into the into the song, we were both in tears. The big thing is they have a Wednesday, a middle of the week prayer time, okay, where that place rocks. Yeah, they fill it up just like the services are filled up. If you want to see the kind of heart that can make that kind of thing happen, read this book. So there you go.

SPEAKER_02 9:51

That was my first choice.

SPEAKER_01 9:52

That's a good one.

SPEAKER_02 9:53

I've got some lights. And can we say, real quick, this was impossible. I meant to mention that early on. Yeah, because it was like we're all talking before children. Yeah. We started talking before we were recording. Tune in. Choosing your favorite child. These are just some of the ones that stuck out to us.

SPEAKER_01 10:19

I've got some light summer reading for

Spurgeon On Spiritual Warfare And Schemes

SPEAKER_01 10:22

you. You ready? Now, I do coming up. I I these are three very different types of books, but I'm going to start with the light summer reading one called Spiritual Warfare in a Believer's Life. Wow. That is that like is that a good audiobook? Is that a good good drawings in it? Here's the thing: I've never read a book like this. I've read I I am a big reader. I love Christian reading books, biographies. It's by Charles Spurgeon. Uh I love anything by Spurgeon, but this book really grabbed me. It's a great study on who the devil is and what he's capable and not capable of doing. We've got all these weird ideas of who he is, what he looks like, all this. Umtle strategies he takes against God's people, how to detect those, how to battle them, and ultimately the sovereignty and power of Jesus to overcome the enemy. Man, God gave Spurgeon serious Holy Spirit wisdom in this book. I would, I'm seriously, I I if I oh wait, here it is. Hold on. Uh there we go. Um, nine people watching on YouTube. Spurgeon will sponsor. Wait. Yeah, I don't think he's gonna uh uh but yeah, spiritual warfare and a believer's life. That's good. Here's the thing. Uh I read this, and like if you're if you're here's a reason to come on YouTube, you can see the the tons. I don't think I have a book that has more outlining in it and un underlining in it. I was like, how did how did Spurgeon know that that particular thing was happening? And wait a minute, he's right scripturally, that does lead back to the enemy. When the when the Bible says be aware of his schemes, this book is going to help you with that. This isn't about seeing the enemy around every corner. That's not what this is about. This is though about the fact that the enemy studies us and he can't read our minds, he can't make us do anything, but he's dangerous all the same. Listen to this quote. Listen to this quote. When the arch spy finds a weak place in the wall of our castle, he takes care to plant his battering ram and begin his siege. You may conceal even from your dearest friend your weakness, but you will not conceal it from your worst enemy who has link's eyes and detects in a moment the joint in your armor. Talks about how the enemy chooses the timing of his attacks meticulously. Oh, he's doing great right now, he's not in the frame of mind to fall for what I've got to offer. But other times it's clear to him that we're kind of in a different way, we're anxious, we're uh we're uh our temper is acting up, and it's time to plant a seed. So, bottom line, if you're interested in the fascinating scripture-based peek behind the curtain at how the enemy tries to trip us up, discourage us, go grab this short book and grab that highlight marker because you're gonna need it.

SPEAKER_02 13:17

I definitely need to check that one out again. It's been a while since I've read it. Great recommendation, Doug. I love it. So, Jesse, it's over to you. What's first on your list here?

Making The Pentateuch Make Sense

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Okay, I'll get this one done first because um this is not one I would recommend. Like, hey, just check this book out. Because to be honest, it's a textbook. Oh, that's what everyone loves. Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 13:41

Everyone's favorite if it's a biology textbook, I'm just gonna be like, what, or chemistry or something?

SPEAKER_00 13:47

So it's called From Paradise to the Promised Land. Oh. An Introduction to the Pentateuch by Desmond Alexander. I'm reading it right now. No, that sound actually sounds fascinating. Yeah. This is about the first five books of the Old Testament, and here's why I love it. Um, most of the time when I read the Old Testament, um, I feel like I get a lot of details that I don't need. Why do we need these genealogies? Why do you have to tell me what town this is in? What difference does that make to me? I'm you know, it's a Monday morning, I gotta get up and live my life. Like, I I why do I need these details? And what this book does so helpfully is it traces a lot of the themes in the first five books of the Old Testament, and it strings together what feels like unrelated details to me that nobody asked for. Um so it traces some of the the major themes of the first five books of the Old Testament and it gives meaning to them. So it makes me feel like I'm reading something that has meaning. So here's here's just an example, chapter three. It traces the role of the word seed through the book of Genesis. Now, why is that important? So often when you read through the Old Testament, you get genealogies. Who k like why do I need to know this? This is a chapter of names, how long they lived. What difference does that make for my life? Like, who who cares? Why do they care? Why do I care? And uh the author points points this out. Straight from Genesis 3.15, um God promises a seed that will crush the head of the serpent. And what the author of Genesis is doing as he provides all these genealogies is tracing the line of that seed and showing how God is preserving his promise through uh people having kids. And so instead of it just being a rant, like who cares about all these names, the author is including that in Genesis to help us go, oh, remember that promise God made in Genesis 3.15? He's tracing that through the genealogies, through the lineage, so that by the time we get to the end of Genesis, we're going, oh, God's kept his promise. It's still going. We still haven't seen the the promise fulfilled, but we see how God is guarding that promise. And so all throughout there there's all kinds of things like that in this book that have been really helpful for me. I'm still reading it and it's just been it's just been really helpful.

SPEAKER_01 16:06

Some of the richest studies I've ever had have been from looking into something that I wasn't sure why it was in the Bible. Seriously, like the the I remember I uh the Matthew lineage at the beginning of Matthew, where there's like just this guy begat this guy and this guy begat, and and you're like, why is that there? And then I read it was because so he was writing to Jewish people. He wanted them to know that Jesus was human and and God, and he came from a lineage that's a Jesse. I might actually check out a book about the Pentateuch because uh that sounds really interesting.

SPEAKER_02 16:41

Two things hit me when Jesse was sharing that. Three things sounds very interesting. Secondly, Jesse's smarter than us. Uh this is why which that was people were like we're reading Garfield. We knew already. And uh and third, I it actually hit me from the ambassador perspective that any of these books, if you're you're sitting out there reading these this summer on the beach, wherever you might be, you might draw questions from people where you have a chance to kind of share with them about what the book's about. And I'm picturing someone reading that book on the beach, and uh they would and I it would definitely stick out to people. It's like that is not a Grisham novel.

SPEAKER_01 17:21

So I like two foot, two feet tall.

SPEAKER_02 17:24

So that's definitely what you got

D L Moody And Simple Obedience

SPEAKER_02 17:28

one, buddy? Yeah, I so I'm a biography guy, I like biographies. Right. This one here called A Passion for Souls by Lyle Dorset. I he was one of my profs at Wheaton College, but he writes a book on the life of D.L. Moody, and I here's why I like this book. This will be pretty straightforward here. It's a book about someone who was a real down-to-earth person, like you and me, but who had an extraordinary impact because of his simple yet challenging obedience to Jesus. It wasn't easy obedience, but it was very straightforward. God kept leading him and he kept saying yes to God's control. This book was a vivid reminder to me about how God can use someone who is surrendered to him and willing to follow his plan. Um, it resonated with me also because D.L. Moody, if you know much about us, our ministry, what the things that we're about, I he has a heart for the neglected and hurting. Including he had a school for a short time where he invited Native students, Native American students, and they weren't this was huge back in that day. Before Moody Bible Institute, he had this school, the Mount Herman School, and brought in it was for women, and he brought in these women from reservation communities. He said, find the find those who are ready to learn more. Wow. And and so I just his heart for neglected and hurting, yeah, there's still a high-quality Bible college that founded by him that is still having a worldwide impact, but it all grew out of a heart for others. So I I love that's not some lofty ideal that's put forth in this book, but it's about what one man was and an accessible reality of what all followers of Christ can and should be. This quote is amazing. I love this one. Christianity is not an insurance ticket that provides eternal life, rather, it is a personal relationship with a leader who wants you to follow him and not go your own way. So, passion for souls, huge impact on my life. Great uh man of God who wrote it about another great man of God.

SPEAKER_01 19:36

That is a great book, and I feel so lame because the book I'm about to share has uh compared to that, has very uh uh not quite as much spiritual significance, but significance nonetheless.

SPEAKER_02 19:50

No, I've got that coming up next. So that is so kick it off. What do

Henry Winkler’s Story Behind The Fonz

SPEAKER_02 19:54

you got? Here's maybe one of the curveball ones, you're ready. Which by the way, so people know we don't know what each other shares here. So this is fascinating. We don't this is great.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

There uh Doug trivia. There's only one celebrity in my life that I have ever traveled to go to one of those conventions where you can meet them. Yeah, get a signature Martin Cove. No one knows who that knows, but his picture's hanging in the studio. If you know, if you know uh sweep the leg from the We did meet him, but you didn't travel to Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_02 20:29

So who?

SPEAKER_01 20:30

Defons. Oh, Henry Winkler. That's well, I guess technically that's his real name. No, but it's the Fonz. But it's the Fonz. He came out with a book called Being Henry by Henry Winkler. I don't ever I don't typically read like the celebrity biographies. I had to read this one. Of course, DeFonz. Real name? Arthur Fonsarelli. Uh it's best to start here by letting folks know the Fonz was my well, he was really my everything when I was a little kid. You dressed up as him once, even. I remember only once. The kids really look at you funny in school when you when you wear uh a leather jacket 68 days in a row. Um, but I mean, you watch Happy Days, you want to be this guy. Hit the jukebox and it flashes to life. Check. Communicate the highest level of coolness with the simple protruding thumb facing towards the heavens. Check girls swooning over you when you put together said thumb with another finger and make a snapping sound. Oh my goodness. Check. All super realistic, by the way. If you've ever heard the phrase jumping the shark, it's from a happy days episode where the Fonz does a water ski jump over a shark in swim trunks and a leather jacket.

SPEAKER_00 21:45

I didn't see the leather jacket come in. Oh my goodness there.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

Uh I by the way, I've never tried that, but I plan to. Uh, but this is actually a better than most celebrity autobiography. Really interesting stuff. Stuff in here. He gets pretty transparent. He didn't read a book until he was 31 years old because of undiagnosed dyslexia. His parents growing up, he said they called him dummy names, his whole growing up, um, which fueled his desire to make something of himself. And even gets into the story of my favorite happy days episode, and I think yours too, Brad, ever. Um, and moment ever when he when it's the Christmas episode, they invite him into their family, I think it's in the first season, and he thanks God for the Cunningham family as they sit down to dinner just by simply looking up and going, Hey God, thanks. It ends that way. It's actually more of a moving scene than you might think. It's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

It really is. It's a great episode, and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

It's a great book if you have any interest in uh Henry Winkler or why a young man would wear a leather jacket 68 days in a row to elementary school. Read it. Quick aside, you might not want to have the audiobook version at all times going when the kids are in the car. There's there's nothing real bad, but I mean there's there's a little salty language in there, just a quick little warning. There you go.

SPEAKER_02 23:06

All right, so a good book. I've read that one too. Good stuff. Jesse, what do you got for your second

Great Expectations And Quiet Guilt

SPEAKER_02 23:13

book?

SPEAKER_00 23:13

Okay, brand new book. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.

SPEAKER_01 23:17

I haven't Okay, hang on. Did that just come out?

SPEAKER_00 23:20

Yeah, it just came out.

SPEAKER_01 23:22

Do you have to do this one?

SPEAKER_00 23:24

Do I have to? Oh Miss Haversham. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Shivers down my spine. I'm right there with you. I am right there with you.

SPEAKER_01 23:31

Right now.

SPEAKER_00 23:32

Yeah. Yep. We'll just sit in that for a second. No, I I I totally agree. Uh, what a terrifying like what's gonna happen every time he goes in that house. I don't know. Seriously. Um joke. No, for sure.

SPEAKER_02 23:44

Doug woke up just screaming in the night after he threw books at me for years. Havers are motion! The wedding dress! The wedding dress!

SPEAKER_00 23:53

Um, so here's why I love this so much. I felt like Charles Dickens knows human tendencies just about as good as anyone ever has. Yes. The experience of carrying around low-grade guilt. Like, I should call that person, and I'm not. That that's like the whole book is that uh Pip is just like this guy who basically stepped into my life and raised me and only did good to me. I need man, I gotta reach back out to him, and I I just haven't, because my life has gotten more fortunate, and and he just feels guilty the whole book until the end, and there's there's some really awesome redemption. But this is this is my favorite quote. This is from early on in the book, Pip, the main character. Uh he says this in a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. I had had no intercourse with the world at that time, and I imitated none of its many inhabitants who act in this manner. Quite an untaught genius. I made the discovery of the line of action for myself. And I just feel like that just summed up I am an untaught genius. I taught myself to be cowardly. No one had to teach me, like I figured it out on my own. I just felt like, oh my goodness, if that isn't our sin nature, I don't know what is. Like nobody taught me how to do this. I just knew how to do it from the get-go, and I just felt like that was so insightful.

SPEAKER_01 25:20

People are missing these days, these great classics, man. I mean, that that one is awesome. Plus, the hero in it is named Pip. It fantastic. Is that what that song? Pip the magic dragon lives by the way.

SPEAKER_02 25:35

We'll talk later. Um, and I it it wasn't Pip. Um the great choice, Jesse. For real. That's a good one. And and I will say that uh even that the some of the things you just shared there, Jesse, great for ambassadors to take to heart about man, not reaching out to people, about learning that just uh you how to have courage in life and everything else.

SPEAKER_01 25:57

Great book. Don't read a book, don't don't uh judge a book by its cover with Miss Haversham. She's more than she seems. Don't judge a book by Miss Haversham. All right. There uh she'll terrify.

SPEAKER_02 26:08

What you got, buddy?

Wingfeather Saga And Family Redemption

SPEAKER_02 26:09

So my uh my They're on our last one. Is uh yeah, the I I I'm I waited till now to tell people. Um there's a there's a friend of mine that uh is a huge C. S. Lewis scholar, and this is not C. S. Lewis, uh, and so I feel horrible because you should have Lewis on a reading list, just all the Lewis. Um but this is kind of in the vein of Chronicles of Narnia. Uh and so I'm gonna do what I I'm taking a roundabout. This is actually recommending a series, so I'm doing four books in one. Uh this is called The Wing Feather Saga. Yes, it's by Andrew Peterson. And uh we especially uh uh Sarah actually would read this out loud just to the family. Uh and I I it it was so cool because it's kind of a combination of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. You get some of both of that, but it's four, it the there's kids in the story, this family overall. But the kind of summary, it's a it's a four-book fantasy adventure that follows three siblings. The the names are great. Janner Kalmar, whose nickname is Tink, and Lily Igbe is the uh last name, and not Pip. He is not in this one. And they discover that their family is tied to a lost kingdom and a much larger story than they ever imagined. It begins kind of lighthearted in the first book, um, but it's in it goes from a small village and gradually unfolds into an epic struggle against evil, sacrifice, redemption, hope. And at its heart, this series is about family loyalty and sacrificial love, courage in the face of fear, the struggle between light and darkness, identity and purpose, forgiveness and redemption, and hope that persists even when the circumstances seem hopeless. And so I would just encourage you, if you're looking for something even to do as a family, it's there are some sad things in this. There are some things where you just are like, man, some victorious things, and then some things where you're like, man, my my kids are gonna have a hard time with this. And it's it's life. What is that? Oh, I wish I had that C.S. Lewis quote where he's like, don't hide these things from teach them about the warriors, the soldiers, the dragons that are out there in this world because they we learn from that. So I will say It's not just a kid's book. It's not, it it definitely isn't. Uh, the the first uh, and if you know Andrew Peterson is music, I love that too. But the first book is called On the Edge of the Sea, uh On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness. My one thing on this first book, don't give up on it. Because at first you may be like, well, that's moving a little slow. They're setting the stage, character development, everything else, it's very well done. But some people are like, well, I don't know. But it is stick with it because by the end of the book, you're gonna be like, I have to read the second, the third, the fourth. So if you want a book of wonder with some emotional depth to it, check out this series, Wingfeather Saga.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

Brad, I just finished reading that series to my daughter, like before bedtime. We got through the whole thing. And I would also say, don't skip the footnotes because she thought those were the funniest things ever. Whenever those red footnotes, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

And I will say a bonus for us, because we had read these right before COVID, and during the lockdown, uh, when people weren't going anywhere, Andrew Peterson read these books on YouTube. You can get his audiobook now, but he doing the voices even of those footnotes, Jesse, because he would read every one of them, it was an amazing experience right there.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

And I I mean, if if not, you know, everyone's got a different uh feeling on it. But I mean, if you're looking for a um for an alternative to the Harry Potters of the world and everything, yes, this is this is for you. And the writing, I'm telling you, is just on same on par, man. It's really, it's really good. Um I am gonna jump into my last one here.

Oswald Chambers And Honest Struggle

SPEAKER_01 30:04

Yeah, it's another biography, um it's but unlike one I've ever read. This is this is a Christian biography, uh a biography of a Christian man that most everybody knows but does not know his life. By reading this, it was it was so transparent, and he this guy was so human. I'll tell you who it is in a second, but he dealt with such human struggles that it was incredibly. I don't know about you guys, but but Peter to me is the most inspiring disciple because, yes, because of the amazing things he did, but because he was such a bonehead sometimes, and the Lord still used him. Uh hello, note to self, that's me. Absolutely, for you. I mean, wait, no, I mean for me, too. That's great agreement. Um Oswald Chambers, uh, the author, this is the life story of the author of My Utmost for His Highest. Maybe the it's called Abandoned to God. Do you have it to show? I do. Yeah, here. Uh here it is Abandoned to God by David McCasland. Uh, this thing, I I it you want to read this because it is so honest for a Christian biography. I've read other Christian biographies, and it seems like you're you're reading the life of a saint. You know, they might suggest from time to time he had a struggle. But this is like he struggles with depression. Um, he had deep love for art, deep love for art, and thought it played a big part in the kingdom. His father completely disagreed with him, and and it really ostracized them from one another. Lots of other stuff that'll that will encourage you. Um the even brilliant spiritual guys like Oswald Chambered had his very human struggles. I found I it was so weird. I found I had tons in common with him in his life story. It was very bizarre, it's uncanny. Uh like having a passion for art and a passion for missions, going, well, wait a minute, those are two very different things. Hey, those those can't go hand in hand. Well, they can. How do those intersect? Um, we both listen to this quote because we both came to the same vital realization as it pertained to art. He said he now knew only that his aim had once been art for God. Now it was only God. Uh for him, for me, it was that realization seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be he'll show you why you have those passions. If if you listen to him and just obey him and take the steps he's asking to take in his life, he'll show you why you have that passion. Um, he had the failure of a long, serious romantic relationship, but it prepared him for Millie, his his uh his beloved wife that actually made utmost for his highest possible. Look into that. Um And of course, if you've ever I'll I'll wrap up with this, if you've ever heard this great quote, it was him. Prayer is not a preparation for work, it is the work. Prayer is not a preparation for the battle, it is the battle. Um, something I've needed to learn my whole life and still do. You will be inspired by this um to know that someone as awesome and someone who's made such a huge difference in so many lives was also a human being that uh dealt with the struggles we deal with.

SPEAKER_02 33:36

I feel chagrined because I have the book, I have not read it yet, and now I have to. I mean, not too you, Doug. Thank you. Thank you very much. Great recommendation. And I really do biographies. I just there's so much you can learn uh from because you're talking about real people, real approaches. Uh thank you.

SPEAKER_00 33:53

All right, so Jesse, third book

Augustine’s Confessions Feels Modern

SPEAKER_00 33:55

for you. Okay, I got a biography too. And uh Augustine's Confessions. Um, I had always heard quote and had never actually you know gone through it until recently. And what struck me about um his story is it sounds so modern. It sounds like exactly the struggles that people might have today. His he he talks about how he goes back and forth, he vacillates, like, uh, you know, I I I think this is I think you know Christianity might be true and good, but I really want to hold on to my lifestyle. The sins that he he's pretty open about. He's like, actually, I really just didn't want to give up this sin. And so I'm um, you know, I kind of was like, uh, I made excuses for it. The questions that he the doubts, the questions that he dealt with um and that he sought answers for were like, man, th those are the kinds of questions that people might ask today. The role that friends and mentors played in his life um to help him uh slowly over time uh come into into the kingdom of God. Um I just I I got to the end of the story and was like, I feel like if you just switched out some of the names and places and y you could be like, oh, this happened this year. It is just and and what old is the book? Oh uh it's written in the 300s? Yeah, it's old so uh you know it's it that's what surprised me so much was like and and what encouraged me about that was like wow, um the way that God saves people is everyone's story is unique, but man, um God's been saving people over the past two thousand years in similar ways. It's not like people then were just so different, and you know, if they became Christians, it was just such a different thing. It's like actually it really sounds like the way people come to faith today, and I I was just encouraged by that.

SPEAKER_01 35:52

There's a reason that book has been a classic since the 300s. It's so weird.

SPEAKER_02 35:57

It's a game changer, and I I'll say for my wife, I know, especially her, she is a copy that is so beat up and worn out and underlined. It it's one you definitely should check out. Good good call, Jesse.

SPEAKER_01 36:07

Jesse, thanks for that. Great

Honorable Mentions And Listener Challenge

SPEAKER_01 36:09

choice. There's our nine. We got we got some honorable mentions here. We gotta do them fast. We're out of time. Should I start? Yeah, go for it. The treasure principle by Randy Alcorn. Uh So Great Salvation by Charles Ryrie. What it means to believe in Jesus Christ. Can you lose your salvation? Uh he's got a great study on that. I thought you were asking, man. I'm like, it's the end of the episode. I can't just Hashtag you can't. Uh The Serpent of Paradise by Erwin Lutzer. Um uh The Devil is God's devil, like Martin Luther said. It's all about that. With Christ in the school of prayer by Andrew Murray. Um, and uh uh how you view the father as uh uh father wants to have a relationship with you, it changed my life, and heaven, another one by Randy Alcorn. If you've ever thought heaven sounds a little boring, because we'll be on the cloud singing hymns with the harp all day, you're gonna want to read this book.

SPEAKER_02 37:01

So good. I I used to have a couple that on the honorable mention. Uh The Intentional Father um by John Tyson. Uh very good book for dads out there. Um, I encourage you to check that out. Uh, I would also say it's on the uh uh shelf behind me. You've got Johnny Cash by Greg Laurie. Great biography about Johnny Cash. Pastor Greg Laurie wrote that. He's got a couple others on Steve McQueen, on the Jesus Revolution. Great. So easy reads. Uh and then you've got um also back here, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, uh, fantastic book. And Case for Christ, Lee Strobel. Uh I know you probably have heard about it and everything else, but uh, if you're looking for if you've got something in your life that's like, I don't believe, and and you're trying to kind of give them some evidences, this guy's journey, Lee's uh Lee Strobel's journey to finding Jesus, you can learn a lot from that. So those are just some of the honorable mentions I've got.

SPEAKER_00 37:56

You got any, Jesse? Uh sure. I've the guilt I feel by not including C. S. Lewis uh uh in the part. It's like I think we all feel that guilt. And so at least honorable mention. Uh I mean you could pick any. I'll say screw tape letters because I balled like a baby at the end of it. And so that's oh, I love that book. I mean, you know what? Just any C. S. Lewis, why not? Uh but that one's really stuck with me. Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortland. Uh no book has so thoroughly convinced me of Christ's love for me, right in the middle of my worst day in that book that has really actually changed the way I know God and even see life. And then uh Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament by Christopher Wright. Um, it's exactly what the title sounds like, and it's great.

SPEAKER_01 38:39

Okay, so no books by Judy Bloom. No one had a Judy Bloom suggestion.

SPEAKER_02 38:44

No, I will I will end with this one because I something I'm gonna read more of this summer, uh, that I want to at least, uh, that my wife uh absolutely raves about, that my daughter does, G.K. Chesterton. He is uh there's a lot of truth he shares, and he's a really funny, he's not still around, a a really funny guy the way he writes too. So oh, by the way, don't neglect your Bible this summer. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

That's how you build your relationship with your father.

SPEAKER_02 39:13

Everyone, thank you for joining us. Uh, we hope this has been an encouragement. Check these out. Drop us a note, uh something, or review someone, a comment on social media saying, hey, this is the book I would add to the mix. We'd love to hear what your recommendations are. So, from all of us to all of you, until the next episode, go ahead.