What I Am Reading: June/July 2025
Here is my reading update from both June and July.
Top Book
You’re Only Human by Kelly Kapic (261 pages)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The insights Kapic presents are thought-provoking and necessary for believers in today’s world. His book is practical and filled with good news. The central insight of the book and my greatest takeaway is: Finitude is an unavoidable aspect of our creaturely existence. Being finite and a creature is not a deficiency but a gift from God. This truth frees me from the pressure to be perfect. He writes how “we sometimes wrongly attribute all our problems to sin, when in fact they are often a matter of running up against the limits inherent in being finite creatures instead of being God” (12). There’s much more I could share.
Just Finished
You’re Only Human by Kelly M. Kapic
Digital Liturgies by Samuel James
Soul Guide: Following Jesus As Spiritual Director by Bruce Demarest
Reason for God by Timothy Keller
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (The Liveship Traders #1)
The Mad Ship by Robin Hobb (The Liveship Traders #2)
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb (The Liveship Traders #3)1
On My Shelf
Catching Foxes by John Henderson
Becoming C.S. Lewis by Harry Lee Poe
Proof by Daniel Montgomery and Timothy Paul Jones
Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work by Eugene Peterson
Reverse Thunder by Eugene Peterson
Long Journey Home by Os Guinness
2000 Years of Christ’s Power: Volume 1 by Nick Needham
Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin (Plodding)
The Reformation as Renewal by Matthew Barrett (Plodding)
Memorable Quotes
“When we die we will leave [temporal riches] behind to those we do not want to have them. Why then wouldn’t we give them up for righteousness’ sake in order to inherit a kingdom? Don’t let the desire to possess things take hold of you. For what do we gain by acquiring things we cannot take with us? Why not get the things we can take with us instead—namely wisdom, justice, self-control, courage, understanding, love, kindness to the poor, faith in Christ, freedom from wrath, and hospitality? If we possess these things, they will prepare a welcome for us in the land of the humble.” - Athanasius
“Busyness rapes relationship. It substitutes shallow frenzy for deep friendship. It feeds the ego but stresses the inner being. It fills a calendar but fractures a family.” - Chuck Swindoll
“Live slowly enough to think deeply about God.” - J.I. Packer
“To live without friends is to live like a beast.” - Aelred of Rievaulx
“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.” - Cheryl Balcom
“A deep grasp of...grace is one of the sweetest qualities you can ever bring into your marriage.” - John Henderson
Added to the Reading List
Wise Counsel: John Newton’s Letters to John Ryland Jr. by Grant Gordon (Editor)
A Basket of Fragments by R.M. M’Cheyne
Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals by Gavin Ortlund
Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (Jurassic Park, #1)
The Winds of War by Herman Wouk (The Henry Family, #1)
Lost Gifts: Miscarriage, Grief, and the God of All Comfort by Brittany Lee Allen
Pain of a Particular Kind: The Loss of a Child by Peter Barnes
Article Recommendations
Exhaustion: Good and Bad by Wyatt Graham
Why Do You Think You Can Do Better? by Esther Liu
Music Recommendation
Thoughts
I’ve been meditating on humility and how the Bible says that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6; Proverbs 3:34). The list below is one that I’ve been meditating on over the past couple months, drawn from the Rule of St. Benedict.
Benedict of Nursia (c. 480-547) was a monk who lived in central Italy in the 6th century. His Rule was written as a guide for monastic life and is one of the most influential Christian writings of the early Middle Ages.
There’s a lot in the rule that may be problematic, but he famously gives 12 steps of humility in the Rule. Benedict’s steps picture a ladder with 12 rungs, where you climb each rung, surrendering your pride and finding true humility with each step. These steps are not a path or a way to earn God’s approval but a helpful tool to deny yourself and grow more like Jesus, who is gentle and lowly. What I’ve written below is adapted from Benedict’s list, but the inspiration is clearly his.
Fear God. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline” (CSB). Be consciously and deeply aware of God.
Joyfully submit to God’s will, not your own. It is saying with Jesus, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Following God’s own way in his timing.
Obey your leaders. Follow Hebrews 13:17, which says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” (ESV). This is within and without the church.
Patiently endure hardships. James 1:2 says, “My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials” (NET). Do not retaliate.
Honestly confess your sins to God and other believers. “Therefore confess your sins to each other…” (James 5:16, NIV). Acknowledge all of them without minimization or affectation.
Serve joyfully in unseen and lowly ways. Our Lord says, “Take the lowest place…” (Luke 14:10, NIV). Accept lowly tasks and social positions.
Consider yourself the least of all. Clothe yourself with humility, esteeming others above yourself (Philippians 2:3-5; 1 Peter 5:5). Refuse to think too highly of yourself.
Be deferential with fellow church members. We are to “submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21, NIV). Walk in wisdom.
Restrain your tongue. Paul says, “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:29, NLT). Practice being silent.
Do not make light of something that should be taken seriously. Christ says in Luke 6:25, “What sorrow awaits you who laugh now, for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow” (NLT). Be poor in spirit.
Be gentle in speech with everyone. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6, CSB). Speak modestly, briefly, and reasonably. Let those who you talk to ask for more. Be silent.
Keep a humble posture with God. We are to walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Be bowed down like the tax collector in Luke 18:13.
Odds and Ends
In June, we went on a trip up north in northern Minnesota, and it’s just so lovely—one of those places that feels so underrated. We had such a good time as a family. We laughed, swam, hiked, looked at waterfalls, ate lots of ice cream (like a lot!), and drank lots of coffee. It was just a wonderful time together. We were glad to have Jon and Elaine join us for a couple of days. Such a wonderful trip! God is good—very thankful for all He’s done.
July has already been full. My sister and her family joined us for our annual America party—they travel up to Minnesota every Fourth of July. Then, my side gathered at a cabin in Friendship, WI. One kickball game, one basketball game, two beach days, several coffee runs, one day at Devil’s Lake State Park, one day at Mt. Olympus, and one stop at MooseJaw in Wisconsin Dells later, we all came home exhausted, but grateful—and we made a ton of meaningful memories. It’s lovely to be with family, watching all the cousins enjoy their time together.
We’re now two weeks from camp, one of the highlights of our summer. If you’re inclined to pray, please ask that students grow in their relationship with Christ— that the Holy Spirit would do a special work among the young people at both Redeemer and Liberty Hills.
Thanks for reading along!
If you are interested in reading this series, please talk to me. I’d not particularly recommend it.
Thanks for sharing. Always interesting to read!