on the Dock This Summer
Ghosts, Canadian physician Gabor Maté’s
seminal book on addiction (Vintage, 2009
[Knopf, 2008]). In between, I’ll jump in the
cold, clear Algonquin lake. What a privilege to take a Sabbath “rest” in exquisite
works like these!
Mark Vander Vennen, executive director
Shalem Mental Health Network
thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahne-man (Doubleday, 2011). Brain and mind
research is fascinating
and helpful in decision-making, generating ideas
and helping people. Kah-neman is a Nobel Prize
winner in economics.
This book is a popularization of his research. It
finally came out in paperback and was discounted
at Chapters! In addition, I
will try to get through the pile of journals
and magazines on my desk.
David H. Johnson, president
Providence University College,
Providence Theological Seminary
It all started as a spontaneous decision. I
listened intently as an American leader,
interviewed about his reading habits, said:
“I read a book a week.” A book a week?
Impossible, I thought. Yet, I knew pledging to such a committed reading program
would be an adventurous learning experience that would take me into places
of thought and human experience which
would enrich me. I couldn’t resist the urge
to commit and I did!
Since January 2010 I have become a
happy, devoted bookworm. Currently on
my 178th book, I am now hooked! My reading repertoire has included books on leadership, current social and political issues,
spiritual inspirational and biographies.
My reads this summer are stacked up
and ready. On top of the stack is: And God
Came In by Lyle Dorsett (Good News,
1991 [Macmillan, 1983]) which tells the
extraordinary story of Joy Davidman, wife
of C.S. Lewis. The
first line of the
fly-leaf blurb,
grabbed my atten-
tion: “They were
an unlikely pair.”
Other books
that will be marked
up with my side
notes and asterisks
will be Pathway to
the Impossible (Calcutta Mercy Ministries,
2009) by Huldah Buntain, missionary vet-
eran to Calcutta, and a memoir by the man
behind The Message, Eugene H. Peterson’s
The Pastor (Harper, 2011). Last on my stack
of biographies will be A Heart for Freedom:
The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissi-
dent, Her Daring Escape and Her Quest to
Free China’s Daughters, by Chai Ling (Tyn-
dale, 2011).
24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier,
Happier Life by Matthew Sleeth, M.D.,
(Tyndale, 2012) on the value of remem-
bering to keep the Sabbath. He also wrote
Serve God, Save the Planet (Zondervan,
2007) and founded Blessed Earth, a non-
profit focused on creation care. In his new
book, Dr. Sleeth makes a compelling case
that many maladies of our society spring
from neglecting God’s gift of Sabbath. He
will lecture at Kingswood University this
fall so our students can better understand
and practise God’s rest. I recently heard
Dr. Sleeth speak and came away with two
challenges: (1) “If I could make just one
decision and reduce my environmental
impact by 14 per cent over my lifetime,
would I?” His conclusion is that practicing
Sabbath can have that magnitude of im-
pact. ( 2) “If I could set aside 10 years ex-
clusively to enjoy God and rest in His pres-
ence, would I accept this gift?” Dr. Sleeth
observes that, in a lifespan of 70 years,
honoring the Sabbath provides those 10
years of renewal.
In the summer I read a lot of novels purely
for escape and relaxation. This summer
I will be reading a novel by Ian Morgan
Cron called Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s
Tale (Zondervan, 2013 [NavPress, 2006])
that was recommended by a colleague at
Tyndale. It is the story of a young gifted
pastor who has lost
touch with the faith
that grounded him and
gave life. After meeting
with his Uncle who is
a Franciscan priest, he
begins a pilgrimage to
find the ancient faith of
Francis of Assisi.
If it is not novels
then it usually is something biographical. I am fascinated by the
way our narrative life stories shape the
ways in which approach life and even
faith. Biographies give insights and clarify.
This summer I have put aside two books
to read. Living Countertestimony: Conversations with Walter Brueggemann by Walter
Brueggeman and Carolyn J. Sharp (West-
