Monthly Mash Up (October 2017)

October has been a strange month. Aside from being sick for nearly two weeks, and a busy schedule, it was a slow month in terms of completing the books I’d previously started. Some of them were quite large, but that had nothing to do with their sitting on my desk untouched for days at a time. 

Below is a smattering of the books, podcasts and resources I did chew on in October. They helped me learn and grow this month, and I am sure they would be the same great help to you. 

Book

  1. Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell and Sean McDowell, Ph.D 

Podcasts

  1. Here We Stand via Desiring God
  2. Renewing Your Mind with R.C. Sproul
  3. God Sovereignly Works through the Means of Human Actions via Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Internet

  1.  A Mighty Fortress Is Our God via Desiring God
  2. Whitewashed Heros via Desiring God
  3. What is Reformation Day? vis Ligonier Ministries
  4. Imposter Syndrome via Seth Godin

Monthly Mash Up (September 2017)

Reading, and learning are a key part to growth. They stretch your mind, fill it with new ideas, and introduce new and varied perspectives to what you already “knew.”

Below is a mash up of the books, articles, and more that impacted me this month.

Quote I’m Chewing On

“Remember that you don’t know everything. Listen and take advice from other people. Always be ready to learn and try  to be better.”
— Jocko Willink, Way of the Warrior Kid

Books I’m Reading

If only I could read faster. I am still working my way through many of the books I began in August. Here are the three currently on my desk.

1. Musashi

2. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World by D.A. Carson

3. On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman

Podcasts I‘m Listening To

1. Here We Stand - We are nearing the 500 year anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Here We Stand will introduce you to a new hero from the Reformation.

2. Barbell Logic and 3. Barbell Medicine - If you have questions about exactly what it takes to get strong, these two podcasts are for you. They answer the whys, hows, and whats of barbell training in a thoughtful and helpful manner.

From The Internet

1. Your Fast Car via Seth Godin

2. A Book Is a Tool, Not a Trophy via FEE

3. How to Not Overthink. Act Now With An Adaptable Plan via Jocko Podcast

Monthly Mash Up (August 2017)

Every day is a chance for you to grow, get better and improve. All it takes is a willing attitude and the willingness to work hard and stretch yourself. 

I surveyed some great resources in August in my attempts to do just that. I’d like to share a few of them with you here. Below is a quote I’m thinking on, four books I’ve read or am reading, and five articles or services I found helpful.

Each taught me some incredibly valuable lessons. Lessons that made me think, re-evaluate points of view, and better that I would be otherwise. Hopefully they do the same for you.

Quote I'm Chewing On

“People tend to focus disproportionately on results, while neglecting the day-to-day things that will get them there.”
— Ben Bergeron, Chasing Excellence

Big lofty goals are nice, but more is required to make them a reality. To do that takes daily work. Work that isn’t pretty and that’s not always fun. But work that must get done if you’re going to get there. 

What I'm Reading

  1. Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa - This is an epic tale of Japan’s most famous warrior. Jocko will be reviewing it on episode 100, and I’m rushing to finish this near thousand page tale in the next few weeks.  

  2. Chasing Excellence by Ben Bergeron - Perhaps one of the most encouraging and inspiring books I’ve read in awhile. Every page is littered with highlighted sentence after highlighted sentence that I read and reread day after day.

  3. Romans 8-16 For You by Tim Keller - I read the first of Keller’s books on Romans earlier this summer and this one was just as good. Few resources on Romans have balanced deep theological truth with easy going style as well as Keller’s. If you want to have a deeper understanding of the theology of the New Testament, get this resource.

  4. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount And His Confrontation with the World by D.A Carson - Our community group is reading through the Gospel of Matthew the next several months. Which means I’m on the hunt for awesome resources to help me wring all the Biblical truth and wisdom from it. My mentor mentioned D.A. Carson’s work on the Sermon on the Mount and I can’t wait to dig in.

From the Internet

  1. Marketing about power and with power via Seth Godin - It’s no secret that Seth’s is one of my favorite blogs. I read his stuff every day, and is a large part of why this blog has gone daily in recent months. In this post, Seth discusses the wide ranging difference between two marketing approaches. Which one do you use? Which one best fits your business?

  2. Why I love my paper dictionary via Austin Kleon - I appreciate Austin’s approach to art and its creation. He offers us a glimpse of the blend between digital and analog. The two really can coexist. This post is a perfect example of how.

  3. Both Lincoln and the Confederacy Were Awful via FEE - It seems we’re in the middle of rehashing the Civil War anew of late. While reasoned discussion is never a bad thing, that’s not we’ve been in the middle of these last several weeks. This article is a quick look at what few are willing say: both sides were in the wrong.  

  4. MoviePass - Monthly movie subscription service that allows you to see unlimited movies for $10 per month. Hannah and I will definitely be checking this out!

  5. Texas Price Gouger Are Heros via FEE - This might be one of the most important articles I’ve read in the last week. It offers an excellent explanation of exactly why price gouging isn’t such a bad thing after all.