What I have been Reading Lately

Here is a short list of what I have been reading and listening to of late:

The Ball and the Cross – G. K. Chesterton

When I find myself stuck in the morass of modernity I return to Chesterton. This fictional work tells of a hardened atheist confronted by a pious Roman Catholic as he emerges from his childhood bubble. The two clash violently as both swear to either kill the other or die trying in a duel, both identifying as symbolic representatives of their creeds. Society does not agree, and the book follows a comedic pace as the two try to kill each other, get interrupted by the police, run away together, and try once more to kill each other.

The book is thus far an indictment, not of the atheist, but of the dull masses who do not consider these eternal dogmas worth dying for. In one exchange, an objector to the violence says, "Well, we won't quarrel about a word." To which the young Catholic responds in a most Chestertonian fashion: "Why on earth not? Why shouldn’t we quarrel about a word? What is the good of words if they aren't important enough to quarrel over. . . The church and the heresies always used to fight about words, because they are the only things worth fighting about." Halfway though, so far so good; and always lot of fun!

Russia in Revolution – S. A. Smith

Picked this one up from the library after reading some interesting reviews. With the current rise of statism in our own day, it would be well to track the rise of the Bolsheviks at the turn of the 19^th century. The account is a little data heavy, but the conditions of the Russians under the Tsarist autocracy that contributed to making Russia a hotbed of revolution are presented well. The tactics of the Bolsheviks are also well documented: they are expert propagandists, dogged and determined in making their unified pitch to the workers and peasants. I am left disappointed that there is no limited government, libertine alternative to the Reds as the Whites, Nationalists, and Kadets are very much also for intrusive state power.

History repeats itself. We would do well to learn from the lessons of the past, especially from the ones writ in so much blood.

The Christian in Complete Armour – William Gurnall

I am intentionally taking my time through this large book, and a quick review of what I have already read could never do it justice. I have written elsewhere that Gurnall frames the Christian life in a way I have never before seen. Everything takes place in light of their eternal ramifications. The Spiritual opposition to the Christian is laid bare in all its deception and fury. Heaven and hell hangs in the balance. The battle "may be sharp, but it cannot be long." May the man of God therefore, fully clad in heaven’s armor, find himself still standing at the end of the evil day. Leonard Ravenhill said that this book "will revolutionize your life." I know many make such sweeping claims, but I do believe him to be true.

The Fall of Carthage – Adrian Goldsworthy

For a lover of history who does not really have the capacity to peruse the writings of Polybius and Livy unguided, Goldsworthy's repackaging is perfect for me. In this book he looks at the 3 Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage, getting the reader informed on the societal, governmental, military differences between the two ancient super powers. He goes methodically through each war—bringing in his analysis to the oftentimes limited information handed to us from history. I just finished reading of the Battle of Cannae, and Goldsworthy's retelling is incredible. This tumultuous period has had a sweeping impact on the world as we know it, and there is no telling what might be different had Carthage won. Full of leadership principles, policy strategies, and battle tactics throughout.

The Great Divorce – C. S. Lewis

This is one of my favorite books; one I try to read every year. The classic is about a bus ride from hell to heaven, where nearly everyone making the trip finds themselves preferring hell to heaven! Lewis takes a clever angle showing how radically difficult it is for us to lay down our pride and retention of self. As an angelic George MacDonald tells the first person narrator: "Every state of mind, left to itself, every shutting up of the creature within the dungeon of its own mind - is, in the end, Hell."

Listening to: The Just Thinking Podcast

I have never been too much of a podcast guy, but I have found one that I will follow religiously. Darrel Harrison and Virgil Walker tackle social issues from a Biblical perspective. These guys have serious guts to go against the cultural narrative on race and social justice, and I only hope more people tune in to their insights. I am reminded of Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." That is exactly what this podcast is about. They can be followed at: www.thebarpodcast.com/jt